GLORY OF THE LORD!

By: Jackson V. Plant

What do we mean when we say the Glory of the Lord.  We all talk about the anointing of the Lord but what we want is the glory of the Lord.  We hear people talking about Lord send your fire and send your anointing, is this what we want or more importantly is this what the Lord wants?  What we really want is the Glory of the Lord and we will take a look why.

1.    Glory –kabowd, kaw-bode'; rarely  kabod, kaw-bode'; prop. weight; but only fig. in a good sense, splendor or copiousness:--glorious (-ly), glory, honour (-able).

 2.    Anointing- chrisma, khris'-mah; an unguent or smearing, i.e. (fig.) the spec. endowment ("chrism") of the Holy Spirit:--anointing, unction.  

It is more important for the King to approve of you than for man to.  David was anointed by God long before man crowned him.  He looked for God over man.  You might have a call on your life for a long time before the man sees it, don’t despair it is not man that promotes but it is God.  When the time is right the door will open.  God would say to you do not look or worry at what man will say but look to me the author and finisher of your faith.

How many times have we prostituted the anointing of God?  We prepare for him, we soak in his anointing then we end up flirting with the world on the way to the Kings Chamber and we never make it there.  Remember that the King does not want soiled goods!  Only virgins are fit for a King.  Remember that we can do this by enjoying the singing and the preaching and give the glory to the man.  The Anointing breaks the yoke of oppression, but that is only a byproduct.  This is like when we put on perfume or cologne there is a byproduct that we smell good, but it was meant for one person not everyone.  The problem comes when we use it to impress other people.  When we come to the house of the Lord we are here for Christ only, not what people think!  

The anointing makes us preach and worship better, just remember that the anointing is not the end but the beginning.  

We are called to enter the veil and not stand outside of it.  The whole purpose it to prepare ourselves to enter in.  We need to go past the outer courts in to the sanctum sanctorum, that is the holy of holies.  In the temple only the priest could enter after a long process of cleansings then he would go thru the veil a large velvet curtain that separated man from God.  When the High Priest would enter he would have bells on and a rope around his ankle.  The purpose of this was that if he had sin in him or if he tried to approach God in mans wisdom instead of in Gods way, then he would die!  When Christ died on the cross an interesting thing happened, 1) the dead rose that showed that he conquered death.  2) There was an earthquake and rumblings. 3) The veil in the temple was torn in two.  That was the fulfillment of the promise that Man was now able to meet God, thru the permanent high priest.  Jesus Christ. 

 Another thing is that the anointing is a covering.  When the priest entered into the Holy of Holies, he took incense, which is symbolic for the anointing and thrust his hands through the veil and made dense smoke so he could not be seen so he would live. 

(Lev 16:13 KJV)  And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not:

God also stepped out and made his own covering so man would not perish. 

 One reason that we linger in the anointing is that it makes the flesh feel good.  On the other hand when the glory comes the flesh does not feel comfortable.  When the glory comes we become like Isaiah we are weakened by his presence and all we can do is behold his glory.  When God comes in his glory there is no need to preach, people are assured of his holiness by his presence and there convicted of their un holiness by the same.  Every time Gods glory is present we die a little.  When more of the flesh dies more of the spirit lives. 

 One way to look at the difference is when you walk across a carpet on a cold day and then touch a door handle you will get a spark, and if you grab a 220-volt power line with your bare hands you will get one also.  In both cases it is both electricity and they come from the same source.  One will give you a spark but one will kill you.  That is the way it is with the anointing and the glory. 

 We do not understand what revival is, we think that it is a banner on the church or silver tongued preacher, some good music and people joining the church and coming back to God. NO, that is not it at all.  Real revival happens when people are at a restaurant or at the mall and they turn to their friends and say I don’t know what is wrong but I need to get right with God.  It is when the last person on earth that you thought would come to Jesus against all the odds.  People do not want doctrine and tracts or our arguments, they want Jesus.  You know that if a person can be argued into faith then they can be argued out as well. 

The church has a habit of when there is a good service then we camp out at that place and dance around the fire instead of going back to Egypt and setting the captives free.  When you receive the anointing it is not for you it is for the hurting and the lost.  If you soak it up then all become is lounging in it you get lazy and fat.  You become no good to God but if you take the anointing then god will replace what you use and multiply it. 

 Remember one thing that you must really be ready for the glory to come because he will not come if we live.  Remember that the alter was used as a place of death not life.  When we accept Christ we are dead, the priest knew that he could die, so he took precautions.  When we ask for his glory then something will die so that the spirit will live.   

(2 Chr 7:1 KJV)  Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.

 (2 Chr 7:2 KJV)  And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house.

 (2 Chr 7:3 KJV)  And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

 Do you want revival?  What  will you do to achieve it?  We need to fast and pray so that we can be the fuel for the fire to fall on this church. When the fire came to the alter it was to consume the sacrifice, John Wesley made this quote “I set myself on fire and the people come to see me burn”.  We pray for the fire to fall when there is nothing on the alter.  We need to say God whatever it takes I lay myself on the alter and ask you to consume me with your fire Lord.  Will you do the same?

I ask you are you dead now, because only a dead man may see the face of God, are you trying to impress God by showing off how holy you are?  Our righteousness is filthy rags to him.  Please come to the alter and pray that Jesus holy fire to consume you so that only he is left then you will be useful.

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