We MUST Walk in God's Glory

Introduction: Tomorrow morning you and I will celebrate Christmas. We will gather with our family and friends and celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. From the moment our eyes open we will have a choice to make. Will we allow God’s Glory to shine through us? I hope we will make the right choice.

There was a time in the Old Testament when God’s Glory rested on the Tabernacle. This is not the case today – God does not dwell in temples made with hands. No, today you and I are the temples of God, and God dwells in us. This means that God’s Glory rests within each of us who name the name of Jesus Christ.

We read in 1 Corinthians 3:16,

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (NKJV).

We are God’s house—His temple. Only, this temple is no longer in a fixed location. This house can walk and talk and preach the gospel! This house can carry God’s Glory around the globe. Which is expected!

Now, it’s one thing to have the glory, but it’s another to know how to walk in it. So, here is the good news. You have everything you need inside you.

When the early believers experienced God’s Glory at Pentecost, they didn’t just go back to living normal lives. No, they walked in God’s Glory. It affected every area of their being. They were endued with power from on high, and so are we.

So, how can we walk in God’s Glory? We are to walk…

I. In Power – Romans 8:11

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

When the early believers came out of the upper room, they were separate from the rest of the world – they became light in the midst of darkness.

What kind of POWER dwelt in these early Christians? The same POWER dwells in each one of us who name the name of Jesus Christ. We have the same power in us that raised Jesus Christ from the dead – Resurrection POWER! This mighty POWER dwells in us. Our problem is that we don’t know how to appropriate it.

How is that POWER to be displayed in our lives today? Allow me to share five ways with you. They are:

· As light bearers – Philippians 2:15

That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.

· Showing kindness and forgiveness - Ephesians 4:32

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

· Walking in newness of life – 2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new.

· Through steadfast service – 1 Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

· Totally surrendered to God – Romans 12:1-2

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

So, how can we walk in God’s Glory? We can walk…

II. In Purpose – Acts 17:6

I want you to turn to Acts 17:6, and I want our eyes to see what is told about the purpose of the early believers. We read,

But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.”

Who turned the world upside down? The early Christians did! Those that made up the first church. They went out and began to make an eternal impact. Which is exactly what you and I are supposed to be doing today. Impacting our world!

How did the early church impact the world?

· They showed forth the love of Jesus Christ.

· They cared for one another daily.

· They shared the gospel with everyone.

· They impacted their sphere of influence.

· They graciously served their generation.

· They lived so differently that people noticed.

How did the early Christians turn the world upside down? They did one BIG thing – they made Jesus LORD over every area of their lives.

It has been said that people don’t care how much you know until they first see, how much you care. The early Christians cared for one another, and then they just in general cared for others.

It has been said that JOY is spelled:

· Jesus

· Others

· Yourself

What is your purpose today? In Matthew 4:19 Jesus said,

“Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men.”

That’s a good purpose – winning souls and making disciples.

III. In Preaching – Matthew 28:18-20

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Christians must engage the world. We do have a message to tell the nations. All of us are called to preach. SLBC doesn’t have just one preacher – it has many preachers! The word “preacher” simply means to be a herald. We are to share what we know to be true.

Notice here in Matthew 28:18-20 the following thoughts:

· We have the authority of Jesus behind us.

· We have been commanded to “Go”.

· It’s all about making disciples of all nations – to make Christ-followers out of everyone.

· We baptize to identify who’s in the family.

· We teach everything that we have been taught and encourage obedience.

· Jesus promises to always be with us. We are NEVER alone.

I believe we walk best in God’s Glory when faithfully sharing the Gospel with lost people. And if not you, then who?

Paul said this about preaching the good news. Listen to these words from Romans 10:15,

15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

IV. In Practice - Acts 2:40-47

40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

There is so much here in these verses. We discover that the early believers allowed God’s Glory to operate in them in every area of their lives.

Question: Does God have every area of your life today?

· Gospel was being preached and souls saved – 2:40

· People were being baptized - 2:41

· Fellowship was occurring daily – 2:42

· Signs and wonder were being done through the apostles – 2:43

· They had all things in common – 2:44

· They divided their goods up among themselves – 2:45

· They continued in one accord in the temple – 2:46

· They praised God and had favor with all people – 2:47

When you walk in God’s Glory you have a fire in you. This fire is the shekinah glory of God. In the dictionary, the word “shekinah” is defined like this,

(in Jewish and Christian theology) the glory of the divine presence, conventionally represented as light or interpreted symbolically. (Oxford Dictionaries).

We are told by Paul in Ephesians 6:15, to put on the full armor of God, which includes the shoes of the glorious gospel of peace. There’s glory in your feet!

How many of you remember the phone book commercial that had the following little ditty (short, simple song, rhyme). It went like this, “Let your fingers do the walking through the yellow pages?”

May you and I allow our feet to do walking in God’s Glory. This is where faith truly meets the road of life.

Conclusion: If you want to Experience Christmas Glory then start by practicing the four ways to tap into God’s glory:

1. Look for God’s Glory – nature, Jesus, Gospel.

2. Pray for God’s Glory – “Please, show me Your Glory.” (Ex. 33:18).

3. Prepare for God’s Glory – Expectation, Realization, Proclamation (Share God’s Glory).

4. Walk in God’s Glory – In Power, In Purpose, In Preaching, and In Practice.

If we take these messages and begin to appropriate them, then we will see God’s Glory in our lives.