Being Passionate For God's Presence In Our Lives

The Glory Of God

Exodus 40:34–38 (NLT) — 34 Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. 35 Moses could no longer enter the Tabernacle because the cloud had settled down over it, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. 36 Now whenever the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out on their journey, following it. 37 But if the cloud did not rise, they remained where they were until it lifted. 38 The cloud of the Lord hovered over the Tabernacle during the day, and at night fire glowed inside the cloud so the whole family of Israel could see it. This continued throughout all their journeys.

Moses had just been given detailed information on the building of the temple. Every thing was meretriciously spoken to him by God. Then it was finished.

It was now time to enter the temple.

When the work of the temple was finished – they couldn’t enter the temple because a cloud (God’s glory) filled the temple.

The Book of Exodus ends with the presence of Yahweh entering the tabernacle.

This brings Israel’s relationship with Yahweh to a very different place than where it was when Exodus began.

HE IS NO LONGER FAR OFF, hearing His peoples cry from a distance (2:23-3:9).

He now lives among the people, and His continual presence distinguishes Israel from all the peoples of the earth (33:16).

The divine cloud which stood on top of Mount Sinai, which only Moses could enter, now comes to rest on the tabernacle and it is this cloud that will guide the people on their journey into the promised land (vv.36-33; Numbers 10:11-13).

The tabernacle was “home on earth.”

500 years later – Solomon built the temple which replaced the tabernacle for a central place to worship.

God’s cloud/ glory showed up then also.

Go with me to 2 Chronicles 5:11-14. We will see another passage that talks about the glory of God…

2 Chronicles 5:11–14 (NLT) — 11 Then the priests left the Holy Place. All the priests who were present had purified themselves, whether or not they were on duty that day. 12 And the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and all their sons and brothers—were dressed in fine linen robes and stood at the east side of the altar playing cymbals, lyres, and harps. They were joined by 120 priests who were playing trumpets. 13 The trumpeters and singers performed together in unison to praise and give thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices and praised the Lord with these words: “He is good! His faithful love endures forever!” At that moment a thick cloud filled the Temple of the Lord. 14 The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple of God.

In all these passages… you will see a common thread… notice the use of God’s “glory.”

Glory – Gr. “splendid/ abundance/ honor/ to boast/ hope/ expectation.”

This word is used 119x’s in 116 locations.

Things took place when God’s glory was around.

God promises us that He will encircle us with His glory ‑ from the north, south, east, and the west.

Tonight I would like to share about the glory of God is our lives and how God desires for us to have more of His glory in our lives.

There are three things I would like to talk about:

1. The Meaning of God's Glory

2. The Mention of God's Glory in the Bible

3. The Manifestation of God's glory in our lives today

(Or how… God wants to make His presence known in our lives today.)

I. MEANING

Two words help define the glory of God:

A. (Heb. Phaeim) ‑The presence of God, face(s) of God. This speaks of an intimacy with God.

Exodus 33:15 (NLT) — 15 Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place.

The plurality here could refer to the Trinity or the attributes of God.

B. (Heb. Kabowd) - "glory or weight.”

Exodus 40:34 (NLT) — 34 Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.

Exodus 33:18 (NLT) — 18 Moses responded, “Then show me your glorious presence.”

2 Chronicles 5:14 (NLT) — 14 The priests could not continue their service because of the cloud, for the glorious presence of the Lordfilled the Temple of God.

Romans 3:23 (NLT) — 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

“Short” – deficient.

God is basically saying "I will bring my presence among you and my weight will be upon you. It will stamp upon you.

It is that which comes into our midst with such a force that it makes a mark upon everyone in that place."

So... glory has to do with countenance, sustenance, power, weight.

II. The Mention Of Glory In The Bible As A Concept

A. Adam and Eve were clothed in the glory.

They did not know what their garments were made of.

Sin revealed their nakedness.

Romans 3:23 (NLT) — 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

B. God's glory was then in the temple (tabernacle) –

God made a covenant with His people that His glory would rest there.

The priest fell under the power (weight) of God's glory.

This was the first step to restoration after the fall of man. Man was looking for some way to remove that feeling of weight‑ less‑ness.

God's promise ‑ "I will dwell in your midst."

C. God’s Glory Would Rest Over Zion/ Us As Protection

Isaiah 4:5–6 (NLT) — 5 Then the Lord will provide shade for Mount Zion and all who assemble there. He will provide a canopy of cloud during the day and smoke and flaming fire at night, covering the glorious land. 6 It will be a shelter from daytime heat and a hiding place from storms and rain.

This was a prophecy for Israel and for us that whenever we meet in an assembly together that God's glory would be prevalent.

D. God’s Glory Would Rise Over The Church

Isaiah 60:1–6 (NLT) — 1 “Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the Lord rises to shine on you. 2 Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you. 3 All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance. 4 “Look and see, for everyone is coming home! Your sons are coming from distant lands; your little daughters will be carried home. 5 Your eyes will shine, and your heart will thrill with joy, for merchants from around the world will come to you. They will bring you the wealth of many lands. 6 Vast caravans of camels will converge on you, the camels of Midian and Ephah. The people of Sheba will bring gold and frankincense and will come worshiping the Lord.

Prophecy concerning the church age – V.1 "Arise, shine for the glory of the Lord has risen upon you."

E. God’s Glory Rested On Jesus

John 1:14 (NLT) — 14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

F. God’s Glory Rests Upon Us

Acts 2:4 (NLT) — 4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

This glory spilled out to the church - A sign ‑ tongues of flames rested upon them. This was a token manifestation of God's glory.

Now…We know the gift of glory is upon us. We know the grace of glory is with us. But to walk in obedience to glory is often another thing.

The increase of God's glory in us can only be by the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit to free us from bondages we carry ‑ (flesh, fear, failure, success, the past, etc.)

2 Corinthians 3:4–11 (NLT) — 4 We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. 5 It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. 6 He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life. 7 The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. 8 Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life? 9 If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God! 10 In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way. 11 So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever!

2 Corinthians 3:17–18 (NLT) — 17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

“Changed” (NLT) / “Transformed”(NKJV) ‑ gr. metamorphis ‑ concept of a Catepillar and butterfly. There is an ongoing transformation taking place in us.

2 Corinthians 4:17–18 (NLT) — 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

“glory” – gr. doxa – “splendor/ bright”

Back to Exodus 33. There are three key words:

3 Key Words

a) Stubborn - v.5

b) Sought - v.7

c) Show - v.13

a) v.5 ‑ "Stubborn/ rebellious” same Hebrew Word – “Kahshe” meaning “hard, difficult.”

Exodus 33:5 (NLT) — 5 For the Lord had told Moses to tell them, “You are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I were to travel with you for even a moment, I would destroy you. Remove your jewelry and fine clothes while I decide what to do with you.”

b) v.7 ‑ "Sought"

Hebrew – “Bahshaw” – to request/ enquire/ beg

Exodus 33:7 (NKJV) — 7 Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the Lord went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp.

Exodus 3:7 (NLT) — 7 Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering.

c) v.13 ‑ "Show"(know)

Exodus 3:13 (NLT) — 13 But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?”

(These three words outline the pathway to glory)

1. God Calls Us From The UnWorthy - Exodus 33:3-5

Exodus 33:3–4 (NLT) — 3 Go up to this land that flows with milk and honey. But I will not travel among you, for you are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I did, I would surely destroy you along the way.” 4 When the people heard these stern words, they went into mourning and stopped wearing their jewelry and fine clothes.

We know the word worthy relates to "worship" in the Bible. It also has to do with "weight."

Gr. ‑ oxios ‑ background has to do with the sustenance of a coin. (Coins that were minted without the technology of today. In those days just the handling of coins could wear it thin."

When a person would buy something ‑ their coins would be weighed and given their worth. Often they would be worth less because of their weight but not worthless (with no value).

The idea of glory is a reinvestment of our nature or being, with the intended worth that God wants for us.

To be refilled with glory does not require that you have a major sin in your life. Often times it is just the wear and tear of life which causes a thinness to come in.

God is calling us from anything that is unworthy (that which is not up to the full potential God has for our lives.)

God is calling us to Him to come away from everything that is shallow and shabby in comparison. God is calling us to come and be renewed.

Our problem is not walking in God's glory or even not having a passion for it but failing to perceive where thinness has come in.

Many things crop up in our lives that are unworthy to God. The only way back to worthiness is to kneel in His presence and first confess that which is unworthy.

2. We Need To Continually Strip Ourselves – vv. 5-6

Exodus 33:5–6 (NLT) — 5 For the Lord had told Moses to tell them, “You are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I were to travel with you for even a moment, I would destroy you. Remove your jewelry and fine clothes while I decide what to do with you.” 6 So from the time they left Mount Sinai, the Israelites wore no more jewelry or fine clothes.

We need to continually strip ourselves. Let us say "Search me and try my thoughts and see if there be any wicked ways in me."

We must be clothed again in renewal ‑ carefulness in speech, discipline, conduct, entertainment, speech, etc.

3. An Invitation To Seek God’s Glory

Exodus 33:7–11 (NLT) — 7 It was Moses’ practice to take the Tent of Meeting and set it up some distance from the camp. Everyone who wanted to make a request of the Lord would go to the Tent of Meeting outside the camp. 8 Whenever Moses went out to the Tent of Meeting, all the people would get up and stand in the entrances of their own tents. They would all watch Moses until he disappeared inside. 9 As he went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and hover at its entrance while the Lordspoke with Moses. 10 When the people saw the cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, they would stand and bow down in front of their own tents. 11 Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lordwould speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting.

Vv. 7‑11 ‑ An invitation to seek God's glory (What takes place here is a very tender thing.

Notice that the tabernacle was outside the camp. It used to be inside. It was place outside as an invitation to all who were interested to go to the tent.

It was an invitation to come out to God's glory. This speaks of DESIRE.

When people come from God's glory there is a shinning as with Moses ‑ Exodus 34:29.

Exodus 34:29 (NLT) — 29 When Moses came down Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn’t aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the Lord.

This invitation and response leads to an intimacy with God and His workings ‑ v. 13 ‑ "Show me Thy ways."

Exodus 33:13 (NLT) — 13 If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor. And remember that this nation is your very own people.”

Do you have a desire to know God? To know His ways Do you want to line up with His will?

Notice that…

· Moses is the first student of the glory to say "Show me Thy Glory."

· Adamwore the glory of God and walked in it.

· Abraham followed and feared the glory.

· Jacob encountered the glory of as he wrestled all night with an angel.

All these men were in touch with the glory of God but it is only Moses who sought after the glory.

He had a passion for it ‑ v.15. "If your presence won't go with us we won't go any further."

It is only in this sense that we will go from "glory to glory."

III. Manifestation of God's Glory ‑ 33:20‑23

Exodus 33:20–23 (NLT) — 20 But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live.” 21 The Lord continued, “Look, stand near me on this rock. 22 As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23Then I will remove my hand and let you see me from behind. But my face will not be seen.”

Ephesians 5:27 ‑ "That He might present it (the church) to Himself , a glorious church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish."

Colossians 1:27 ‑ "...Christ in you is the hope of Glory..."

Conclusion: Song ‑ "See His Glory"