We Need The Glory Today
Notes
Transcript
Preliminary: Turn with me to Luke 9:28-36
Preliminary: Turn with me to Luke 9:28-36
For the last two years I have been praying for God to give me a word or theme for the year. Last year I felt like God wanted us to Remember this year I felt God leading me to the word GLORY we need to see God’s glory in 2021 at Wichita Bible Holiness Church.
I pray along with Moses
18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
We find a fascinating incident in Luke 9 also covered in Mark 9:2-10, Matthew 17:1-9 and mentioned by Peter in 2 Peter 1:16-18 where Jesus takes three of his closest disciples up in the mountain and is transfigured in front of them. Let’s read about it Luke 9:28-36
Read: Luke 9:28-36
Read: Luke 9:28-36
28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. 29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. 30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. 33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. 34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. 35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. 36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
I want to draw your attention back to Luke 9:32
32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
Luke 9:32 - They saw His glory.
To be frank with you this morning it is passed due for us to see His glory here at Wichita.
Back in the mid 90’s Brother Jerald Glick wrote the powerful and challenging song:
I’m Contending for the Glory of the Lord
He writes in the first verse:
The glory of the Lord,
it keeps the church alive.
If we’re content without it
we just will not survive.
Oh, God’s glory makes the difference
His presence warms my heart.
I’m contending for the glory
I never want Him to depart
We need the glory, I’m contending for the glory, but we have to ask...
What is “The Glory”
Bro. James Plank, made the statement at ICHA 2003,
“I’m not sure you can find a “succinct and satisfactory definition of the glory.”
Plank says, “It has been my privilege to be where the glory was and my distinct disappointment to be were the glory was not.”
The Glory Is God’s power and presence
God’s stamp of approval
God’s affirmation
And we may not be known by name by the political elite, or the rich and powerful, or have the approval of the backslidden and godless church hierarchy of the world, but we must have the Glory in our midst.
You can read and hear about it from the past and I could go all the way back to the Bible
31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
This wasn’t Pentecost that happened in Acts 2 this wasn’t anyone else receiving their Pentecost as these had already recieved theirs - this was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon these folks, affirming and approving of what they were doing - it was The Glory.
That was then but We need to see the glory today!!!
You can look throughout the History of the Church and there are distinct times when God’s Glory was poured out:
Brian Black in his book, The Holiness Heritage tells of the Kansas State Holiness Association’s camp meeting right here in Wichita in 1893 where “Glory Crowned the Mercy seat!” “three to five thousand persons were in attendance. Eighty-nine people were saved and one hundred forty-nine were sanctified.”
What happened? They had the glory
Right here in this church in the mid-fifties to early 60’s God came and the glory fell in revival in one night there were 6 individual’s sanctified holy.
In the 90’s another outpouring of the Glory in a revival and several were saved and sanctified during that time.
I have seen the Glory fall here in my ministry on numerous occasions - but I feel the need for it again.
I’m Contending for the Glory
We need the Glory Today!!!
So I’ve told you we need the Glory, I’ve attempted to explain what the glory is- now I want to talk about Why we need the Glory today.
Why we need to see the glory today:
The Glory Is Transformative -
The Glory Is Transformative -
I’m afraid we have at times been to simplistic and reductionistic or narrow in our thinking that all we need is to come down to the altar and let God zap you and everything will be fixed -
While we certainly need to have an encounter with the Holy Spirit and it will do far more for us in a moment than a lifetime of reformation -
They could tell these men had been with Jesus. They had been around the glory
13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
There was no doubt Moses had spent some time with the Lord. It was all over His face. Just a look at the passing glory of God and the affect was observable. It was so observable they had to veil his face to talk to the people.
We need enough glory that people can see Jesus on us and through us.
Lord Show Us Thy Glory
I’m Contending for the Glory!!!
The Glory not only affects us but will affect others as well
Not only is the glory we need today Transformative but...
Not only is the glory we need today Transformative but...
The Glory we need today Is Substantive
The Glory we need today Is Substantive
I get weary and sick of the priming, pumping, working, syrupy, sappy, emotional ways in which the modern church world attempts to Worship God.
Now don’t misunderstand me as humans we have emotions that express themselves in different ways according to our personalities. I am not opposed to expressions of emotion or giving way to the Spirit.
I am opposed to being satisfied with crumbs on the floor when God has a whole buffet line filled and bids us “COME AND DINE”
He has the glory and the glory is substantive not just surface
The glory with Moses didn’t just affect his face the skin, the surface - no sir, it went way beyond and changed the Israelite people from that day forward.
Changed Moses he was forever a marked man. Even when the shine faded from his face His heart was changed and stirred.
We need the glory that is substantive the glory that makes a difference that keeps a church going Like the revival in the 50’s and the 90’s It’s time for it again.
I hope I’m making you hungry for the Glory!!!
Not only is the glory we need today Transformative, and Substantive The glory we need today is...
Not only is the glory we need today Transformative, and Substantive The glory we need today is...
Is Imperative
Is Imperative
Meaning: We cannot continue, we cannot go on, we will cease to exist without the glory.
In the Old Testament Ezekiel alludes to the fact that the Glory was leaving was moving.
I would like to think that is not what is going on today - I believe and claim the promise that when Jesus aid He would send the Comforter the Comforter would stay until He returns.
But there have always been ebbs and flows to the Glory
I don’t wan’t to dictate to God what we need - but I feel He is burdening His people with the reality that WE MUST HAVE THE GLORY!!!
As Brother Glick wrote:
The glory of the Lord,
it keeps the church alive.
If we’re content without it
we just will not survive.
We Need the Glory Today.
We Must have the Glory Today
Brent Vernon as a young man recognized the seriousness of this situation. He wrote what I consider a Holiness Classic: The Heritage of Holiness.
In it he says:
“I don’t want to lose the vision, I don’t take for granted, the heritage of Holiness that has been passed on. I don’t lose the fire, I don’t lose the glory, and I long for His outpouring all across the land.”
Will you join me in this prayer, in this desire.
I want us to stand and call on God to send the Glory. We need the glory today.
But I also want you to pray throughout this year for the Glory!
Pray for the Glory on your testimony,
Pray for the Glory when you are asked to lead song service
Pray for the glory when you sing a special song
Pray for the glory when you are at work
Pray for the Glory all year Long
We NEED THE GLORY. WE MUST HAVE THE GLORY!!!