Focus: Glory In The Church (Pt.2)

Text: Eph.3:21

"Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."

We are continuing with the subject of God's glory in the church of Jesus Christ. One problem the church has is that we have replaced God's glory with vain glory. There is so much display of human activity, human achievement, human honor, and human everything that the shekinah glory of God is missing in the temple. Hearts are yearning for God's glory. When Isaiah stepped into the temple, seeking God, he said, "I saw also the Lord sitting upon a THRONE, high and lifted up, and his train filled the TEMPLE… the whole EARTH is full of his GLORY… for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts" (Isa.6:1,3,5). John testifies, "These things said Esaias, when he SAW his glory, and SPAKE of HIM" (Jh.12:41). Isaiah saw and spoke. He spoke of Christ because he saw the glory of Christ. 

Whose glory do you see in the church, man's vain glory or God's great glory? Isaiah saw the transcendent Lord sitting majestically on a throne of splendor, and His glory penetrated, permeated, pervaded and saturated the temple, and from the temple the glory spread until the whole earth is full of His glory. In this vision of Isaiah God's glory is seen everywhere. And truly, God wants His glory to be seen everywhere in the universe. His glory creates our story and shapes our history. What we behold, we hold. What we constantly behold, we become. I want God's glory, not what resembles it. 

Nothing can substitute for the glory of Christ in the church. God's glory humbles us. Man's glory humiliates us.

Paul cautions, "Let us not be desirous of VAIN GLORY, provoking one another, envying one another" (Gal.5:26). God's people long for God's glory.

Now let us go to the book of Revelation 21, and see God's glory as John reports it. In verse 11, we read, "Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal." The new Jerusalem is having and manifesting the glory of God. It is fully lighted with God's glory. Verse 23 says, "And the city had no need of the SUN, neither of the MOON, to shine in it: for the GLORY of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." The services of the sun and the moon are no longer required because the real deal is in place. The Lamb is the light of the city. The glory of God illuminates the city, leaving no room for cheap substitutes or needless alternatives. Hallelujah! Verse 24 reads, "And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it." This is awesome! Glory, glory, glory!!! Redeemed nations are walking in the light of the glory. Kings bring their glory and honor into the city. People will no longer have regard for silver and gold when they see the glory of God. People will be ready and willing to worship God with all they've got once they can see or sight the glory of God.

Finally, verse 26 repeats the same thing: "And they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it." Glory attracts. Glory magnets. The church is God's vehicle of glory. We are glory-carriers. Our worship centers should be places of God's glory. The church cannot truly function and fulfill her role on earth without God's glory, presence and power. Let every believer join me in prayer for a return of Christ's glory to the church. Jeremiah lamented, "How is the gold become dim! How is the most fine gold changed! The stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street" (Lam.4:1). It's time for discovery and recovery. We want the glory back. God's people must be full of God's glory. His glory is expressed through our lives and lifestyle, through our conduct and character, through our beliefs and behaviors, and through our words and works. O Lord, help us manifest Your glory to the world around us! Amen.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter