THE GLORY ROAD

GLORY IN THE OLD COVENANT

ISRAEL & MOSES AT MOUNT SINAI

(Exo 24:15-18 NIV) "When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, {16} AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD SETTLED ON MOUNT SINAI. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. {17} TO THE ISRAELITES THE GLORY OF THE LORD LOOKED LIKE A CONSUMING FIRE ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN. {18} Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights."

THE GLORY OF GOD LOOKS LIKE A CONSUMING FIRE…

- THE GLORY OF GOD IS SCARY

- THE GLORY OF GOD APPEARS TO CAUSE DEATH..

SO, THE PEOPLE OF GOD REFUSE TO GO UP TO MEET WITH GOD..

- THEY ARE AFRAID TO DIE… SO THEY DON’T DRAW CLOSE TO GOD!

BUT MOSES DIDN’T STAY AWAY… MOSES WENT INTO THE FIRE!

- MOSES WAS CALLED: “THE MOST HUMBLE MAN THAT EVER LIVED!”

o BECAUSE HE CONTINUALLY SOUGHT GOD’S FACE

o BECAUSE HE CONTINUALLY BROUGHT HIS WILL UNDER GOD’S

o HE CHOSE TO DIE TO SELF… TO ENCOUNTER THE GLORY OF GOD!

NOT ONLY DOES MOSES MEET WITH GOD ON THE MOUNTAIN..

- HE BEGS FOR MORE….


MOSES BEGS GOD FOR A DEEPER REVELATION OF HIS GLORY!

(Exo 33:18-23 NIV) "THEN MOSES SAID, "NOW SHOW ME YOUR GLORY." {19} And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. {20} But," he said, "YOU CANNOT SEE MY FACE, FOR NO ONE MAY SEE ME AND LIVE." {21} Then the LORD said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. {22} WHEN MY GLORY PASSES BY, I WILL PUT YOU IN A CLEFT IN THE ROCK AND COVER YOU WITH MY HAND UNTIL I HAVE PASSED BY. {23} Then I will remove my hand and YOU WILL SEE MY BACK; BUT MY FACE MUST NOT BE SEEN.""

WHY DID GOD SAY… “YOU CANNOT SEE MY FACE..”

- THE FLESH CANNOT BEAR TO BE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD..

- ANGELS IN HEAVEN COVER THEIR FACES WITH THEIR WINGS..

- THE GLORY OF GOD WAS STRONG LIKE A FIRE..

BUT MOSES WANTED MORE… TO STAND “FACE TO FACE” WITH GOD!

WHY DID GOD SHOW HIMSELF TO MOSES??

- BECAUSE MOSES SOUGHT AFTER GOD’S FULLNESS.. HIS GLORY!

IN FACT, ONE OF GOD DEEPEST DESIRES IS TO BE REVEALED TO ALL MEN!

- GOD’S ORIGINAL INTEN WAS TO MAKE A WAY SO THAT ALL HUMANKIND COULD SEE HIM IN HIS GLORY (FULLNESS)

GOD EXPRESSES HIS DESIRE TO BE REVEALED TO HIS PEOPLE…

(Lev 9:3-8 NIV) "Then say to the Israelites: 'Take a male goat for a sin offering, a calf and a lamb--both a year old and without defect--for a burnt offering, {4} and an ox and a ram for a fellowship offering to sacrifice before the LORD, together with a grain offering mixed with oil. For today the LORD will appear to you.'" {5} They took the things Moses commanded to the front of the Tent of Meeting, and the entire assembly came near and stood before the LORD. {6} Then Moses said, "This is what the LORD has commanded you to do, SO THAT THE GLORY OF THE LORD MAY APPEAR TO YOU." {7} Moses said to Aaron, "Come to the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering and make atonement for yourself and the people; sacrifice the offering that is for the people and make atonement for them, as the LORD has commanded." {8} So Aaron came to the altar and slaughtered the calf as a sin offering for himself."

THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE, GOD CONTINUALLY MAKES A WAY FOR THE SEEKERS (THE HUMBLE & HUNGRY) TO ENCOUNTER HIM!

THE GLORY OF GOD IS HIS FULLNESS.. HIS NATURE..

MORE GLORY = MORE FULLNESS

- MORE GLORY = REVELATION

- MORE GLORY = MORE POWER

- MORE GLORY = MORE PRESENCE

- MORE GLORY = MORE TRUTH, VIRTUE, RIGHTEOUSNESS

- MORE GLORY = MORE OF GOD’S PRESENCE.. THE FULFILLMENT OF MAN!

THE ORIGINAL NATURE OF GOD INTENDED FOR US..

(Gen 1:26 NIV) "Then God said, "Let us make man in OUR IMAGE, in OUR LIKENESS, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

THE DEEP DESIRE OF GOD IS TO BE REVEALED….

- GOD’S NATURE IS THAT HE WANTS TO BE KNOWN..

- GOD’S HEART’S DEEPEST DESIRE IS TO BE SOUGHT AFTER..
IN THE GARDEN… AND EVER SINCE THE GARDEN, GOD’S DESIRE IS TO REVEAL HIS PRESENCE (HIS GLORY) TO US!!

THE GLORY OF MAN..

THE BIBLE SAYS…

(Gen 2:25 NIV) "The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame."

GOD CREATED US TO LIVE IN FULL REVELATION..

- ADAM AND EVE WERE NOT ASHAMED TO BE FULLY REVEALED BEFORE GOD..

THIS DEEP DESIRE FOR GLORY IS CREATED WITHIN EACH ONE OF US…

- TO KNOW AND TO BE FULLY KNOWN…

o THIS IS WHY JESUS COMPARES MARRIAGE TO HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CHURCH…

WE WERE CREATED TO LIVE FULLY REVEALED AND UNASHAMED BEFORE GOD…

THE GLORY OF GOD

(Hab 2:14 NIV) "For THE EARTH WILL BE FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE GLORY OF THE LORD, AS THE WATERS COVER THE SEA."

GOD’S DESIRE IS TO BE FULLY REVEALED ON THE EARTH…

THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS GLORY WILL COVER THE EARTH!!

JESUS IS THE REVELATION OF GOD’S GLORY (THE FULLNESS OF GOD)

(John 1:14 NIV) "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. WE HAVE SEEN HIS GLORY, THE GLORY OF THE ONE AND ONLY, WHO CAME FROM THE FATHER, full of grace and truth."

(Heb 1:3 NIV) "THE SON IS THE RADIANCE OF GOD'S GLORY and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven."

JESUS IS THE GLORY… JESUS IS GOD’S GLORY REVEALED IN FLESH!!

IT WAS A PROCESS… GOD REVEALED HIS GLORY THROUGH JESUS LIFE & ACTIONS

FIRST REVELATION: JESUS TURNS WATER INTO WINE….AND THE RESPONSE??

(John 2:1-11 NIV) "On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, {2} and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. {3} When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." {4} "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." {5} His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." {6} Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. {7} Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. {8} Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, {9} and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside {10} and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now." {11} This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. HE THUS REVEALED HIS GLORY, AND HIS DISCIPLES PUT THEIR FAITH IN HIM."

MIRACLES REVEAL THE FULLNESS OF GOD…

RESULT: PEOPLE PUT THEIR TRUST IN GOD BECAUSE GOD IS REVEALED!

RAISED LAZARUS FROM THE DEAD..

(John 11:2-4 NIV) "This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. {3} So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick." {4} When he heard this, Jesus said, "THIS SICKNESS WILL NOT END IN DEATH. NO, IT IS FOR GOD'S GLORY SO THAT GOD'S SON MAY BE GLORIFIED THROUGH IT.""

JESUS HEALS TO REVEAL THE FULLNESS OF GOD…

- TO SHOW THE WORLD WHO GOD IS AND WHAT HE DOES…

JESUS PROPHESIES ABOUT THE GLORY ROAD

(Mark 10:35-40 NIV) "Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask." {36} "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. {37} They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory." {38} "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" {39} "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, {40} but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared."

THE GLORY ROAD IS PAVED WITH HUMILITY

- THE GLORY COMES BY DEATH TO SELF

- THE GLORY OF GOD IS REVEALED BY IDENTIFICATION WITH JESUS..
JESUS ENTERED INTO HIS GLORY BY SUFFERING…

(Luke 24:25-26 NIV) "He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! {26} Did not the Christ have to suffer these things AND THEN ENTER HIS GLORY?"
JESUS ENTERED INTO “HIS GLORY” BY HUMBLE SELF-SACRIFICE

- THE NATURE OF GOD IS REVEALED WHEN THE FLESH IS BROUGHT UNDER THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT!

JESUS REVEALS THE GLORY ROAD FOR HIMSELF…. AND THEN FOR US!

(John 12:23-32 NIV) "Jesus replied, "THE HOUR HAS COME FOR THE SON OF MAN TO BE GLORIFIED. {24} I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. {25} THE MAN WHO LOVES HIS LIFE WILL LOSE IT, WHILE THE MAN WHO HATES HIS LIFE IN THIS WORLD WILL KEEP IT FOR ETERNAL LIFE. {26} WHOEVER SERVES ME MUST FOLLOW ME; AND WHERE I AM, MY SERVANT ALSO WILL BE. MY FATHER WILL HONOR THE ONE WHO SERVES ME. {27} "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. {28} Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again." {29} The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. {30} Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. {31} Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. {32} But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.""

JESUS REVEALS THAT “CROSS-BEARING” =DEATH TO SELF, IS THE GLORY ROAD!

WE REVEAL GOD’S GLORY WHEN WE WALK ON THE ROAD THAT JESUS WALKED ON!

THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH… REVEALING THE FULLNESS (GLORY) OF GOD

MOST IMPORTANT VERSE…

(2 Cor 4:16-5:4 NASB) "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. {17} FOR MOMENTARY, LIGHT AFFLICTION IS PRODUCING FOR US AN ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY FAR BEYOND ALL COMPARISON, {18} while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

{5:1}"FOR WE KNOW THAT IF THE EARTHLY TENT WHICH IS OUR HOUSE IS TORN DOWN, WE HAVE A BUILDING FROM GOD, A HOUSE NOT MADE WITH HANDS, ETERNAL IN THE HEAVENS. {2} For INDEED IN THIS HOUSE WE GROAN, LONGING TO BE CLOTHED WITH OUR DWELLING FROM HEAVEN; {3} INASMUCH AS WE, HAVING PUT IT ON, SHALL NOT BE FOUND NAKED.

{4} FOR INDEED WHILE WE ARE IN THIS TENT, WE GROAN, BEING BURDENED, BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT TO BE UNCLOTHED, BUT TO BE CLOTHED, IN ORDER THAT WHAT IS MORTAL MAY BE SWALLOWED UP BY LIFE."

WHEN WE CARRY THE CROSS, COME UNDER THE REFINING WORK OF GOD IT WORKS IN US A GLORY THAT IS BEYOND ALL COMPARISON!

WE GROAN IN THE BODY… WE WANT TO BE GLORIFIED… TO REVEAL GOD’S GLORY

(Rom 8:22-30 NIV) "WE KNOW THAT THE WHOLE CREATION HAS BEEN GROANING AS IN THE PAINS OF CHILDBIRTH RIGHT UP TO THE PRESENT TIME. {23} NOT ONLY SO, BUT WE OURSELVES, WHO HAVE THE FIRSTFRUITS OF THE SPIRIT, GROAN INWARDLY AS WE WAIT EAGERLY FOR OUR ADOPTION AS SONS, THE REDEMPTION OF OUR BODIES. {24} For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? {25} But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. {26} In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. {27} And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. {28} And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. {29} For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. {30} AND THOSE HE PREDESTINED, HE ALSO CALLED; THOSE HE CALLED, HE ALSO JUSTIFIED; THOSE HE JUSTIFIED, HE ALSO GLORIFIED."

THE GROANING (THE INWARD LONGING) THAT ALL HUMANITY FEELS…

- THE DRIVE TO SEEK DRUGS (EXPERIENCE MORE..)

- THE DRIVE TO EAT (FEEL FULL..)

- THE DRIVE TO HAVE SEX (FEEL INTIMATE… FULFILLED.. ETC…)

THE GROANING (THIS INWARD LONGING) IS ACTUALLY A LONGING FOR GOD’S FULLNESS TO BE REVEALED IN US!!

IT WAS PLACED IN US BY GOD SO THAT WE WOULD SEEK HIM!

THE LAST CHAPTER… THE WEDDING FEAST… THE FULLNESS OF GOD

(Rev 22 NIV) "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb {2} down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the HEALING OF THE NATIONS. {3} No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. {4} THEY WILL SEE HIS FACE, AND HIS NAME WILL BE ON THEIR FOREHEADS. {5} THERE WILL BE NO MORE NIGHT. THEY WILL NOT NEED THE LIGHT OF A LAMP OR THE LIGHT OF THE SUN, FOR THE LORD GOD WILL GIVE THEM LIGHT. AND THEY WILL REIGN FOR EVER AND EVER. {6} The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place." {7} "Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in this book." {8} I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. {9} But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!" {10} Then he told me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near. {11} Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy." {12} "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. {13} I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. {14} "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. {15} Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. {16} "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." {17} THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY, "COME!" AND LET HIM WHO HEARS SAY, "COME!" WHOEVER IS THIRSTY, LET HIM COME; AND WHOEVER WISHES, LET HIM TAKE THE FREE GIFT OF THE WATER OF LIFE. {18} I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. {19} And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. {20} He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. {21} The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen."

YOU SEE… THE LONGINGS THAT WE HAVE FOR LOVE, ACCEPTANCE AND FORGIVENESS WILL FINALLY BE FULFILLED IN THE END!

SEEKING THE REVELATION OF GOD’S GLORY

o BY DYING TO SELF:

o BEING THE SEED THAT EXPERIENCES “BEING BURIED/PLANTED”

o PICKING UP YOUR CROSS TO FOLLOW HIM

o BY LAYING DOWN YOUR LIFE TO FIND IT

o BY SEEKING TO DO THE WILL OF GOD!

LIVING IN THE REVEALED NATURE (GLORY) OF GOD BRINGS…

1. KNOWING WHO YOU ARE (CHILD OF GOD, BRIDE OF CHRIST)

2. KNOWING WHAT YOU ARE HERE FOR.. (TO REVEAL THE GLORY OF GOD)

3. WALKING IN A LIFESTYLE SUPERNATURAL EVENTS/ MIRACLES

4. IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING/TESTING TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND DEMONSTRATE THE CHARACTAR & NATURE OF GOD HIMSELF

5. A KNOWLEDGE THAT AT THE END OF TIME… ALL OF OUR DEEPEST DESIRES WILL BE MET IN HIM!