The Glory of Christ

The book of Revelation is a revelation of Jesus Christ and we have glorious description of Him in chapter 1:12-16. Here the apostle John describes Him. Let us look at these verses and see what insight we can gain into who Christ is.

    1) He sees Christ in human form, even as we will see Him when He comes for us.

    2) His kingship and wealth is shown in the gold sash wrapped around His chest.

    3) His holiness represented by His white hair.

    4) His penetrating eyes that burn everything hidden away.

    5) His feet like fine bronze fired in a furnace speaks of His strength.

    6) His deafening voice. No one can stand against their power.

    7) His sharp edged tongue that brings life and death.

    8) His face radiates His glory, and those who look on it can find strength and consolation or be   

        scorched by its glory.

Now there may be other symbolism in this description. Yet, when all is said and done. We serve an almighty God who is multifaceted. Who can fully know Him? Who can fully comprehend the length, width and depth of Christ?

Do Not Be Alarmed

When we contemplate all that is happening in the world today. When reflect on the economic crisis and natural disasters that are taking place, seemingly more frequently and with greater intensity. When we see society falling apart morally. When we see fighting between nations and civil war. The world can be a scary and even depressing place.

Matthew chapter 24 talks extensively about these things. It prophecies that these things would happen. In Matthew 24:6, Jesus says that we are not to be alarmed. We are not to be surprised. We are not to be rattled or shaken by these events. Jesus said when these things come, "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." (Luke 21:28) In other words, while the world is in turmoil, we are not to be discouraged. We are not to fix our eyes on the trouble all around us, but stand tall with our eyes fixed on Jesus. When we see all these things we can take heart because our salvation or deliverance is near. Christ is coming for you!

An Everlasting Covenant

 

Psalms 105:8-10

 

“He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac. He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant.”

 

We serve a covenant keeping God. The Bible says it is “His covenant.” God Almighty, the Creator of the universe, who holds all things together by His word, is the one who makes His covenant with us. Thus, He is bound by His word to keep it for us. The writer of Hebrews shows how powerful this covenant is that God made not only for Abraham but for those of us who believe. Hebrews 6:13-18 says, “For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you." And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. …Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise (that is you and me) the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.”

 

The King of kings and Lord of all the earth, El-Shaddai the Lord All-sufficient, Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord our Provider, the Great I AM of our past, present and future has made a covenant with you. It is “an everlasting covenant” that has no expiration date. His covenant to us came into existence at “the word he commanded,” the same command that said “Let there be light” and there was light”, and we have had light every day since the creation of the world. It never changes! God’s covenant with you and with me is even more certain than creation because God said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my word will never pass away.” His covenant cannot fail because it is based on “two immutable things” God’s character and His word.

 

“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” (2 Corinthians 1:20) The promise is made by God, and in Christ they are Yes and Amen. But the promise is fulfilled through those of us in Christ Jesus for the glory of God. 2 Peter 1:4 says, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature.” Just as with Abraham, God has made a covenant with you that you may show forth His glory and be a blessing to your family, your church, your neighbors and the nations.

 

I want to encourage you today that God is a covenant-keeping God. Take time to review the covenants in His Word. Pray and allow these to become alive to your situation. Do not let doubt or disobedience hinder you from pressing into those promises. Remind God of His promises and be willing to step out in faith and maybe do something that you have never done before. Step out of the box of your routine and ability into the vastness of God’s greatness, and see Him work on your behalf.

Brokeness

Matthew 21:42-44 - "Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

“‘The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
    and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

⁴³ “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. ⁴⁴ Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”

God seeks a broken heart. A heart that cries out to Him. A heart fully yielded to him.

Romans 12:1-2 puts it this way - " Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Are you the person who is falling on the cornerstone, Jesus Christ. Are you on your knees with your body laid out on the stone as a living sacrifice. The picture Jesus gives is one who has thrown himself on the cornerstone, not a gentle lowering of the body. Picture someone walking along a path and trips and he falls against or on a large stone. You can be assured it will hurt. He could even break a leg or arm. Yet, it is better to fall on a large stone than a large stone falling on your head.

Jesus is saying fall on me and I will heal you, but if you choose not to, then I will fall on you and you will be crushed. This crushing He is speaking of here is destruction. If he falls on you, there is no hope of putting you back together.

Oh Lord help us to fall on you and deliver us from being crushed by you. God died that we would have life and have life more abundantly in Him. Let us fall on Him today.

Death to self bring life to us and others.

John 12:24 - " Very truly I tell you, 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."

This is a powerful truth. Here Jesus is referring to His death. His death will effect the lives of millions people. His death will bring in a great harvest of souls. Many seeds will be planted in the hearts of men as result His death and resurrection.

Yet, I believe He is referring to much more than this. There is a great principle here. It is through death that we bring life and bear much fruit. It is when we die to ourselves and selfish ambitions that we are the most effective in bringing change in others peoples lives. It is in selflessness and humility that God can use us to our full potential. It when get pride and ourselves out of the way that God's light and power can be shown through us.

The biggest handicap to successful ministry is ourselves. Yet our greatest asset is ourselves submitted to God. We do have great potential in us, but it can only be tapped when stop trying to draw from it and allow God to draw from it.

True Salvation brings Transformation

I like the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10. Here is a man who is hated by the Jews even though he being Jewish himself. They considered him worse than a Gentile because he collected taxes from God's people and exploited them. He was not the average tax collector but a chief tax collector. He was very wealthy.

Yet, he had heard the news about Jesus and took extreme measures to see Him. When Jesus said that he wanted to stay at his house, we see that Zacchaeus welcomed him with open arms. He was read to receive Jesus into his heart, not only his home.

How do Jesus recognize that he had given his heart to the Lord. It is when he got up and declared that he was giving half of his wealth away and paying back four time the amount that he cheated from people. True salvation bring change and transformation. It is not only confessing with your mouth that Jesus is Lord but showing it by your actions.

A heart that has been touched by the master will be heart that gives of themselves to others. It will be a generous heart. One who does not give generously to the church and others has not truly encountered the Lord. They are still rapped in self and self interest. Often these same people who are stingy show it by their actions towards others. Often not treating others with love and respect. The bottom line is what counts. What one can get out of the deal is what is most important. What one can get out of the relationship is most important.

Jesus said it is difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. There are three strong holds that hard to be broken in peoples lives: sex, money and power. Yet, I believe the greatest is money.

It was Hidden

Luke 18:31-34 - "Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. ³² He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him and spit on him; ³³ they will flog him⁽ and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.” ³⁴ The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about."

Much of what was said and taught by Jesus went right over the heads of His disciples. I am sure that they would often stare at Him with a blank and confused face. Sometimes, even antagonistic towards what He said. don't forget when Peter rebuked Jesus. Yet, it was not hidden form them forever. After Jesus died and rose from the grave, it was made clear to them I believe much of what Jesus taught was not understood by His disciples until He left them. I think many a time later in their life. They would be doing something and then it would dawn on them what Christ meant.

This is all encouraging to me as a preacher and teacher of God's Word. so many times I get blank and confused stares. At times even a rebuke or total disagreement. Yet, I know that for many it will come to them later. They will have an "OH" moment. The light will come on and say, yes he was right. Of course we all have experienced this in our lives.

Thank you Lord for you patience with us and give us greater understanding I pray.