FAITH, PATIENCE AND GLORY
(week 27/11)
Olubi Johnson
We are in great expectation of the manifestation of the glory of God in His church in this 3rd day in the fulfilment of the feast of Tabernacles.Paul describes this hope in
Romans 8:18-25 MKJV: For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed in us. (19) For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. (20) For the creation was not willingly subjected to vanity, but because of Him who subjected it on hope (21) that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (22) And we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. (23) And not only so, but ourselves also, who have the firstfruit of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, awaiting adoption, the redemption of our body. (24) For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen is not hope; for what anyone sees, why does he also hope for it? (25) But if we hope for that which we do not see, then we wait for it with patience.
Here the Holy Spirit, through Paul, tells us to wait for this manifestation with patience.
As we wait, there is a temptation to get weary and lose hope like David almost did when he left Israel for Ziklag (1 Sam. 27:6):
1Samuel 27:1 MKJV: And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul. Nothing is better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines. And Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any border of Israel, and so I shall escape out of his hand.
We see here the despair in David’s heart in spite of the fact that the prophetic Word had been given to him years earlier that he would be King (1 Sam.16:1-13): he said in his heart that he may be killed by Saul and so he left Israel.
We are to be careful that as we wait for the fulfilment of God’s prophetic Word for the manifestation of the glory of God in our generation in the fulfilment of the feast of Tabernacles, we must not be discouraged or let our hearts be sick (Pr. 13:12) because of delays in the manifestation.
Furthermore, Satan as it were, bombards us with many temptations so as to weary or discourage us as we wait for the manifestation so as to abort the manifestation in our individual lives (He cannot abort the manifestation, but he can cause those who are discouraged to give up and not experience it individually).
1Peter 4:12-13 MKJV: Beloved, do not be astonished at the fiery trial which is to try you, as though a strange thing happened to you, (13) but rejoice according as you are partakers of Christ’s suffering, so that when His glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy.
So the Holy Spirit again through Paul tells us in
Galatians 5:5 MKJV: For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness out of faith.
So, we are to wait, not passively, but actively through the Spirit.
How do we do this?
By faith and patience:
Hebrews 10:35-39 MKJV: Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great recompense of reward. (36) For you have need of patience, so that after you have done the will of God you might receive the promise. (37) For “yet a little while, and He who shall come will come and will not delay.” (38) Now, “the Just shall live by faith. But if he draws back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him.” (39) But we are not of those withdrawing to destruction, but of those who believe to the preserving of the soul.
Deuteronomy 30:14 MKJV: But the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may do it.
Practically, this means we keep the promise of God’s prophetic Word concerning the manifestation of His glory in the fulfillment of the feast of Tabernacles, in our mouths and hearts; praying regularly without ceasing with our thoughts, words and in the Spirit, so releasing the power of the Holy Spirit in sufficient measure to overcome all the temptations Satan throws at us to enable us to endure until the glory is manifested.
