THE GLORY IS RISING!
(week 33/17)
Kunle Sokoya, Olubi Johnson and Gboyega Adesiyan

Isaiah 60:1 KJV: Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

The word ‘glory’ is derived from the Hebrew word ‘doxah’, and connotes ‘something very apparent’. Words like ‘brightness’ (Heb. 1:3), ‘magnificence’, majesty are used in English but glory is a substance that is in God – it is Life, Light and Love. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Glory (Eze. 8:2, 4; 1Pet. 4:14); He administers it (2Cor. 3:18). It can be manifest: Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James and John (Mk. 9:1-3,) by the Holy Spirit as He gave them a demonstration of the glory Jesus was talking about! Glory was always present but not always manifest. The glory we are expecting now is the manifestation of the fullness of the power of the Spirit without measure (Jn. 2:11) and we are ordained to obtain it (2Thess. 2:14)

God is building His Zion, perfect Church (Ps. 102:13,16) building up individual saints according to divine pattern (Heb. 8:5, Pr. 24:27). He has given us the earnest of the Spirit and expects us to use it inherit the fullness (Eph. 1:14). We do this by denying ourselves of convenience to give time and effort to learn to pray with the life of God (Mt. 6:5-6). We examine our hearts in the light of the revelation of ‘Christ in us’ through the Word (Mt. 16:16-18, Col. 1:27) preached by His apostles and prophets, who lay our spiritual foundation (Eph. 2:20). It is this quality of the Word that is profitable for building saints (Acts 20:32). As we submit to this Word (Mt. 21:44), our heart becomes ‘broken’, our will becomes more submitted, our mind enlightened and renewed, our emotions transformed by the fruit of the Spirit (Ezek. 36:25-26), making us more pleasing to God (Ps. 34:18).

This is the ‘first work’ God desires of all His children (Rev. 2:5). We must learn to diligently overcome the lusts of the flesh, of the eyes and the pride of life in our physical (sin-ridden) bodies (1Jn. 2:15), and to grow in divine Love (Pr. 18:10) or godly character. Through effectual, fervent prayer backed with the life of God, we cleanse and purge our hearts and bodies (2Cor.7:1; Jas.5:16) of wrong images and habits and so build Christ’s character of divine Love into our lives.

As we exercise ourselves in and grow in divine Love, we are increasing in glory! This is what the Lord Jesus accomplished during the ‘silent years’ in Nazareth (Heb.5:7-9).

There is a progressive triumphing over death and darkness going on now in the Zion Church and Satan’s works are being destroyed! This is the rising glory!

Our Lord Jesus also grew in the degree of glory He manifested. First in Jn. 2:11, He turned water to wine; then He healed the woman with the issue of blood (Mt.9:22), then He raised Jairus’ daughter who had been dead only a few hours (Lk. 8:54), before raising Lazarus who had been dead four days (Jn. 11:37,43)! As we follow the example of our spiritual fathers (Heb.6:11-12) on to ever-increasing glory, we too will experience and manifest a similar gradual rising of the glory in our lives.

God’s purpose in this endtime is that the knowledge of the glory of God fill the earth as the waters cover the sea (Hab. 2:14). As we are faithful in using the earnest of the Spirit, we become counted worthy to receive of His fullness, and as the glory rises in us, God will have an avenue from which to manifest when men ask ‘Where is now their God?’ (Ps. 115:1-2)! Also, God’s life will be manifest in our minds and bodies to attain and maintain good health, youthful looks, peace of mind and miraculous deliverances of power over death.

To increase in glory, we must focus more on the fruit of the Spirit (Christ’s character) than on material and financial prosperity (Lk. 12:16-20). We must reject spiritual ease (Amos 6:1) and build our relationship with God.

The Christ’s character is built and increases through exercise in our relationships (Eph. 3:18-19). Watch out for those things which stifle the pursuit and exercise of divine love such as

  • Cares of work, family, and leisure that steal our time;
  • We must prioritize godly conduct over money; be ready to practise Love even if you lose money! Forgive, think mercy, show goodwill. You will not lose (Eccl. 7:12)!
  • Avoid strife (Jas 3:14-16). Make peace and enforce it by humility and prayer!

We cultivate right attitudes: humility and humbleness of heart that leads to a reverence for God (1Tim. 3:4) and obedience and submission to spiritual fathers (Isa. 51:1-3; 2Cor. 6:13).  We also exercise our hearts in meekness to those subordinate.

We must obey instruction promptly and completely (Pr. 4:13 AMP) and where there is no instruction, ASK!

We must operate the 7 pillars of wisdom (Pr. 9:1) and meditate upon ‘present truth Glory Scriptures’.

Pray without ceasing, once every 6 hours (Dt.6:6-7), in every temptation (Mt.24:42), and at every opportunity throughout the day (1Cor.14:13).

Finally, we must obey natural laws of diet (watch what you eat), rest (forgo leisure and embrace rest), hygiene and natural medicine (drink clean water, use medicine when you need to) and exercise (start small and increase frequency). Regular check-ups are also important.

By so doing these, we will live long enough to apprehend our full inheritance of the glory of God, and experience its manifestation and rising in and through us!