Walking in God's Glory

Let’s read Romans 6:4 and 5...

'In the light of all that God has done in our midst, where does your earnest expectation presently lie? In other words, what are you truly hoping [or believing] for right now?' You might be hoping for financial prosperity, physical healing, or freedom from fear and anxiety and all this expectancy is very beneficial. However, there is something far more powerful to fix your hope upon. Yes, there is something so mighty that it exceeds anything that you may ask, think or imagine. It is a life so full of the glory of God that darkness of every kind is instantly dispelled. It's abiding in the divine glow that radiates from the abundant life that God intends for you!

In the Garden of Eden, God had crowned Adam and Eve with the same beautiful light that was on God Himself. God anointed them head to foot with His own glory! He covered them with His very presence. Consequently, they began to radiate the glory of God and needed no clothing or any other means of protection. Romans 6:4 reveals to us that Jesus was raised from the dead "by the glory of God". But it also declares that "by the same glory we should walk in newness of life." Therefore, according to God's Word you and I are supposed to be walking [living] in His powerful glory!

In Acts 5 we find the wonderful account of Peter walking down the street and his very shadow healing people. I don't believe it was Peter's shadow healing people. After all, there is no record of anything to do with darkness ever healing anyone. However, the glory of God was pouring out of him in such measure that it probably cast shadows and people were getting healed. The sphere of fiery light which encompassed him [the glory] must have been the manifested presence of God Himself - personifying Jehovah Rapha!

In Old Testament scripture we often find the Hebrew word 'tiparah' translated "glory", and it is used of God to emphasise His rank, renown, greatness and inherent beauty.... "Yours O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty" [1 Chronicles 29:11].

In the New Testament, however, the Greek word 'thoxa' appears, and it is used primarily of the nature and acts of God in self-manifestation. That is, what He essentially is and does, as exhibited in whatever way He chooses to reveal Himself. For instance, when His grace and mighty power were evidenced, this constituted His 'glory'. Also, 'thoxa' denotes a supernatural demonstration of the perfection of His character, and especially His righteousness.

So what exactly is the glory of God? The fire of God is called the glory; the wind of God is called the glory; the smoke of God is called the glory, and the fullness of God is called the glory. These, and many other characteristics are called the glory of God. The truth is, they are ALL 'thoxa' because the glory of God refers to the divine life and essence of God - the very power that makes Him God Almighty! What God essentially is and does - in whatever and whichever may He chooses to reveal Himself - is His glory. Also, anything that God does, which is worthy of praise, is 'thoxa'.

Now, brace yourselves, for here's an awesome truth! The glory of God isn't off in heaven somewhere. Up there, far and beyond - waiting for some great prophet to pull it down like a roller-blind. It isn't hovering out of reach behind the pearly gates either! IT'S INSIDE and UPON YOU AND I! The carnal mind finds this hard to comprehend, but don't worry, the apostle Paul calls it a mystery. Yet, according to New Testament scripture, a mystery is something which God kept secret until it could be revealed in His Son Jesus.

Turn with me now to Colossians 1 and let's read verses 26 to 29 together...

Can you grasp what this passage of scripture it actually saying? It is declaring that the anointing of Jesus Himself, which is in essence the very same glory [operative power] that raised Him from the dead, is present and residing in each of you. Remember our opening verse... [Romans 6:4] "We also should walk in newness of life [abundant life], according to the same glory which raised Jesus from the dead!" Why? Verse 5... "For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be united in the likeness of His resurrection." Christ's resurrection was made possible by the glory of the Father. Likewise, our 'comeback' from any disaster is made possible by the glory of God!

Therefore, your earnest hope should always lie in Christ, IN YOU, the HOPE OF GLORY! In verse 29, Paul reveals that [in his ministry] he was totally dependant on that mighty power which was effectively operating in him. And what's more, it was this energising power [the glory] that caused positive change in others and helped make them perfect [complete] in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 4:7 confirms this truth and goes on to state that the glory of God is contained in earthen vessels, in order that.... "The excellence [superiority] of the power may be of God and not of us."

The AMP version says, "However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light] in frail, human vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves." Verse 11 continues "that the resurrection life [the glory] of Jesus also may be shown forth by and in our mortal bodies."

Earthen vessels are weak and fragile instruments, yet they are designed to virtuously contain the energising power and glory of God. What a paradox! But remember, God has a very good reason for allowing this to take place..... "that the grandeur and excellence and exceeding greatness of such awesome power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves."

The fullness of Christ [the hope of glory] is in us! Therefore, the glory of God should be gushing out of these earthen vessels in abundance. What's more, the grandeur, excellent and superior power of God that's present IN US is inexhaustible, and is readily available to meet every need [in every situation]!

Chris Demetriou, 02/10/2005