FOR HIS GLORY
What is our purpose? Why did God create us? I have heard there is one thing God is unable to do. That is worship Himself, thus he created us to do just that. I agree with this, but I recently heard a message that took that thought to an even deeper level.
What are we doing when we worship God? Anytime you praise someone, you are glorifying them for something they have accomplished. We all enjoy receiving personal praise. I hope to show you how to gain the attention and favor of God by showing you exactly what He is looking for.
Ten years ago, God took a small college basketball team on a hard to believe journey to the 2009 NAIA DII National Championship. Entering the 2007-08 season Oklahoma Wesleyan University had never even qualified the NAIA National Tournament. Not only that, but the program was coming off of six straight 20 loss seasons and the school was struggling to keep its doors open.
Things began to turnaround in 2007-08 as OKWU received one of the final at-large bids to the National Tournament. Entering the 2008-09 season there was a Spirit surrounding the program that is hard to explain. Our team’s theme became “For His Glory”. We miraculously went on to win the National Championship going 35-2 and went on to win a NAIA Record 39 consecutive games extending into the 2009-10 season. Was this a coincidence or Divine Intervention? I know what I believe. Let’s take a closer look.
As the last seconds ran off the clock OKWU fans chanted “For His Glory”. The entire scene was beyond my wildest dreams. God had taken me from being turned down for my dream job, to a job at OKWU that looked on paper to be one of the worst college basketball coaching jobs in the country. We honestly focused on one thing as we knew what we wanted to accomplish was impossible in the natural. To read the miraculous story in its entirety, click here to buy the digital book.
While seeking God last night, I feel God showed me something I should have grasped tightly ten years ago. Let me explain.
What is Glory? I have a pastor friend who is named Glory. I have written a book called “For His Glory”. I have echoed Moses prayer from Exodus 33 in which Moses ask God to “Show me your Glory”! Yet it was not until last night that God revealed to me why His Glory is so special!
God has many powerful names such as King of Glory! God is pure unmatched Glory! God’s Glory is unique. God is glorious whether you bring Him glory or not. He has no room for improvement. Yet, He still desires you to experience His Glory!
Psalm 29:3 – He is the God of Glory
Psalm 8:1 – His Glory is above the heavens
Isaiah 48:11 God will not share His Glory
Psalms 119:1-6 The heavens and earth declare the Glory of God
Unlike man’s glory, God’s Glory does not diminish. God’s desire is to find people who want, more than anything else, for His Glory to be seen through them. People who have no desire to achieve personal fame, wealth, or praise as a result of their actions. God is looking for a people who desire with all their heart to show others His all-powerful Glory.
In the End, all we will need is God’s Glory. “And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon to give light to it, for the glory (splendor, radiance) of God has illumined it, and the Lamb is its lamp and light.” Revelation 21:23 AMP
Because God’s Glory is so great. The Angels sing constantly “Holy, Holy, Holy” as they are hit with wave after wave of His Glory in Heaven. Our earthly bodies can’t even handle His Glory. Moses could only catch a glimpse of God’s back, which caused his face to glow for days.
God sent Jesus so that we could see His Glory in human form! Jesus was full of the Spirit and the Glory of God without measure! Satan attempts to blind us of this glory. “Among them the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelieving to prevent them from seeing the illuminating light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 AMP
God’s Glory is expressed through Jesus Christ in us, in the person of the Holy Spirit! We were created for His Glory. God made man in His likeness and image because He wanted to see His Glory revealed. “Everyone who is called by My Name, Whom I have created for My Glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.” Isaiah 43:7 AMP
Roman 3:23 says that we have all sinned and came short of the Glory of God! Sin detracts from bringing God Glory, but by grace and the power of the Spirit, we can accomplish our purpose in bringing our Heavenly Father the Glory He deserves! “So then, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of [our great] God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 AMP
Glory is defined as heavy or weighted. The Glory of God is the heavy weight of everything contained in the character of God. It has been called the manifested presence of God, but more than just a presence, it’s power. The kind of power that resurrects, delivers, overcomes and transforms. It is greater and stronger than any other power in existence. And it belongs to us. Because you were born of God (John 1:13), that Glory is inside you right now.
Are you looking for the Glory? Steven was and he saw it. “But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God.” Acts 7:55, NKJV
The Glory of God is a visible power. In the Old Testament, the glory appeared as a cloud, smoke or fire. This visible power is also known as Shekinah Glory, which is the Hebrew name given to the presence of God dwelling on the earth. It is tangible and it is powerful! So, start expecting to see the Glory of the Lord!
Pray for the glory to be revealed in you as Paul did. “For I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18, NKJV
When believers gathered together in a spirit of unity, seeking the Lord, the Glory appeared in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost, and sat on the head of each person there (Acts 2:1-4). Each born-again believer has the ability to manifest God’s glory here on earth, but we must believe when we pray. That’s why Jesus told Martha that if she would believe, she would see the glory of God (John 11:40).
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the Glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” –2 Corinthians 3:18, NKJV
The Glory of God looks for a dwelling place. The original house for the glory of God was the tabernacle. But under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit builds a temple in every believer. First Corinthians 3:16 says, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (NKJV). We are God’s house—His temple – the resting place for God’s Glory.
When the believers experienced the Glory of God at Pentecost, they didn’t just go back to living normal lives. They emerged from that place as separate from the rest of the world and as light in the midst of darkness. They went out and started turning the world upside down for Jesus. They preached the gospel; and worked miracles, signs and wonders; and the Lord added to the Church daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:47). That’s the Glory we need to be operating in!
Those first believers received the same Spirit you did when you got saved and baptized with the Holy Spirit. Don’t allow satan to blind you to the fact that you are carrying God’s Glory and that you have ONE PURPOSE!
TO SHOW THE WORLD GOD’S GLORY!
FOR HIS GLORY!!