God Morning Family,
It really cracks me up whenever I hear someone preaching about going "from glory to glory" and the people start shouting, cheering, and clapping. I'm no party pooper, but I don't think many
are really studying their Bibles. When the man or woman of God begins to preach that we will go from glory to glory or victory to victory I want to shout "don't forget to tell what happens in the in-between!". If people really understood the in-between they're response would be a little more sober and alot more reflective.
First let's remember that Jesus Christ was our example as well as our Master. He walked it out so we could know what it would look like.
First when Jesus came to this earth He gave up His glory. He gave up His rights, privileges, and His own will. The glory to glory walk begins with choosing to do find and do the will of God to the exclusion of all else. Good ideas (my desires, opinions, and will) pale in comparison to God ideas.
Second Jesus was willing to endure disapproval (from even His family) criticism, and hate in order to do His Father's will. He focused on His mission even though it made Him a very unpopular person.
Third when it came time to finish His mission, to do the hard thing, He didn't shrink back. He went to His Father in prayer, was honest about His resistance to God's plan, and stayed in prayer until He was strengthened to obey.
Fourth He suffered mentally and physically. Falsely accused, deserted by those closest to Him, beaten, tortured, and hung on a cross without hope of rescue. This was God's will and it was no party.
Fifth He died. He looked like a failure. To everyone who heard His words it was as victory died with Him, but they simply lacked understanding. Man does not define success the way God does and in our way of thinking a victorious battle should never include our death. But to God the death of one righteous obedient man leads to the salvation of the multitudes.
Sixth He resurrected. The power of the Holy Spirit brought this God-Man to life. Death had no power over Him.
Finally He ascended to sit at the right hand of the Father and came into all glory and power.
This is our pattern family and there is no way around it. The righteous will indeed go from glory to glory, and many times. But the in the in-between there are great trials and suffering, death even,whether it be to the flesh or a real dying and going to be with the Lord.
Do not faint, nor lose heart in the in-between, glory and reward is in His hands.
"Yes, I'm on my way! I'll be there soon! I'm bringing my payroll with me. I'll pay all people in full for their life's work. I'm A to Z, the First and the Final, Beginning and Conclusion. Revelation 22:12 (The Message)
Stay in the Word and in Prayer!
Love in our Lord,
Lauren
