Topic: You will be glorified - Part 1
Bible Reading: John 17: 20-26
Introduction
Glory can be described as honor won by notable achievements of highly renown. It is the magnificence of great beauty from His Majesty, the Almighty God. Therefore, you must be worthy before you will be glorified. God alone has the capability to make anyone glorious by bestowing honor on humans, according to the effort you have put in winning souls for Him, which will prompt Him to elevate you to celestial glory when you sleep in Him.
So, if you want to be glorified, you must work for the Lord, according to a song which says “Let us work for our King, let us work for the King of heaven, this world is not ours, let us work so that we will be crowned with a crown of glory.” Glory is a necessity to our existence because without glory we can neither excel in this world nor be admitted into the glorious kingdom of our heavenly Father. Without glory humans are like trash that is of no use, which must be quickly disposed in order not to contaminate the atmosphere.
Anyone without glory is a walking corpse, and such person cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Inasmuch as God is a Glorious Being, you can only please God and walk with Him, if you have glory. Do not forget that you can neither leave a footprint in this world nor be useful in the eternal kingdom of our heavenly Father without glory. Inasmuch as God has promised to glorify you, do not allow anything in this world to tamper with this promise. People without glory can neither be useful in this world nor in the world to come, also the service of such people is in vain, because they do not have the necessity to inherit the kingdom of God.
Many people in the world are filled with shame and contempt instead of the glory of God. They are filled with disgrace instead of honor, because they have forsaken the Lord God of their fathers. The God given glory is missing in many peoples lives due to their disobedience and stubbornness. Wake up from your slumber today, so that your glory will never turn to shame anymore; as it is written “You are filled with shame instead of glory. You also —drink! And be exposed as uncircumcised! The cup of the Lord’s right hand will be turned against you, and utter shame will be on your glory” Habakkuk 2:16. You need to depart from evil if you do not want your glory to turn to shame. The only way for you to be glorified is for you not to stray from the righteous path.
We need to realize that our God is not human, so He will never lie. He is not a son of man that He should repent for His wrongdoings. He will never make a promise and fail to keep it, or speak without keeping it. Therefore, the word of God to you today is that you will be glorified if you abide by/with the commandments of the Lord which was designed to make you to qualify to enter His eternal kingdom; according to the Bible passage which says, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent, has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” Numbers 23:19. God will never fail to glorify you in this world and the world to come, if you are obedient, and have no other god besides Him. When Jesus Christ was in this world in flesh, He said “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself and glorify Him immediately” John 13:31-32. Almighty God who glorified Jesus Christ our Lord will glorify you if you are worthy in His presence. This year, God’s glory will be revealed through you and He will be glorified through you in every aspect of your life.
Glorious God
The glory of God surrounds us, and the sky reveals His glory on daily basis. Our God is glorious in His works, and He is able to glorify any human who do His will. Wherever you turn to in His world, you will notice that both living and non-living thing are telling the greatness of God and His glory. The Book of Psalms corroborated this fact by saying “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork” Psalm 19:1. Are you declaring the glory of God so as to be glorified? The bible says, the earth is filled with the glory of God and the heavens are proclaiming His glory. How are you declaring the glory of God? Do you know that it is your duty to proclaim the glory of God in order to be glorified? Do not be selfish; tell others too about this opportunity that can make them to be glorified in this world and the world to come. We need to clarify that only God is worthy to be glorified, He is the One who is worthy to be praised because our God is a jealous God who will neither give His glory to anyone or the idols nor share His praises with idols. As it is written “I am the Lord, that is My name, and My glory I will not give to another nor My praise to carved images” Isaiah 42:8. All glory belongs to God; He is a God of glory, and the only Supreme Being who owns glory. He is the only Being who can glorify you, if you do what pleases Him, therefore stop serving the idols or the contrary spirits who can neither glorify you nor themselves.
The Glory of God Fills the Earth: It is time for humans to admit that the glory of God is what preserves us till this moment. The glory of God is visible in every aspect of our lives. This world and the heaven are filled with the glory of God in manner that protects and preserves us. The Bible corroborated this fact by saying "But truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord" Numbers 14:21. Inasmuch as this world is filled with the glory of God, are you among those that will be glorified? Since the glory of God fills the entire earth, will your deeds allow you to partake in the glory of God? Are you walking the Christianity journey without any glory? It is time for you to turn a new leaf, so that you will be one of the partakers of the limitless and endless glory of God; according to the attestation of the Book of Psalms which says, The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utter speech; and night unto night reveals knowledge ......" Psalm 19:1-4. Prophet Isaiah also saw the heavenly vision which confirmed that the heavenly hosts are glorifying God Who is worthy to be glorified. As it is written, "And one cried to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!'" Isaiah 6:3. The hosts of heaven confirmed that the whole earth is filled with the glory of God, are you among those who are filled with the glory of God? If you want to be glorified, when was the last time that you gave glory to the Lord? If you are given the glory, do you promise not to misuse it or share it with the darkness?
This is a wake up call, for you to do what is right and acceptable before the Lord, so as to receive this free gift called the glory. Since God has promised not to give His glory to another, or permits the worshipers of idols to triumph over you, it is time to take meaningful steps which will qualify you as somebody who is worthy to be glorified; according to the Bible passage which says "For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; for how should My name be profaned? And I will not give My glory to another." Isaiah 48:11. Though God will not allow His reputation to be tarnished but you need to take steps that can make the heavens to glorify you.
It is your duty to give glory to whom the glory belongs, give glory to the One and only Supreme being who created the heavens and the earth by saying "O Lord, our Lord how excellent is Your name in all the earth, who have set Your glory above the heavens" Psalm 8:1. Do not forget that you must first give glory to God before He will reciprocate your good gesture by glorifying you.
If the heavenly beings are glorifying God, then you too need to glorify Him, so that you will be glorified. For this reason, lift up the gates of your heart, so that the King of glory will come into your life to glorify you according to the Book of Psalm which says "Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle ......" Psalm 24:7-10. If you want to be glorified you must open the spiritual gate of your heart and allow Jesus Christ the King of glory to come into your heart and dwell in your life. The only way to be glorified is to be obedient to the Lord your creator and obey His commandments.
Topic: You will be glorified - Part 2
Bible Reading: John 17: 20-26
We shall continue our discussion by mentioning that glory belongs to God Almighty alone and humans must glorify only their Creator and not the idols.
Glory belongs to God
Glory belongs to God alone, and He is the only Supreme Being that is worthy to collect glory, inasmuch as glory is perceived by humans as the manifestation of God’s presence, then it is our duty to give glory to the Lord for keeping us alive in this sinful and dangerous world.
The work of God is glorious: The physical works of God that surround us are full of glory and every work of His hand except the ones contaminated by Lucifer is glorious. So, our God is incomparable because He is majestic and holy, He is a glorious miracle worker. The Bible testified to this fact by saying “Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” Exodus 15:11. With this confirmation, give your life to God who is abundantly able to glorify you. You must neither rely on humans that are incapable of giving you glory nor put your hope in the deities/contrary spirits who will make you to spend your eternity in hell. Never forget that the hand of the Lord is gloriously strong, and amazingly wins glory on every occasion by crushing the enemy; according to the scripture which says “Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces” Exodus 15:6. For this reason, continue to praise and bless the glorious name of the Lord on daily basis because His glory can be seen everywhere on earth: as it is written, “And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen” Psalm 72:19. Are you among the people who are praising and blessing the glorious name of God on daily basis? If not, when was the last time that you blessed and praised the glorious name of God?
At this point, we need to confess that everything the Lord does is glorious and majestic, because glory belongs to Him. And His power to bring justice will never end; according to the Bible passage which says “His work is honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endures forever” Psalm 111:3. Since everything our God does reveals His glory and majesty, then He is more glorious than the eternal mountains. The scripture confirmed this fact by saying “You are more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey” Psalm 76:4. Our God is glorious because He shines like a bright eternal light which the darkness can never overcome. He is glorious and more majestic than the everlasting mountains; it is for this reason that a passage in the Lord’s Prayer stated that kingship, power and glory belong to God forever. As it is written “And do not lead us to temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen” Matthew 6:13. Do not deceive yourself by seeking glory from idols or humans; only God can glorify and beautify you, because glory belongs to Him. If you seek God whole heartedly and obey His commandments, then you will be glorified.
You must appreciate the glory of God: Many Christians in the world today are not glorified, simply because they failed to appreciate and glorify God. Do not take things for granted if you desire to be glorified, you must value and cherish the glory of God. Furthermore, you must give God all the glory by glorifying Him before you can be glorified. Unless you satisfy the aforementioned conditionality, you cannot be glorified. Since the manifestation of the awesome power of God in conjunction with the mercy of our Creator called the divine glory is important and essential to human existence, then, we must strive to be glorified and inherit the kingdom of God.
It is the duty of the believers to give thanks to the Lord and praise Him on daily basis; they need to glorify His awesome name at every occasion and opportunity. They must neither be ashamed to glorify the Lord in public nor fail to give to Him glory for every good thing that happen to them. Remember the passage in the Bible which says “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven” Matthew 10:32. Hence, do not be ashamed to confess and praise the Lord your God. If you want Him to glorify you, you must also honor and glorify His name throughout your existence so that you will be glorified. As it is written “I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore” Psalm 86:12. Continue to propagate the marvelous glory of your Creator and the glorious splendor of the majesty of your God. Do not be an ingrate, so tell people about the glory and the majesty of your God and do not forget to meditate on His wonderful deeds: according to the scripture which says “I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works” Psalm 145:5. For this reason “Sing out the honor of His name; make His grace glorious” Psalm 66:2. It has been established that you must sing about the glory of His name, offer Him glorious praise, and tell the world how glorious He is.
It is your duty to thank the Lord your God every morning before you go to your office/work/school; you must show appreciation by praising His glorious name and those attributes which His name denotes. Do not arrogate any of your achievements to your prowess instead give God the glory; according to the scripture which says “Now, therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name” 1 Chronicles 29:13. Do not fail to declare to the world that the majestic name of the Lord fills the earth and His divine glory is higher than the heavens. Let the people realize that the greatness of God and the magnificence of His name are visible everywhere in the world. As it is written “O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth, who have set Your glory above the heavens!” Psalm 8:1. For this reason, “All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name” Psalm 86:9. Therefore, “All Your works shall praise You, O Lord, and Your saints shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, and talk of Your power, to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations” Psalm 145:10-13.
Do not glorify Idols/Deities
Do not glorify idols/demons, instead, it is better to glorify God who in turn will glorify you. The idols or the contrary spirits are not worthy to be glorified; according to the Bible passages which say “Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; eyes they have, but they do not see……Those who make them are like them; so is everyone who trusts in them” Psalm 115:4-8. We can deduce from the passages that idols are worthless. Therefore, you must neither trust them nor glorify them; instead, give God the glory in all your ways.
Humans were created for glory of God: Many people in the world today have exchange their eternal Glory (the true God) for (man made idols) which neither profit nor benefit them. Many Christians are rejecting the glorious God to worship idols due to lack of knowledge and behaviors of people around them. This sinful attitude must be eradicated immediately among the Christendom. As it is written “Has a nation changed its gods, which is not gods? But My people have changed their glory for what does not profit” Jeremiah 2:11. Are you one of the people who have exchanged their glorious God for worthless idols? Beware so that whatever that you are passing through will not make you to make a wrong decision. You must have the confidence that your situation will not lead to your demise, instead it will bring glory to God. Do not fear what you are passing through, but remain faithful to God so that your condition will end in joy, bring honor to God and promote His glory: According to the Bible passage which says “When Jesus heard that, He said, ‘This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it’” John 11:4. Have faith that whatever that is presently happening in your life will bring glory to God, and it will be the means by which the Son of God will receive glory.
We need to realize that the purpose why God created the believers is for His glory. We that are called by His name were created to bring Him honor and glory. As it is written “Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him” Isaiah 43:7. Anyone who claims the Lord as his/her God was created for His glory in His image. Therefore, all the believers will find justice and glory in God. The only way to enjoy righteousness, salvation and victory is through the Lord your God; according to the scripture which says “In the Lord all the descendants of Israel shall be justified, and shall glory” Isaiah 45:25.
Obedience and glory: You must be obedient in order to be glorified; without obedience no one will be glorified. Whenever you obey the instructions of the Lord or comply with His directives, you will be glorified. Moses testified to this fact by saying “‘This is the things which the Lord commanded you to do, and the glory of the Lord will appear to you.’ And Moses said to Aaron, ‘Go to the altar, offer your sin offering and your burnt offering, and make atonement for yourself and for the people. Offer the offering of the people, and make atonement for them, as the Lord commanded’” Leviticus 9:6-7. It must be noted that without atonement and purification, no human will be glorified. Inasmuch as Jesus Christ had paid the ultimate price on the Cross, and He had redeemed us with His Blood, we need to reconcile with our Creator and mend our relationship with Him in order to be glorified. “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord required of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8. God expect you to do what is right at all times, let mercy be your first concern and humbly obey Him, it is then that you will be glorified. Moses and Aaron attested to this fact according to the Bible passage which says “And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of Meeting and came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people” Leviticus 9:23. Be obedient, if you want the dazzling light of the Lord’s presence to appear to you, and do not stray from the righteous path if you want to be glorified. Almighty God who glorified our Lord Jesus Christ and His name will glorify you, if and only if you are worthy; according to the scripture which says “Father, glorify Your name. Then a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘I have both glorified it and will glorify it again’” John 12:28. Do not forget that you need obedience to be glorified.
Topic: You will be glorified - Part 3
Bible Reading: John 17: 20-26
We shall continue our discussion by mentioning how important it is for humans to seek the glory of God during their lifetime and the prerequisite for humans to be glorified.
Humans must seek the glory of God
In the world today many people lack the knowledge and countless people cannot intelligently discern that seeking the glory of God is one of the best things that can happen to anyone. It is difficult for several people to comprehend that seeking God is a necessity to their existence. There are people who think seeking the glory of God is a burdensome task and must be abandoned. Majority of the population of the world think seeking God and His glory is a waste of time, instead of security and benefits. This accusation will be found in the scripture which says “There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God” Romans 3:11. Do you belong to the category of people who are seeking vanity instead of God? When was the last time that you search for God? Do you understand that there are many benefits for seeking God? So, indirectly, no one seeks God because we are too busy or engrossed in our earthly activities.
Seeking the glory of God is important: It is a necessity for everyone to seek the glory of God during their existence because all human life on the earth is like grass, and all human glory is like a flower in the field. We humans wither like grass and our glory fades like the wild flowers. Grass dries up, and the flowers fall to the ground; that is the reason for us to seek the glory of God which is eternal. As it is written “Because ‘All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away” 1 Peter 1:24. If your glory is like flower that fades, don’t you think it is time for you to seek the glory of God? Since you desire to be glorified perpetually, why not begin to seek the glory of God? Seek the glory of God and do not fear the difficulties that are presently confronting you, because it is a way to strengthen you, and it will bring you a glory. You need to realize that your present troubles are small and they won’t last very long, instead they will produce an eternal stockpile of glory that vastly outweighs them. As it is written; “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” 2 Corinthians 4:17. Do not fear whatever that you are passing through because your distress and transient problems cannot be compared with the transcendent glory and endless blessings which will be revealed in your life, if you seek the glory of God. For this reason, who will stand in awe of You, Lord? Are you ready seek His glory and glorify His name? According to the Bible passage which says “Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You. For Your judgments have been manifested” Revelation 15:4.
Seek the glory and be delivered: It must be noted that if you seek the glory of God, you will be set free from slavery of corruption, and you will share in the glorious freedom of God’s children. One of the ways to be liberated from the bondage of corruption is to seek His eternal glory. According to the scripture which says; “Because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” Romans 8:21. We need to understand that those who seek the glory of God will be raised from death, and they will be glorified and inherit the kingdom of God. Inasmuch as no one will live eternally unless such person first sleeps in the Lord. The Book of Corinthians attested to this fact by saying “But someone will say, ‘How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come? Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies’” 1 Corinthians 15:35-36. Are you among those who will resurrect and be glorified? Do you think you are worthy to be given angelic body to inherit the kingdom of God? Christ will change our weak mortal bodies and make them like His own glorious body. God will exert the authority which enables Him to bring everything under His control to modify and refashion our earthly bodies to be like His glorious resurrected body. As it is written “Who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” Philippians 3:21. Do not forget that God will give eternal glory, honor and immortality to those who are seeking Him. He will give eternal life to everyone who has patiently done what is good in the hope of receiving glory, honor, and everlasting life; according to the Book of Romans which says; “Eternal life to those who by patient continuance is doing good for glory, honor and immortality” Romans 2:7. Are you worthy to be glorified based on your good work? Do you think that you will be rewarded with eternal life for your perseverance? For this reason, continue to seek the glory of God. Since we have the promise and assurance of Jesus Christ that whoever seeks finds, therefore, do not relent seeking the glory of God until you find it; according to the scripture which says “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” Matthew 7:8. Do not procrastinate because tomorrow might be too late.
Conditions required for glorification
There are many preconditions that must be satisfied before anyone can be glorified and we will discuss some of the paramount ones.
Do not misuse your liberty: The law of many countries of the world permits various conducts that are abomination in the presence of God which can make it difficult or impossible for anyone to be glorified. People are exploiting these laws to sink more and more into iniquity. Many people are worshipping idols instead of God under the guise of freedom of religion. Countless people are into sexual immorality including homosexual activities, because it is lawful in their country of residence. What people need to realize is that the fact that something is permissible in their State does not mean that is it beneficial. Things that are lawful in your City/State might be an abomination to the Lord. Conducts that are allowed in your geographical location may neither be profitable nor beneficial. The Bible says, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” 1 Corinthians 6:12. Beware so that you will not become enslaved by lawful things that can make it impossible for you to be glorified. Do not misuse your freedom so that you will be glorified. Many people profess to know God, but failed to give Him the glory that He deserves. Even the people who confess God as their Creator are not glorifying Him or show gratitude to Him. Instead, they became worthless in their thinking, according to the Book of Romans which says “Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools; and changed the glory of incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things” Romans 1:21-23. Are you one of those with foolish ideas who claimed to know the figure/frame of God and His operations? Are you a fool who is professing to be wise by saying life began on earth by an atom/matter that split? Are you daft enough to worship creatures or things instead of the glorious God? If any of your answer to these questions is yes, then, it will be difficult for you to be glorified. So, how long will you people insult the reputation of God? How long will you people continue to disrespect and ruin the good name of God? How long will people love vanity/futility and continue to seek deception/lies? As it is written “How long, O you sons of men, will you turn My glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood?” Psalm 4:2. How long will you make groundless accusations? You need to change quickly to be glorified.
Flee sexual immorality: The Bible says that the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord and the Lord for the body. Our bodies were not made for sexual immorality, rather they were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies and provides for them. Which means we are not supposed to do indecent things with our bodies, instead we are to use them for the Lord who is in charge our bodies: to save, sanctify and raise them again because of the sacrifice on the Cross. The scripture corroborated this fact by saying “Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body” 1 Corinthians 6:13. You must not misuse your body if you want to be glorified because your body is actually part of Christ. The Book of Corinthians testified to this statement by saying “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! Or do you not know that He who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For ‘the two,’ He says, ‘shall become one flesh.’ But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him” 1 Corinthians 6:15-17. It is evident that you must use your body in an acceptable way in order to be glorified. For this reason, “Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s” 1 Corinthians 6:18-20. For you to be glorified, abstain from sexual immorality and do not defile your body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Since the Lord paid a great price for you on the Cross, you must use your body for God’s glory and to honor Him.
Abstain from Hypocrisy: Many people are hypocrites who love to show off and pretend to be holier than holy. Though we humans have sinned, and we are far away from God’s saving presence, because we are not good enough for God’s glory. Therefore, we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. As it is written: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23. However, God did not deprive those who repent and reconcile with Him the eternal glory. Which means anyone who is obedient will not be destitute of the glory of God. Therefore, do not brag about your wisdom, strength and wealth; according to the scripture which says, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,’ says the Lord” Jeremiah 9:23-24. Are you bragging in your prowess or you glory in the Lord? Do you really know and understand Him or you are pretending? Are you doing the delights of God or what pleases Lucifer? When you give alms, you must neither show-off nor brag. Whoever boasts about his/her alms will not be glorified, unless such person repents quickly. The Book of Matthew emphasized on this issue by saying “Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward” Matthew 6:2. Hence, do not seek glory from men, but from God who is able to glorify you eternally. Therefore, do not be disheartened because of what you are presently passing through, because God will turn your life around. Never allow your affliction to cause depression in your life because your time of resolution is at hand, if you endure and glorify God in your situation. What we need to acknowledge is that, anyone who continues to give glory to God during his/her ordeal will have breakthrough and such person will be glorified. You must realize that God neither hates you nor will He ever abandon you, but He permits your problems and trials to help you to develop endurance and perseverance that are necessary for your Christianity journey; according to the scripture which says “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance” Romans 5:3. Stop saying ‘why me?’ Starting giving glory to God in your situation, then He will resolve your issue and glorify Himself in your life.
Topic: You will be glorified - Part 4
Bible Reading: John 17: 20-26
We shall continue our discussion by the resumption of the conditions required for glorification, and mention how it is our duty to glorify God in all our ways.
Do not seek your own glory: You must never forget that one of the conditionality to be glorified is not to seek your own glory but the glory of God. We need to realize that any person who speaks for himself/herself intend to bring honor/glory to himself/herself. Those who speak on their own authority are trying to gain glory for themselves and not for God, according to the scripture which says; “He who speaks for himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him” John 7:18. Are you seeking the glory of God or your own glory? You must know that you cannot be glorified if your conducts did not glorify God, so, do not procrastinate but take steps immediately. Therefore, seek not your own glory but the glory of God who will glorify you, according to the Book of John which says; “And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges” John 8:50. You can have the assurance that as long as you do not desire to glorify yourself, but God, you will be glorified. Therefore, do not seek glory or praise from human but wait on your Creator who will glorify you at the appropriate time, according to the Bible passage which says; “Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ” 1 Thessalonians 2:6. Never allow greed to make you to seek your own glory. A word is enough for the wise; seek the glory of God and not your own glory. Hence, anyone who is boasting or bragging must boast in the Lord and brag about God. Always be proud of your Lord God and never fail to glorify Him. As it is written; “But ‘he who glories, let him glory in the Lord’” 1 Corinthians 1:31, 2 Corinthians 10:17. Do not forget that you can only glory or boast of what the Lord has done.
Be discreet and righteous: Brethren, be careful and circumspect in your speech or actions, so as to avoid causing offense to others or gain an advantage: because only the insightful people restrain their anger. You must emulate our glorious God who is slow to anger and abounding in mercy before you can be glorified, as the Book of Psalm stated; “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy” Psalm 103:8. So, demonstrate your wisdom through your patience, to prove that your glory is to overlook an offense and forgive others. Since sensible people control their temper and they earn respect/glory by ignoring an offense when someone wrongs them. As it is written: “The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression” Proverbs 19:11. You must never lack good sense and discretion without which no one can neither have patience nor be glorified. Are you seeking revenge and harboring resentment against those who wrongs you? You must be righteous, so that you will be blessed with peace and happiness. You must rejoice because of what the Lord has done, in order to find safety in Him and be glorified, according to the Bible passage which says; “The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and trust in Him. And all the upright in heart shall glory” Psalm 64:10. Hence, you must do what is right before you can be glorified. For this reason, wise people will gain an honorable reputation and glory, but stupid people will only add to their own disgrace. As it is written “The wise shall inherit glory, but shame shall be the legacy of fools” Proverbs 3:35. Be wise and upright so as to leave a good legacy and be glorified.
Walk in acceptable manner: It is time to walk with decency and honesty. Let us live and conduct ourselves properly and honorable among the Gentiles as in the light of the day. We must behave in acceptable manner without carousing, partying and other vices. As is it written: “Let us walk properly as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy” Romans 13:13. Abstain from every form of indecency and live a decent life for all to see. We encourage everyone to live in a way that will bring honor and glory to God. We are urging you to live the kind of life that pleases God who calls you to share in His own kingdom and glory. We need to live in a way that God will consider worthy, according to the scripture which says; “that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” 1 Thessalonians 2:12. You must never walk in a way that will bring dishonor to the Lord or make His glorious name to be blasphemed. For this reason: “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise” Ephesians 5:15. Walk carefully by living a life with honor, purpose and good sense.
Your duty is to glorify God
It is our duty to glorify God, and we must perform this obligation without sluggishness or hesitation. As previously mentioned, it is not good to seek one’s glory, and to seek one’s glory is not glory, which means, it is not glorious to seek one’s glory. As it is written “…. So to seek one’s glory is not glory” Proverbs 25:27. Since it is not honorable to seek one’s glory, why not seek the glory of God and be glorified? Do you know that glorifying God is better than to seek glory after glory?
Use everything to glorify God: King David during his lifetime had good intention of building a temple for the Lord and he was glorified. What intention or plan do you have to glorify God since it is your duty to glorify Him? King David said in the scripture that “Hear me, my brethren and my people: I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God, and had made preparation to build it” 1 Chronicles 28:2. What steps are you taking to honor and glorify God? Do you know that it is the instruction of the Lord for us to build His temple? The Lord commanded us in the Book of Haggai which says; “‘Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,’ says the Lord” Haggai 1:8. It is now mandatory to build the church of God and cater for the congregation. However, your duty to glorify God is not limited to construction of churches alone; therefore, glorify God with your strength, wisdom and riches. Also, your acts and conducts must glorify God in whatever you do and wherever you may be. For this reason, “Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” Psalm 29:2. Never deny the Lord the glory due to Him, instead ascribe to Him the glory due to His name.
Your duty is to proclaim to every nation on earth that the Lord is wonderful and does marvelous things. It is your job to publish his glorious deeds among the nations and tell about the amazing things He does. As it is written “Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples” Psalm 96:3, 1 Chronicles 16:24. Failure to glorify God is an act of disobedience that will never go unpunished. Therefore, “Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples, give to the Lord glory and strength. Give to the Lord the glory due to His name; bring an offering, and come into His courts” Psalm 96:7-8, 1 Chronicles 16:28-29. So, it is the duty of every living soul to give to the Lord, glory and power. Whoever desire to be glorified must praise the glorious power of the Lord. For this reason, bless and praise God’s glorious name forever. As it is written; “And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen” Psalm 72:19.
You must not fail to glorify God: The Bible stated that the four living creature and the twenty-four elders are praising and glorifying God continuously. The Book of Revelation says “Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: ‘You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for you created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created” Revelation 4:9-11. If the heavenly elders who worship before the throne of God are giving glory to Him, don’t you think you too must glorify Him? The angel that was sent to announce the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ to the shepherds was joined by vast host of armies of heaven, and they praised and glorified God for sending the Messiah. The scripture confirmed this fact by saying “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’” Luke 2:13-14. If the hosts of heaven can descend to join the angel to praise and glorify God, don’t you think glorifying God is a necessity for your existence? You must emulate the heavens by glorifying God for His mercy and grace in your life, and His favour towards you.
If the shepherds who received the Good News glorified the Lord, then you must not fail to glorify Him. The Bible attested to this fact by saying “Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them” Luke 2:20. If earthlings like yourself know the value of glorifying God, then you too must admit that glorifying God is essential to your faith. When was the last time that you praise and glorify God? Is God not worthy to be glorified for what He has done for you? Even the Pharisees who denied that Jesus Christ was from God knew the importance of glorifying God. They asked the blind man whom Jesus Christ restored his sight to give glory to God, according to the Book of John which says; “So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, ‘Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner’” John 9:13-24. Whatever your situation, do not forget to glorify God. Your troubles or infirmities are not excuses for not glorifying God. All you have to do is, cry out to God whenever you are in distress. As a Christian, you must pray to God in time of difficulty, then He will rescue you and you will have every cause to glorify His Holy name. As it is written, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you shall glorify Me” Psalm 50:15. What are you waiting for? Pray to God who will resolve your issues and you will have every reason to continue to glorify Him.
Praising and glorifying God is a necessity: People who have unwavering hearts must praise the Lord; those who are faithful to God with all their hearts must sing to their Creator who made it possible for them to be alive. So, if you are confident in the Lord, you will glorify Him with all your heart; according to the scripture which says “O God, my heart is steadfast, I will sing and give praise, even with my glory” Psalm 108:1. In order to prove that your heart is steadfast, you must continue to glorify God by filling your mouth with His praise. You must continue to praise and honor Him for His kindness everyday. As it is written, “Let my mouth be filled with Your praise and with Your glory all the day” Psalm 71:8. You must never stop praising and glorifying God for His mercies. You must declare His glory among the saints and proclaim His glory before the unbelievers, so that people will sing about what He has done and His great glory; according to the Book of Psalms which says; “Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord” Psalm 138:5.
Every soul that has reverence for God must praise Him and proclaim His name to their kinsmen. If you are born again Christian, you will never fail to neither praise Him nor glorify Him. You the servants of the Lord, it is your duty to praise and glorify God on daily basis throughout your existence; according to the scripture which says “You who fear the Lord, praise Him! All your descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, and fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!” Psalm 22:23. One of the ways for you to prove that you are one of the descendants of Israel is for you to praise and glorify God everyday. Your profession that you are a believer is incomplete unless you are praising and glorifying God relentlessly. For this reason, confess and praise God with all your heart and do not cease to glorify His name. You need to show appreciation to God by praising and glorifying His awesome name. As it is written “I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore” Psalm 86:12. If you fail to proclaim the greatness of God, it will be
difficult for you to be glorified; so, start praising and glorifying Him from this moment onward.
Topic: You will be glorified - Part 5
Bible Reading: John 17: 20-26
We shall continue our discussion by mentioning the necessity of our acts and tasks to glorifying our Creator together with the punishment that will accrue to those who did not glorify God.
Your conducts and works must glorify God
It is your duty to give glory to the Lord so that you will live a peaceful life and be glorified. God demand respect and glory from His people before they can be glorified. As it is written “And Moses said to Aaron, ‘This is what the Lord spoke, saying: “By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy: and before all the people I must be glorified.’” And Aaron held his peace” Leviticus 10:3. Therefore, the will of God and not your own must be acknowledged as hallowed and glorified. For this reason do not allow whatever that you are passing through to make you to fail to glorify God in your ways. Your situation must not becloud your sense of reasoning so as to forget to glorify God in your acts. Remember the Bible passage which says “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” Matthew 5:6. Hence, you need to realize that you can only be glorified if your greatest desire is to do what God requires. So, do not become despondent through fear of what you are presently suffering because you will be glorified. You must not be discouraged over your afflictions because if you endure, it will give glory to God and you will be glorified. The Book of Ephesians testified to this fact by saying “Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory” Ephesians 3:13. So, do not be afraid of your current troubles but concentrate on how your actions and works will glorify God. Since God had promised that “…..You are My servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified” Isaiah 49:3. Do not hesitate since you have the assurance of God that He will display His glory through you, if your conducts and works glorify Him.
Let your conducts glorify God: It is essential that your conducts must glorify God; else there will be consequences for your actions. You must behave in acceptable manner that can win souls for the Lord and cultivate the habits that pleases Him. The Bible stated that Jesus Christ was recognized and glorified when he conducted a course of teaching in the synagogue according to the Book of Luke which says “And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all” Luke 4:15. Are people glorifying you based on your godly conducts? Are they glorifying you solely or jointly with God who gave you the skill/wisdom? Jesus Christ also forgave the sins of a paralytic man and healed him. Then the multitude marveled and glorified God who had given such power to men Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-12.
Your works must glorify God: Your job must not make people to disrespect God, or blaspheme His holy name. It is important for you to make sure that your means of daily bread, or mode of survival is in conformity with the teachings of the Bible. Jesus Christ our Lord laid the examples for us to follow by performing countless miracles during His lifetime on the earth; some of which will be mentioned below: Jesus healed the lame, the blind, the mute, the maimed and many others which prompted them to glorify God Matthew 15:29-31. The Lord healed ten lepers, but only one of them a Samaritan returned to thank Jesus Christ and glorify God Luke 17:11-16. He also healed a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years on a Sabbath, and she glorified God Luke 13:10-13. The Messiah woke up the dead son of a widow in a city called Nain and people glorified God Luke 7:11-16. Are the works that you do in your school/office/post glorifying God or blaspheming His name? It is time to emulate Jesus Christ your Savior in your deeds so that you will be glorified.
Live Honorably and Conduct Yourself in Honestly: It is your duty to live honorably, so that if people are defaming you, the record of your good works will speak otherwise. Conduct yourself with graciousness and integrity among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as an evildoer, your good deeds will vindicate you, then they glorify God: as it is written "Having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation." 1 Peter 2:12. You must live a virtuous life, so that nations will revere the name of the Lord instead of blaspheming it. Your deeds must make the nations to fear and worship the Lord, in ways that every living soul will glorify Him: according to the scripture which says "So the nations shall fear the name of the Lord and all the kings of the earth Your glory." Psalm 102:15. Do you think that your conducts and lifestyle will make people to glorify God and tremble before His glory? If not change before it is too late.
Jesus was glorified: When Jesus Christ gave up His Spirit and died on the cross a centurion who witnessed the event glorified and worshiped God. The Bible corroborated this fact by saying "So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying 'Certainly this was a righteous Man!'" Luke 23:47. The deeds of Jesus Christ and His death glorified God. Do you think your existence will make people to glorify God? The Bible also stated that Jesus Christ ascended to heaven to be glorified, which means that He was glorified during His lifetime on earth, He was glorified in death and He was glorified after He resurrected and ascended to heaven; according to the Book Luke which says "Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven." Luke 24:51. For this reason, pray that you will be glorified on earth and in heaven. You must pray fervently for God to do wonderful things that will glorify Him in your Christianity journey and permit your offspring to see His glorious might. As it is written "Let Your work appear to Your servants, and Your glory to their children." Psalm 90:16. We pray that your prayers will be answered in Jesus Name. Amen.
Penalty for not glorifying God
The world is so twisted in a manner that is affecting the whole Christendom. Nowadays the churches are not winning the people in the world into their midst anymore, instead it is the churches that are trying to behave in terrestrial ways. The churches are in love with the ways of the Gentiles, to the extent that they are inculcating the conducts of the unbelievers into the churches. The lifestyles of the Gentiles is having negative impact on the believers in manners that are making them to change the statutes of the churches in droves to accommodate these fleshly/contrary conducts that are abomination before the Lord. Is your church among those churches that are altering the doctrines of God to accommodate the lifestyles of the unbelievers?
The Bible stated that many people have forgotten their Creator who rescued them by His mighty acts from their troubles and enemies. Countless people do not remember their Lord God who protected and preserved them from infancy till this moment. Thus they exchanged God who was their glory for the similitude of a bull. They are worshiping animals, images or things instead of God who can glorify them. As it is written "Thus they changed their glory into the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt." Psalm 106:20-21. Those who forgot God are the spiritual generation of king Belshazzar the son of king Nebuchadnezzar who provoked the Lord by using the sacred cups and bowls of gold and silver which his father Nebuchadnezzar brought from the temple in Jerusalem, to wine and dine. God pronounced judgment on him when a man’s finger appeared and wrote strange words on the wall in the king’s palace. He was killed later after Daniel had interpreted the inscription written on the wall to him because he neither repent nor glorify God Daniel 5:18-30. The Philistines were punished and plagued with sickness because they seized and detained the ark of God. They were plagued until they returned the ark of God and give glory to God 1 Samuel 6:1-5. Since there is no way to escape the penalty of God, make sure that your conducts and works glorify God.
The more the numbers of churches: The more the numbers of churches across the globe increases, the more the sins of humanity increases. As the population of Christians continues to grow, so also is the level of iniquity continue to rise. Sin has dominated the world; therefore mankind need to repent, turn to God and reconcile with their Creator. Though God had declared that as He lives and His power has no limit, the whole earth will be filled with His glory; according to the scripture which says “But truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filed with the glory of the Lord” Numbers 14:21. But how will this declaration come to pass when people continue to commit more sin because of prosperity and power? We need to change our waywardness and return to God, if we do not want our honor to turn to disgrace. We need to seek the kingdom of God, instead of riches and earthly comfort. Churches must concentrate on salvation of souls instead of blessings and prosperity; else their glory will change to shame. As it is written “The more they increased, the more they sinned against Me; I will change their glory into shame” Hosea 4:7..If the heavenly beings continue to glorify God, then what are you waiting for; start giving glory to your Creator on daily basis and let your conducts together with your works glorify Him. The three angels proclaimed the glory of God by saying with a loud voice “Fear God and give glory to Him for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water” Revelation 14:7. Do not forget that is it your duty not to stray from the righteous path, and permit your acts to give glory to God at all times.
Refusal to glorify God my lead to death: The children of Israel who rebelled against God did not get to the promise land, but died in the wilderness, those who were twenty years and above with the exception of Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb. Their young ones wandered in the wilderness for forty years because their parents did not glorify God, but rebelled against Him. They paid with their souls/lives for their refusal to glorify God Numbers 14:22-34. You must glorify God if you do not want to pay with your life. Learn from the mistake of King Herod who did not give preeminence and kingly majesty to God as the Supreme Ruler and died for his sin. Herod arrogated the honor and the glory which belonged to God to himself, then an angel of the Lord struck him and he died; according to the Book of Acts which says “Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died” Acts 12:23. If you do not want to be plagued with sickness or die mysteriously, give all glory to God.
Failure to give glory to God may bring curse: God will curse the blessings of the people who did not take seriously the need to honor and glorify His name. People who did not pay attention to the directive of the Lord to glorify His name will bring a curse upon themselves. As it is written “If you will not hear, and if you will not take it to heart, to give glory to My name, says the Lord of host ‘I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have cursed them already, because you do not take it to heart’” Malachi 2:2. You must give glory to God in all your ways if you do not want your blessings to turn to curses. For God not to send a curse on you that will destroy the good things which you have achieved, you must glorify Him. If God can reject Moses as the leader who led the people of Israel to the promise land, because Moses and Aaron did not give God the glory before the people of Israel, instead they arrogated the glory to themselves at the water of Meribah. The Bible says “Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them’” Numbers 20:5-12. When was the last time that you give glory to God? How often do you give glory to God? If God can deny Moses the opportunity to lead the people of Israel to the promise land, then He can deny anyone who failed to glorify Him the opportunity of leadership. If you want to be a leader in your community or state, you must never fail to glorify God in all your ways.
Topic: You will be glorified - Part 6
Bible Reading: John 17: 20-26
We shall continue our discussions by mentioning the promises of God for those who give glory to His holy name and glorify Him in all their deeds. We will talk about the benefits that will accrue to such people in this world and the world to come.
The promises of God
The people that are glorifying God on daily basis in their acts and works must have the assurance that they will be glorified on earth and in heaven because the promises of God will be fulfilled in their lives.
You will be glorified if you believe: Even though the Bible says that the earth will be filled with an awareness of the glory of God, but how many people are glorifying God in the world today? We must know that only those who seek the Lord and glorify Him will be glorified; as it is written "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Habakkuk 2:14. Are you among the earthlings that are glorifying God so that His promises will come to pass in your life? If not, this is a wake up call. We must realize that God is able to raise the poor and makes them to sit with the rulers and the famous. Our God is capable of lifting the needy from the garbage dump and set them among the princess and the influential people; which means, there is no one that God cannot give a place with the leaders of the world or assign a seat of honor in royal palaces, because He is the One who sets the world in order; according to the scripture which says "He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap, to set them among princes and make them inherit the throne of glory. 'For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and He has set the world upon them.'" 1 Samuel 2:8. Therefore, stop limiting yourself; as long as you are obedient, there is no restriction to your achievements. If you do not stop seeking God, you will sit with the nobles and inherit the glorious throne. For this reason, you just have to keep your faith and the glory of God will be revealed in your life. If you believe in Christ and rely on Him, then you will see the glory of God. As it is written "Jesus said to her, 'Did I not say to you that if you believe you would see the glory of God?'" John 11:40. If you trust the Lord and keep His commands, then you will realize your ambitions, and your aspirations/dreams will become a reality.
Your enemies will be guilty: God can be trusted to keep His promise if and only if you are obedient, and His promise is that: He will oppose those who oppose you, and fight those who fight you. He will fight on your side to rescue your family from your strong and violent enemies. God will make your oppressors to kill one another; He will feed those who are troubling you with their own flesh and those who are mistreating your will be drunk on their own blood. According to the Book of Isaiah which says "But thus says the Lord: 'Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible be delivered; for I will contend with him who contends with you, and I will save your children. I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh, and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine. All flesh shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.'" Isaiah 49:25-26. You must give glory to the Lord before your predators can turn to prey before you; so that your troubles will not overwhelm you, and the hard trials which you are passing through will not hurt you. God will be with you whenever you are going through rivers of difficulty and you will not drown, He will surround you whenever you are walking through the fire of oppression and you will not get burnt. As it is written "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you." Isaiah 43:2. Therefore, glorify God if you don't want the spiritual river of the world to drown you, and pray fervently for the terrestrial fire not to burn you.
With these promises, boost your confidence in the Lord that no weapon made by your foes will prevail against you and God will refute every accusation raised against you. As it is written "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is from Me,' says the Lord." Isaiah 54:17. You must continue to glorify God, if you want Him to silence every strong voice raised up to accuse you. God must be glorified through you, if you want every contrary word spoken against you to neither harm nor hurt you.
You will be a covenant to mankind: God will answer your prayers in the day of trouble. He will guard and protect you. He will give you to mankind as His covenant with them and utilize you to rebuild your state/community from its ruins; according to the scripture which says "Thus says the Lord: 'In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you. I will preserve you and give you as a covenant to the people, to restore the earth, to cause them to inherit the desolate heritages.'" Isaiah 49:8. If your conducts are glorifying God, you will be used to rebuild the faith of the believers/Christians and reinstate law and order throughout the world.* Then the favor of God will shine on you like the morning sun and your spiritual wounds will be healed quickly. Your honesty will go before you in manner that will lead you to peace and prosperity, and God will answer promptly whenever you call Him. As it is written "Then your light shall break forth like morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard." Isaiah 58:8. Remember that one of the quickest ways to make your salvation to come like dawn is giving glory to God. People must not cease to glorify God through you, if you want your spiritual light to shine throughout your existence.
Hence, arise from your spiritual depression to a new life and stand up from the prostration in which your circumstances have confined you: shine like the sun and be radiant with the glory of the Lord, because your light has come and the glory of God rises upon you. Though darkness now covers the earth, and the throne of the darkness are now ruling many nations, but the glory of God rises and appears in your life, in manner that makes it impossible for the darkness to overcome you. According to the Book of Isaiah which says, "Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you." Isaiah 60:1-2. For the glory of God to shine in your life, you must continue to glorify Him, and do not desert the Lord, or ignore His instructions if you don't want the darkness to overcome you. Almighty God who called you to bring justice to the underprivileged will be your side. He will hold your hand and guard you on every side to prevent you from falling or stumbling; He will make you to be a covenant to the peoples of the world; as it is written "I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles." Isaiah 42:6. You must abide in the doctrines of Christianity and the teachings of the Bible before you can become a symbol of God's covenant to mankind. Never forget that you can never be a light to guide the unbelievers unless honesty and transparency are your watchwords.
God will remember you with favor and goodness: The promise of the Lord for you is that, 'I will not forget you, so keep it in your mind that you will never be forgotten by the Lord, instead God will be favorable to you and He will remember you with unforgettable glory, imperishable glory and eternal glory; If you continue to remain faithful to Him. He will command the heavens to enrich your life with uncommon favor and goodness which will cause laughter in your journey: according to the scripture which says "Remember these, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are My servant; I have formed you, you are My servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me!" Isaiah 44:21. At times certain circumstances can make humans to forget to honor their promise but God is not human. Even if situations makes a mother to forget her child who nurses at her breast, God will not forget you. If there is a severe panic that is making the women to fail to love their babies/infants who came from their wombs/bodies, still God will not forget you. So nothing that can happen on earth that will make the Lord to forget you if you are faithful to Him. As it is written "Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you." Isaiah 49:15. Inasmuch as you continue to conduct yourself in acceptable manner and give glory to the Lord, He will never forget you.
The benefits of glorifying God
People who are living according to the impulses and dictates of the flesh will not partake in the benefits, instead they will die; whereas the people who by the Spirit of God put to death the deeds and the practices of the body will be glorified, they will partake in these benefits and live forever. If you live according to human nature that is corrupt you will die spiritually without getting any of these benefits: according to the Book of Romans which says "For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." Romans 8:13. Therefore, seek the Holy Spirit if you don't want to die prematurely or untimely. Do not live your life to do the wrong things that your sinful nature desires, so as to reap these rewards. For this reason, you must know that God is not unjust that He will forget your works which made people to glorify His name through you, and your labor to propagate the Gospel. He will remember your demonstration of love by providing for the needs of the brethren and your assistance to make the church to grow in manner that will prompt Him to endow you with these benefits. As it is written "For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister." Hebrews 6:10. If you want these benefits to abide in your life, do not live under the power of sin and cater for the needs of the saints. The following are some of the benefits:
Finally, we need to know that we have to suffer with our Lord Jesus Christ before we can be glorified with Him. No one can share in the eternal glory of the Lord unless such person first suffers for His Name's sake. Therefore we can only inherit the glorious Kingdom if we share in the suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ Romans 8:17.
The Seal: Psalm 73:24: "You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory."