THE MANIFEST GLORY

by Marsha Burns

2 Corinthians 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Glory is our spiritual theme; glory is defined partially as splendor and brightness, the personal, inward perfection and excellency of Christ.

Colossians 1:
24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, (this IS the mystery)
25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God,
26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.
27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

So, in a very practical way, the glory of God is His brightness, His perfection, manifesting and transforming us into His image.

Small Straws: Be filled again with My Spirit. The days ahead will be filled with My Glory in the practical and commonplace things of life. Maintain awareness, and see My manifest presence in unexpected ways, says the Lord. Take nothing for granted. My glory is all around you!

My desire is that we all begin to be aware of the glory of the Lord by seeing His manifest presence in us to bring us to perfection. The glory comes through God’s process of sanctification.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In a dream I saw a reflection of a red traffic light and then it changed quickly to green. The reflection was on some kind of heavy foil. Then, I discovered that it was the material for a pinwheel. I made a pinwheel out of the material, and the Wind moved it. I thought of the green light as a sign to move forward. The pinwheel shows directionality and gives some idea of wind speed. I think this is representative of the flow of the Spirit and greater discernment.

In our prayer meeting this past week, I asked this question, “What is God doing with you?” And, I found the answers very enlightening:

God is straightening things out and bringing understanding and revelation of issues through seeing someone else’s suffering and trauma.

2 Corinthians 3:18 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.

God will use whatever is necessary for us to see ourselves in the mirror and behold the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.

That is really what the Bible does for all of us. It is a standard by which we measure ourselves and choose to yield ourselves to the process of sanctification.

God is revealing Himself in all places and finding expectations that need to be dismantled.

Philippians 1:6 (Paul) being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

We are His people, and He will give every opportunity for us to grow in reliance upon Him to bring conviction and to bring correction.

We need to continue to exercise authority against the enemy and keep fighting hard until the battle is won.

Exodus 17:
9 And Moses said to Joshua, "Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand."
10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

The help comes from Aaron and Hur – Aaron means “light bringer”, and Hur means “white cloth”. So, truth and righteousness keep us steady in warfare.
 

The Lord has been dealing with flesh and bringing correction.

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor detest His correction; for whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.

We are grateful for God’s unfailing love!

God has been showing how to journey well – by faith and in joy. We will either journey in condemnation or in faith. We need to tear down religious concepts and do what we need to do to get where we are going.

Numbers 9:17 Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, after that the children of Israel would journey; and in the place where the cloud settled, there the children of Israel would pitch their tents.

Psalms 84:5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage.

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

The devil is trying to steal faith and joy, but we need to keep on keepin’ on.

John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

In these times, it is imperative for us to stay in the Word of God, keeping ingesting the truth, so that we can stand.

Conquering fear.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Psalms 20:6 Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand.

Psalms 18:39 For You have armed me with strength for the battle.

In the process of this time of sharing, it became evident to me that God is manifesting His glory in us personally through bringing light -- being able to see ourselves, gaining new understanding and revelation so that we can let go of religious concepts and expectations, and allow God to bring correction.

Proverbs 3:35 The wise shall inherit glory.

Our part is to not give up, and to journey well. Stay in peace!

Faith Tabernacle

http://ft111.com