Tuesday Devotional - Jesus is the Only Agenda
Rusty Kennedy
Crisis in Colosse
COLOSSIANS
GREETING
In 2018, Oprah Winfrey gave a speech at the Golden Globe Awards as she received the distinguished Cecil B DeMille Award.
THANKSGIVING
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints 5 because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You have already heard about this hope in the word of truth (it can be trusted), the gospel 6 that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate God’s grace.
PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
9 For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled (you are complete) with the knowledge of his will (to walk by the Spirit) in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, (comes from God) 10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: (we understand from the Spirit… then we walk) bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.
THE CENTRALITY OF CHRIST
15 He is the image of the invisible God,
in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities--
all things have been created through him and for him.
and by him all things hold together.
18 He is also the head of the body, the church;
he is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead,
so that he might come to have
first place in everything.
all his fullness dwell in him,
20 and through him to reconcile
everything to himself,
whether things on earth or things in heaven,
through his blood, shed on the cross.
21 Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. 22 But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him--23 if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become a servant of it.[5]
[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, Colossians: Become the Whole Person God Intends You to Be, The Wiersbe Bible Study Series (Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2009), 7.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 116). Victor Books.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 116–117). Victor Books.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Re 12:10). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Col 1:1–23). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
- “The city is never named in the book of Acts because Paul did not start the Colossian church, nor did he ever visit it.
- Paul had heard of their faith (Col. 1:4, 9), but he had never seen these believers personally (2:1).
- Here was a church of unknown people, in a small town, receiving an inspired letter from the great apostle Paul!”[1]
- The church in Colosse is having problems.
- Paul’s intentions were to encourage this faithful group of believers by reminding them of what they had been given by and through Jesus.
- The Church was going through a crucial time when it was being infiltrated with Gnosticism and heresy.
- Some of the believers are not getting along and are mistreating one another.
- Still worse, false teachers have come into the church and are subverting the gospel of grace.
- They are introducing a bizarre form of Jewish legalism mixed with a counterfeit spirituality.
- They are teaching the Colossians the following: In order to experience God’s “fullness,” you must observe the ceremonial laws of the OT.
- You must observe special “holy” days and eat only “clean” foods.
- You must also be circumcised.
- Union with God is evidenced by mystical visions and angelic visitations.
- What you handle, taste, and/or touch can either help or harm your union with God.
- If you handle, taste, or touch that which is “unclean,” you will lose your union with God and will never experience His fullness.
- The false teaching has also spread to the church in Laodicea.
- Epaphras, the founder of the Colossian and Laodicean churches, is troubled by this spiritual assault.
- So he sails to Rome to get advice from Paul.
- On his way to Rome to visit Paul, Epaphras (also called Epaphroditus) stops at Philippi to visit the church there.
- The church in Philippi is greatly encouraged by Epaphras, and it sends him off to Rome with a small fortune as a love offering for Paul.
- This is the fourth time the church in Philippi has helped Paul monetarily. The Philippians are deeply concerned for Paul and ask Epaphras to let them know how he is doing.
- Epaphras and Onesimus continue toward Rome, but Epaphras becomes deathly ill on the way.
- Yet despite his illness, Epaphras persists on to Rome for the Lord’s sake.
- When Epaphras arrives in Rome, he hands Paul the financial gift. He informs Paul of the love the Philippians have for him and gives him an update on their progress.
- He also tells him about the church in Colosse.
- Epaphras joyfully tells him of the love the Colossian believers have for one another.
- But he also gives Paul a full report of the problems that the churches in Colosse, Laodicea, and Philippi are having.
- Upon hearing all the bad news, Paul struggles in prayer for the church in Colosse as well as for the churches in Laodicea and Philippi.
- Paul will now write three letters, and he will dictate them all to Timothy to scribe.
- Paul will send all three letters by the hand of Tychicus. (Colossians, Philemon & Ephesians)
- He instructs Tychicus to encourage the churches and give them an update on his (Paul’s) prison situation.
- The letters Paul writes at the same time (61 AD) are Colossians, Philemon & Ephesians.
COLOSSIANS
GREETING
- It is not much different today.
- Society today believes that because they think, whatever they think then is true.
- This isn’t so much about what they believe about their existence, but more about what they want their reality to be.
In 2018, Oprah Winfrey gave a speech at the Golden Globe Awards as she received the distinguished Cecil B DeMille Award.
- Oprah is quoted as saying, “Speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we have.”
- Considering what was occurring in Hollywood at the time, Oprah’s speech was about uncovering lies and a destructive culture, especially for women being hurt by men.
- But that one sentence she delivered perfectly describes the current culture in a postmodern philosophy.
- Our truth can be whatever we have experienced or thought we have experienced, and it doesn’t matter what anyone else says or what the actual truth may be.
- We live in a culture that is divided because there is no longer an absolute truth.
- This belief system totally undermines the idea of common shared facts.
- What is the difference between truth and opinion?
- Truth is: "I am breathing"
- Opinion is: "I am alive"
- So when you equalize truth with your opinion you no longer have truth… but you have 8 billion opinions deciding what truth is.
- When you don't use truth to defend the truth then you actually hinder the integrity of the truth at work. (Stetzer - How to Offer Criticism)
- Focus on discerning what the focal point (centrality) is that determines your right or wrong.
- Jesus is central to my truth.
- My truth being Jesus.
- He is the center of my life.
- It is not based upon my opinion of what is right or wrong.
- They were dealing with different agendas of the times and all Paul wanted to focus on was Jesus.
- Jesus was Paul’s only agenda.
- It becomes a trust factor that the Spirit will deal with the agendas rather than ourselves.
- What we know… and believe… impacts how we behave.
- So we will continue to teach Jesus here at the MercyMe Cruise.
- Paul later mentions that he is the writer of this letter but he is claiming Timothy’s spiritual authority as well here.
- The city is never named in the Book of Acts because Paul did not start the Colossian church, nor did he ever visit it.
THANKSGIVING
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints 5 because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You have already heard about this hope in the word of truth (it can be trusted), the gospel 6 that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate God’s grace.
- All over the world there is not much that is the same… shelter, food, clothing, education, etc.
- But God’s grace is the same no matter where in the world.
- Grace has been made available for the whole world!
- Faith, hope & love… the greatest of these is “love”
- When you recall that Paul wrote this letter in prison, his attitude of thanksgiving is even more wonderful.
PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
9 For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled (you are complete) with the knowledge of his will (to walk by the Spirit) in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, (comes from God) 10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: (we understand from the Spirit… then we walk) bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.
- The moment you believed in Jesus, you were given everything you ever needed.
- You don’t have to keep updating it. You have it all right now!
- I have a smartphone… It is called a smartphone for a reason. It doesn’t make me smart.
- What if all I used it for was calling people.
- I’d be missing out on what I have been given.
- I don’t need a new phone… I just need to understand and use what I have.
- You’ve been given this powerful gift that produces all these things mentioned. You just have to use the gift.
- Jesus didn’t rescue us from bondage to have us wander aimlessly.
- He freed us and gave us a Spirit to follow.
THE CENTRALITY OF CHRIST
15 He is the image of the invisible God,
- John 14:9 - The one who has seen me has seen the Father.
- Jesus Christ is not a created being; He is eternal God.
in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities--
all things have been created through him and for him.
- For centuries, the Greek philosophers had taught that everything needed a primary cause, an instrumental cause, and a final cause.
- The primary cause is the plan, the instrumental cause the power, and the final cause the purpose.
- When it comes to Creation, Jesus Christ is the primary cause (He planned it), the instrumental cause (He produced it), and the final cause (He did it for His own pleasure).[2]
and by him all things hold together.
18 He is also the head of the body, the church;
he is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead,
so that he might come to have
first place in everything.
- The church had its origin in Him, and today it has its operation in Him.[3]
all his fullness dwell in him,
20 and through him to reconcile
everything to himself,
whether things on earth or things in heaven,
- What is to be reconciled in heaven?
- Revelation 12:10 - Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have now come, because the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been thrown down. [4]
through his blood, shed on the cross.
21 Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. 22 But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him--23 if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become a servant of it.[5]
- Quit going back to your flesh (patterns) and realize the transformation that has already occurred.
- Paul will remind them over and over what they have been taught as the Good News.
[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, Colossians: Become the Whole Person God Intends You to Be, The Wiersbe Bible Study Series (Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2009), 7.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 116). Victor Books.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 116–117). Victor Books.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Re 12:10). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Col 1:1–23). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
Friday Devotional - The Hope of Glory
Rusty Kennedy
EXODUS 3:1-6
1 Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed. 3 So Moses thought, “I must go over and look at this remarkable sight. Why isn’t the bush burning up?”
4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!”
“Here I am,” he answered.
5 “Do not come closer,” he said. “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he continued, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.[1]
EXODUS 13:21-22
21 The Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to lead them on their way during the day and in a pillar of fire to give them light at night, so that they could travel day or night. 22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night never left its place in front of the people. [2]
The Glory of God
EXODUS 19:16-19
16 On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud on the mountain, and a very loud blast from a trumpet, so that all the people in the camp shuddered. 17 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke because the Lord came down on it in fire. Its smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.[3]
EXODUS 33:13-23
13 Now if I have indeed found favor with you, please teach me your ways, and I will know you, so that I may find favor with you. Now consider that this nation is your people.”
14 And he replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
15 “If your presence does not go,” Moses responded to him, “don’t make us go up from here. 16 How will it be known that I and your people have found favor with you unless you go with us? I and your people will be distinguished by this from all the other people on the face of the earth.”
17 The Lord answered Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor with me, and I know you by name.”
18 Then Moses said, “Please, let me see your glory.”
19 He said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name ‘the Lord’ before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” 20 But he added, “You cannot see my face, for humans cannot see me and live.” 21 The Lord said, “Here is a place near me. You are to stand on the rock, 22 and when my glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back, but my face will not be seen.” [4]
EXODUS 40:34-38
34 The cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses was unable to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud rested on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
36 The Israelites set out whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle throughout all the stages of their journey. 37 If the cloud was not taken up, they did not set out until the day it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and there was a fire inside the cloud by night, visible to the entire house of Israel throughout all the stages of their journey. [5]
THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE TEMPLE
1 KINGS 8:10-11
10 When the priests came out of the holy place, the cloud filled the Lord’s temple, 11 and because of the cloud, the priests were not able to continue ministering, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple.[6]
2 CHRONICLES 5:13-14
13 The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the Lord with one voice. They raised their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the Lord:
For he is good;
his faithful love endures forever.
The temple, the Lord’s temple, was filled with a cloud. 14 And because of the cloud, the priests were not able to continue ministering, for the glory of the Lord filled God’s temple.[7]
EZEKIEL 11:22-25
22 Then the cherubim, with the wheels beside them, lifted their wings, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them. 23 The glory of the Lord rose up from within the city and stopped on the mountain east of the city., 24 The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to Chaldea and to the exiles in a vision from the Spirit of God. After the vision I had seen left me, 25 I spoke to the exiles about all the things the Lord had shown me.[8]
ACTS 7:46-50
46 He found favor in God’s sight and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47 It was Solomon, rather, who built him a house, 48 but the Most High does not dwell in sanctuaries made with hands, as the prophet says:
49 Heaven is my throne,
and the earth my footstool.
What sort of house will you build for me?
says the Lord,
or what will be my resting place?
50 Did not my hand make all these things?[9]
LUKE 2:8-9
8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.[10]
JOHN 1:14-18
14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning him and exclaimed, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ ”) 16 Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, 17 for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.[11]
ACTS 1:9
9 After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. [12]
ACTS 2:1-4
1 When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. 3 They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. 4 Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.[13]
ROMANS 3:23
23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;[14]
HEBREWS 1:3
3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.[15]
ACTS 16:31
31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.[16]
COLOSSIANS 1:24-27
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for his body, that is, the church. 25 I have become its servant, according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.[17]
2 CORINTHIANS 3:17-18
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at, the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.[19]
[1] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ex 3:1–6.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ex 13:21–22.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ex 19:16–19.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ex 33:13–23.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ex 40:34–38.
[6] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 1 Ki 8:10–11.
[7] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 2 Ch 5:13–14.
[8] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Eze 11:22–25.
[9] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ac 7:46–50.
[10] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Lk 2:8–9.
[11] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Jn 1:14–18.
[12] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ac 1:9.
[13] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ac 2:1–4.
[14] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ro 3:23.
[15] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Heb 1:3.
[16] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ac 16:31.
[17] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Col 1:24–27.
[18] Bob Warren, Hebrews: Jesus: Our Perfect Sacrifice (The Hill Publishing, 2012), 20.
[19] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 2 Co 3:17–18.
1 Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 Then the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed. 3 So Moses thought, “I must go over and look at this remarkable sight. Why isn’t the bush burning up?”
4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!”
“Here I am,” he answered.
5 “Do not come closer,” he said. “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he continued, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God.[1]
EXODUS 13:21-22
21 The Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to lead them on their way during the day and in a pillar of fire to give them light at night, so that they could travel day or night. 22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night never left its place in front of the people. [2]
The Glory of God
- The phrase, “the glory of God,” points to the physical manifestation of God’s presence
- The glory of God refers to the radiant display of His divine attributes, character, and majesty.
- It is the manifestation of His greatness, holiness, and splendor.
- The glory of God is beyond human comprehension and encompasses His infinite power, wisdom, love, and grace.
EXODUS 19:16-19
16 On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud on the mountain, and a very loud blast from a trumpet, so that all the people in the camp shuddered. 17 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was completely enveloped in smoke because the Lord came down on it in fire. Its smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him in the thunder.[3]
EXODUS 33:13-23
13 Now if I have indeed found favor with you, please teach me your ways, and I will know you, so that I may find favor with you. Now consider that this nation is your people.”
14 And he replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
15 “If your presence does not go,” Moses responded to him, “don’t make us go up from here. 16 How will it be known that I and your people have found favor with you unless you go with us? I and your people will be distinguished by this from all the other people on the face of the earth.”
17 The Lord answered Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor with me, and I know you by name.”
18 Then Moses said, “Please, let me see your glory.”
19 He said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim the name ‘the Lord’ before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” 20 But he added, “You cannot see my face, for humans cannot see me and live.” 21 The Lord said, “Here is a place near me. You are to stand on the rock, 22 and when my glory passes by, I will put you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will take my hand away, and you will see my back, but my face will not be seen.” [4]
EXODUS 40:34-38
34 The cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses was unable to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud rested on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
36 The Israelites set out whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle throughout all the stages of their journey. 37 If the cloud was not taken up, they did not set out until the day it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and there was a fire inside the cloud by night, visible to the entire house of Israel throughout all the stages of their journey. [5]
THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE TEMPLE
1 KINGS 8:10-11
10 When the priests came out of the holy place, the cloud filled the Lord’s temple, 11 and because of the cloud, the priests were not able to continue ministering, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple.[6]
2 CHRONICLES 5:13-14
13 The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the Lord with one voice. They raised their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments, in praise to the Lord:
For he is good;
his faithful love endures forever.
The temple, the Lord’s temple, was filled with a cloud. 14 And because of the cloud, the priests were not able to continue ministering, for the glory of the Lord filled God’s temple.[7]
EZEKIEL 11:22-25
22 Then the cherubim, with the wheels beside them, lifted their wings, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them. 23 The glory of the Lord rose up from within the city and stopped on the mountain east of the city., 24 The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to Chaldea and to the exiles in a vision from the Spirit of God. After the vision I had seen left me, 25 I spoke to the exiles about all the things the Lord had shown me.[8]
- This same glory departed from Jerusalem and ascended into heaven and remained there.
ACTS 7:46-50
46 He found favor in God’s sight and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47 It was Solomon, rather, who built him a house, 48 but the Most High does not dwell in sanctuaries made with hands, as the prophet says:
49 Heaven is my throne,
and the earth my footstool.
What sort of house will you build for me?
says the Lord,
or what will be my resting place?
50 Did not my hand make all these things?[9]
LUKE 2:8-9
8 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.[10]
JOHN 1:14-18
14 The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified concerning him and exclaimed, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ ”) 16 Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, 17 for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.[11]
ACTS 1:9
9 After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. [12]
ACTS 2:1-4
1 When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. 3 They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. 4 Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them.[13]
ROMANS 3:23
23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;[14]
HEBREWS 1:3
3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.[15]
ACTS 16:31
31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.[16]
COLOSSIANS 1:24-27
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for his body, that is, the church. 25 I have become its servant, according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.[17]
- As a result, when Jesus takes up residence in us (Galatians 2:20), the glory of God takes up residence in us, and we are made into the most holy and perfect saints imaginable.[18]
- As believers, we have been given the privilege to partake in God's glory through our union with Christ.
- It is not about us trying to add to God's glory, but rather living in the reality of the glory He has already bestowed upon us. (Exodus 33:18-19, Isaiah 6:3, John 1:14, 2 Corinthians 3:18)
2 CORINTHIANS 3:17-18
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at, the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.[19]
[1] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ex 3:1–6.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ex 13:21–22.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ex 19:16–19.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ex 33:13–23.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ex 40:34–38.
[6] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 1 Ki 8:10–11.
[7] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 2 Ch 5:13–14.
[8] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Eze 11:22–25.
[9] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ac 7:46–50.
[10] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Lk 2:8–9.
[11] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Jn 1:14–18.
[12] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ac 1:9.
[13] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ac 2:1–4.
[14] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ro 3:23.
[15] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Heb 1:3.
[16] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Ac 16:31.
[17] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Col 1:24–27.
[18] Bob Warren, Hebrews: Jesus: Our Perfect Sacrifice (The Hill Publishing, 2012), 20.
[19] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), 2 Co 3:17–18.