New Creation Year: Glory

Some of you have taken advice in this series and have asked God to shine His light on the darkness. For some of you, that has resulted in some transforming insights that you are still wrestling with!

For myself, I am convinced that God has exposed some things that need to change. Not necessarily bad things, although I have become far more aware of areas in which I can improve. But for me, these are areas that I need to focus more attention.

Perhaps some of you have had your eyes opened or been exposed to some truths here that are causing you to rethink some of your beliefs and how they impact or guide your life.

SLIDE - Chaos, Day, Faith, Glory

I hope you have seen how you can transform chaos, each day, through faith into glory.

In our series, we have learned that we have been given the ability to convert trouble, chaos, into glory. Deal with troubles one day at a time, through faith, and glory results on the other side.

SLIDE - What, on earth, is Glory?

What, on earth, is Glory?

This word is confusing when we modern humans read about it in scripture.

How many of you have a really good grasp of what Glory means? It is okay to be honest and say you are not sure. It is confusing.

SLIDE - Kavod

In the Old Testament, the word glory is kavod, with a long “o” sound. When you see the word “glory” used in the Old Testament, likely it is the Hebrew word kavod.

SLIDE - Literal: Heaviness or weight

Literal: heaviness or weight. When Eli the priest

SLIDE - Metaphorical: Importance, reputation or honor

Metaphorical: importance, reputation, honor

SLIDE - Physical Manifestation

Physical manifestation of ones importance: a persons kavod, wealth and possessions

Example would be the rooms of my daughters. When you walk in, you see their kavod. Unique embodiment of their personality, who they are.

SLIDE - Daisy and Poppy Kavod

SLIDE - Graces Kavod

God’s Kavod can come to earth

In Exodus 40:34 we read that God’s Kavod filled the Tabernacle. It came in the form of fire and cloud.

Moses spoke to the Kavod in a tent, it says he spoke with God as though he were speaking with a friend.

God’s Kavod can depart the earth

In 1 Samuel 4:21-22 God’s Kavod leaves. The people of Israel go to do battle with a hostile neighbor and they lose the ark. The people are sad because this is the throne of God on earth, where He sits. Now it is gone and the people proclaim that God’s Kavod has left.

God’s Kavod

SLIDE - VIDEO & Psalm 19

Psalm 19:1-6

1 The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

The skies display his craftsmanship.

2 Day after day they continue to speak;

night after night they make him known.

3 They speak without a sound or word;

their voice is never heard.

4 Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,

and their words to all the world.

God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.

5 It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.

It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.

6 The sun rises at one end of the heavens

and follows its course to the other end.

Nothing can hide from its heat.

God’s kavod is creation. He has set this up as a place for His presence to exist.

You walk into Grace or Daisy or Poppy’s room and you see their kavod, but when you walk outside today, and you look around, you see God’s kavod.

When you see humans, you see a creature that was meant to be God’s glory.

SLIDE - Psalm 8

God’s Kavod is given to humans

Psalm 8:1-9

1 O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

Your glory is higher than the heavens.

2 You have taught children and infants

to tell of your strength,

silencing your enemies

and all who oppose you.

3 When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—

the moon and the stars you set in place—

4 what are mere mortals that you should think about them,

human beings that you should care for them?

5 Yet you made them only a little lower than God

and crowned them with glory and honor.

6 You gave them charge of everything you made,

putting all things under their authority—

7 the flocks and the herds

and all the wild animals,

8 the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea,

and everything that swims the ocean currents.

9 O LORD, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

SLIDE - Kavod is something imparted to humans

Kavod is something imparted to humans

SLIDE - Humans are a unique embodiment of God

Humans are a unique embodiment of God

SLIDE - As a follower, you are a unique embodiment of Jesus

You are a unique embodiment of Jesus

This is all about people having kavod.

Now, when we return to 2 Corinthians 4, we can read this again, taking into account what Paul was really saying.

The NT is written in Greek, so the word is not Kavod, I get that. But he is writing to people and he has ancient Jewish meditation scripture in his mind.

He is writing us from this perspective of creation order as it is presented in Genesis.

SLIDE - 2 Cor 4:6-7 For God, who said, “Let there be light...”

2 Cor 4:6-7 tells us that we can know this very same Glory, Kavod, of God. It is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. Let’s read it again.

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

And that light, that Kavod, is shining in our hearts, even though we are like fragile clay jars.

In spite of all the hardships, troubles, chaos that comes at you and we create for ourselves, that can all be turned into glory, into Kavod.

When you and I go through those things, it is an ideal opportunity for you and I to see the Glory, the Kavod of God.

SLIDE - 2 Cor 5:16-17 That is why we never give up...

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 reminds us of this.

16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

We don’t transform or reveal glory so that we are acceptable to God.

Glory has been given to us by God.

Don’t hide it, show it!

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