glory of god 3

8/3/2019 Glory of God 3

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Where Do I Stand With

The Lord? And

The Measured Glory of God

I thought will share with you from the place where Rajivstopped. l

Rajiv was talking about MOSES PURSUIT OF GOD'S GLORYWhen Moses asked God to show him his glory, the Lord warned him that no man could see him and live.

Only dead men can see God. There is an inseparable connection between His glory and our death.

Exodus 33 presents a paradox. Verse 11 tells us, The Lordspoke unto Moses face to face, as a man speak unto hisfriend. Then, just a few verses later, we read, (God) said,Thou cannot see my face: for there shall no man see me, andlive (33:20). This means, literally, My face shall not be seen.

What are we to make of this? One verse tells us Moses saw the Lords face.

But another states clearly that nobody can see Gods face and survive.

Actually, Moses didnt literally look into the Lords face. Instead, thisverse refers to an incredible intimacy Moses shared with God. It speaksof insights and revelations the Lord gave to Moses, because of theirbond. Moses spent entire days in Gods presence, seeking to know him.And Scripture says the Lord knew Moses as a friend (33:11). This tells usMoses saw God (or, knew him) as no human had before. Moses wasgaining an intimate knowledge and understanding of Gods heart,because of the quality time he spent with him.

Now, this all took place at a critical time in Israels history. The

Israelites had just committed a blasphemous sin against the Lord.Theyd melted down all their jewelry and shaped it into an idol, in theform of a golden calf. And they worshipped the idol, dancing around itin a demonic delirium.


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Yet Israels idolatry involved more than worshipping the golden calf.The people also hid little idols in their tents and secretly worshippedthem. Scripture tells us, You took up the tabernacle of Moloch, andthe star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worshipthem (Acts 7:43).

All of this provoked God to wrath. He told Moses, Let me alone, thatmy wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them(Exodus 32:10).

Its important to note here that Moses hadnt sinned withthe rest of Israel. Hed been on the mountain with the Lordall that time.

Yet Moses still took responsibility for the peoples actions. As Israelsleader, he identified himself with the peoples sin, declaring, This

people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold(32:31).

Moses knew the Lord had a right to consume the whole camp.

But this created a problem. After all, the Israelites were Gods chosennation. The priests and Levites were his ordained ministers, and theLord was in covenant with them. So Moses tried to reason with God,saying, Yes, Lord, these are your people. And theyve committed anawful blasphemy. Youve shown them nothing but love, yet theyvesinned in the face of your great light.

But, Lord, theyre still your people. And if you cut them off, well bedoomed. We have no other place to go. Weve got nobody to turn to,no other hope. We might as well dig our own graves, sit down here,and wait to die.

Think of the dilemma this presented for Moses.

He knew firsthand Israels sinful nature. The peoples hearts wereclearly bent on backsliding. In his final days, Moses would remindthem,

From the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until yecame unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the Lord(Deuteronomy 9:7).


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Yet Moses also was aware of his own sin. Even though he didnt bow tothe golden calf, he knew his own human righteousness wasntacceptable in Gods sight.

If Ive found any favor in your sight, then please, show me what

youre like toward your people when theyre found in sin. Show mewhere I stand with you now, in this crisis. Am I still your friend? Am Istill in your grace? Are we, your people, still in your good grace? Iveseen you care for us through every trial. But I dont know you now, inthis present crisis. I dont know how youll react to our sin.

In this scene, Moses represents more than just Israels

leader. He represents a people of God like you and mewho have sinned to high heaven. (Likewise, his own sincondemned him in Gods sight. Scripture says all havesinned and fallen short of Gods glory.)

Finally, Moses cried out, Show me now thy way, that I may knowthee (Exodus 33:13). The original Hebrew here reads, Show me thineown self, with the word for self translated as heart. Moses was

saying, God, I have to know your heart. I need a new revelation ofyour glory. You have to show me something of yourself here, to set mytheology straight. I dont know how to approach you in this kind ofcrisis. I dont know how to seek you for grace, or even how to believefor it.

What happens when lovers

of Jesus are caught

in a defiling sin?

We need to stand in Moses shoes. How do we react to Godwhen we know we deserve his wrath? It doesnt matter howbig or small we may think our sin is. Any sin is bigenough to deserve his judgment.


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Like Moses, we may have shared great intimacy with God. But itspossible to defile that intimacy and provoke his friendship.

We may be blessed with great revelations, but weve sinned againstthe light weve been given. Weve been shown great love, but weve

sinned in the face of it. Now an urgent cry rises in us: Lord, show mewhat youre like in this kind of crisis. I have to know this side of you.

If Im surprised by sin if I erect a golden calf in my heart how will you react to me?

In our crisis, our conscience is stricken with guilt. Deep down, all wecan hear is the same voice of wrath Moses heard: Let me alone. Imgoing to consume you and cast you out. Time after time, I gatheredyou up in my arms. I carried you through every hopeless situation. Iwas a caring, loving God to you. But youve failed willingly andgrievously. And now Im giving up on you. Ill find a faithful servant towalk in my ways. Ive changed my mind about you. I dont want youanymore, you rebellious sheep.

In short, we face the same dilemma Moses faced. Moses knew God ashis friend. But he didnt know what God was like when faced with sin inhis own congregation.

This scene shows us its not enough to know God as an intimate friend.

You see, on the human side of this relationship, a friend canbetray the trust of intimacy. On one hand, Moses could say, Iknow God as my friend. And I know how he reacts to my needs. He

offers provision, the way any friend would. And when I pray, heresponds with mercy.

But now Moses was faced with the question: What about now, when Ifind a golden calf in my life? What happens when I betray theconfidence of my intimacy with the Lord? Will I still be in his favor?Hes holy and pure, and Ive broken the bond of covenant with him.How do I stand now, in the eyes of my wounded friend?


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Yes, Ive spoken face to face with him. Ive spent much time with him,and weve shared an incredible intimacy. But that only makes myfailure seem worse. Ive sinned terribly and grieved his Spirit. How willhe react to me? Lord, show me who you are, not just when things aregood between us. When Ive rebelled and sinned, how will you

respond? If I dont have this revelation, I wont know where I stand withyou.

You cant know where you stand with the

Lord until you know his nature.

There is one revelation of God that every Christian must fullyunderstand. You have to know how hes going to deal withyou when youve sinned.

Moses knew all about how God dealt with the wicked.

Hed watched in holy awe as the Lord reacted to Pharaohshardness with terrible judgment. God destroyed Egypts armybecause it had touched his anointed. Moses saw firsthand howGod hated sin.

He also saw how the Lord reacts to faith and obedience. Moseswatched as God supernaturally parted the Red Sea for hispeople to cross to safety. In this way, Moses knew God as

deliverer. Moreover, Moses knew God in his holiness. The Lord had spoken

to him from the burning bush, saying, Moses, Moses, take offyour shoes. Youre on holy ground.

But now, in this present crisis, Moses didnt know the Lord.He wasnt familiar at all with Gods nature in such asituation. Moses realized this was no longer about intimacy.It wasnt about how many hours hed prayed, or how fruitfulhed been, or how faithfully hed served. Whatever he knew

of God in the past didnt matter here.

Now it was all about who God is when sin erupts in his children. Moseshad to know something more about the Lords nature, something thatwould provide hope. He had to have a further truth about God,something that would bring the people back to his presence, back tohis loving embrace.


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Moses didnt know it, but God was about to bring him into agreater revelation of his glory and nature. This revelation wouldgo far beyond friendship, far beyond intimacy.

Its a revelation God wants all his hurting people to know.

The Lord told Moses he was going to show him his glory: I will makeall my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of theLord before thee (Exodus 33:19). Then he said, Thou canst not see my

face: for there shall no man see me, and live. (But) behold, thereis a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: and itshall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will putthee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my handwhile I pass by (33:20-22).

Another Hebrew word for glory in this passage means my ownself. God was telling Moses, I myself will pass by near you. Theoriginal Hebrew says it this way: I will hide you in a cavity of the rock,and I will defend you with the protectiveness of my power until I havepassed by.

The Lord was saying, in essence, Yes, youve failed me. ButIm going to put you in a place where youll be secure. That

place is inside the rock. And I want you to stay there. Dont harbordoubt and fear. Im about to give you a revelation of who I am.

God reveals his glory, mercy

and protection.

Here is what Paul means when he says we are hid inChrist. When we fail God when we sin grievously againstthe light were not to linger in our fallen condition.Instead, were to quickly run to Jesus, to be hid in the rock.Paul writes, Our fathersdid all drink the same spiritualdrink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followedthem: and that Rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:1, 4).


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Like Moses, we have to know what it means to be secure inthe cleft of the rock.

Otherwise, well run from the Lord whenever we fail him.

God promises us, Im not only going to hide you in a safe place. Imgoing to cover you there, and protect you. Youll be totally safe, evenin the presence of my holiness. You see, theres another side to mynature that you have to know.

Youve sinned greatly. But I want you to run to me, in godlysorrow. Ill secure you with my hand until you get a clearrevelation of my mercy and grace. I want you to see andunderstand who I am.

Yet, like Moses, you have to desire this revelation. You mustcry, Lord, show me your glory.

Let me point out here that Moses also had broken Gods law. When hecame down from the mountain and saw the people dancing nakedaround the golden calf, he burned with rage. He took the stone tabletson which God had written the Ten Commandments and smashed themto ground. Moses anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of hishands, and brake them beneath the mount (Exodus 32:19).

This wasnt a holy anger. It was the hot, human anger of a raging man.And it was sin. Scripture describes Moses as a meek, humble servant ofGod. But when this same servant saw the peoples sin, his temperbroke out violently. And he literally broke Gods law, breaking thetablets.

We are not to misrepresentGods character.

The Bible says that his anger was the very reason God didnt allow Moses to enter the

Promised Land. Because Moses misrepresented Gods nature, his character, his glory.


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Christ is the full expression of that glory. Indeed, all that is in theFather is embodied in the Son. And Jesus was sent to earth to bringthat glory to us. In Moses time, of course, Christ wasnt yet incarnate,though he was in God. Yet we see that everything God proclaims hereabout his own nature is embodied in Jesus. Christ is merciful and

gracious, full of truth, pure and just, yet forgiving of sin.

Having said that what about the measured Glory of God or the manifest

Presence of God

24Then He said to them, "Take heed what you hear. With the

same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to youwho hear, more will be given. 25For whoever has, to him more

will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will

be taken away from him." (Mark 4:24-25).

Jesus knew these words might sound strange to non-spiritual ears. So he preceded hismessage by saying, "If any man have ears to hear, let him hear" (4:23). He was telling us,

in essence, "If your heart is open to God's Spirit, you'll understand what I have to say to

you."

What, exactly, is Jesus saying in this passage? He's speaking of the glory of God in ourlives -- that is, Christ's manifest presence. In short, the Lord measures out his glorious

presence in various amounts, whether to churches or to individuals. Some don't receive

any of his glory. Yet others receive an ever-increasing measure, emanating from theirlives and churches in greater and greater amounts.

Here's an example: Have you ever been to a church where you sensed a small measure ofGod's glory? Maybe you experienced a flash of it during the worship or the sermon. Then

you went to another church -- and as soon as you walked in, you were overwhelmed byGod's glory in the place. You sensed the Lord's presence in fullness. And it convicted

you, motivating you to remedy the lack of God's glory in your life.

God has promised to pour out his Spirit on his people in these last days. Indeed, all of

scripture points to a triumphant, glory-filled church at the close of time. Jesus himselfsaid the gates of hell will not prevail against his church. So, no matter how fiercely Satan

bares his teeth, he can't stop God's work. Jesus has removed his bite.

We won't be limping into heaven -- beaten down, depressed, whimpering, defeated,discouraged. No -- our Lord is going to bring greater power to his church. Yet this powerwon't be manifested merely in signs and wonders. Rather, it will be revealed in his people

-- in the glorious transformation of hearts touched by God's Spirit.

The Lord has already meted out -- or, allotted -- to each of us a measure of his Spirit.

Paul writes, "Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift ofChrist" (Ephesians 4:7). Jesus alone was given the Holy Spirit without measure: "For he


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whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure

unto him" (John 3:34). Simply put, Christ had the fullness of the Spirit, without limit.

By contrast, we've been given a measure of God's Spirit, according to his divineallotment. Paul writes, "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is

among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to thinksoberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith" (Romans 12:3).

What is God's goal in measuring out his Spirit -- his glory and presence -- to us invarying amounts? He does this for a single purpose: "Till we all come in the unity of the

faith...unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13).

Paul is saying two things here: First, if we're going to live God's way --

sober-minded, and with intensity -- our goal should be to have an ever-

increasing measure of his glory, until we enter into full maturity in Christ.

Second, the measure of faith we've been given is meant to serve and supplythe rest of the body of Christ: "According to the effectual working in the

measure of evey part, (making) increase of the body unto the edifying of

itself in love" (4:16)

Paul is making a profound statement here. He's saying that every one of us is a working

member of the body of Christ -- a joint here, a muscle there. And, being such life-givingentities, we are to supply an ever-increasing measure of health to the other members.

We're each designed to be a source of faith, love, mercy, grace, glory -- all meant to

produce a stronger, healthier body.

Obviously, the health of the body depends on each of us being in good

health.

If one of us is blessed, the whole body is blessed. Yet likewise, if one

member sins, the whole body is affected.

Therefore, each of us needs an ever-increasing measure of Christ's glory.

Let me ask you: how much health -- that is, how much glory and faith -- are you

supplying to Christ's body? Is his love increasing in you daily? And, in turn, are you able

to supply strength to other members? Is your state of health strengthening the body'simmune system? Or has some disease infected you -- some worldly desire that has taken

hold of you, and is affecting the rest of the body?

We All Need a Greater Measure of God's Glory And

Presence in Our Lives.


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The Lord is preparing to pour out his Spirit on his people in these last days --

to do things we've never seen, heard or imagined. And I want to have a part

in that. I want a greater measure of his glory in my life than I've ever had.

And I want to see God's glory fill his church with such intensity it can't be

contained.

How can we obtain such a greater, ever-increasing measure

of Christ's glory?

The Lord himself tells us, very clearly: "With what measure ye mete, it shall be

measured to you" (Mark 4:24). Jesus says, "According to the portion of yourself you allot

to me, I'll give back to you in like portion. In short, I'll deal with you in the manner youdeal with me. Whatever measure you mete out to me, I'll mete out to you."

What does this mean??

If you mete out to God sloth and laziness -- taking for granted his great work -- you'll be

dealt a spirit of slumber. "Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall

suffer hunger" (Proverbs 19:15). As a result, your soul will go hungry, unable to besatisfied. "Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall

thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man" (24:33-34).

Isaiah warned of "watchmen...sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber" (Isaiah 56:10).

Isaiah isn't speaking here of natural sleep, but disinterest in the things of God. He'sdescribing a people who were inattentive to God's work. Israel measured out less and less

of their time to the Lord, giving him only small moments of devotion.

Why didn't they want a greater measure of God's glory? They were hiding sin. And they

knew that the first thing God's presence does is to expose iniquity. So they told Isaiah,"Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things" (Isaiah 30:10).

Spiritual Laziness and Sloth Are the Main Causes of the

Loss of God's Glory in the Church and in Individuals.

What happened in Israel is happening today in God's house. The major cause for the lossof God's glory in his church isn't drugs, alcohol or sex -- but a spirit of sloth. Multitudes

of Christians allot hours for indulging in sports, movies, shopping, pleasures of all kinds.

Yet they devote to God an ever-diminishing amount of time.


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Like the Israelites, these people don't want to hear a sharp, prophetic word. They're

addicted to prosperity and ease. And their excitement about the things of God is

decreasing. They spend hours in front of their TV, allowing their minds to be saturatedwith filth -- because they've become increasingly lazy in spirit.

Some of these Christians are the same ones who complain, "God's gloryisn't present in my church the way it used to be." The truth is, his glory isn't

being meted out in their individual lives -- because they haven't meted outquality time to him.

Don't misunderstand -- I'm not suggesting we can measure out to God something good in

ourselves, causing him to measure out his glory to us. No -- we can never earn hispresence, by any amount of works, zeal or human goodness. We have to remember, our

Lord found us in ours sins -- loving us in our helplessness, when we had nothing to mete

out to him. "I was found of them that sought me not" (Romans 10:20).

Indeed, God's love, mercy and grace toward us are boundless. Yet, the issue here isn'tobtaining his love, mercy or grace -- but having the blessing of his glory in our lives.

Jesus states plainly that he measures out different amounts of his glory to us, according to

how we measure out our hearts to him. Our part is simply to move ever closer to him -- in

our worship, obedience and diligence.

We see this truth repeated throughout both Testaments: "Draw nigh to God, and he will

draw nigh to you" (James 4:8). "If from thence thou shalt see the Lord thy God, thou

shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul" (Deuteronomy4:29). "The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their

troubles" (Psalm 34:17).

Jesus' statement is a direct challenge to us: "How desperately do you want my presence in

your life? If you want more, it's going to require something of you. Yet I promise you --if you make an effort to draw closer to me, giving me an ever greater measure of

yourself, I'll mete out greater amounts of my glory to you. I'll keep coming back to you

with more, more, more."

Something is dreadfully wrong when God's people can shout, sing, dance and praise himin church, yet never be delivered from their chains of lust and besetting sins. It's troubling

when God's shepherds are satisfied if their church is running smoothly, their budget is

met, and they have a steady paycheck.

The only churches being visited today with an ever-increasing measure of God's glory

are those that cry out to him in desperation. They're convinced, "The hour is late -- we

have to wake up. We've got to be about God's business in this final hour."

Jesus assures such believers, "Unto you that hear shall more be given" (Mark 4:24). What

is the "more" Christ promises to give? And what does it mean for us to hear? The Greek


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word for hear means to understand. Jesus is saying, in other words, "You must

comprehend what the Spirit is saying to you."

Motivated Christians hear God's Spirit urging them, "Measure out to me a heart that's seton seeking me. Let me see something of concern, of stirring, of need, of brokeness. Serve

up to me a cry like you've never cried before. Then I will hear -- and I'll mete out to youmy ever-increasing power and deliverance."

These believers hear the Holy Spirit telling them their heart condition must change. Theyrealize they've been taking the things of God for granted -- merely going through the

motions, with no deep conviction. So they've begun to make changes. They're meting out

to God more time for communion. And they're taking an inventory of their heart attitudes

toward his house and work. They're praying, "Lord, I want more of you. Don't let mebackslide in my diligence toward you and your holy concerns."

Now they're seeing results. A new joy is flowing deep in their souls. They sense more of

God's presence in their lives, and they have peace like a river. They're receiving what theLord promised them -- a greater measure of glory, blessing, anointing -- because they've

meted out to him a greater measure of themselves.

Jesus assures us, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these

things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). He's saying, "Keep giving more ofyourself to me -- and I'll pour out more of my glory on you. All your worldly affairs can

wait. Seek me first instead, and I'll take care of your concerns. I can do more for you in a

single hour than you could do in years of trying."

Just When You Rejoice in Your New Touch From God,

He Promises You More.

Now that you have God's glory back in your life, Jesus pledges, "More shall be given to

you" (see Mark 4:24). He's saying, "You haven't seen anything yet, I see your diligence inmeasuring out more of yourself to me. And I'm going to do more for you."

God always desires to pour out more of his glory on his people. He longs to do for us

"exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20). This is why he

wants a people who have a ravenous appetite for more of him. He wants to fill them withhis awesome presence, beyond anything they've experienced in their lifetime.

Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it moreabundantly" (John 10:10). Yet, to obtain this abundant life, we must abound more and

more in pleasing the Lord. Paul writes, "We...exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as yehave received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more

and more" (Thessalonians 4:1). 58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be

steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,

knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58).


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The Greek word for abound means to exceed, excel, super-abound -- to have enough and

to spare, over and above, excessive, exceeding abundantly above, beyond measure. Paul

is saying, "God's glory in your life is going to exceed the little moments you've gotten uptill now. But your prayers have to be more than just asking a blessing over your meals.

Now you're going to pray morning, noon and night, without ceasing."

"So walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have

been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving" (Colossians 2:6-7). Paul is instructingus, "To have this abundant life of God's glory and presence, you must serve him above

measure -- with a love and commitment exceeding that of lazy, slumbering servants."

"Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence" (Ephesians 1:8). God

wants to mete out to you glory and revelation beyond any previous measure. "Havingmade known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he

hath purposed in himself" (1:9). The Lord is saying, "I'm going to open to you a deeper

understanding of my word. I want to give you revelations of its mysteries."

The Lord wants to supply you in all things, so you can serve him without measure. 8AndGod is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always

having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every

good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8).

Be Warned -- It Is Possible to Miss the

Glory Jesus Promises.

If we linger in a state of sloth, never allowing the Holy Spirit to possess and cleanse us,

we can miss what God wants to give us. 25For whoever has, to him more will be

given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be takenaway from him." (Mark 4:25).

You may remember the parable of the talents, in which a slothful servant was given onetalent and buried it. This servant was satisfied with the status quo. He wasn't going to

mete out and measure beyond what he had. How did his master react? He took away the

servant's talent and gave it to another servant, who already had ten.

We see this kind of sloth illustrated in Israel's history. The Israelites had God's presenceat one time. But over the years, they allowed idolatry and lust to creep in, corrupting

them completely. Eventually, they lost their heart for the things of God. They continued

to attend his house, but only out of tradition and fleshly fear.

God told Israel, "Go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh...and see what I did to it

for the wickedness of my people Israel" (Jeremiah 7:12). The Psalmist testifies, "He

forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men" (Psalm 78:60).

"The Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh bythe word of the Lord" (1 Samuel 3:21).


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Shiloh had been the house of God. A clear word was preached there by the prophet

Samuel, and God's Spirit was present mightily. But over time, Shiloh fell into corruption

under the high priest, Eli, and his wicked sons. Now God appeared in Shiloh again,anxious to rebuild his house and bring the unholy priesthood to repentance.

But Eli and his sons remained slothful. Eli grew fat and lazy, living in ease, while hissons continued to mock God, even as they ministered in his house. Eventually, God said,

"I won't allow my glory to abide in a place where corruption is present."

So the Lord forsook Shiloh. He removed his glory from Israel, and a spiritual dearth

befell the nation. First, the ark was stolen. Then Eli toppled over from his own weight

and broke his neck. Finally, the high priest's daughter-in-law gave birth to a boy, naming

him Ichabod -- meaning, "The glory is departed from Israel" (1 Samuel 4:21).

If you think this is strictly an Old Testament judgment, leveled because of sloth and

corruption, read God's warnings to the New Testament churches in Revelation:

To the church at Ephesus: "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because

thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and

repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and willremove thy candlestick out of this place, except thou repent" (Revelation 2:4-5). To the church at Pergamos: "So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the

Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly,

and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth" (2:15-16).

To the church at Laodicea: "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I

would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold

nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, andincreased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art

wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (3:15-17)

In each instance, God gives a literal "or else" warning to his church. Why? He's preparinga pure, spotless bride for his son. He's waking sleeping virgins, his Spirit crying out tothem, "Behold, the bridegroom comes. Prepare yourself to meet him."

Today, a spirit of wickedness and a mockery of holy things still comes forth from many

pulpits. Yet God's pure word is also coming forth, just as it did through Samuel. The Lordis warning, "If you insist on clinging to your sins, I'll take away even what you think you

have. I'll remove my presence from your life, your church, just as I did at Shiloh."


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This has already happened to churches all over the world. The glory these congregations

once enjoyed has totally vanished -- because they refused to mete out anything to the

Lord.Likewise, if you refuse to stir yourself up to seek the Lord with all your heart -- if you're

still meting out to him a small measure of your time, devotion, obedience -- your

conviction and knowledge will vanish.I ask you -- are your prayers not being answered, because you've given God so little of

yourself? He doesn't want to remove his presence from you. On the contrary, he wants to

heap on you a great measure of his blessings. Right now, he stands ready to wake youfrom your sloth and slumber -- to draw you close to himself, and fill you with his glory.

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