The Purpose of the Glory

John 17: 20-23,  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

The glory of God, better defined as opinion, judgment or view is not the glory cloud of His manifest presence that we read about in other passages!  The purpose of this glory is

1. Unity. He distinctly states in vs. 22 that the glory is transferred to us for a cause.  Glory has a purpose and that purpose it to make us one! To draw us together as a family, as a body, as a church.

Throughout the Word, it is stated that God will not share His glory with another.  That means that when we refuse one another (of the Body of Christ), we refuse the glory.  Glory is positional as well as relational.  Where we are in relation to Him must be where we are in relation to one another.

When the glory of God is on a man’s life, it should draw us closer to God and one another rather than alienate us.  Otherwise, the glory is being used for personal gain.

2. Perfection. (vs. 23)”…that they be made perfect in one”

That word “perfect” means to accomplish, finish, or bring to and end.  This cannot happen if we remain separate entities. He wants us to finish together as one working part!  We will not come to completion in our purpose apart from one another.

Perfect also means consummate human integrity and virtue. These are the legs that we stand on! Picture a stick figure.  That is the body of Christ.

The left leg is the Fruit of the Spirit, integrity and character. Not surprisingly, the word unity (one, together) also means integrity.

The right leg: the Gifts of the Spirit: our unique calling, gift(s), purpose, virtue

We cannot operate in our calling and gift(s) without one another.  It simply is not possible.  Our left leg only grows as we regard one another and relate one to another.  It’s worth considering that the branches that do not bear fruit are those that remain alone, unexposed to brothers and sisters in Christ.  The very tool the Husbandman uses could very well be the one’s we refuse to have fellowship with.

Without each other, we are handicap.  One leg short.

The spiritual legs of the body of Christ will never take us in opposite directions.  The legs are one working part, just as the legs (of a physical body) are one working part.

 

Consumed with Fire

Zephaniah 3:8-9

Therefore earnestly wait for Me, says the Lord, waiting for the day when I rise up to attack as a witness, accuser, or judge and a testimony. For My decision and determination and right it is to gather the nations together, to assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them My indignation, even all the heat of My fierce anger; for in that day all the earth shall be consumed with the fire of My zeal and jealousy.  

 

For then, changing their impure language, I will give to the people a clear and pure speech for pure lips, that they may call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one unanimous consent and one united shoulder bearing the yoke of the Lord.

 

For some time now, the Lord has drawn me in and out of the book of Zephaniah. I love what the intro in my study bible has to say about this book. “…it promised a blessing of future glory as bright as the doom was dark.” The passage above reflects such a thing.

 

The Lord was saying, “I am determined and I have a right to gather the nations together and let them know that I am angry and justly so!” But as I read this, it seems that immediately it takes a turn. In saying, “the earth is going to be consumed with the fire of My zeal and jealousy”, it was as though He was stating His desire for His people to understand His passion concerning them and His jealousy for them, that they wholly give their hearts to Him.

 

Is it this zeal that actually encompasses the fire that would consume us? Zeal is defined as “ardent”, which means characterized by warmth of feeling, passionate, fiery, hot or glowing!

It captivates me to think that the fire I have encountered would be His zeal and His jealousy for me, to have all of me. That He consumes me in it at times to devour anything that would be a barrier between He and I. It would seem a fearful thing to encounter such a fire, yet I know I have and have not been destroyed, (at least not as you might suppose) but rather refined and purified. Anything unfruitful, any branch not of Him, all of the wood, hay and stubble…consumed. But what can remain and what should remain…refined all the more.

The result of the fire here is what verse 9 states, “For then, changing their impure language, I will give to the people a clear and pure speech for pure lips, that they may call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one unanimous consent and one united shoulder bearing the yoke of the Lord.” We clearly see here that there has been a purification and a refining or shall I say, redefining of agenda. One consent! Total agreement. And it speaks of government as well. One shoulder.

This is my prayer…that the fire would continue to come! Don’t leave us like this Lord! Don’t leave us with what you don’t have need of, with desires that are not yours! Purify us! Don’t leave us without one consent. Amen.