THE GLORY OF GOD

 

1.  INTRODUCTION

 

·      The way we ‘see things’ affects how relate, treat them.

·      Eg. Objects                        Eg People       Eg New car, old car

                                                            New shoes, old shoes

·      When lose respect or value of things/people tend to treat badly.

 

 

2.  HOW YOU SEE GOD AFFECTS HOW YOU RELATE TO HIM

 

Rev.4:11  Rest not day and night saying Holy Holy - Worthy.

·      In heaven God is seen ‘as He is’ - inspires awe, respect.

·      In heaven God is the centre and focus of attention and worship.

·      Personal background - Catholic: respect, reverence without relationship/ Pentecostal: relationship without respect.

 

Ro.1:20-24

·      Nature of God is revealed in creation - clearly seen by all.

·      God is great - look at creation - vastness, vanity, detail.

·      “Holds waters in palm of hand;  measures universe with span of hand” Is.40:12.

·      “Heavens cannot contain him much less this house” 1 Kg.8:27.

·      Two steps towards spiritual and moral decline.

i)    Refusal to glorify God for who he is                      }           Vain = foolish,

ii)   Refusal to express gratitude and appreciation      } idolatry, self centred

Result

·      Thinking self centred and understanding darkened

·      “Changed the glory of incorruptible God”

·      Changed the truth of God into a lie.

i.e. The glory, majesty, excellence of immortal God were exchanged for something people were familiar and comfortable with.

·      What is the glory?   What was it exchanged for?

 

 

3.  GOD’S GLORY IS HIS GOODNESS AND MAJESTY - ALL HIS ATTRIBUTES

 

(O.T.)  Glory = kabod = heavy, weighty

(N.T.)  Doxa - appearance, magnificence, radiance, dazzling lustre.

 

Glory = The presence and attributes of God made manifest.

Exodus 33:14 - 22  Glory - all the goodness of God.

 

·      v20 Cannot see face of God or will die.

·      Tim.6:16  Has immortality, dwells in light no man can approach, has seen.

·      God conceals or veils His glory in cloud - too awesome to behold.

·      Exodus 34:5-6 Descended in cloud - Proclaimed His Name - King entering.

·      Glory is brighter than noon sun in Middle East.  Act. 26:13.

·      Mk.9 Glory of Jesus revealed in mountain - eye witnesses of His majesty.

·      Moses response - Bow in respect and worship.  2 Pet.1:16.

 

 

 

-2-

 

4.  WHEN PEOPLE ARE EXPOSED TO GLORY OF GOD - IMPACTED

 

e.g.

·      Moses face shone Ex.34:29, 30.

·      Israel fled in terror.  Ex. 20:18-21.

·      People could not stand.  2 Chron. 5:14.

·      Paul blinded - life changed.  Act.22:11 - Could not see for the glory of that light.

·      Isaiah convicted of true condition Is.6:1-8 “I am unclean”

·      When you relate to God as He is your true condition is exposed, need for change.

·      Your view of God affects how you relate to Him.

 

 

5.  PEOPLE REDUCE GOD’S GLORY TO AVOID THE NEED FOR CHANGE

 

Ro.1:23 Changed glory;  changed truth - worshipped creation

·      Exod.32 - Israel - worshipped image, changed the glory.

·      Calf - familiar part of Egypt culture, common.

·      Still acknowledged Lord saved - reduced glory to something less awesome.

·      Today: People reduce God’s excellence to level familiarcommon.

·      Result: Man centred -what I think, feel, going through, needs.  Disrespect for God and self centred.

·      Eg

·      Church meetings - punctuality, attendance, lack of awareness

·      Worship - giving, centreing on Christ, talking, distracted.

·      Attitude to prayer, Word of God - neglected.

·      Attitude to presence of God, move of Holy Spirit - taken for granted.

·      Attitude to responsibility - someone else!  Too much!  Near enough is good enough!

·      Attitude to authority - critical!

·      Attitude to sin - OK, everyone else (Heb.10:26-31), only little, God will forgive.

·      Attitude to truth  - e.g. 1 Thess.5:18 In everything give thanks.  Will thank if I feel like it, things going well.

·      Day of shaking and glory of Lord coming to His house.

·      Hag. 2:6-9 Glory of Lord will fill the house of God.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR DISCUSSION

 

Do not attempt to answer all the questions.

 

GOD’S GLORY IS ALL HIS GOODNESS

 

1.  Read Exod. 33:13-23;  34:5-8

 

·      Why did Moses want to know God’s ways?  How are His ways different from His works?

·      What effects do the presence of God have on people? (v.14 - 15)

·      How did God respond to Moses request to see His glory?  Why?

·      What is the glory of God?  (33:19;  34:6,7)

 

2.  Impact of the Glory

 

Ask different people in the group to read the following passages and identify how the glory of God impacted people.

 

i)    Ex.34:29-30

ii)   Ex.19:16-19

iii)  Ex.20:18-21 - What difference is there between Moses response and the people’s response?  Why?

iv) 2 Chron.5:13-14 - Why could the priests not stand?

v)  Acts 22:6-14 - What was the impact on Paul’s sight?  On his life direction.

vi) Mark 9:1-6

vii) Is.6:1-8

 

·      How did the Seraphims respond to seeing the glory of God?

·      How did Isaiah respond?  What did he become aware of?

·      What5 two things happened to him? (v7,8)

·      Why is it important for messengers of the Lord to be clean?

 

3.  Changing the Glory

 

Read Exod.32:1-7

·      How did the extended delay of Moses return affect the people of Israel?

·      What did the glory of God look like to them? (Ex.24:17-18)

·      Why did they want to make a golden calf?

·      (Note the calf was a familiar part of the Egyptian religious culture)

·      Why did they act as though the glory cloud was not there at all?  What attitudes does this reveal?  (Compare Ro.1:21)

·      How do people today take God for granted and show lack of respect for him?

·      Who did the people worship and honour at their feast?  (v5)

·      Why did they prefer their own image of God (the calf) to the reality (the fire)?

·      How does that apply to people today?

·      What was the impact upon them?  (v6 - 10).