FOLLOWING THE GLORY
THE MYSTERY OF THE WORK OF THE GLORY
The Glory of the Eternal Divine Being is the magnificent expression of HIS DIVINE NATURE, which is a realm of Eternal Joy, and unspeakable Happiness independent of any created thing. It is the Divine Power, which connects both the Adamic and Angelic creation IN TO THE DIVINE NATURE. In reality, is a Divine force of attraction which takes the affections and desires, of both the Adamic and Angelic creation, into the Creator. Without the Glory, there can be no True hunger of the heavenly Life. The absence of the Glory, is always a result of seeking Joy somewhere outward, independent, of THE HOLY DIVINE NATURE. The Glory is accompanied with divine revelation. The Glory of the Eternal being, in itself varies in degrees, depending, on the degree of death; we partake in removing our affections, in outward and created things.
To make a Few points about the Glory:
1. The Glory reveals the nature of Christ or HIS KINGDOM, with its Eternal Riches.
2. The Glory, is in levels, and is proportional, to the Level of death of our self Lives.
3. The appearing of the Glory is always a Call, to enter Higher Glory.
THE POWER IN THE GLORY
With the evidence, and undisputable Truth from the Scriptures, it is solidly clear that, there where many things, the LORD was teaching HIS disciples, which they never understood until HE WAS GLORIFIED. Now the question is when was this GLORIFICATION? Some will not hesitate, to tell us, it was the Outward death, HE personally went through Calvary. This is partly True, because the ETERNAL GLORY was only manifested to the Adamic creation, Because of HIS death on the cross. Yet, on the final minute HE gave up HIS last Breath, the disciples where still hiding in a room. The resurrection on the third day, met them still in spiritual blindness, of the Eternal Glory. Though, there was a manifestation, and a measure OF HIS GLORY, when HE personally appears among them, after the resurrection, yet there was still a high measure of spiritual Blindness. Nothing can be plainer than this truth, when HE answered Peter, about the Disciple whom HE LOVED after HIS resurrection:
“Jesus saith unto him, if I come, what is that to thee ? follow me . Then went this saying among the the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet JESUS said not unto him, he shall not die, but if I will tarry till I come what is that to thee” (John 21v 21-23 ).
“When they therefore were come together, they asked of HIM , saying LORD will thou at this time again restore the Kingdom to Israel? And HE said unto them, it is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Heavenly Father has put in HIS OWN power” (Acts 1v6-7).
The immaturity and carnality of the disciples, even after the resurrection, is practically clear from the above scriptures. We will not waist our time here, with the many infallible proofs, that it was not until, they tarried to wait, on the upper room that A HIGHER GLORY OF THE LORD became manifest within their lives, practically, from the Day of Pentecost. These timid, fearful, and spiritual blind believers became the Lions, with prophetic insight, about the kingdom, from the Day of Pentecost. Whole abominable sinful Nations, where changed, from the Power of The Glory of Pentecost, within these tiny uneducated believers. Oh that a blind Christendom, will stop dishonoring, the Power and the Glory of the Cross, with endless theologies and dogmas, about what Christ accomplished for us on the Cross, while denying the call, to enter and Follow HIM in denying the lust of the flesh, the pride of Life, and seeking HIM, in unceasing prayers and occasional fasting. There is no Glory, without Communion and intimacy with the LORD. The History of the Church, is full of yielded vessels, who after partaking a measure of the daily cross, influenced, the conversion of whole communities and Nations, with simple anointed messages, because of the coming of a measure of the Eternal Glory, within their individual lives.
Have you ever wondered, why with Just a simple word, the LORD called HIS disciples to forsake family, friends and profession to Follow HIM? It was the manifestation of the Glory, which made the difference. The Power in HIS words where accompanied, with a manifestation of HIS Glory, to HIS Chosen ones. They easily follow HIM, not without Pain in the flesh, but the Joy in the Spirit so far superseded, the Pain in the Flesh, that they heeded the Call. Who is so unwise, to think that it was so easy in the flesh, for the disciples to forsake all and follow HIM? They will not have cry to HIM, “Behold we Forsake all”.
It is solidly recorded, in the history of the Church, about men and women who in the period of their martyrdom, jubilate and sang songs of adoration, as they say farewell, to a corrupted and a cursed generation. My Brother and Sisters, it was the Manifestation, of a measure of the Eternal Glory, which made the difference. Of the Holy, Saintly, Stephen the Martyr, it was recoded in the scriptures:
“But He being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into Heaven and SAW THE GLORY OF GOD, and JESUS standing on the Right hand of God, And Said Behold I see Heaven Opened and the SON OF MAN standing on the right HAND OF GOD. Then they Cried with a Loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witness laid their clothes at a young mans feet, whose name was Saul.
And they Stoned Stephen, Calling upon God, and Saying, Lord JESUS receive my spirit. And he kneeled down and cried with a LOUD voice LORD lay not this to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7v55-60).
Friends, these Victorious martyrs show, the Glory, not just with the Natural eye, but their spirits, where in communion with the Heavenly kingdom, in a higher altitude of Divine consolation. Nothing was important in that hour, but HIS PERFECT WILL. With the practical evidence of this discussion, it is should be so clear, that the so called prosperity Gospel , worldliness , wild music , Carnal Dancing and that Abominable fleshy carnal practice called Christian Dating, in “Christians Gatherings” etc, is a sign of the Departure of the Glory. What can keep our sensual and worldly youths, with Fretful Elders, in endless meetings and programs? With the departure of the Glory, only Entertainment, and smooth words from sensual preachers can keep this religious activities alive.
One morning of these days, in a hurry of knowing the Latest message from my email, I was depressed by an abominable email, from of one of those so -called Christian Nations title, “Can a Homosexual be Christian”. Imagine someone to ask you, is Satan Godly? I will make a General plead to every Christian I know, never to forward me such an abominable email. The best I can do for such Professing Christians is to invite them, in our heathen Nation, and take them to a heathen, to preach them the Counsel of God in that matter. After that, they can pack and Go Home. It is of these Insane debate the Apostle wrote “But shun profane and Vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness ” (2timothy2v 16).
When the Glory departs from the “Church” at Large, the world changed the Church from its original Callings, into its methods and Systems. Should the Glory return to the “Church” at Large, the World will either be influence to Godliness through the “Church”, or it will remain a separate entity from it. How can two work together except they agreed, never can it be. When the Glory Depart the “Church” agree with the world, but when the Glory return the World will either agree with the Church, or remain separate from it.
POSSESSING THE GLORY
“And behold, one came and said unto him, Good master what shall I do that I may have eternal Life? And HE said unto him why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is God (Note HE was not saying HE is not Good, but HE was asking on what ground is HE calling HIM good, knowing that he did not recognize HIM as God) but if thou will enter into LIFE keep the commandment. He Saith unto him, which? JESES said, thou shall do no murder, thou shall not commit Adultery, thou shall not steal, thou shall not bear false witness, honour thy father and mother: and, thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man , saith unto HIM, all these have I kept from my youth up: WHAT LACK I YET. JESUS, said unto him if thou will be perfect go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shall have treasures in Heaven and come and follow me. But when the Man heard these sayings, He went away sorrowful for he had great possessions. ” (Matthew 19v 16-22).
The Story above is a thrilling amazing story, of a hungry young rich man. He knew the Glory of the Old covenant, in keeping the moral Law, but knew something was still lacking. He needed a higher glory to enter perfect Peace . We know, there are quite a majority of professing Christian who did not know, there is a Glory in keeping, even the moral Law of God , through the natural gifts of Long suffering , bestow on all the Adamic creation, even after the Fall. It is on this Witness, Gods judges and destroys whole Nations which trample the Moral Law, all over the Old Testament, and even the New Testament. (Read Luke 10v 13-15, Luke 13v1-5). No Sober man, will ague the fact that HIV Aids, and many others diseases are a result of trampling the moral Law, by a Vain and shameless Generation. This has nothing at all to do with possessing Eternal Life, but it attract God mercy and protection, within a certain community of people.
This Young Rich man is an example of someone who Gain a measure of victory and possessing a measure of the Glory, in deny excess youthful lusts and Vanity but Lost a Higher Eternal Glory; because the price was so costly.
1. The Former dealt with the outward practical sins the latter deals with the Root of every rebellion and self dependence of God.
2. In the former, his hope of survival was practical, because of the visible riches, while in the Latter, his hope of survival was going to be daily trusting God, for the Supply of His needs.
3. In the former, His godliness could easily be proven, by his material possession, while the Latter his godliness will hardly be vindicated, in a materialistic world.
4. The former divided His heart, while the latter will unite His heart wholly to God.
5. The former, will have attracted so many friends, because of the riches, while the latter will send all the many flattering friends away.
These are some of the things, this young man practically knew were to befall him, if he had responded to the call. Now, all the many years of the former Glory was lost, after rejecting the Call for a Higher Glory. How many times, has the LORD with Eternal mercy of compassion, strives with a lot of HIS Children, to forsake all, even the former blessings HE bestow on them, to start afresh with HIM, in Child like dependence, just to received a Sadden Face like the young rich ruler; from blind, Carnal children. We can run in to programs, conferences, books and like the young rich man crying “LORD what is lacking in my Life, I have not committed any practical sins but look how dry I am, I want more of you,” but when the mind of God, becomes manifest in calling us to walk the unknown and the unpredictable, we calmly disappear covering our nakedness with religious figs, in forms of activities and programs. A few respond, just to later return to their religious Vomit, though mostly with hidden evil agendas, with only a tiny minority making it through.
One thing about the Heavenly Glory, it can only remain at the fixed divine appointed time. It is always onward. We can only follow it in increasing magnitude by a continual dying to our self life, in following the mind of the Spirit, or we will lose it. There is a traditional saying so common among Pentecostals that, new converts are always Zealous for the LORD. The Truth is, there is always an unspeakable joy, when any new measure of HIS glory is being experienced. This is what makes the difference. Along the Line in most of Gods people, this Heavenly experience, becomes replaced by mere meetings, programs, and doctrines which only feed the mind and not the spirit. Revelation is lost and so the Glory departs The Scripture makes it so clear that we are to change, in to HIS Image from one measure of HIS glory into another, not just one (2corinthians 3v18).
THE MANIFESTATION OF THE GLORY
“And HE saith unto them all, If any man come after me , let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it : but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantage, if he gain the whole world and lose himself, or be cast away? For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the son of man be ashamed, when he shall come (the manifestation) IN HIS OWN GLORY, AND IN HIS FATHER AND OF THE HOLY ANGELS” (Luke 9v 23 -26).
Our Traditional interpretation of the above quoted scripture only point this wonderful truth, to those plain outright sinners .Those still in the curse, who shall without dispute, drop in the Eternal Fire of Hell if they do not repent. Yes this is inclusive, but it goes far, far deeper than that. This speaks of the Daily life of the true believer, as he partake a measure of:
1. DENYING SELF:
This is what it means to partake in the Dead of the Cross. Our selfish nature is evil and so contrary to the Divine Nature which is Governed by a Life of meekness, purity, and joy in the Holy Ghost. If we are to keep the Glory of the LORD, and move with it to a higher Glory, we must cease from our defensive self, and patiently seek the Mind or will of God , in everything. It is so humbling to the Flesh, to be Governed by the Spirit. In the Death of the Cross, we experience the shame or offence of the cross in the flesh. At many times we must appear foolish and childish to a world, totally governed by the Natural senses. This is the Offence of the Cross. And the apostle wrote “For I think that God has set us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: For we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ sake, but ye are wise in Christ (these where not fully going through death and so appear wise to the world), but ye are strong: ye are honourable, but we are despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place. And labour working with our hands: being reviled we bless: being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed we intreat: WE ARE MADE AS THE FILTH OF THE WORLD , AND ARE THE OFFSCORING OF ALL THINGS UNTO THIS DAY” (2Corinthians 4v 9-13 ). Before Glory we must start through death, daily.
2. LOSING OR SELF LIVES:
In losing our lives, we enter the Burial after Death. This is the divine Consolation we receive from the Father after dying to self in obeying the Mind of God; what was at one point a pain in the flesh, in obeying the voice of HIS Spirit, becomes a normal daily activity. Paul was partaking in the burial when he wrote “I glory in infirmities , weakness’ etc ” for HE knew until He abandond himself to the LORD in ceasing from his own works, he can never know the power of the Cross. At this point our affection is completely in nothing but the will of the Heavenly Father. This is the divine union, where our self live submits to be possessed and lead by the Holy Spirit in all things.
This was why the LORD made it clear, if we are ashamed of this divine progressive work in following Him Through death and burial, we can never partake HIS resurrection or glory . This is what it means for HIM to be ashamed of us.
HIS RESSURECTION OR APPERING IN GLORY
“For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the SON OF MAN BE ASHAMED, WHEN HE SHALL COME IN HIS GLORY, AND HIS FATHER AND OF THE HOLY ANGELS” (Luke 9v26).
From the preceding scripture above we can find HIS APPEARING or the Glory of His resurrection can be in three, we have:
1. HIS COMING IN HIS OWN GLORY
2. HIS COMING IN HIS FATHER
3. HIS COMING IN HIS HOLY ANGELS
1. HIS COMING IN HIS OWN GLORY
HIS coming in HIS own glory is the manifestation of HIS GLORY in a human bodily form, in revealing a measure of HIS GLORY TO HIS CHILDREN. HIS earthly day in Israel is an example of the Manifestation of HIS glory in body form. It is true that many saw his body, but the Glory was not reveal to them. When the LORD visits us through a bodily Form, if it we are to partake in HIS GLORY there must be an immediate inward revelation of a measure of HIS Glory, though we see HIM without our Body. Any glorified appearance of the LORD is always within our spirits; but HE does this to communicate to our senses using even our natural eyes, to see a symbolic of the HOLY HEVEANLY Glory. A True bodily visitation of the LORD, reveals HIS holy pure nature within us, and there is always a deep cry within our spirits to be conformed to HIS image; IN RIGHTEOUNESS AND HOLINESS. This visitation can either be in dreams, visions or a point where our natural eyes see this symbolic Visitation. This type of visitation has been a comfort to many Saints, after Going through a period of death, and burial of the Cross. The LORD uses this mighty visitation to strengthen and keep them moving. The LORD does not use this mechanism to speak to all of HIS Children, a reason only known to HIM.
2. HIS COMING IN HIS FATHER
In the Glory of this type of Heavenly Visitation, the LORD directly speaks to our spirit, without the aid of any instrument or bodily visitation. In this Kind of visitation HE reveal himself as the Creator , and the oneness of the Son and the Father become revealed into our spirits. Our spirit becomes so submissive to the HOLY SPIRIT that without any audible Voice, a spiritual understanding of the Kingdom becomes revealed to our spirits. In this type of visitation, Heavenly mysteries become revealed to our spirits, within a short period of time. This is accompanied with unspeakable joy of Glory. This manner of Visitation could also be audible but no image is seen.
3. HIS COMING IN HIS ANGELS
This is the point the LORD uses to speak to HIS children through Instruments. It could literally be Angels, Human vessels, Scriptures , books, nature etc. This is the Most widely form of communication the LORD uses to speak to HIS children. Yes, if it is HIM speaking into the spirit, there is always a manifestation of HIS Glory in it. This method of Divine Leading is not to be confused with the natural human wisdom, people gain from reading books written by saints, Scripture or listening to Preachers without a revelation in the spirit. There is always a glory in any new Truth which is revealed into our spirits, in any of the means above. Many Modern Evangelists have made the so called sinners prayer a doctrine, but my friend, if the Holy Spirit did not communicate to their spirits and reveal a measure of the Glory, they will ever remain strangers to the new covenant.
There is no True new covenant fellowship with believers, though we gather together in the body, if the Holy Spirit does not communicate our spirits. Nothing can keep True body fellowship, with the freedom of contribution of every member under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, but the presence of the Glory.
When I remember a few years ago, how the LORD directed us to different Christian fellowship. Every New connection under the direction of the LORD was always glorious. Oh how many times, have we felt a little measure of the Glory, in our new found fellowship group even with all the darkness and imperfection? The LORD never allows us to see the Darkness in the initial stage lest that becomes a stumbling block. Yes we were promoters of preachers; we were made to believe “The man of God” is to be treated with extreme honor and adoration. Out of a pure motive we accepted those abominable teachings, thinking we are pleasing the LORD. We saw both the poor and rich, give and give to these preachers and we taught it was a counsel from heaven, “that the man of God should be enriched”, while the poor and the widow remain obscure and forgotten, . Yet at the appointed time the Glory departed from us for a higher invitation. We hardly knew it was an invitation. The LORD first helps us see the darkness we never saw before.
Sometimes we receive bitterness and criticism when we rebuked the evil spirit of fashion, because the LORD helps us see it was wrong. Oh the pain of saying Farewell to all and follow the unknown.
I use this personal testimony to help us see the Basis of fellowship. New covenant fellowship is a divine communion of our father through other members in speaking to our spirits. When the purpose of these is accomplished, the temptation is always to idolize the Gifts He bestow on us while forgetting the Giver. A doctrine and an Idol is often made after every manifestation of HIS gifts. The results in the departure of the Glory, and if we did not follow it in denying ourselves and ceasing from our own works, every evil work will be manifested in the very gathering which was directed by the LORD. Spiritual wisdom will be given to us on how we are to keep the Glory and how to follow a higher measure in the unknown and unpredictable, if we do not drop our daily cross, in death and burial.
James f. Jarjou