The spirit of Glory!!

But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.(1Pe 4:13,14)

Brothers and sisters, I want you to notice the above scripture, especially the highlighted portion. Can you see what the Holy Spirit is saying? He specifically talks about the " spirit of glory." What is this spirit of glory that " shall be revealed?" Obviously the context of 1Peter is suffering, For those who can rejoice in the midst of suffering there is a specific kind of glory revealed. Just like the refining fires reveals the gold that lies within the rock, then the refining fire reveals the gold that lies within the saint as it burns away the rock and the dross and we are left with pure gold. We see in Habakkak, in the midst of terrible suffering and judgement this scripture "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." (Hab 2:14)

Now saints, how will the whole earth be filled with the glory of God? If the spirit of glory is uniquely tied to suffering and trials and judgement, and the whole earth is to be filled with His glory, then there is coming a time when the saints in the whole earth will suffer and be tried and be persecuted. We can look down through the corridors of history and see when the remnant church glorified God? We have books such as Foxes book of Martyrs and the Pilgrim church that testifies to the unique glory that rested upon the persecuted church. And so, if we have a church that willingly embraces sufferings, who willing enter into His sufferings, then we see a church that the " spirit of glory and of God rests upon." And by the same token, when we see Christendom reject notions of suffering and entering into the sufferings of the Lord in favor of " blessings," and " health and wealth," and " prosperity," then we see a body that is devoid of the " spirit of glory and of God." I put it to you that Christendom is devoid of the " spirit of glory and of God." Yet, God is raising up a body of believers who are desirous to enter into His sufferings, who are desirous to see God glorified in the earth and who are willing to be used in any fashion to see earth filled with the glory of God.

Now I want you to understand something very important. The word revealed. You see, God's glory is revealed in His saints. In order for God's glory, the spirit of Glory, to be revealed then it must be there in the first place. If I refine a rock that has no gold and I expose it to extreme heat then the rock will simply melt. If I expose a rock that has gold in it to extreme heat then the gold will be seperated from the rock and what will be left will be pure gold. And so, in order for a revelation of the spirit of glory and of God in the earth to take place then the gold has to come forth and it can only come forth under certain circumstances, it can only come forth in the midst of sufferings and persecutions. Now who has the gold , this spirit of glory and where does it come from? Joh 17:4-5 " I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. (5) And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." How did Jesus glorify God on the earth? By His willingness to suffer and die because this was the Father's will as we saw in Gethsemane. And then Jesus says in John 17:22 "And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:"

Saints, do you see where the glory comes from? Jesus says that the glory which the Father gave Him, He has given us. And further note that Jesus says that He has given us this glory that " they may be one, even as we are one." Can you see it saints? For God's remnant people, those who truly belong to Him, there is glory in them and that glory comes from the Father through Jesus our Lord to us. That glory dwells in us as gold dwells in a rock. Now Jesus was willing to suffer and die to reveal the glory of God at Calvary. The mark of His saints is their willingness to suffer and die in order to reveal God's glory. And so this end time remnant church is going to be revealed through suffering and death, and they are willing participants. In order for the glory of God to cover the earth as the waters cover the sea then the saints around the world will be persecuted all at one time.

This is Satan's last stand against God's people. Through His Anti-Christ, he will persecute the saints and try and eliminate them from the earth for he knows his time is short and that the Lord , the Bridegroom is coming. Yet, his efforts will only result in God's glory covering the earth because when you persecute the saints, when the saints are in the very midst of suffering, then comes a unique blessing called " the spirit of glory and of God." Amen saints? If you know Jesus then you know something of the glory that dwells in you. Brothers and sisters, it has to come out, it has to be revealed. As it says in Rom 8:18 "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed in us." You see brothers and sisters, the glory in us will be revealed, it will be revealed. And according to what Jesus said in John 17 this glory is for the purpose of unity. The end time church , this small remnant church will be uniquly unified through the suffering that reveals glory, praise the Lord. Paul says this 2Co 4:17-18 " For the lightness of our present affliction works out for us a far more excellent eternal weight of glory, (18) we not considering the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are not lasting, but the things which are not seen are everlasting."

Brothers and sisters, consider the " spirit of glory and of God." Consider how " light," our coming persecutions and sufferings will be in comparison to the " weight of glory." Are you willing to follow your Lord and God to Calvary and beyond for the same purposes that He was willing? If you are willing, then you are part of God's remnant church here on earth in these last days for you are willing to suffer and die that His glory may be revealed in you and to the world and then we shall see that " the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea." Christendom now languishes in the valley of decision,oh to God that they will choose God and follow the narrow path that ultimately leads to glory, but before the glory must come the suffering, and the sacrifice, and fire falls on sacrifice. Always remember saints the Biblical principal that fire falls on sacrifice. There will be no fire of God without sacrifice. So many of the peddlers and the hirelings of the gospel try to bring down God's fire, bring down God's glory without sacrifice, it will not come down. It will come down on those who willingly give themselves as a sacrifice, just as the Lord willingly gave His body as a sacrifice.

Dear saints I was talking to brother Frank Aka Apolous on this blessed, glorious truth. He is setting before us some marvelous truth coming straight from tbe throne room itself. Take some time and read tbe srticle again. Reflect upon what our brother is sharing. This is marvelous truth st its best. This is bread from heaven.

Why would Paul tell the Ephesians to not lose heart at his sufferings for them?. He said for they are your glory. Why dowe see the persecuted church shine like gold in foreign lands? For they have been purified through tbe fires and trials of suffering. The persrcution has purified their faith. All of the dross has been burned away.

Their is a purifying agent in persecution that strips away tbe non essentials, the garbage, and tbe rubbish. What remains is Jesus himself. For sure this is tbe glory of God to see tbe Son of God shining through a saint's life who has been through the fiery trials and reflects Jesus.

Perhaps the best account that illustrates what our brother is conveying is found in Stephen before tbe assembly in Jerusalem. Before he begins his defence his face is like an angel. He is already shining like tbe face of an angel. He is already full of the Holy Spirit. But after his defense when they are about to stone him. Stephen sees tbe glory of God. He sees Jesus. Not sitting at Gof's right hand but standing. Almost as if Jesus were standing in respect for the first martyr of the early church.

Stephen best illustrates what Paul writes that tbe the sufferings of this present world are not worth comparing with tbe glory that will be revealed in us. And I might add to us.

I see two things about tbe glory to the saint in tbe midst of persecution. First what Apolous is conveying. That suffering and trials will reveal the glory of God that resides within the saint. That trials will break off tbe outer shell and see the glory of Christ shine through.

Then another thing org will be revealed to us. In tbe midst of tbe saints suffering they will see Jesus. It may be on a vision or dream or a presence. But they eill see Jesus. This is borne out by tbe testimony of tbe persecuted. Richard Wormbrandt has recounted heavenly visions in his imprisonment. Apoloushas shared tbe wonderful testimony of Algerios. A precious brother martyred several hundred years ago. Yet during imprisonment in the mist horrific circumstances. Yet be had encounters with Jesus himself. He saw heavenly glory.

I cannot help but think that tbe dreamer of dreams himself, John Bunyon, was blessed with dreams. These dreams became tbe basis if his books.

My brothers and sisters. Let us lay hold of these precious truths For the richness of these truths will surely sustain us in tbe persecutions that will come. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus who is all glory. Halleujah to tbe Lamb of God who is our glory.

Bearmaster

HI Psalm 1. That is an honest answer. Yet the Holy Spirit saw it and wrote it in the Scriptures for us to read. Perhaps you could not imagine that you could handle being beaten, stripped down, thrown in a rat filled cell, but let me share a story that I know that you know. Paul and Silas are excellent examples of what you just described. They had been stripped, scourged and thrown in a rat infested dungeon, in the deepest parts of the dungeon in fact. And they begin to glorify God in the midnight hours and the glory of God fell in that place, so much so that the whole building shook and the doors all fell open. Now, is that natural to be singing the praises of God in such dire circumstances? No, not natural, not possible in the natural, but it is supernatural, other-worldly. Now this is the testimony of Scripture, for those who willingly sacrificed their freedoms for the glorious cause of Christ, the fire and the glory fell upon such a sacrifice.

A Christendom that is not willing to sacrifice their freedoms as the early church were and as the last 19 century's of martyrs were, should not expect to see " the spirit of glory and of God." That is why, in the west, we have to look to the Chinese underground church and so on to see this kind of spirit in action. If none of this convinces you Psalm 1, please let me include a portion of the letter that I have often shared that brother Blaine spoke of, the letter from Algerius. I want you to consider that this was written after three years of being in such a rat infested dungeon, having lost everything and having been much tortured and in fact was destined to be killed just a few weeks after writing it. I want you to consider that this man was a passionate Christian to begin with, which led him to be imprisoned. Yet see the glory that " is revealed," in him in the dungeon. See the gold come forth and shine greater than the vastness of the galaxy at night, greater than the grand tetans or the rockies, greater than a healing, see Jesus shine in the blackest of back-drops like diamonds that shine against black velvet..........

To my beloved brethren and fellow servants of Jesus Christ, who have gone out of Babylon unto mount Zion, whose names I do not omit without cause, grace, peace and mercy from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen. In order somewhat to sweeten or take away the pain which you suffer on my account, I would communicate to you the sweetness which I experience, that you may rejoice with me, and shout for joy with thanksgiving in the presence of the Lord.

I will tell to the world an incredible thing, namely, that I have found infinite sweetness in the bowels of the lion. And who will in any wise believe what I am going to relate here? Who can believe it?

In a dark hole I have found pleasure; in a place of bitterness and death, rest and hope of salvation; in the abyss or depths of hell, joy; where others weep, I have laughed; where others fear, I have found strength; who will believe this? In a state of misery I have had very great delight; in a lonely corner I have had most glorious company, and in the severest bond, great rest. All these things, my fellow brethren in Jesus Christ, the gracious hand of God has given me. Behold, He that at first was far from me, is now with me, and Him whom I knew but a little, I now see clearly; to whom I once looked from afar, Him I now behold as present; He for whom I longed, now offers me His hand; He comforts me; He fills me with joy; He drives from me bitterness, and renews within me strength and sweetness; He makes me well; He sustains me; He helps me up; He strengthens me. Oh, how good is the Lord, who does not suffer His servants to be tempted above that they are able I Oh, how easy, pleasant and sweet is His yoke I Is there any like God the Most High, who sustains and refreshes those that are tempted? He heals them that are bruised and wounded, and restores them altogether. Isa. 41; 43:20. None is like Him. Learn, most beloved brethren, how sweet the Lord is, how faithful and merciful; who visits His servants in trial (Isa. 43:2); who humbles Himself and condescends to be with us in our huts and humble abodes. He gives us a cheerful mind and peacef ul heart.

The whole letter can be found here........ http://scottishwarriors.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/an-unsung-hero-of-the-faith/

David I was going to share this verse with you on tbe rapture thread but seemed sporopiate to share it here. In Hebrews 2:10 the writer is stating that tbe author of our salvation, Jesus ,was made perfect through suffering. This was in bringing many sons to glory.
Now we know Jesus was perfect in his divinity. But in his humanity he was made perfect through his sufferings to be an example to us in our sufferings. Something to think about.

Blaine

Hi Psalm 1. To my knowledge, it has never been stated that the only glory that there is is the glory that exists in suffering or martyrdom. This is the assertion that you have made and it is completly unfounded( can you give even a single example where this is stated?) The glory that I personally was speaking about was specifically the spirit of glory that is associated with suffering. What movement on the forum are you addressing Psalm1? You stated that you saw " no glory," in suffering, have you now changed your mind?..........bro Frank

Hi Psalm1,no one said there was gore or suffering in heaven. It is always helpful if we just stick to what is written. You wrote....

"When I see a saint beaten,stripped,thrown in a rat filled cell,filthy and suffering.........I am sorry but i do not see the glory of God."

I replied with Biblical examples that describe exactly what you just wrote, and there's great glory. Also we have the testimony of the saints for 1900 years as well. And I am happy to report to you that I have experienced the glory of God personally and corporately and there was no persecution involved, yet I have also witnessed the glory of God in the midst of great violence and it was powerful.

And so Psalm1, if we can agree that there is glory when saints are persecuted for the cause of Christ then we would be in complete agreement which would be a fine thing indeed........bro Frank

Amen Goldminer, amen!...........bro Frank