In the life of a Christian, there is one thing everyone longs for and that is to be surrounded by the presence of God and experience the glory of God (the Shekinah glory). Some people spend hours of fasting and praying to experience warm fuzzy feelings, a supernatural encounter, and natural manifestations, like a light, a glory cloud, gold dust, a visitation of angels or Jesus, etc. But what does the Bible say about the glory of God? Does the glory of God in the Bible correspond with the glory of God people experience today? How can you experience the glory of God in your life?
When will the glory of God manifest?
In many churches, we see an increase and a change in praise and worship. Praise and worship have become an important part, if not, the most important part of the church service. Many churches have appointed worship leaders, just like in the Old Covenant, who are supposed to lead the church visitors to the throne of God in heaven.
The loud music and (neon) ambiance lighting enhance the worship experience of the people and get them into a certain state of mind.
The music and words of the songs are repeated over and over again, like mantras. Until the people get in a trance and their feelings and emotions take over.
After an hour of worship, the music stops, and the people ‘descend to earth’ again.
While the people are slowly returning to earth, the preacher takes place behind the pulpit and begins to preach the Word of God.
But it won’t be long before the minds of many people wander away.
They pretend they are listening, but they don’t pay attention to the words of the preacher. Engari, their mind is occupied with other things or they are busy on their devices (phone, tablet, etc.) pretending they are reading the Bible and making notes. Because their mind is occupied with other things, their mind can’t receive the words of God.
Are warm pleasant feelings proof of God’s presence?
Let me ask you a question. When was the glory of God manifested during the church service? During praise and worship or the sermon? The true glory of God was manifested during the preaching of the Word.
Maybe you don’t agree and say that praise and worship are very important and needed to experience the glory of God, because of all the feelings and emotions you experience during praise and worship. But God’s presence is not measured by feelings and emotions.
The people, who go to secular concerts or clubs also get excited by the music and also experience pleasant feelings and emotions, but it’s not the glory of God, because God’s presence is not there.
Praise and worship should come from the inside out and not from the outside in, so that you enter some kind of trance and experience warm fuzzy feelings. Because Jesus is the center during praise and worship and not the people and pleasing people’s feelings and emotions through music.
God reveals Himself through the Scriptures
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (Hone 1:1)
When you believe in Jesus Christ and your faith is based upon Jesus Christ, the living Word, then you should get to know Him. Because how can you serve a God, whom you don’t know? If you don’t get to know God as He is, then there is a great danger that you will serve an imaginary God and an imaginary Jesus, whom you have created in your own mind. (Panuitia hoki: A counterfeit Jesus produces counterfeit Christians).
A God, who is not a real God, but an image of someone that you have created and looks a lot like you.
Therefore it is important to get to know God. How can you get to know God? By His Word.
Every part of God is revealed in the Scriptures. God reveals Himself to you through the Scriptures.
Therefore it is important to read and study the Word of God, so that you will get to know God and His will.
Jesus was and is the living Word. He was the Word, Who was made flesh and walked upon this earth. Everywhere Jesus went, the glory of God was manifested.
Everywhere Jesus came, the glory of God was manifested
When you open the Word of God and read and study the Word, you will get to know the true God; the Creator of heaven and earth, and all there is within.
You’ll get to know the true God, Whom you believe, in and Whom you serve, and experience the real glory of God.
And do you know, what the most wonderful thing is? The Word has not changed but is still the same. The Bible is still relevant, it still contains the truth and life and is still powerful!
God doesn’t change. Therefore every word that is written in the Bible is still the truth for Today!
How to experience the glory of God?
The Bible isn’t a boring ancient history Book that is outdated and no longer relevant and doesn’t fit in modern society. Kāore!
If you want to get to know God and experience the true glory of God, then all you have to do is open the Bible and get to know the Almighty God you serve.
When you take His words, obey His words, and walk according to His words, you will be in Christ and walk in -and as Christ.
Na roto i te whakaoranga, kua riro koe hei tama na te Atua (e pa ana tenei ki nga tane me nga wahine). When you renew your mind with the Word of God and obey the words of God and apply them to your life, you shall grow up in the image of Christ and walk as a son of God.
The Book of Nehemiah and the glory of God
Inaianei, let’s have a look at the Book of Nehemiah and what the people were doing when the glory of God manifested.
And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.
And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.
All the people wept, when they heard the words of the law
So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. So the Levites stilled all the people, e kii ana, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved (Nehemiah 8:1-11)
Ezra preached from a pulpit
The first person in the Bible, who preached from a pulpit was Ezra. Ezra stood on a wooden pulpit and read from the law of Moses.
Ezra read all the commandments of the Lord, from early in the morning till the afternoon. He taught God’s people, both men and women, from the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given to His people. (Panuitia hoki: The revealing truth about the law of sin and death).
The hand of God
In the story of Ezra, we see the hand of God in his life. In every situation, God was with Ezra. Ezra was a priest, a scribe, and knew the Law very well. Ezra lived with God.
When Ezra opened the Book, all the people stood up. The first thing Ezra did, was blessing the Lord, the Great God. While Ezra blessed the Lord, the people agreed with him. With lifted hands, they answered, Amen, amen.
They bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. They were in awe of God Almighty when they heard the words, which came from God.
The Law was taught to the people, so that they would understand the Law and the will of God.
Why is it important to understand the Bible?
It is important, that as you read the Bible; the Word of God, or hear the Word of God, you understand what you read or hear and that you know what it means. Because if you don’t understand what you have read or heard, then that seed (the word of God) will not fall into good ground.
The birds will take the seeds away (by the cares of this world). Therefore the seed will not grow, nor bring forth fruit. (Panuitia hoki: ‘The parable of the sower and the four kinds of believers')
The principle of understanding the Word of God
Ezra and the Levites knew the principle of understanding the Word of God. Therefore they explained and taught the Law to the people, in such a way, that the people understood the law and commandments of God. (Panuitia hoki: ‘The secret of the law').
When Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites, taught the people, they said, “This day is holy to the Lord our God, mourn not, nor weep“.
Why did they weep and mourn? Most likely, they wept and mourned because when they heard the Law and the words of God they became aware that they lived a life of rebellion and disobedience towards God.
They lived so far away from God, that when the Law was taught to them, God opened their eyes (through His Word) so that they became aware of their current sinful state. They saw their sins and iniquities, which were exposed by the Word of God; by the glory of God.
How is the glory of God manifested?
That day, the glory of God was manifested to the people. The people of God experienced the glory of God. Here we see the power of the Word of God.
When the Word is opened and the truth is revealed, the glory of God will be manifested to the people and draw the people to repentance.
When a sinner repents, it is because of hearing the words of God and the holiness, righteousness, and glory of God that comes from the Word of God that exposes the sinner’s sinful state and his sins.
Therefore it is important to speak the true words of God and take the time and not rush it.
Ka mea a Ihu, the words that I speak unto you are spirit and they are life (Hone 6:63).
'Kia tote o te whenua'
