John 17:22-24 “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”
Jesus had four specific prayer requests for His church. The first request is the people would sense the glory of God. It should be the prayer of the church that everyone who enters the doors of a church would sense the presence and glory of God there. Do you feel God in your church? Glory (“doxa” in Greek) is the kingly majesty which belongs to Him as supreme ruler; majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of the deity. Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines “glory” as the divine perfections or excellence in all His brightness; luster; splendor and magnificence. It is the visible manifestation of the splendor, power and radiance of God. The is something different about being set apart and being God’s people. It’s exciting, it’s powerful, it’s dynamic in experiencing God’s glory.
Acts 2:43 “Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.”
A praying church has a different feel to it. It is difficult to describe but the difference is felt the moment that you enter a praying church. Not ritual, pomp and circumstance, but a sense of awe, not from hysteria working attendees up into an excited state through manipulation by music, lighting effects, trendy or traditional, but by the presence of God. It is important that people sense the glory of God. That feeling only comes through a praying church. Secondly, prayer request was that people would follow the Word of God. John 17:8a says, for the words which You gave Me I have given to them; and they received them. The Lord desires that His holy Word would have its proper place in the life of every church. True revival in Christ’s church will not happen without the right attitude towards the Word of God. There is a constant battle going on within the churches to get people to care enough about the Bible to read it, study it and apply it to their lives. Isn’t that the goal?
2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is [a]inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for [b]rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be [c]fully capable, equipped for every good work.”
The American Bible Society was formed to get the Bible into the hands of as many people as possible and promote an appetite for the Word of God, so that people want to get into the Holy Scriptures for truth, meaning and direction in their lives. If you want awesome experience of the glory and the Word, it comes from both the people and the pastors. When people get excited about the Word of God, their lives (physically, emotionally and spiritually) will take on a new vitality where values change and motives transform to life godly lives. Isaiah 55:11 “So will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the purpose for which I sent it.” God’s word equips the messenger, it empowers the message, and it affects all. Jesus prayed that the Word of God would have its rightful authority in the church so that it truth and principles might transform lives through the power of God.
Let's conclude Pastor Herk's message on Christ's church in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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