\u201cSpeak to us yourself and we will listen,\u201d they said to Moses. \u201cBut do not let God speak to us, or we will die.\u201d <\/em>Ex. 20.18-18<\/p>\n\n\n\nThus, the word of God, whether written, or spoken, or found in the man Jesus, is the manifest glory of God as a direct message from God to man. His word coming forth from the cloud is like water vapor condenses out of the atmosphere to form clouds, and furthermore to come as rain to nourish the earth; so the glory of the word of God comes forth from the cloud of His manifest presence to nurture His people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Therefore, the word of God, as expressed in covenants, prophecies, in visions, and in the Gospel of Christ are all measures of the glory of God, and are sacred and holy for they all issue forth from the glory of God. This connection between the glory of God and His speaking the word through His servants is found under the New Covenant in 1 Peter 4.11,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be <\/em>glorified<\/em><\/strong> through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the <\/em>glory<\/em><\/strong> and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.\u201d <\/em>1 Pet. 4.11<\/p>\n\n\n\nO how sober we must be in the presence of the word of God, not taking it lightly, just academically, flippantly, or in any casual manner; especially not corrupting or adulterating it, as it is written,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man\u2019s conscience in the sight of God.\u201d <\/em> 2 Cor. 4.2<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe word of God is holy, and must be handled as such in respect and honor; for its glory may find its \u201cimpartation\u201d into you or another. Note that word, impartation<\/em>, for it is very important. Paul wrote to the Church at Rome, \u201cFor I long to see you, that I may <\/em>impart<\/em><\/strong> to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established.\u201d <\/em>Rm. 1.11 What Paul was saying is that he wanted to change ownership of the word to them, that they might become a good absorber of the word, a spiritual impartation of God\u2019s glory in the form of His word becoming or inhabiting flesh. This word is powerful, making to come alive\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cFor the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.\u201d <\/em>Heb. 4.12<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe magnificence of God\u2019s glory may thus be found \u201cin something,\u201d something that can be seen, touched, heard, and even smelled. The appearance of God from time to time as in a cloud was not in any visible shape<\/em>, but in glory only, causing a voice to be heard out from it. O the audacity of those who arrogantly attempt to make representation of any person of the holy Trinity in pictures, statues, or images of any sort\u2014even though it is in the eyes of man a thing of beauty and magnificence. God warned the Israelites against this,<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cYou shall not make idols for yourselves; neither a carved (graven) image nor a sacred pillar shall you rear up for yourselves; nor shall you set up an engraved stone in your land, to bow down to it; for I am the LORD your God.\u201d <\/em>Lev. 26.1<\/p>\n\n\n\nToday, such depictions of God may be seen as figures in stain glass windows portraying things of heaven or even of the resurrected Christ Himself, in carved or molded statues of angels or bygone saints, or in various icons, all displayed in a so-called house of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And the audacity of those who take the Word of God, issuing forth out of His glory, to take it upon themselves to impose personal interpretations of what God never spoke, nor of words never spoken by Christ; often taking words, phrases and verses out of context and interpreting such to support their misconceived and perverted messages. One explanation for the word \u201chandle\u201d in the above verse, handling the word of God deceitfully,<\/em> is to lure (or snare) by using bait \u2013 holding out the worm and concealing the hook. I have witnessed the corruption of what seems to be a revealing of the word of God but for personal gain, for manipulation, and to spread a perverse interpretation of the holy scriptures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cknowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,\u201d <\/em>2 Pet.1.20<\/p>\n\n\n\nThese are exchanging the glory of God for images and messages out of the minds and flesh of man, and do not issue forth from the glory of God. It is the responsibility of the Church, especially its residing elders, to \u201cTest all things; hold fast what is good.\u201d <\/em> 1 Thes. 5.21 The apostle John goes further to say, \u201cBeloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.\u201d <\/em>1 Jn. 4.1 Discernment is a spiritual gifting by the Holy Spirit and should be sought after and applied in the Church. <\/p>\n\n\n\nAll forms of the glory of God are holy, and scared, and must be treated with reverence and holy respect. In my estimate, the church as a whole has become laxed, even religious in nature carrying out the outward routine customs of worship and service but neglecting the weightier spiritual measures of holiness, righteousness, and the abiding presence of God in His glory\u2014 becoming outwardly formal or pompous and not being sober of the true spiritual environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We must entertain the transforming power of the glory of God. Did Jesus not say, \u201cFor where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.\u201d <\/em>Mt. 18.20 This is revelatory; it is awesome to contemplate the manifest presence of God. Is it not also written that God has, \u201cmade us alive together with Christ <\/em>(by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,\u201d <\/em>Eph. 2. 5-6 These are not words meant for the sweet by and by, but words which have come out of the glory of God for our present understanding and encouragement. The spoken word clearly spells what<\/em> we are in Christ, where<\/em> we are in Christ, and for what the reason<\/em> we are in Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe, the Church, must wake up and discern its true place in God\u2019s economy. The Greek word for economy is oikonomia<\/em> (Ephesians 3:9), which literally means a household government or a household administration. God’s economy is His plan to dispense Himself into man, by imparting His glory, so that He can gain a household to express Himself<\/strong>. This household is the Church, the Body of Christ (1 Timothy 3:15).<\/p>\n\n\n\nPart 3. The Indwelling Glory of God<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe Greatest Manifestation of God\u2019s Shekinah Glory<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\u201cThe Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.\u201d<\/em> Jn. 1.14<\/p>\n\n\n\n