CELEBRATING THE GLORY OF THE LORD
“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.” Isa 60:1-2
Please understand that the above and the below scriptures are both prophetic utterances and word of command released by God through inspiration of the Holy Spirit to authentic prophetic voices. God is set to give us revelation knowledge and great insight and understanding of the Latter days GLORY that God is set to pour out upon the Church such that we shall know Him and be armed with heavenly verities that will capacitate know the Lord God, to be strong and do exploits or supernatural achievements, deeds or feats
“For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” Habakkuk 2:14
Even our Lord Jesus Christ quoted an Old Testament scripture that specified the doing away with darkness and all evil and the release of great Light such that dead is ridden off and we will be imparted with God kind of Life.
“The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up” Matt. 4:16
Just like the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned, the Israelites who are the First born of God committed atrocities, sins, transgression and iniquities against God and were given over as slaves after losing in battle many times against the Egyptians, Greece, Romans, Babylonians or the Assyrians. These were days of gloom and darkness, incarceration, temptations and trials when they were in slavery until they repent and God restored back the GLORY that they once had.
Eli, Hophni and Phinehas were all killed in one day because of the gross misbehaviors of the two sons of Eli by disrespecting the Lord’s offering and sexual immoralities in the sacred temple of God. The wife of Phinehas who was heavily pregnant heard the death of her husband, went into forced labor and had her child but she died in the process and the child was named “Ichabod” for the glory of God was gone and the Philistines captured The ARK which signifies the place of the Presence of God.
Whenever the Jews returned out of captivity [because they sinned afore time and come short of God’s glory Romans 3:23], they always have light and gladness, and joy and honor; they then were made to know and serve the Lord and to rejoice in his great goodness; and upon both accounts the light come upon them. When the Redeemer came to Zion he brought light with him, he himself came to be a light. He said … “I AM the light of the world”. Light stands for enlightenment of the Word of God, ability to see spiritual so that one does not stumble anymore.
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” Psalms 119:105.
“that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power” Eph. 1:17-19
God is the father and fountain of lights, and it is in his light that we shall see light. As far as we have the knowledge of God in us, and the favor of God towards us, our light has come. When God appears to us, and we have the comfort of his favor, then the glory of the Lord rises upon us as the morning light; when he appears for us, and we have the credit of his favor, when he shows us His goodness and mercy; and hereby proclaims his favor to us.
"God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Cor. 4: 6.)
His glory is seen upon us, as it was upon Israel in the pillar of cloud and fire. When Christ arose as the sun of righteousness [Malachi 4:2], and in him the day-spring from on high visited us, then the glory of the Lord was seen upon us, the glory as of the first-begotten of the Father who was full of grace and truth
What a GLORIOUS RELEASE and divine FAVOR there shall be to this light:
Darkness shall cover the earth; but, though it be gross darkness, darkness that might be felt, like that of Egypt [in the days of Joseph – Gen. 37-39], that shall overspread the people, yet the church, like Goshen [where Israelites lived then], shall have light at the same time. When the case of the nations that have not the gospel shall be very miserable, those dark corners of the earth being full of the habitations of cruelty to poor souls and refusing to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior YET the state of the church shall be very pleasant. They shall be blessed, full of joy unspeakable and glory!
The gospel church is expressly called Zion dwelling place of believers, and under that notion all believers are said to come to it [Heb.12:22], it is here that they have no need of the light of the sun or the moon for the Lord God is its Light thereof [Rev. 22:5]. You have come unto Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, which serves for a key to this prophecy, [Eph. 2:19]. This is the season of restoration and the glorification of the Church. The GLORY of God is being restored to the Church after decades of apostasy and captivity through sin.
"But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, And there shall be holiness; The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions” Obadiah 1:17
The Church has migrated back to the City of God that is the spiritual Jerusalem where the Mount Zion is. There is holiness and deliverance there and the Church shall possess their possession. This is the place of the release of the glory and goodness of God. Mount Zion is established with beauty, power, grace, security and strength. Violence and cruelty are replaced by peace and righteousness (Isa. 60: 17-18). Lights are not necessary, because God’s glory fills every place. There is no sadness and no shame or reproach there anymore. Since the sovereign God is in control there is perfect security and universal prosperity
THE GREAT PROMISE
“For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly” Psalms 84:11
“He then said, 'Please show me your glory.' Yahweh said, 'I shall make all my goodness pass before you, and before you I shall pronounce the name Yahweh; and I am gracious to those to whom I am gracious and I take pity on those on whom I take pity” Exodus 33:18-19 NJB
The glory of God is full of His grace and truth. Grace is unmerited favor bestowed upon the Church lavishly by God and truth is the knowing and doing of the Word of God revealed to our spirit man [John 17:17].
“The Word became flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that he has from the Father as only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth” John 1:14
God has released His grace or unmerited favor unto us. As many as will search out the truth [John 17:17], know, embrace and be a doer of the WORD of God indeed will be blessed indeed and have the grace of that truth unveiled and freely given to him and the fullness of this cumulates in the release of heavenly splendor or glory over his live
MEANING OF GLORY
(1.) Abundance, wealth, treasures, rendered "honor" in Psalms 48:12, and "glory" in Gen 31:1; Isa 10:3; Mat 4:8; Luke 4:6; Rev 21:26.
(2.) Honor, glory, dignity, as in 1Ki 3:13; 2Ch 1:11-12; Pro 8:18; Hebrews 2:7; 1Pe 1:24; 1Co 11:7. Spoken of God, as in Psalm 19:1; Psalms 29:1; Isa 42:8; of persons in high honor (Isa 5:13; 2Pe 2:10 Jud 1:8).
(3.) New Testament meaning “doxa” all that God has and all that God is
(4) Splendor, brightness, glory, grandeur, majesty" of all my
glory," i.e., splendor (Gen 45:13; Isa 4:5; 1Sa 2:8; Act 22:11);
"The glory of Lebanon," its magnificence, beauty (Isa 35:2; Isa 60:13).
So of the sun, stars, etc. (1Co 15:40-41); Of Moses's face (2Co 3:7);
Also of the celestial light which surrounds angels (Rev 18:1), or glorified saints (Luke 9:31-32; 1Co 15:43; Col 3:4).
Spoken especially of the glory, majesty, of Jehovah (Isa 59:19; Isa 60:1; 2Th 1:9; 2Pe 1:17; Rev 21:11; Rev 21:23),
Glory is that fiery brightness or splendor surrounded with dark clouds in which Jehovah is represented as appearing, or God himself as surrounded by this splendor, from which lightening proceed (Lev 9:23-24; Numbers 16:35; Psalms 18:12), such as he manifested when he showed himself at Sinai to Moses and the people (Exodus 16:7),
Glory appeared in the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34), or in the Temple (1Ki 8:11; 2Ch 7:1-2; compare Luke 2:9; Luke 9:32; Act 7:55; Act 22:11),
Glory as seen in prophetic visions (Isa 6:3; John 12:41; Ezekiel 1:28; Ezekiel 43:2; Ezekiel 43:4; Ezekiel 44:4; Rev 15:8; Rev 21:11; Rev 21:23).
(5.) Of internal character, i.e. glorious moral attributes. Spoken of God, infinite perfection, divine majesty and holiness (Psalms 19:1; Isa 40:5; Act 7:2; Rom 1:23; Eph. 1:17); so of the divine perfections as manifested in the power of God (n 11:40; Rom 6:4; Col 1:11), or in his benevolence and beneficence (Rom 9:23; Eph. 1:12; Eph. 1:14; Eph. 1:18; Eph. 3:16). So of Jesus, as the effulgence of the divine perfections (Heb. 1:3; John 1:14; John 2:11); also of the Spirit (1Pe 4:14).
NEW WINE AND GLORY
"The glory of the Lord has risen upon you" Isaiah 60:1
“Jesus did this as the beginning of His signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed His glory” John 2:11
Jesus while He walked the earth did many signs and wonders – healing the sick, raising the dead, calming the storm, multiplying the bread to feed the hungry seekers and so on. But the first miracle is the changing of water to wine at the wedding feast in Cana. Apostle John make special mention of this and describes how “thus Christ revealed His glory.” It is for no mean reason that this was the first sign of power the Lord would work - for this event has a special significance. It would hold within it the pattern of God’s mission on earth. Overflowing release and abundance from the throne room of Grace!
“The vats will overflow with the new wine” (Read Joel 2:24-28, also with corn and the oil)
The significance of the miracle at Cana is rich as it speaks of the offering of the new wine. Where the old wine had failed, God steps in, offering a new wine. Where there is no more old grace, new and glorious ones are released from God. This new wine was found to be much better than the old wine. The new wine in the Bible signifies the great Promise of the Father – the Holy Spirit. That is why in the account of the Pentecost event, it is mentioned how Simon Peter and the other disciples as they were anointed with the Holy Spirit, came out rejoicing, praising God and proclaiming that Jesus is the Lord and Savior.
When the people of different nations saw this they were awe-struck because they saw this set of Galileans disciples speaking in the different languages of the world. But some of the onlookers mocked them saying, “They are filled with new wine.” (Acts 2:13) St. Peter responded quoting prophet Joel’s oracle, “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy… on my servants and handmaids I will pour out my Spirit” (Acts 2:17-18)
Here is the interpretation of the new wine symbolizing the Holy Spirit. As the Holy Spirit is poured into our hearts, there is fullness of love, and life becomes a celebration. This is exactly what happened at Cana. In a moment of need, Mother Mary intervened and Jesus did the miracle. What was the miracle? The Holy Spirit was given and the need was met.
"The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed” Luke 4:18
The answer to all the problems of human life is the Holy Spirit. Above is a partial list of His works in our lives
That is why Jesus promised - “I will not leave you alone.” (John 14:18) In the hour of our need, He is ready and waiting to pour out the Holy Spirit into our hearts. The Holy Spirit will be our companion, comforting and counseling us. He will help and empower us to live life in all its fullness. [John 14:26, 15:26; 16:13]
Our lives could have reached a juncture where we have felt empty and abandoned. The wine we had calculated and counted on to make life a celebration has run out. The clouds of doom seemed to hover above us. In fact, the most miserable moments of human life when we feel angry, sad and helpless is when we are burdened with the great pain of our heart that we are left alone. There is no one to help us or not even one we can trust and share our burdens with.
Our Lord was well aware of this need and hence He assured us that we shall never be left desolate. With this came the Promise of the Holy Spirit. Our plans may fail us. The people we love may not rise up to our expectations. Our own dreams may materialize only to lead us to a deeper emptiness. We ultimately realize how limited we ourselves are. And in this realization of our emptiness, we can slip into despair. But the glory of God is manifested here in that Christ comes to offer us the new wine of the Holy Spirit who will fill and lead us to life in the power and glory of God.
ARISE CHURCH OF GOD
It is represented as having been in a state of affliction and calamity. She is now called on to arise from the dust, and to impart to others the rich privileges which were conferred on her.
“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD” Psalms 40:1-3
The use of the word 'arise' hints at a past state of sleeping, sitting, stopping none or limited activity and definitely not at full or maximum capacity, hence the need to have a change. We are to get up from the place of shame, place of reproach, place of despondency, place of poverty, lack and want, get up from disgrace as the anointing of God come upon us yokes of affliction are done away with and burden are lifted off. We must arise from a dead posture so that life can be imparted upon us. RISE is a command from the Lord.
God is saying it does not matter how long Satan have you bound, in captivity, no luck, no job, no husband, no promotion, sickness and disease I AM has come to save and deliver you so ARISE from that wayward position. RISE UP AND WALK
The term will be used if you need to get on your feet and have not. It might be because you have either forgotten you are in that position or you've been waiting for the signal OR WORD OF COMMAND to get up. ARISE
"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly”. John 10:10
Jesus Christ has come to solve our life problems through the ministry of the Holy Ghost. Whether the problem has been in our thinking, speaking, actions; demon infestation, harassment of demons, oppressions, or even depressions, we are being delivered, given new Life in Christ and we now have clear responsibilities as God's children to rise up to do what He has tasked us to do.
God has empowered us today to ARISE AND SHINE … NO MORE DARKNESS FOR US.
It is also empowering, for when you arise, you gain confidence, be bold spiritually speaking and can see farther in the realm of the spirit. Our walk is firmer as we can stand better and even confront principalities and demonic powers having been made strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
You're in a better position to confront challenges when you stand or arise than when sitting or lying down. You're on now your feet and can use all the parts of your body aright. If there is need to run, you'll be able to do so because you have arisen on your feet than being flat on your back or sitting down. It also means to be delivered from immobility or stagnation. Get up and work!
May be you're in an obscure position where nobody notices you or your efforts and struggles are not rewarded with good results and blessings. As a result, you're filled with doubts, fear, doubt, unbelief, anxieties and worry; and you are wallowing in deep pits of confusion. Depression looms in your doorway, your head is bowed low in you and you cower in shame. Glory is released unto you and you are set to Rise up and Shine forth in this new dispensation. Faith is replacing fear. Joy exchanged for sorrow and sadness. No more tears!
Isaiah 60:1 is challenging you to cast off the doom and gloom and arise.
ARISE SHINE YOUR LIGHT HAS COME!
THE GLORY OF GOD HAS RISEN OVER YOU!
GOD HAS COME WITH GREAT GRACE AND MERCY
“TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace." Luke 1:78-79
TIME TO ARISE AND SHINE
We must rise now from a state of obscurity and darkness. Enter into light; enter into times of prosperity. Enter into your season of rest
Illumination of the Word of God such that illumination brings revelation. You shall know the truth and the truth that you know will set you free
YOUR LIGHT HAS COME
“You are the light of the world” Matt. 5:14
“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” Ephesians 5:8
This is a call rather to participate in the light that is shining than to impart it to others. Darkness is for lying down; light is for rising up. Darkness is for gloom and sleep; light is for shining. When the light has come, we must respond, and arise, shine!
First, we receive God's light (your light has come), and then we have a service to put forth (arise, shine). You can't shine until your light has come, but once it has come, there is something wrong with you if you do not arise and shine! It is the supernatural [power that releases the divine energy to power everything that has been redundant in our lives. We have been at Kadesh Barnae for too long! Great Glory has been released for us to cross River Jordan and move into the Promised Land flowing with milk and honey
THE GLORY OF GOD IS RISEN OVER YOU
Shekinah or visible splendor which usually accompanied the manifestations of God to his people (see the notes at Isa. 4:5). As Yahweh manifested himself in visible glory to the Israelites during their journey to the Promised Land, so he would manifest himself in the times of the Messiah as the glorious protector and guide of his people. The divine character and perfections would be manifested like the sun rising over a darkened world.
Gentiles shall come to your light: When the LORD lifts up His glorious light over Israel, the Gentiles nations shall see it and be attracted to the light. Even kings will be attracted to the brightness of Israel's rising. This will be ultimately fulfilled in the Kingdom of God, when Israel is lifted up among all nations. The Church will be lifted up among the Nations and we will take our place of eminence once again.
“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us” 2 Cor. 4:6-7
The Church is been spiritually placed back on Mount Zion and we shall be taught by the Lord giving us deep revelation and great understanding of mysteries [Isaiah 2:2-3]. Some of the grace released will be
1. Obadiah 1:17 Deliverance, impartation of holiness and possessing our possession
2. Restoration of everything that has been lost Joel 2:23-26
3. Dew of blessings Psalms 133:3
BLESSINGS OF THE GLORY RELEASED
“The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They all gather together, they come to you; Your sons shall come from afar, And your daughters shall be nursed at your side. Then you shall see and become radiant, And your heart shall swell with joy; Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you. The multitude of camels shall cover your land, The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba shall come; They shall bring gold and incense, And they shall proclaim the praises of the LORD” Isaiah 60:3-6
What they shall bring with them and what advantage shall accrue to the church by their accession to it. Those that are brought into the church by the grace of God will be sure to bring all they are worth in with them, which with themselves they will devote to the honor and service of God and do good with in their places.
(1.) The merchants shall write holiness to the Lord upon their merchandise and their hire, as Isa. 23:18. “The abundance of the sea, either the wealth that is fetched out of the sea (the fish, precious stones, crude oil) or that which is imported by sea, shall all be converted to thee and to thy use.” The wealth of the rich merchants shall be laid out in works of piety and charity. The Church shall be prosperous!
(2.) The mighty men of the nations shall employ their might in the service of the church: “The forces, or troops, of the Gentiles shall come unto thee, to guard thy coasts, strengthen thy interests, and, if occasion be, to fight thy battles.” The forces of the Gentiles had often been against the church, but now they shall be for it; for as God, when he pleases, can, and, when we please him, will, make even our enemies to be at peace with us (Prov. 16:7), so, when Christ overcomes the strong man armed, he divides his spoils, and makes that to serve his interests which had been used against the m, Luke 11:22.
(3.) The wealth imported by land-carriage, as well as that by sea, shall be made use of in the service of God and the church (Isa. 60:6): The camels and dromedaries that bring gold and incense (gold to make the golden altar of and incense and sweet perfumes to burn upon it), those of Midian and Sheba, shall bring the richest commodities of their country, not to trade with, but to honor God with, and not in small quantities, but camel-loads of them. This was in part fulfilled when the wise men of the east (perhaps some of the countries here mentioned), drawn by the brightness of the star, came to Christ, and presented to him treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, Matt. 2:11.
(4.) Great numbers of sacrifices shall be brought to God's altar, acceptable sacrifices, and, though brought by Gentiles, they shall find acceptance, Isa. 60:7. Kedar was famous for flocks, and probably the fattest rams were those of Nebaioth; these shall come up with acceptance on God's altar. God must be served and honored with what we have, according as he has blessed us, and with the best we have. This was fulfilled when by the decree of Darius the governors beyond the rivers (perhaps of some of these countries) were ordered to furnish the temple at Jerusalem with bullocks, rams, and lambs, for the burnt-offering of the God of heaven, Ezra 6:9. It had a further accomplishment, and we trust will have, in the bringing in of the fullness of the Gentiles to the church, which is called the sacrificing or offering up of the Gentiles unto God, [Romans15:16]. The flocks and rams are precious souls; for they are said to minister to the church, and to come up as living sacrifices, presenting themselves to God by a reasonable service on his altar, Romans 12:1.
The Oil released shall be for fresh unction to function. Old oil stinks and it is stale! God is set to release great, abundant and overflowing anointing in the Latter day Church such that we shall be armed with all that is ever needed the works of God
