Glory To Glory

(Since publishing,  notice corrections to Transformed, and Touched are underlined in the article)

Glory to Glory (sermon notes, Sunday, October 25, 2020)
We are encouraged by the faithfulness of God and by the love of God.  His love is forever extended to us and nothing can separate us from His love.   No matter what’s going on in your lives, or what’s going on around us, If He’s for us what can be against us.   We are more than conquerors in Him.  We are not victims, but victorious.  He always causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus.  Meets all of our needs.
We must understand that (after our initial salvation experience), we as the people of God are a work in progress.  There is a transformation, a process, a change.    God has begun a good work in us. He will perform it.   He has not forsaken us.  What God starts He will complete as we are willing to be in that place in Him, submit ourselves to His will and his way.  Hold fast to our commitment, faithfulness and obedience to Christ that He might bring us from glory to glory!
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.  2Corinthians 3:17,18
 
As we spend time with the lord and abide in His presence there is a change that  others can see, even when we cannot see it.   There is no time to quit or get distracted from the love of Christ.  Don’t lose focus 
We are near the finish line of this age.  Many are departing from the faith.  We are challenged to allow the transforming power of God to equip us and prepare us for a greater work He has for us for this last day.
We are being changed as we draw nigh to him in prayer and worship and in the study of His word.
We as the people of God are a work in progress! What God starts, He will complete as we are willing to submit ourselves to His will. There is a change in us.  He wants us to draw closer and grow stronger in Him.  Apostasy, departing from the faith is all around us.   Allow God to equip us to stand. 
II Cor 3:17. The Lord is that Spirit there is liberty
As we abide in Him, submit in obedience , and spend time with the Lord He brings transformation
Transformation (definition): Undergo a total change for the better. 
Salvation is a one-time event.  We immediately become new.  Not an upgraded, better version, but a new species of being (2Cor5:17).   All things are made new and our sins have been cast as far as east is from the west
Free from power and penalty of sin debt taken care of at calvary,   We have new life in Christ but we have not yet arrived Jer 29:11. Ephes 2:8. Quote here Created unto good works God ordained and planned for us He will not abort his plans
Be steadfast, always abounding in the work of the lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved ... Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.   Hebrews 12:1-2   Run the race with patience Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. 
Be encouraged that God works in us both to will and to do his good pleasure Metamorphosis.  Process of total transformation Caterpillar to butterfly Sinner to saint **(Look up process of cocoon. Larvae. There is a death process) Present bodies a living sacrifice. Transformed by renewing of your mind. 
 What has to be changed/transformed to experience the presence of God and go from glory to glory? Acts of God - love combined with power Character/nature of God   The names of God tell of his character and nature.  He takes us through trials to make us experience his glory and power.   Those who are willing will be changed as we behold his face.   Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.  Are you willing to go through the process of transformation? *(Romans 12:2.) Be transformed...prove that perfect will of God
 
Not conformed to the trinity of evil. Lust of the eyes, pride of life, lust of the flesh 1John 2. Love not the world - the ways of the world Friends of the world - enemies of God Things detract from the kingdom of God Life of godliness CANNOT OVEREMPHASIZE: THIS WORLD WILL PASS AWAY OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN
We must Desire a continual lifestyle of fellowship like Enoch.
 
2 Kinds of People:  Touched by God  and Transformed by God ​
King Saul motivated by position and self-image. Apostle Paul by process and dependence on Gods power. (2Cor 3:4, 5,6) Our Sufficiency of God,  Crucified daily (Gal 5:24)  
1.Transformed are willing to commit to lifestyle of godliness.   Determined to pray, study, obey and spend time with God, 
2.Touched experience his goodness, power and love
Only occasionally willing to pray and obey.
Satisfied only when being called on when men can see your faithfulness or
 Draw nigh with lips but heart far from Him.   Satisfied with occasional encounter
Challenge of accountability to God has to come to a new level.
King Saul 1st King of Israel . Head and shoulders above others Great stature and reputation Sent by father to find lost mules Prophesied under the spirit of prophecy in an atmosphere of worship with a band of prophets along the way.  He operated under the spirit of prophecy.  Spirit, gift and office of prophet is different In the midst of worship atmosphere Word of knowledge, insight on sight Unknown language Desire to prophesy.
King Saul experienced the presence of God,  had an encounter, did not maintain lifestyle of obedience.   In battle he did not obey and utterly destroy the enemy but saved king of the Amalekites and livestock.  Would not repent until Samuel revealed the sin.  Still touched but not transformed.
Saul of Tarsus/Apostle Paul:. Zealous Encounter on road to Damascus Was trained in the way of the law, and out to destroy the things of Christ. Zealous according to His level of understanding at the time.   Phil 3. Circumsized the 8th day,  “Pharisee of pharisees”, Scholarly reputation among the people.   But God can only be known by the spirit through his son Jesus.   There is a way that seems right unto man...(prov. 14:12  Only 1 right way Except a man be born again (John 3:16) Impossible w/o salvation God has a way to make his presence known to any who desire to know Must have Holy spirit to lead you into all truth (John 16:13)   Things that are right in the sight of God are revealed by the Holy Spirit.  Common objection: Not fair for God to judge all people!? God did not come to condemn the world. Jesus came that they might be saved.  God has a way to get the word to them.  God is a sovereign God a merciful God.   By visions, dreams, manifesting himself God has ways to reach people He is a merciful god Our job is to reach as many as we can with the love and the word of God.
 Paul was doing what he knew to do.  When encountered by the Lord Jesus, he asked, Who are you Lord? What would you have me to do?
Paul’s desire: “that I might know Him in the power of His resurrection and  the fellowship of his suffering”.  Everything else worthless (dung).   He wanted to be transformed to His glory Wanted to know, to comprehend that for which He had been apprehended. One thing I do, forgetting that which is behind…   
Looking for more of his attributes, power.  Looking for more of His power, (Philippians 3:10,13,14)
 
What must I do to experience the presence of God and go from glory to glory? Affections must be changed: Set your affections in things above. (Col. 3:1-3) Attention on the right things We have too much attention on fear, financial collapse, storms, weather patterns, etc. men’s hearts failing for fear (Luke 21:26) Set your affections on things above (Col 3:1) Christ our life, not a part of life,   (John 15) without me ye can do nothing.  When Christ shall appear... Ye shall appear with him in glory (Colossians 3:4)
 
4 things must change to experience and go from glory to glory.
Affection, Attitudes, Actions, Acquaintances,
 
-Affection must be changed. Set your affections in things above. (Col. 3:1-3) --- Our attention must be on the right things to keep our affection on Jesus.  We have too much attention on fear, financial collapse, storms, weather patterns, etc. men’s hearts failing for fear (Luke 21:26) Set your affection on things above (Col 3:1) Christ is our life, not a part of our life (John 15) w/o me ye can do nothing When Christ shall appear... Ye shall appear with him in glory
- Attitude changes as our affection does: Attitude of Giving thanks no matter what you go through:  Bless the Lord at all times and forget not all his benefits. Attitude of gratitude   (.Psalms 1053) Attitude of forgiveness Cannot hold grudges– let go.  Attitude of a conqueror, not a victim Attitude of fullness of life   Attitude of a  Warrior, (more than a conqueror). 
-Actions: love in action: (James 1:22) do good to all men, especially of the household of faith.  Actions will change as your affections change- do the work not just talk We must take action (Galatians 6:10 ) Like the good Samaritan, do good to all men. Cannot avoid people who have need.  Be concerned about the souls of those around you Ask God how we can help. 
-Acquaintances must change, too . 
(Job 22:21) Acquaint now thyself with God   You can decree a thing and it shall be established unto you.
           Communication. Evil communication corrupts good manners. 
Get acquainted with your family in Christ.   Tune in to the voice of God. Conformed to Christ.
Acquaint with the people of God  (IJohn 1:3-4, 4:7) The blood Jesus shed is     upon us and His spirit is within us. Communicate with the people of God. We are being conformed to Christ Romans 8 predestined to be confirmed to Christ. More of Him less of us.  Let our light shine and our voice be heard in this hour. 
 
The goal is to be like Christ!  When people see and hear us they should see Christ in our words and works, Transformed to his word and likeness. He is moving through with us.   We must be equipped with greater glory. Bring others out of their bondage, too More of his glory and power.  As we continue to decrease, His glory shines through us.  From glory to glory.  Not by our might, more of His glory and power and love manifest through us.
 I John 3:1-2. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. He world will not understand our commitment to Christ and our willingness to forgive, etc.  2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
We see in part and know in part as we look through a glass.
[“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (Cor 13:12)]
Now we know in part but when he comes we shall know.  As we are faithful in little that we now, we shall be made rulers over much.
 
Be obedient in what you know to do.   The glory of the corruptible will soon be transformed to the glory of the incorruptible.
1 Corinthians 15:52 “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and (we shall be changed).” 
 
We are still a work in progress.  Going from glory to glory.

We look forward to the glory the blessed hope, the glory of his return and our gathering together unto him, but in the meantime we look to the glory of His power and anointing in us to make a difference in the world.
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