MANIFESTATION OF HIS GLORY
CCRN, CANNAAN LAND AFUZE 22/1/2022
FR. DANIEL EVBOTOKHAI
Isaiah 60:1-4
1″Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. 2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. 4 “Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the arm.
GLORY
Every day we hear of the word glory, people sing songs on glory, we use it during our liturgical celebrations, such as ‘Glory to Jesus’ or “Glory to God in the highest. People even bear the name Glory. It is glory in English, δόξα (dóxa) in Greek; כָּבוֹד (kavod) in Hebrew. However, the Bible describes glory as the splendor, holiness and majesty of God. The word glory conveys a sense of heavy dignity. As Christians we ought to manifest this dignity of God. When a man’s dignity is questioned or gone that man loses nobility. Our dignity is not seen in our ability to fast and pray; not even in praying for hours without stop; there is no dignity in carrying big bibles around; the dignity is not in well dressed suits of expensive prices or wearing of expensive shoes and perfume; the dignity is not in the number of people that slain in your ministration, or the numbers that are healed in your counsel; the dignity is not in prophetic accuracy; the dignity is in holiness of life. Glory is the holiness and majesty of God. Put simply, it is the dignity of God. Don’t ever compromise this dignity. When the glory is altered destiny can change. The destiny of Israel changed when the glory departed (1Sam.4:21). Therefore, manifest Glory!
MANIFESTATION
Talking about manifestation there are three well know manifestations of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. Matthew 2:1-2 the adoration of Jesus by the wise men from the East; Matthew 3:13-17 at the baptism of Jesus Christ and John 2:1-12 at the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee. (See also CCC.528). The first manifestation revealed him as the Light and King of the world; the second manifestation revealed him as the Beloved Son of God and the third manifestation revealed his Glory and his disciples believed in him. Beloved, manifestation of God’s glory is an essential unction for many to believe in God. Let us manifest God’s glory that many people will come to believe in him. The purpose we manifest is to increase believers. That is the original mandate of every Christian. He says go into the world and proclaim the Good News (Mark 16:15 Matt.28:19). [….redemption is not reduction].
To manifest his glory is to manifest his presence; an evil man manifest evil trait and people would say this man is behaving like someone who is possess of an evil spirit, if a Christian should manifest his presence people will say you behave like Jesus Christ. In Acts 11 beginning from verse 25 the bible says that Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Paul, in verse 26 “when he found him, he took him to Antioch and after a whole year the two met with the people of the Church and taught a large group. It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.” Why? For they manifested Christ-like attitude. A believer stays in a city or a town for a week he is already known as a fornicator, liar, an adulterous, a troublesome person. If you don’t manifest his glory your evangelization will raise atheistic generation.
Again, to manifest his glory is to manifest his gifts as we have it in 1Cor. 12:7 “to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” Whatever you are and wherever you are; you ought to be manifesting for the common good; Eph.4:12 says for the building of the Kingdom of God. Hear me, we are called to manifest not manipulate; if you manifest you build up; but if you manipulate you destroy. Many believers today are actually destroying the body of Christ. Beloved, manifest and draw more believers to the Father.
In Rom.8:19 the Bible says “the whole creation waits with earnest expectation for the manifestation of the sons of God.” The whole creation is waiting for you; yet you are playing and delaying. You are not ordinary there is something inside of you for the world. Those you see today on the pulpit do not have the best of messages. There are some of you sitting here who are more endowed than we are but you have refuse to give manifestation to that grace. The most anointed people are not usually the once you see on the pulpit. Oftentimes the most anointed are on the pews. These are anointed but hidden; gifted but not lifted (1Kings 19:18) “Nevertheless, I have reserved seven thousand in Israel— all whose knees have not bowed to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
In John 6:9 the little boy brought the little he had and that was used to feed 5000 men not counting women and children. Many of us have messages for over 5000 congregation but we are still shy. The little we have in us is just what Christ is waiting for to bring 20000 men and women into the fold but we are scared of what people will say; there are wonderful preachers who are still giving excuses. There are many singers who still sing in their bathrooms; writers whose materials are in their cupboard; counselors who are just gossiping away their grace. Prayer warriors who have refused to pray. Listen! If you don’t bring it out it will not spring out. Psalm 96:2-4 says “tell among all the people the wonders of the Lord, proclaim his salvation day by day and tell among the nation his glory and his wonders among all the peoples.”
NOW WHY WAS ISRAEL ASKED TO RISE AND SHINE IN THE READING PASSAGE? Isaiah 60:1
Isaiah wanted to boost the drooping spirits of the returnees because Israel at this point was seating in darkness and defeat; they were breathing but dead. They were powerful but in history; they were gifted but incapacitated; they were bold but fearful; they had grace but always in sin. And so the Prophet said Arise. The prophet was not only addressing Israel but the Church of God. The Prophet was speaking to the Church which is sitting sorrowful, and exhorts her to awake and arise from a state of darkness and mourning, and enter into a state of light and happiness.
Just as it was in Israel so it is in the Church today! There were men and women of status, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, Deborah, Esther but darkness permeated the land. The inward and outward condition of the church just now is night; and the reality which strikes the senses more than ever before is the night of sin, the night of punishment, the night of suffering, the night of mourning; the night of pretence; the night of fearfulness; the night of outward show; the night of prophetic lies; the night of romantic shepherds; the night of fallen warriors and the night of failure and shame.
It is time to rise, it is time when prayer warriors are holiness warriors; where faithfulness is power; when the miracle is righteousness; when the spiritual gifts is a function of spiritual fruits. Beloved, are you still sitting in darkness? Arise! Are you still living in sin or partnering with the world? Arise! Beloved, Arise, wake up from that addiction, wake up from that dangerous sleep; wake up from that darkness – your light has come. Paul says in Rom.13:12 “the night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light”. Isaiah 60:2 of the reading passage says though thick darkness may cover the world but upon you the light of God will shine. It equally means that even though the whole world is dark as an Israelite it is your duty to shine. In verse 3; he says nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Matt. 5:14-16 says “you are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden nor do people light a lamp and put it under a table. 1 Thess.5:5 Apostle calls us children of light. We are children of light not of night or of the dark. Let us desist from every dark acts and manifest as light. Let your light. To shine is to manifest – epiphany; to manifest Christ. To manifest the fruits of the Spirit: joy, patience, kindness, peace etc.
WAYS TO MANIFEST THE GLORY OF GOD
Do everything to the glory of God: The Bible says in 1Cor.10:31 “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God”. In Luke 2:14 when the angels announced the Savior’s birth, the heavenly host joined them to glorify God. Ps.19:1-2 says the physical creation constantly declares His glory. John 13:32 says Jesus is glorified and in him God is glorified. The New International Version puts it this way ‘If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. So anyone who expresses God glory and gives all the glory to God; God will glorify him at once. Therefore, do things to the glory of God. Don’t glorify yourself. Phil. 2:5 says let this mind be in you which is in Christ Jesus, (6) who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, (7) but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. So, Jesus did not count equality with God even though he was God, he gave the glory to the father. This is a very big lesson for us today; we should never ascribe glory to ourselves.
Thomas Aquinas, cautions us against the inordinate desire of glory, or praise, from man. He calls it a sin. He lists vainglory as a capital vice and, in some cases, as a mortal sin. 1 Corinthians 4:7 says “What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? Whatever height we have attained we were able to because God gave us life. Jer. 9:23-24 says “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, and let not the strong man glory in his strength, and let not the rich man glory in his riches. But let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me.” Let us give glory to God in the way we live our life. We may honour men and praise them, but it must be with moderation. Matt.5:16 says “let your light shine before men, that. they may see your good works, and. glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Therefore, not every time we see men’s good works we should honour them. It may sound awkward but Kingdom business is not arranged in the order of human civilization. The greatest award is the eternal reward.
Obedience: To manifest God’s glory we must be obedient to his commandment. Oftentimes we don’t want to obey but we want to enjoy. Obedience is better than sacrifice. Sacrifice is all you do. Your prayers, worship, fasting, and charity. Obedience generates divine likeness more than these. So you can fast and pray and become slower spiritually because you don’t obey. John 14:15 Jesus says “if you love me, you will obey my commandment.” and in John 15:14 He says “you are my friend if you do what I command you.” Obedience is the fastest way to manifest God’s glory.
Confession: To manifest God’s glory do no stay away from the confessional. Some of us sin has deem the brightness of our dawn. Glory represents holiness and grace. The Israelites were defeated in battle even with the covenant box because of the sins of the people and their leaders. God do not partner with sinners. You can carry that glory and you will be defeated in all forms because of the kind of life you live. The Covenant Box was known for victory but these guys were defeated it was because of their sins. So David knew this and so he entered into God mercy. Psalm 51:4 David says “Against You, You only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when you judge.” So, 1 Chronicles 18:1 says David won many battles. “While David was king of Israel, he won many battles over the Philistines. He brought them under his control. He took Gath away from the Philistines. He also captured the villages around Gath.” Sin brings defeat; holiness attracts victory. (You may be in the Renewal but if your heart is not renewed you cannot manifest his glory. Glory repels sin. What has light got to do with darkness?
Trust God: To trust God is a common injunction but a difficult one to exercise. any Christians think they trust God when they go through comfort and beauty. Trust is seen in the days of trials. The patriarchs demonstrated so much trust in God. Abraham in Rom.4:20 the Bible says “with respect to the promise of God, Abraham did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God.” Job had his own trials; but he stood for God. He is an example of how a rich man can become poor in order to become richer. In 2 Maccabees 7 the Bible described a Jewish martyr; a woman with seven sons who refused to eat pork – that is, refusal to bow to the pagan god of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, This man killed her seven sons with dreadful pains yet they all refuse to deny God. 2Macc.7:20 tells us that this watched her seven sons die in the space of a single day, yet she bore it bravely because she put her trust in the Lord. In Acts 21:1-16 Paul on his way to Jerusalem did not give up even when he was threatened with death. These are men and women who knew what it means to manifest glory. Men and women who must manifest glory must not give up because there is a trial.
Knowledge of God’s Word: You cannot give what you don’t have. Christians who want to succeed in this generation must study. We must keep learning; for us to keep earning spiritually, and materially. The bible encourages us to study; 2Tim.2:15 says study to show yourself approved; Prov 2:2 says “making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding” Joshua 1:8 “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Prov.19:2 says it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, (For more you can confirm Dan.11:32; Ps.119:130; Isaiah 1:3).
