INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PRAYER OF GREATER FORT WAYNE FROM GLORY TO GLORY: KNOWING THE GOOD OPINION OF THE FATHER

ISAIAH 60:1
Beloved I have become completely comvinced of this reality The primary reality of the Christian life is this from Glory to Glory! There was a time in my journey that as I read and studied texts like 2 Chronicles 5 and 7 the Glory of the Lord descended in such a way that the Priests where not able to do their job.... Or Exodus 24 or 34 my only image was Charlton Hestons encounter portrayed in the Ten Commandments! This is INTENSE! It was enlarged by a theology and preaching that presented God primarily as Judge. I remember when I came across 2 Cor 3:18 and really began to digest the truth of it....oh my goodness. That Glory....that was on Moses...we are going to experience something even more intense! OH man! So I have seen this idea of going from Glory to Glory....as this progressive revelation of the intensity of especially the awesomeness of Gods holiness and greatness that produces AWE. This deep sense of reverance for God. This is the Mt Sinai God! We are being changed from Glory to Glory. How many of us have been in settings where we have heard an individual from the front declare when the tangible Glory shows up....we won't be able to move! I think many of us can say we have likely had moments where we sensed the incredible closeness of His presence on our hearts or in a gathering. Yet beloved while I want to say those are love expressions of His heart they are not the primary manifestation of Glory. Moses is in the cloud...in the thunder....and his request....let me see your Glory! Now this is the stunning reality of Exodus 34 is that Gods response is this....I will declare my name...Moses. And I am going let all my goodness pass by you....Gods response to Moses request is to reveal His Nature! So what does 2 Cor 3:18 mean that we are transfomed into the same image from glory to glory.....? Can I say first is that this is not primarily about power encounters although they may occur. The primary reality of moving from Glory to Glory is to be transformed by the revelation of His Nature! When I thought it was about power encounters, meetings or spritual revelations I felt the pressure that I would not miss it! Or as I have heard some begin to portray.....we have it and they don't.....and if you don't respond like they are....you are missing it. Glory is revelation about the true Nature of God. Glory in the original language to be of a good opinion. Now follow this.....my former image of Glory was this intense almost fearful sense only a few at few moments come close too. It was elusive.

But Beloved that image is completely opposed to the revelation of the God who says we can come with confidence before the throne by the Blood of Jesus! And the secret is simply this Christ in you! Yes, Christ in you bringing with Him the hope of all the glorious things to come. Col 1:27b JB Phillips 1/18/2013 Page 1

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PRAYER OF GREATER FORT WAYNE FROM GLORY TO GLORY: KNOWING THE GOOD OPINION OF THE FATHER ISAIAH 60:1
To move from Glory to Glory is about encountering the Truth of the Good Opinion of the Father over and over....He really really loves us and He really really likes us! Why does this matter? AW Tozer wrote this: What comes into our mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us...Were we able to extract from any man a complete answer to the question What comes into our mind when you think about God? we might predict with certainty the spirtual future of that man. Stunning statement: The most important thing about a person is what they think about God. Our thoughts about God will determine not only who we are but how we live. James Bryan Smith I heard this pointed out in a powerful way in prayer over the last couple weeks: Genesis 3 Adam and Eve are in the Garden and look who is talking....the Serpent. And as a friend of mine put it so well the person who was not created to speak was talking and the person created to partner with God was not speaking when he should have been speaking. The Serpent talking.....now words are coming out of the serpent....words watch this are not all that slick but they are targeted at the Nature of God. Really quick...we don't have to believe everything that floats into our head or even our hearing. The real battle against the adversary is our understanding of the Nature of God. One of the primary tools that will give anyone victory over temptation is not a better way to say no....but to know the person who promised to never leave you.

My point here is that the very basis of temptation and victory over the powers of the enemy in our life are based in this reality going from Glory to Glory that is knowing the good opinion and nature of God! The Very basis of Faith To be persuaded of His persuasion..... Not something we do for God but what we believe of what He has already done.... Will that produce actions absolutely. Beloved Can we just demolish the Idea for good..... God is not interested in what you can Do for God..... He is interested in something much more important than good works....., duty or obligation One Word Love! To be persuaded of His persuasion He has loved, given, forgiven, lavished in a way that is inexaustable. And the secret is simply this Christ in you! Yes, Christ in you bringing with Him the hope of all the glorious things to come. Col 1:27b JB Phillips 1/18/2013 Page 2

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PRAYER OF GREATER FORT WAYNE FROM GLORY TO GLORY: KNOWING THE GOOD OPINION OF THE FATHER ISAIAH 60:1
Can I just give a gut wrenching definition of Idolatry that has permeated a great deal of the modern Church.....living convinced of a God who is other than He really is....Idolatry!

He is not mad He is not holding out waiting to lavish His good gifts..... Oh man Why again did He choose His people....is there ANYTHING old testament or new that was granted because of anything they did..... Here is the God that many individuals like me deduced from their exposure to the Church God is Holy you are not try harder Combine this with a good dose of culture 'good things come to those who try.' And we have a mixture of modern theology that is not an accurate portrayal of the Nature of the Father Or the truth of the gospel. IE Matt 20:1-5 Parable of the Workers Jewish Rabbis told a similar parable point was owner paid the same amount BECAUSE they earned it! Conclusion work harder Jesus point opposite....in fact offensive.....in His parable the question is asked ...are you envious because I am generous..... Nothing to do with earning....flys in the face of acheivement The God of the Scripture has this compulsion to shower Grace and Generousity on people who have done absolutely nothing to deserve it and have certainly not earned it! In fact He even instructs His people to rehearse certain truths....Psalm 139....His lovingkindness endures forever. His lovingkindness Hesed Favor expressed in His Fierce Loyalty to His own Nature and His Word! Psalmist says....26:3 For your lovingkindness is before my eyes....and I have walked in Your truth..... See this...it begins in Knowing the Truth of His Nature! Generousity comes basicly from 2 sources.....abundance....and compassion! God is both Need is a revelation of this reality His Love, Forgiveness, Kindness are not commodities that run out....Mercy is new everymorning. I woke up yesterday tired in a bad mood. As I drove in I decided NO I am going to be convinced of His Character.....beloved when we are a Voice erupts from the confidence in who He I and who we are. From Glory to Glory....sometimes is as simple as deciding....I am going to reject accusation against the Nature of God and remind myself of His generousity And the secret is simply this Christ in you! Yes, Christ in you bringing with Him the hope of all the glorious things to come. Col 1:27b JB Phillips 1/18/2013 Page 3

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PRAYER OF GREATER FORT WAYNE FROM GLORY TO GLORY: KNOWING THE GOOD OPINION OF THE FATHER ISAIAH 60:1
Isaiah 60:1 Arise Stand up Shine set us ablaze on fire Your light light as clear as a blazing sunrise has come watch this....- beseiged or fallen ..upon you and the Glory of the Lord the kawbad honored one....abounding in a good opinion! Has risen appeared....like a symptom leprosy....point is that is is unfading and apparent upon you Beloved Can I say this boldy again God has never been and will never be interested in what you can do for Him first and foremost He is looking for Love Dt 6:5 Oh if I could just ask Jesus what is the most important reality He did Mark 12:39 Hear....Glory....the good opinion of the Father expressed in His Son! Love God and Love one another.

And the secret is simply this Christ in you! Yes, Christ in you bringing with Him the hope of all the glorious things to come. Col 1:27b JB Phillips 1/18/2013 Page 4