The Glory of the Lord – 2/14/16

THE GLORY OF THE LORD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmX52fHLFC4

First consider this man Melchizedek. Abraham met him returning from battle and gave tithe unto him (Gen. 14:18). He was without father, without mother, having neither beginning of day nor end of life (Heb. 7:3). His walk with God had ushered him into timelessness. He was called the King of Salem (Heb. 7:2). Salem means peace, hence he was the “King of Peace.” His successor would therefore be called the “Prince of Peace” over Jeru-Salem, the City of Peace. But Melchizedek was much more than a king. He is also called “Priest of the Most High God.” No one before him had been king and priest.

The Levitical order of Moses and Abraham established on Mount Moriah that was established later produced no one who was both king and priest. Kings were kings and priests were priests. How could anyone govern God’s people and yet truly minister to the Lord. Not only minister to Him but be a High Priest. That means God’s closest confidant and friend is also established as king over God’s people.  The most renown men of all history have laid claim to this; the Pharaohs of Egypt, the Caesars of Rome, Emperors of China and Japan. Even individuals like Nebuchadnezzar claimed to be God’s man of faith and power for the hour. But they all died in time, thus proving their claim counterfeit. No one could be both unless they were sinless and immortal.

By setting the Ark of the Covenant to rest on Mount Zion, the highest peak in Jerusalem, David has once and for all enthroned the Lord God Himself as both King and Priest over His people, “after the order of Melchizedek.” From this unveiled temple on Zion the indescribable brilliant glory of the Lord that emanated above the mercy seat of the Ark could be seen by all the nations on Earth.  David describes this supernatural phenomenon in a multitude of Psalms. A few are listed below.

Great is the Lord…in the mountains of His holiness…The joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great king. God is known in her palaces as a refuge…The kings were assembled, they passed by together…They saw it and so they marveled…They were troubled and hasted away (Ps. 48: 1-5). Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shinned (Ps. 50:2). In Salem also is his tabernacle and his dwelling place in Zion…thou art more glorious than the mountains (Ps. 76:2 & 4). The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion; rule thou in the midst of thine enemies…Thou art forever after the order of Melchizedek (Ps. 110:2 & 4). The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen (Ps. 98:2). The Lord reigneth…he sitteth between the cherubim…the Lord is great in Zion (Ps. 99:1 & 2). When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in glory (Ps. 102:16). O Lord thou art great…who coverest thyself with Light as with a garment (Ps. 104:1 & 2). The Lord reigneth, a fire goeth before Him and burneth up His enemies round about. His lightning enlighteneth the world, the earth saw and trembled…all the people see His glory. Zion heard and was glad. Light is sown for righteousness (Ps. 97).

These and ALL 150 Psalms were written for and sung to the Lord God as He ruled out of Zion. The glory the Lord shinned out of Zion all 33 years David was king of Israel. Likewise, Jesus was the expressed glory of God on earth for 33 years. As David re-established the king-priest ministry by enthroning the LORD, so too is Christ the King of Kings and a High Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 5:5 & 6).

After David’s death, his son Solomon reigned as king. But Solomon built the Lord’s temple on Mount Moriah, the second highest peak, removed the ark from Zion to his temple and strengthened the Levitical order prescribed by the Law of Moses. Once again the glory of the Lord was veiled – out of sight. The Lord no longer reigned supreme. Succeeding generations began to stray from God’s purpose and plan. Civil war left the nation divided into Judah and Israel again. Worldly influences from other nations gradually and ultimately resulted in a corrupted people. Untold kings and priests struggled to retain their power and it seemed each succeeding generation grew increasingly wicked. Finally two great kings, Nebuchadnezzar from Babylon and Sennacherib from Assyria took for themselves captives of these two nations. The glory of the Lord had long since departed as these great kings lay waste Judah and Israel, burned the temple and destroyed the ark.

But throughout these times of judgment, God was not without a voice. In every generation He raised up someone, a remnant whose loyalties lay exclusively to Him. Their message was a cry to return to the God of David. Over and over they prophesied that God would return and rebuild the tabernacle of David and Mount Zion. Obadiah, prophesied: “Saviors shall come upon Mount Zion to judge the Mount of Esau (Gentiles), and the kingdom shall be the Lords” (Ob. 21). Amos also prophesied of the coming Babylonian captivity but ended: “I will raise up again the fallen tabernacle of David…that they may possess the remnant of Edom (the descendants of Esau) and all the heathen which are called by my name saith the Lord that doeth this” (Amos 9:11 & 12).

The tabernacle of David will be rebuilt. Zion’s glory will possess, as Amos describes, those called by HIS NAME. These are, of course, Christians for they bear the name of Christ Himself. In fact these shall come forth as Saviors. The prophet Zechariah returned from Babylon with a great company of Jews to rebuild the temple and believe for a return of glory of the tabernacle of David. But Zechariah was given a vision and a strong word to share with his fellow laborers. The Lord told him and showed him that He would rebuild the temple Himself. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts” (Zech. 4:6).

Since that time there have been many captivities and many returns to rebuild the temple. But no glory has or ever will return to a man-made temple. The glory shall possess the remnant and the heathen called by His name (as Amos said). No wonder the Apostle James declared in Acts 15:16 that the prophecy of Amos was being fulfilled when the Holy Ghost was poured out on the Gentiles. We are that temple of the Holy Ghost (I Cor. 3:16) in whom and upon whom the glory of the Lord shall be revealed. (Isa. 60:2) God has called every blood-bought, born-again, Spirit filled believer to come to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:13). That you go in and out no more but be a pillar in the temple of your God (Rev. 3:12). He has called and chosen you and I to be Kings and Priests unto Him (Rev. 1:6). He has chosen us to be the revealing of the Lord in our life time (I Thes. 1:10). “The Lord shall arise upon thee and His glory shall be seen upon thee” (Isa. 60:1, 2). In this, beloved, “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together” (Isa. 40:5).

Like Melchizedek, we are called to walk in resurrection life power, in the here and now; to enter into eternal life now, to receive the power of an endless life; not just the promise, by faith, some day in the great by and by – but HERE and NOW.  Jesus said, “I AM the resurrection and the life, he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” (Jn. 11:25) But pay careful attention here. Jesus continues in verse 26, “And whoseoever liveth and believeth on me shall never die.” So it is clear that this promise of eternal life is for “he that believeth” and not just for “he that believeth yet is dead.”

Jesus walked in this Resurrection life. Speaking of His life, He said, “I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it again.” (Jn. 10:18) No one killed, murdered or assassinated Jesus. He laid his life down willingly. His blood wasn’t spilled, it was shed! His resurrection from the dead was proof that He had entered into “the power of an endless life” after the order of Melchizedek. Even Paul walked in resurrection life for he says he was in deaths oft or died many times. (2 Cor. 11:23) To the Philippians he even confessed that he was caught in indecision. He said he wanted to go home to be with the Lord, he wanted to die. But because they had need of him, of his mighty working as an apostle, he decided to stay for their sakes. If he was executed, stoned (2 Cor. 11:25), or thrown to ferocious beasts (I Cor. 15:22), he just got up after it was all over and went about his business preaching and teaching the Good News of the “Resurrection Life” in Christ.

This life of being possessed by Christ is the “Rest” spoken by the writer of Hebrews.  He explains, “there remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.” (Heb. 4:9) For “We are come unto Mount Zion and unto the city of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem…and to God, the judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect.” (Heb. 12:22 & 23) Thus we, “are built up (to) a spiritual house,…in Zion, a chosen generation, a Royal Priesthood (kings and priests), a holy nation that we should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous Light!” (I Pet. 2:5-9)

God is calling forth a people in this hour to return to Zion. The power, the authority and the glory of the Lord will be revealed in them, through them and upon them. These shall walk in resurrection life, eternal life, in the here and now. Like Jesus and Paul, they shall walk in timelessness for they shall inherit immortality in their life time. The fire of God’s glory shall purge the dross of their sinful natures and they shall receive the divine nature. This is the righteous remnant, the redeemed of the Lord that shall return unto Zion. These shall possess the fullness of God to be revealed at the end of this present age. These are the Sons of God. These are kings and priests to the Most High, a Royal Priesthood after the order of Melchizedek. This is the Body of Christ, God’s expression on earth. This Body is to come forth to be revealed in glory as the ark was when returned to Zion. These shall rule the nations with a rod of iron. These shall walk in oneness with God Himself. He who “fills all in all” shall rule and reign supreme on the earth, for He shall rule in them and through them.

Beloved, you have been called to walk in this promise. Press in to receive all that God has for you “that your joy may be full.” The hour is short and this present day draws to a close. “He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Seek Him for the abundance. See Him for “Life Abundantly.” “He will do exceedingly above all that you ask or think.” He is your portion, your inheritance, your life. He is come to be glorified IN HIS SAINTS.(2Thes 1:10)

Jerry Turk's photo.