I watched a documentary Out of the Shadows and an interview with Martin Geddes that dealt with tumultuous issues going on around the world. They are dark and touch on the level of corruption and control in governments and media. It will be darker than any conspiracy theory we could have imagined. As sons, we’re called to play our assigned roles in exposing and defeating evil. But I was left wishing we could have something equally definitive about the good and glorious things God is conspiring to do. It reminded me of Stewards of Glory (1).
God is Glorifying Sons – Glory (doxa G1391; kabod H3513) means to be very “apparent” in the sense of splendor or copiousness. We want God to be magnified and to receive glory and honor and majesty and praise. But what surprised me is that our Father wants to put glory on His sons and daughters. He wants to make your name great. He wants you to be visible. The riches of His glory are displayed in every facet of our joy, family, work, heritage, and finances. Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers. The glory on you reflects the glory in your Father. Listen to your Father explain it . . .
Ps. 8:4-5 – What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. NIV
Isa. 60:1-3 – 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.
John 8:54-55 – Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. NIV
Rom. 8:18-20 – I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.
Heb. 2:10 – For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. KJV
Sons see – Awakening is in the air right now – eyes are opening to both dark and light! Sons are particularly effective in warfare because they are “eye” witnesses of the battle plan. They can see what their Father is doing, and they carry that same purpose.
Rev. 12:11 – They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; NIV
Rev. 19:10 – For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. NIV
Testimony (G3144 Marturia) – means evidence given judicially. It’s because we have seen or witnessed what the Father is doing. Seers don’t have the same struggle to “believe.” We’re not trying to force ourselves to believe because seeing is an experience that adds an extra sense. Once we see, we’re convinced. There’s nothing left to debate.
Rom. 4:20-22 – Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Sons are doing – I used to think of righteousness as forgiveness. Dikaiosume (G1342) means equity (of character or act). Sons are not gods, but they share the Father’s purpose in the sense of being equal in purpose, character, and actions. “In Jesus Name” means that we can ask whatsoever because we’re doing the same things the Father’s doing. Sons believe because they’ve seen, and their righteousness is evident from doing what the Father does (equity).
Initiative that brings glory – in the process of seeing the Father’s purpose and doing what He does, Jesus was “shown all things.” Father gave His Son amazing liberty to give life and exercise judgment so that the son would receive glory and honor and the Father would also. This amazing level of initiative is rooted in knowing the Father’s purpose (from having seen it). It’s for you too – Jesus was the firstborn of many sons.
John 5:19-23 – “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. 20 “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. 21 “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. 22 “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. NASU
Imagine – If enemy influence, corruption, and tyranny were removed from governments, education and economies around the world. Imagine the progress and prosperity that would result. Believers have always reserved utopia for the millennium or heaven where the lion lies down with the lamb, and there are no more tears or suffering. I believe in heaven and reformation. There is room in our theology to make disciples of all nations and see the fruit of cultures blessed by God around the world right now. We haven’t yet tried to imagine what the next reformation might produce. Luther’s reformation was, and still is, a revolution in positive improvements in nations around the world – it’s happening again!
- Health – no more cancer, heart disease, diabetes, malnutrition, etc.
- Education – Connected hearts, fathers, vocations (everything in Intentional Reformation)
- Integrity in Government – the end of tyranny and corruption in an internet age
- Economies – Imagine unlimited energy at little or no cost
- Creativity – Imagine multiplied productivity and a similar abundance in living standards
The Kingdom of God on earth is unlimited righteousness, peace, and joy.
Intentional Reformation – Now imagine that as sons, we took the above list and understood it as our mandate to make it all happen. That’s reality. We’re not called to “wait” for a rapture or a millennium or even hold on to the hope of heaven (though that will be glorious too). We’re here to fill the earth with God’s glory now. It’s an issue of stewardship of His glory. We’ve been “given all things” (including all nations), and if we awaken, we will be “shown all things” (Jn 5:20) so that we can bring them to earth!
Ps. 84:11 – For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. NIV
Matt. 11:27 – All things have been committed to me by my Father. NIV
John 3:35 – The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. NASU
Rom. 8:32-33 – He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all — how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? NIV
2 Peter 1:3 – According as his divine power hath given unto us all things KJV
All things or the whole thing that Father wants to give us is the Kingdom. Sons are bringing the Kingdom of heaven to earth. That’s our job!
Luke 12:31-33 – But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. NIV
Ps 2:8 – Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. NIV
Cutting room floor
Rom 9:23-26 – What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory—even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? 25 As he says in Hosea:
“I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people; and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,” 26 and, “It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.'” NIV
Eph 1:18-19 – I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. NIV
2 Cor 10:18 – For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth. KJV
John 12:43 – 43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. KJV
Acts 12:23 – Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. NKJV
Rom 8:18-21 – I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. NIV
Isa 43:5-6 – Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. 6 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’ Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth NIV
Ps 21:1-7 – O Lord, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories you give! 2 You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips. Selah 3 You welcomed him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head. 4 He asked you for life, and you gave it to him — length of days, for ever and ever. 5 Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. 6 Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. 7 For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken. NIV
2 Cor 4:16-18 – Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. NASU
Heb 12:1-3 – let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. NIV
Phil 4:19 – And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. NASU
1 Cor 3:21-23 – So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future — all are yours, 23 and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God. NIV
