The Glory Is Coming Out Of The Closet

The Glory Is Coming Out Of The Closet
By: Bobby Sullivan

THE GLORY IS COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET

(Romans 8: 18-19

“ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.”)

Romans 8 is the confirmation of identity, makeover. Could also be called, “The Confirmation of our Transformation” Chapter.

Cross References:

Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

Romans 8:14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,

2 Corinthians 6:18 “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.

Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Myles Munroe Said, “The glory of God is humanity fully alive.”

J. B. Phillips put it another way: “The whole creation is on tiptoe to see the wonderful sight of the sons of God coming into their own.”

There is a longing for the debut of the children of God. It is like God has put his hand down on his own creation, so that it’s like a coil spring tightly compressed, straining to be released.

But God made everything for perfection. He made us to rule over it. But we ruined it in the Garden of Eden when we broke with God. And God’s remedy is not an evolutionary process. His remedy is the re-creation of man through Jesus Christ the only perfect man. And right now the creation is waiting for the time when we will be made royal again, like Jesus.

The Greek scholar, James Hope Moulton, tells us about the word translated “eager longing.” That Greek word suggests someone craning their neck, stretching their head out to see what’s coming.
Romans 8:13 “…….”

Jn. 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Power to become = the means, the right, the authority, the privilege.

As new creations in Christ Jesus we occupy the same position of sonship with the father that Jesus does,

(Heb 2:10 KJV) 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.

There are certain rights and privileges that come with sonship.

(#1) is the Authority and Power over all of satans kingdom. (Lu. 10:19) Behold I give unto you power=authority, to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy…. (This power he is speaking of is positional power.)

(#2) every promise of God belongs to you, it is part of your inheritance as a child of God, You don’t have to pray for it, you don’t have to fast for it, you don’t have to be good enough for it, you don’t have to earn it. You just have to take your place as his Sons and receive it.

Can you prove that by scripture please?)

(1 Cor 3:21-23 ) Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

(Rom 8:32 KJV) He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

(Eph 1:3 KJV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

Matthew 28: 18-19 “ …All authority has been given to Me in heaven and earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.”

Genesis 1: 26-28 “Let us make man in our image”, “Be fruitful and multiply”, “Fill the earth and subdue it” “have dominion over everything”

I get excited and ecstatic about the commissioning of creation from the creator. Not only did God create something on earth that was a mirror reflection of His heavenly image, but then he turns around and gives them the authority to govern everything he created.

Banning Liebscher director of Jesus Culture, said, “ The new breed of revivalist that God is raising up has a ‘take-over’ mentality. They are convinced that God has called them to take over the world.”

I get irked under my skin when I hear people say, “It’s not about numbers!” I beg to differ as Christianity and the great commission is all about numbers.

Faytene Kriskow felt the Lord saying to her, “ I want to get this goodness inside of you out! Any good seed that I have put in you is meant to be sown into the earth and multiplied. If I have given you compassion, then sow it into the earth and multiply it. If its love, wisdom etc. multiply it.”

“Jesus was a radical and, hence, counter cultural, and as Christians, we are to be radical and counter cultural as well! We are never to be satisfied with a status quo that allows assorted social ills such as poverty, corruption in institutions, discrimination of any kind, or the creation of out-groups that are then demonized and discriminated against “in the name of God,” to go unchallenged.” Jesus preached love amidst hatred; unity amidst divisiveness; faith amidst the legalistic religious leaders of His day; inclusiveness amidst exclusionary religious leaders; wholeness amidst the brokenhearted; freedom amidst those held in yokes of bondage; love amidst hatred. Jesus spoke truth to power, and we, as Christians, are to do no less! Dr. Jerry S. Maneker

In other words let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify the Father which is in heaven.”

In other words, “The Glory is coming out of the closet!

God is revealing revivalist ready to restore His rightful reign! PBS

When you understand who you are and what you carry inside of you then you will step into your true identity in Christ and you will operate out of a transformed renewed mind.

David understood his identity and the revelation of who he was in

Psalm 8: 1-9 NAS
“O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is your name in all the earth, who have displayed your splendor above the heavens! When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained; what is man that you take thought of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than God, and you crown him with glory and majesty! …..”

David was in wondrous ecstasy, mesmerized by the vast creativity and craftsmanship of God. David in his understanding of God’s splendor was also mindful of man’s true place in God’s order of things.

“You have made him a little lower than God, and you crown him with glory and majesty.”

Many translations will use angels or heavenly beings instead of God. The Hebrew word for God is elohim. It is the same word used in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God (elohim) created the heavens and the earth.

Here is the order:

1. God created man in His image
2. God gave man dominion
3. God created us a little lower than himself not angels.
4. Crowned us with glory and majesty.
5. Gave us power and authority to do it

Here is the picture of “humanity fully alive” ruling in majesty over the created order. It is a picture of man as he was created to be; before the fall.

WARNING! Don’t let the glory go to your head!

2 things that have killed many ministries.

The praise of man and the persecution of man

Jeremiah 2:5, 10-11 “ This is what the Lord says, “ What fault did your fathers find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves…My people have exchanged their glory for worthless idols.”

CLARIFICATION:

Isaiah 42: 5-9 This is what God the Lord says-He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk in it: “ I , the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to another or praise to idols. See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.”

This is the prophesy about Jesus coming to establish justice to the nations. God is addressing the nation of Israel. His words set into motion the original purpose behind Him raising up the Jewish nation. They were to live out the covenant between God and His people.

They did just the opposite by following false gods etc and God judged them by delivering the nation into Babylonian captivity for 70 years.

When God said I will not share my glory, he meant that He would not allow His glory to be given to man-made images of created beings.

He was not going to let them weaken His image in them . He gave His glory to Man not another creature. Why should we carry or bow down before the likeness of a creature that possesses neither the image or likeness of God’s glory?

In today’s society there may not be many people doing this in North America but the point is not the physical position of the body but the spiritual position of the heart.

**ANYTIME WE ALLOW ANYONE OR ANYTHING TO TAKE A HIGHER PLACE IN OUR LIFE THAN GOD, WE ARE GUILTY OF ‘GIVING HIS GLORY TO ANOTHER’ THAT’S IDOLATRY, NO MATTER WHAT FORM IT TAKES.

Let me remind you of our scripture in Romans 8. “Creation is waiting in eager expectation for the sons of God to appear.”

A Man bought a cheap painting at a flea market for a few dollars
He noticed the canvas looked older than the painting
The painting was painted over another
It was stripped away until the older work underneath was uncovered.
Upon appraisal, the older painting was an original work from a European artist, and was valued at several million dollars.
No one knew the true value-the glory-that was beneath the surface until it was revealed!

The Glory is coming out of the closet!!!!!

Its time to pick up where Adam and Eve left off by having dominion, subduing, being fruitful and multiplying.

Subdue (Kabash) To force, to keep under, to bring under control, dominate or tread down.

Dominion (Radah) to rule, prevail over, reign, subjugate (forced submission to control by others, to forcibly impose obedience or servitude)

Jesus won back what Adam lost on the cross. Even after Satan tempted Jesus in Luke 4:5-6 with the kingdoms and authority, Jesus knew that he was about to regain what Satan was offering him.

Like someone who works at a candy store saying I will give you all the candy you want when you know you’re about to buy the company!

All authority was taken back at the cross! (Matthew 28:18-20)

All authority has been given to Me in heaven….

“Go and make disciples of all nations”
“Nations” (ethnos) tribes, people groups, pagan nations, etc.
Adam and Eve were given the garden of Eden in the pre-cross world, we are given Nations in the post cross world.

Matthew 6:10 “ Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

What is Gods will for us today? God’s will is HIS KINGDOM BEING Established on the earth!

It’s the Kings Domain. It is the area in which His dominion is revealed, birthed or uncovered. It is the rule and reign of King Jesus through his servants!

Another definition for domain is “territory over which a dominion is exercised; complete and absolute ownership of land.”

Our mission is to make our place look like His place!!

We are the body of Christ on the earth today, able to do the works Jesus did. (John 14:12)

The reason why people in the Western world have a hard time with this concept of Christianity is because we do not know how a Monarchy works because we are governed by democracies which originated from the greek and roman governments.

In a Monarchy, the king and queen have supreme authority over all the land, territory and people with in the kingdom. Everyone within the kingdom looks upon them with honor, respect and gratitude and the sons and daughters in the royal bloodline also carry the same DNA has there forefathers.

We are royalty as well! Our citizenship is not of this world (Phil 3:20 and John 18:36) We have been authorized to manifest the kingdom of Heaven on earth

We are the Kings and Lords of the land. We are landlords!

Lords of the Land…..We have the power to evict

Psalms 115:15-16 “may you be blessed of the Lord, Maker of Heaven and earth. The heaven, even the heavens are the Lord, but the earth He has given to the sons of man.”

You may say this is a little over the top for me! This is a bit radical. I’m more on the conservative, passive, God will do what he wants to do and I can’t change anything. What is radical Christianity?

Radical Christianity in normal Christianity. Anything less than that is subnormal, sub par, sub standard and subtracts from the true essence of our calling.

1. What is a radical? 1. Arising from or going to a root or source; basic: proposed a radical solution to the problem.
2. Departing markedly from the usual or customary; extreme: radical opinions on education.
3. Favoring or effecting fundamental or revolutionary changes in current practices, conditions, or institutions:

`Radical” is one of those words that’s thrown around so casually now that it’s lost nearly all of its force and its distinctive meaning. In general use, it is close to a synonym of “good”. But its true meaning is to do with the concept of a root. A radical change is one that comes from the root; a radical politician is one who wants to change the roots of the political system; and a radical Christian is one whose roots are in Christ.

So the key question for us is this: what is the root of our lives? What does everything else grow from?

Paul draws out the importance of our root in the letter to the Colossians:

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness — Colossians 2:6-7

And Jesus describes it in the parable of the sower:

[Jesus] told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. […] Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.”

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means […] The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.”

Matthew 13:3, 5-6, 18, 20-21
For us, as for plants, every aspect of our health and growth is determined by the nourishment we get from our root. A plant with no root will die, and a Christian whose root is not in Christ will find his faith dying. It is as simple as that.
A radical Christian hears the radical call of Jesus and obeys, not because he manages to persuade himself that it’s the best thing, or out of a sense of duty, but because his root is in Christ and so following the call is the obvious, natural thing to do.
The call of Jesus is as demanding to us to today as it was to his first disciples two thousand years ago:2. How radical does God expect us to be?

The radical Christian is not a special Christian. He simply qualifies for New Testament normality.
Arthur Wallis, The Radical Christian, p15

Being a radical Christian is not a special, high call that’s just reserved for a few special people. It is what God desires for each of us, expects from each of us, and has equipped each of us for. There is no real alternative.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” We are new people – God has given us a new root. Now he expects us to live from that new root instead of continuing to live our old lives from an old root. Doing this is nothing more than being true to what we are. It is holiness in its sense of wholeness.

What is a radical Christian like?

The number one characteristic of a radical Christian is that he or she loves God more than anyone or anything else. In Paul’s case, his passion for God was so great that he actively looked forward to his own death:

To me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Philippians 1:21-24

The second characteristic is that a radical Christian works hard at the work God has given him or her to do. That’s not the same as burning out on meeting other people’s needs, but a recognition of God’s call and a response to it. Again, Paul is an excellent example:

By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of [the apostles] – yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 1 Corinthians15:10

We see both of these attributes together in a single, paradoxical verse from the letter to the Philippians, in which Paul tells them:

Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you. Philippians 2:12-13

Here, the motivation to work hard is that God is already at work in us, and has already worked in us; but our response to that is not laziness but a determination to respond to God’s work in us by working at what he has given us to do. Again, please understand, this does not mean that we work to earn God’s approvalwe work hard as a response to the fact that God has already given us his approval. We’re not trying to earn love, but to please someone who already loves us.

How can we be radical?

So what can we do? It’s very, very simple. God says:

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13
If we want to be radical, if we want Jesus to be the root of our lives, then all that is required is that we make him the centre. It’s not necessarily easy, but it’s simple. When we do, then we will understand who we are, why we are here, the authority we operate in and the call of God we are commissioned to follow.

Its time to come out of the closet!

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SONS OF GOD

Sons of God don’t love the world and the applause of men. 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. 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. (1^stJohn 3:1-2)
Sons of God shine as lights and don’t complain.Do all things without murmuring and disputings that ye may be blameless and harmless, the Sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world. (Philippians 2:14-15)
Sons of God walk in maturity and have put away childish things. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thoughts as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (1^stCorinthians 13:11)
Sons of God speak the Truth in love.That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, who is the head, even Christ. (Ephesians 4:14-15)
Sons of God are called to praise Him.But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1^st Peter 2:9)
Sons of God walk in obedience and love. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us and given Himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor, but fornication and all uncleaness or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no fornicator nor unclean person nor covetous man (who is an idolater) hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words, for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience. (Ephesians 5:1-6)
Sons of God present themselves to the Lord.Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came along among them. (Job 1:6)
Sons of God are joyful.When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy. (Job 38:7)
Sons of God are led by the Spirit. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  (Romans 8:14)
10. Sons of God tabernacle the living God and separate from the world. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean things, and I will receive you and will be a Father to you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.    (2^ndCorinthians 6:14-18)
11. Sons of God accept the chastening of the Lord. And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as sons. My son despise not thou the chastening of the Lord nor faint when thou are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.  (Hebrews 12:5-6)
12. Sons of God walk in power. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.  John 1:12

Do you feel a dissatisfaction in the spirit? Are you troubled by the world situation that is increasingly hostile to Christians, especially hostile to those Christians who are walking in present day truth? Are you groaning for more of Jesus? Do you believe the Lord is birthing something in your spirit? If so, perhaps the Lord is calling you to come out of the closet. Here is what the Message Bible says about what, I believe, the Lord is about to do:

This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike, “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who He is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us-an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with Him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with Him! That’s why I don’t think there’s a comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in, until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens. All around us, we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother.

We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become and more joyful our expectancy. Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to say, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs and aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. The Message, Romans 8:15-27

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