God is Lord, the Lord God of Hosts, most high and worthy, whose kingdom is forever. His judgements are true and righteous altogether. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, righteous in all your ways and holy in all your works. The holiness of God is trumpeted from the heavens for illumination by the saints on earth wherever God has revealed Himself to men.
The name of God is to be glorified in heaven, the heaven of heavens, and all the earth for eternity. We, the people of the Church are the body of the Church. Whatever we are doing, so goes the body. As the body, are we glorifying God to the fullest, are we fully surrendered to Him in our hearts, minds, and with all our strength? Is salvation as far as we carry our cross or are we in full service to His will? Has the glory so deserving of God departed from times past? Are you or your Church in need of a revival to the true glory of God and to the power of His sovereign and righteous Spirit?
It is very clear as I watch Christians debate and divide over issues that aren’t foundational to Christianity that the Church has lost or is losing the concept of the majesty of God. We have substituted focus of His Majesty with issues such as, what is the right type of church music, the continuation of tongues, the date of Christ’s return, home schooling, drinking a glass of wine, just to name a few. As my wife says, “the non-heaven or hell issues”. What are the heaven-hell issues – the essentials – such as the existence of God, Christ’s deity, the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, the atonement of our sins by Christ, and faith alone. Belief, a hearts’ belief, in these things are foundational to the definition of a Christian. Jesus prayed for the disciples and added, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one. (John 20-22). A Christian that truly believes these foundational truths are “one in the body” of Christ – a member of the same glorious Church with Christ alone as the head. So why are Churches, the body, so bent on dividing what God has joined?
Controversies such as the recent one surrounding Duck Dynasty member and father, Phil Robertson, just tempt me to throw our television out into the back yard.. Liberal biblical views, conservative biblical views, and what is a Christian gay rights activist? Really?
How does this happen? Try this experiment: Take a group of people and ask them to write a list of the attributes of Jesus. The list will probably include words like holy, without sin, loving, patient, wise, trustworthy… you get the idea. Now take the same group and ask them to write an attribute list of a Christian. Emerging words might include, hypocrite, judgmental, arrogant… So how can a group of saints, commanded to bring the holiness of God and the gospel of Christ to the whole earth, men and women that are defined to be “Christlike”, be viewed by the world so differently than Christ? I really think it is because so many brothers and sisters have lost a sense of majesty and consciousness of the divine Presence and Almighty. Many have lost their spirit of worship and have withdrawn inwardly to praising God in silence. Life with only salvation is much different than life or experience in the Spirit. As churches become more prosperous and find growth through complex technological advances, ear-tickling messages, thunderous musical performances, and many other very creative endeavors, it may be that our supposed gains are but losses spread over a wider area – the world. The decline of the knowledge of God has brought on our own troubles. A rediscovery of knowing God and His majesty will go a long way toward uniting the Church and being one in the Body once again. This is what the world needs to see from Christians, the glory of God!
A.W. Tozer perfectly describes the antidote needed today by the Church and each member within, “Acquaint thyself with God.” It’s that simple. Know His glory, know His omniscience, know His grace, mercy and love. Tozer further states, “To regain her lost power the Church must see heaven opened and have a transforming vision of God. But the God we must see is not the utilitarian God who is having such a run of popularity today, whose chief claim to men’s attention is His ability to bring them success in their various undertakings and who for that reason is being cajoled and flattered by everyone who wants a favor. The God we must learn to know is the Majesty in the heavens, God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, the only wise God, our Saviour. He it is that sits upon the circle of the earth, who stretches out the heavens as a curtain and spreads them out as a tent to dwell in, who brings out His starry host by number and calls them all by name through the greatness of His power, who sees the works of man as vanity, who puts no confidence in princes and asks no council of kings.”
This kind of knowledge of God does not come by study or listening to a prepared message each Sunday morning alone. The knowledge of God must be spiritually discerned. There must also be a complete committal of ones whole life to Christ in faith – to “believe in Christ”. One must also surrender your ways of the world, of sin, and be transformed alive unto God in Christ Jesus, followed by a throwing open of the entire personality to the inflow of the Holy Spirit. And then walk in obedience in the Spirit. With this, let go of the things that bestow the hearts of the world’s unbelieving and cherish the simple enjoyments that God provides. Lastly, meditate upon the majesty of God. God is a person and can be known personally and intimately.
The God who gave all to us will continue to give all through Jesus to us as we come to know Him better. Our prayer, our witnessing, our singing, preaching, and writing should all center around our faithful and Almighty Lord of All. I pray that all come to know God better everyday and to allow His Spirit to lead their steps in all things.