PREACHING ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2024:

Pastor Antonio Russo

THE TRANSITION TO THE LAST GLORY

The theme we will discuss, the "Transition to the Ultimate Glory", represents a fundamental path of spiritual growth and transformation for each of us, marking a shift from one level of glory to the next and leading us to a deeper level in our relationship with God. This transition requires openness to change, commitment to obedience to His word, and an ever-deepening awareness of our hearts. In this journey, we are not alone: God guides and sustains us, promising to turn our challenges into opportunities and our experiences into testimonies of faith. Through this reflection, we will explore together the keys to navigating this transition and fully living in the glory God has promised us. A verse that moved us, written by the prophet Haggai, was spoken during the construction of the second temple, known as Herod's temple, built after the destruction of Solomon's temple by the Babylonians and later expanded with extraordinary works.

Haggai 2:9; 9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.

Here, we refer to the glory of the first temple, where God's presence was so powerful that the priests could not minister. This marked the beginning of Solomon's reign, Israel's most prosperous king, who asked God for wisdom instead of material resources, and God granted it to him. Haggai prophesies about the glory of the last temple, which represents the Church today, where God promises to give "shalom", a peace that includes healing, health, and prosperity. This shalom is an essential part of the spiritual temple that we are, a living temple made possible through the death and resurrection of Jesus, in which we can experience the promised glory today. The apostle Paul frequently emphasizes the theme of our being temples of God.

1°Corinthians 3:16; 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

The Spirit of God dwells in us, and as temples of the Holy Spirit, we carry His presence wherever we go; therefore, sickness and poverty are illegal realities in our lives that should not be accepted. Often, we passively adapt to living in stagnant conditions that hinder our path, but God reminds us that we are not just any place, for we are His temple, where He dwells, and as the Church, we are living stones. In the Book of Joel, the prophet speaks of the early and the latter rain, which will lead to a great final harvest.

Joel 2:23-25; 23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. 24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

The Prophet urges us to rejoice, inviting us to avoid sadness and to focus on God, even in the midst of difficulties. He then reminds us of the first rain of Pentecost, when Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, converted thousands of people, and emphasizes that the latter rain will be even greater, with churches filled with people seeking God. Finally, God's promises include abundance: "barns overflowing with grain" represent the Church, and "vats brimming with new wine and oil" symbolize anointing and blessing, for He will restore to His people all that was lost over the years. We are the last temple and must prepare ourselves for the transition to the final glory, a passage from our current condition to a more blessed one, trusting in God. The times we are living in are a transition to glory, but not everyone will embrace the change, as many will remain anchored in the past, focusing on their own shortcomings and failing to enter the glory prepared for us. Even though this glory is intended for everyone, not all will experience it, because some refuse to leave their current condition; therefore, it is essential to reconnect with God and with spiritual authority.

In Numbers 14:20-23, God warns us: "Then the Lord said: I have pardoned according to your word... but... all these men who have seen My glory... shall by no means see the land which I swore to give to their fathers."

Israel did not prepare for the transition that God had arranged, showing that it is possible to see part of the glory without entering it. Today, God speaks to the Church, and His glory is destined for us, promising not only that we will see it, but also that we will fully enter into it. In 1°Corinthians 10:1-5, Paul reminds us that the Israelites, despite having witnessed God's miracles, did not enter the Promised Land. Like the Israelites, we too have come out of the world, but we must ensure that the world comes out of us, avoiding following its ways, for our words can lead to murmuring and complaints, as happened with Israel in the wilderness.

1°Corinthians 10:11; 11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Many of us complain and murmur about what we don’t have, forgetting to give thanks for what we do possess. Yet God invites us to give thanks for what we have and to always maintain an attitude of gratitude, for He is good and has prepared a way out for us.

1°Corinthians 10:13; 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Temptation will never be greater than we are, for God always provides a way out and has prepared everything for our lives. In the context of the "Transition to the Ultimate Glory", we must take a step that we are called to take in our lives, experiencing and realizing seven key points, of which we will discuss only a few. First: preparing ourselves for the final glory; second: defeating the enemy's attacks, even though Jesus has already won; third: having an approved heart; fourth: spiritually purifying ourselves as a bride; fifth: restoring the fear of God in the Church and believers; sixth: destroying the familiar spirit; and seventh: reaching glory, which is the highest presence and approval of God. His presence in us is the seal of His approval, and we should not expect applause from the world, but rather be ready for persecution, as happened to Jesus, because in the end, what truly matters is what God thinks and says about us. So, let's now go in order and explore some of the seven points mentioned that will allow us to make the transition:

1. Preparing for the transition to glory.

The important thing we must understand is that disobedience will turn what we are meant to receive into a long waiting period, causing forty days to become forty years in the same issue, whereas obedience can reduce years into days and hours, and this is what God desires for us. So, God speaks to us about the importance of obedience, as demonstrated by Jesus' growth; however, we often resist it because we want an easy path, with everything already prepared for us, but that is not the way God has established.

Hebrews 5:8; 8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

Suffering can be beneficial for us; we often wish to spare our children from difficulties, but when we avoid teaching them and imparting lessons through experiences, we risk harming them. In fact, sometimes it is precisely through suffering that we can change and grow.

Verses 9-14; 9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec. 11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

God is inviting us to grow, and today, what we consume spiritually must benefit our lives; while in the natural realm, as infants, milk was useful, now we need "solid food" to grow, such as meat and main dishes. The author emphasizes that many revert back to milk, indicating a lack of growth and maturity; we should be teachers, yet we remain children, which in this context means "carnal". We must be like cradles, welcoming people without scandalizing them, while the immature cause offense and behave in a carnal manner; in contrast, the mature welcome, love, and guide others towards God's purpose and will.

2. Defeating the attacks of the enemy.

We must recognize that the enemy will not attack everyone in the same way, but what matters is how he will attack us. Even though Jesus has already defeated the devil, we must face challenges, and victory requires total surrender to God and His presence. Discernment is essential to recognize from where the enemy will come, as our role or title does not matter: we must listen to what the Holy Spirit wants to reveal to us. While God is at work, we must not ignore the destructive strategies of the devil, who attacks through the spirit of deception and lies. Deception is dangerous because it blinds us, but we can be freed through obedience to God's Word and submission to our spiritual authorities, who can help us open our eyes.

2°Thessalonians 2:3; 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

The Bible warns us that before the Antichrist, there will be apostasy, a time when people will no longer follow the way and will of God. Today, many things are confused, and often those who are outside or inside the Church call what is wrong right and vice versa. God's truth is immutable and does not depend on our feelings, so we must align ourselves with His standards, for His thoughts are of peace and not of evil, to give us a future and a hope.

Galatians 3:1; 1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

Our experiences do not represent the truth, for the truth is what God says, and even if we do not immediately see healings or blessings, His Word remains immutable: "By His stripes, we are healed". Our experiences do not alter the Word, which remains the same yesterday, today, and forever; therefore, we must seek a balance in faith, avoiding extremes. Regarding healing, we can have faith while also taking care of ourselves, knowing that God continues to heal. The same applies to prosperity: God wants to bless us, but His blessing comes through the work of our hands. God calls us to bring the tithe, sow offerings, and give the first fruits, for His desire is that we prosper.

2°Corinthians 8:9; 9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Jesus left the riches of heaven and became poor for us, but His poverty is not what we commonly understand; He was born in a manger due to a lack of room in the inns, not out of necessity. With His poverty, He supported twelve families, and His valuable garment was cast lots for at the crucifixion. Deliverance is described by Jesus as the "bread of the children", and we, as His children, must embrace this truth. Finally, many question spiritual fatherhood, but Paul teaches us the importance of having spiritual fathers.

1°Corinthians 4:14-15; 14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

Today, many question spiritual fatherhood, reflecting the lack of father figures; however, we have a heavenly Father, a natural father, and a spiritual one. Even though no father is perfect, this does not justify rebellion; we must obey the Word and recognize the importance of forgiveness, which is a sign of love. Paul emphasizes that, by the grace of God, we have been birthed through the gospel and that teaching guides us to persevere. The Bible states that if we obey, we will receive the best things; however, many may be ungrateful and neglect this grace, as demonstrated by the story of King Saul, who, after becoming proud, revealed the truth about his heart.

1°Samuel 15:17; 17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed thee king over Israel?

We know the story of Saul, the first king, who, after defeating the Philistines, became proud and had a statue erected for himself, ignoring God's command to completely annihilate them. He took glory for himself, forgetting that it belongs solely to God. We must be like the donkey that carried Jesus to Jerusalem; while being hailed and celebrated, it might have mistakenly thought that the festivities were for it, but in reality, it knew that the glory belonged to the Lord. We must always remember not to take the credit for ourselves but to give glory to God.

3. Your Heart Will Be Tested.

Our hearts will be tested in our motivations and intentions, so it is essential for each of us to ask ourselves why we do what we do: are we perhaps seeking a position, authority, fame, or recognition?

1°Corinthians 4:5; 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

We must ask ourselves why we do what we do, posing the question: "Lord, what is my motivation?" It is essential that we always check if our intentions align with the beginning of our calling. If we notice discrepancies, we need to bring order to our lives and continue to reflect on why we desire to occupy a position of responsibility. The Church of Christ is not a place of command but of service; while in work we may have responsibilities and give orders, in the Church, we are called to serve, as Jesus taught us, saying that the greatest among us must be the servant of all.