The Transition to the Last Glory Part 2
PREACHING ON OCTOBER 06, 2024:
Pastor Antonio Russo
THE TRANSITION TO THE LAST GLORY Part 2
Last week, we began discussing the transition into the latter glory, referring to a passage from the book of the prophets which states that the glory of the latter days will be greater than the glory of the first temple. We firmly believe that this is the glory that God desires to reveal in His Church, described as the temple of the Holy Spirit. This conviction leads us to declare that we are "the temple of God", called to manifest a glory greater than that experienced in past times. The glory that manifested in Solomon's time, whose magnificence is described in the Bible, will be surpassed by the glory that will manifest in our lives, an incomparable glory for which we must prepare with dedication and reverence. However, before receiving this manifestation, it is important to reflect: on Wednesday, October 2, Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, was celebrated, marking the beginning of the year 5785 according to the Jewish calendar, God's eternal calendar. In the ten days following the Jewish New Year, we approach Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, where God commands His people to prepare for purification and to receive forgiveness. According to the Torah, on Yom Kippur, the high priest was to take two goats: one upon which he would lay his hands, while the other would be slaughtered. The blood of the sacrificed goat was offered before God as atonement for the people, while the goat upon which the sins of the people were symbolically placed would be led to a desolate place, about 10-15 kilometers from Jerusalem, where the sins were confessed, and the animal was abandoned in the wilderness. This sacrifice took place once a year, and the people had to wait for this moment to receive purification. But today, thanks to Jesus, we are no longer forced to remain in a state of sin for an entire year: we can receive forgiveness every day. In fact, Jesus represented both the goat that was slaughtered, with His blood offered to God, and the goat that took on our sins, as the Bible states: "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). In Christ, we have become new creatures, and the old things have passed away (2 Corinthians 5:17). This means that God did not simply "repair" us, but made us into something completely new. For this reason, we must honor His presence in our lives and live accordingly. The question we ask ourselves is: why hasn't God poured out the latter glory on the Church yet? Because God is merciful and knows that if He poured out the glory now, not everyone would be able to bear it. In fact, the theme we are addressing at this time invites us to transition towards God's glory, but it also highlights the need for spiritual growth, moving from spiritual milk to solid food, so that our lives can produce lasting changes and transformations.
1°Peter 4:17; 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
This reminds us that judgment is an act of purification, and the Church must rid itself of internal negativity to be able to receive the glory. Yom Kippur urges us to undertake this inner renewal, just as the story of Joshua and Caleb teaches us that obedience brings an acceleration toward God’s promises. Today, despite the difficulties in the world, we can live in the hope of God’s glory because we know that we have already overcome through Christ and are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). Being part of this transition requires a purification of the heart and our motives, so that our service to God is authentic and pure. Now, we will focus on an important topic, representing another step toward the transition to the latter glory: familiarity, an attitude that leads to contempt. When we become familiar with God and the things of God, we begin to despise them; for this reason, we must always maintain respect and honor toward them. A biblical example of this is when Jesus returned to Nazareth. In Mark 6:1-6, we read that when Jesus began to teach in the synagogue, many were offended and did not believe in Him, saying: “Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this the son of Mary?” Their familiarity led to unbelief because they did not see in Him who He truly was; for this reason, Jesus replied: “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town,” and such familiarity limited His ability to perform miracles in that place. Honor is fundamental; God asks us to respect those who have spiritual authority over us.
Malachia 1:6-7; 6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? 7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the Lord is contemptible.
Today, in our culture, we have lost honor and respect for God and sacred things, and family bonds are no longer considered important; however, honoring Him leads us to be blessed. He desires that we guard ourselves against familiarity because He has given us His best, and we must respond by giving Him our best. In this context, we must also recognize God’s grace in our lives, which should never be taken lightly. We cannot think that, because we are under grace, we can sin freely; this is hyper-grace, which is not a biblical doctrine, as grace is a person, and that person is Jesus. Grace calls us to live a holy and consecrated life, but when it is seen as an opportunity to sin, we are despising His work.
1°Thessalonians 2:13; 13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
The Word guides and transforms us, and it is essential to receive it with honor, recognizing its divine origin, without treating it lightly, because it is not the word of man, but the Word of God, and it deserves our utmost respect. Another crucial aspect of our walk of faith is the honor towards spiritual authorities that God has placed in our lives to guide us, such as leaders and pastors. When we despise our leaders, we not only dishonor God, but we also jeopardize our spiritual growth because spiritual authorities are instruments that He uses to communicate His will and to impart blessings.
Hebrews 13:17; 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
This verse highlights the importance of submitting to those whom God has placed as spiritual guides, who, despite being human with their own weaknesses, are anointed by God for a specific task. For this reason, it is essential to maintain an attitude of respect and consideration towards them without becoming too familiar. You see, pastors, as ministers of God, are aware of the mantle that God has placed upon their lives; that mantle, a precious gift and extension of His authority, is meant to be spread over the Church, yet it still belongs to God. The mantle that God has given to the minister responds to the spiritual law of asking and receiving: if we place expectations and faith on that mantle, we can draw from the blessings and anointing that God has placed upon it; on the contrary, if we do not ask and have no expectations, we receive nothing. This is why it is important to avoid becoming too familiar with our pastors and spiritual leaders, as it can lead us to stop receiving from them. If we become too accustomed to their role and start seeing their teaching as mere opinions or personal experiences, we lose the respect and ability to draw from the Word of God that they transmit to us. We must remember that the mantle placed upon ministers is a gift that God uses to bless and guide us. In Genesis 9:21-25, the Bible gives us a significant example of familiarity and honor from an incident involving Noah. After surviving the flood, Noah became drunk and lay naked in his tent. One of his sons, Ham, saw him and went to tell his brothers. However, Shem and Japheth reacted differently: they took a cloak, walked backward to avoid seeing their father's nakedness, and covered him. This act represents the choice to honor and respect their father’s humanity and weaknesses without exposing him to contempt. This example serves as a warning to us because the different conduct of the brothers led to a curse for the one who mocked his father and a blessing for the other two, who covered their father’s weakness and humanity. In this time of preparation, we must focus on the purification of our lives because sin can infiltrate in subtle and imperceptible ways, and we must be careful not to give space to these negative influences.
James 4:8; 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
This reminds us of the importance of approaching God with sincerity and purity, examining our hearts and our intentions, and ensuring that we are aligned with His will. God wants to purify our hearts and gives us a strong word that challenges us, because, as written in the Psalms, “He sent out His word and healed them”, and for this reason, it does us great good.
Salmo 119:11; 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
When we think that the word we hear is hard and strong, this too is familiarity, because when God speaks to us, He does so out of love; in fact, we should understand that despite ourselves, He continues to speak to us. Purification is a continuous process in the life of a Christian; it is necessary to constantly turn to God in prayer, asking for forgiveness and purification. The confession of sins is a fundamental part of our relationship with God, and it is the Bible that assures us of this:
1°John 1:9; 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
This encourages us not to hide our sins but to present them before God with humility. Purification is not just an individual act but also a communal one; as a Church, we must support one another in spiritual growth, encouraging and inspiring others to seek holiness and growth in Christ.
Galatians 6:1; 1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
This verse invites us to be kind and to support those who are struggling with sin, so that the community becomes a place of growth and mutual help. We must be willing to carry each other’s burdens and pray for one another. Prayer is a powerful tool that God uses to transform lives, because when we pray for others, we practice the love of Christ and create bonds of support in faith. We must seek and, more importantly, desire to be a Church that honors God and prepares for His glory. Our spiritual growth and our transition into the last glory require an attitude of obedience, purification, and respect for God and others. We must, therefore, examine our lives, consider our motivations, and ensure that we do not fall into the trap of familiarity. This is an opportunity for us to renew our commitment to God and prepare for the manifestation of His glory. Ultimately, the transition into the last glory is a journey that requires preparation and dedication, for we are called to be instruments of glory, to carry the light of Christ into the world, and to testify to His love and grace. Therefore, we must walk with respect and honor, not only toward God but also toward the people He has placed in our lives, so that we can grow and receive the blessings He has promised. We conclude by saying that God desires us to consider four fundamental aspects of our spiritual lives.
First Aspect: We must recognize the areas of our lives where we have lost the initial motivations in our faith journey, because when we drew near to Jesus, we promised to serve Him with all our hearts; however, seeing our humanity and that of others, we have held back. It is essential to ask God to reveal to us if we have strayed from our calling and to renew our passion for Him, because even with years of faith behind us, we need a personal daily encounter with God and to reflect on our motivations.
Second Aspect: We must be aware of the temptation to complain and grumble against our brothers and the pastor, as these words can harm our spirit and our community, distancing us from joy and gratitude. Therefore, we must commit to building positive relationships and consider whether our words bring life or death.
Third Aspect: It is important to recognize if we have become too familiar with God, His Word, and the community, as this can cause us to lose sight of the sacredness of our relationships. In such cases, we must ask God for forgiveness and renew our commitment, treating our connection with both Him and others with seriousness and respect.
Fourth Aspect: It is time to examine ourselves, as the Bible urges us, because it is easy to judge others, but what truly matters is our inner condition. The Word says that if we have an offering to present to God, we must first reconcile with our brothers. Therefore, we need to pause and reflect on the relationships that require reconciliation and act accordingly. This is a way to express the desire to be a community that honors God and is committed to living in integrity and mutual love. Let us ask the Lord to help us keep our motivations alive, to speak well of others, to remain humble, and to examine our hearts, for only then can we approach the glory He desires to reveal through us.