Sovereign Grace Church Toronto

This is a revelation from Jesus Christ… standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across His chest. His head and His hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And His eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in His right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from His mouth. And His face was like the sun in all its brilliance. Rev 1:1, 13-16

Here we have an unveiling of Jesus Christ in His glory drawn from several OT passages. Just as the OT priest trimmed the lampstands, so Christ is among the lampstands that represent His churches (Rev 1:20). He oversees the condition of His churches by His presence among them.

Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory….”When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Matt 25:30-31

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. Habb 2:14

The glory of God – the radiant manifestation of His divine presence – is most clearly seen in Jesus Christ. He has “great glory” and sits on a “glorious throne”. The glory He manifests is “HIS glory”. It belongs to Him by right, because it is the overflow of His essence and being.

The glory of the LORD went up from the cherub to the threshold of the house, and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was filled with the brightness of the glory of the LORD….Then the glory of the LORD went out from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim….And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city and stood on the mountain that is on the east side of the city. Ezek 10:4, 18; Ezek 11:23

These chapters tell us of the shocking departure of God’s presence from the temple and Jerusalem. His protective presence over the people is lifted, even while the leaders of the city tell everyone they are still safe and protected.

The heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God…there was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like sapphire; and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance. And upward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were gleaming metal, like the appearance of fire enclosed all around. And downward from what had the appearance of his waist I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. Ezek 1:1, 26-28

This vision of God comes to the prophet Ezekiel while God’s people are in exile. Everything precious to them has been stripped away—their homes; their place of worship; and, seemingly, even their God. The time of victories is over—now they are simply living in survival mode. Hope seems lost. And yet, God speaks to His people in exile, while they are far from where they should be.

Ezekiel reminds us that part of the Christian journey is living in defeat and disappointment. It is partly grey skies, and living with things not as they should be. It is living with loss—sometimes even brought about by our own sin. Ian Duguid speaks to this issue with precision and insight:

“Why do we neglect the study of Ezekiel? Perhaps it is because in our culture we prefer heroes and idolize success; our models are strong, ‘can-do’ types….The primary paradigm we have adopted is that of the victorious Christian life. How do we live with the reality of life in a different world, where victories are frequently hard to come by and right living does not always lead to success? How do we speak encouraging words to those not living the victorious Christian life but to whom it is an achievement simply to live the surviving Christian life? What does God have to say to those of us who frequently find ourselves, like the prodigal, far away from where we should be, suffering the deserved consequences of our actions? The answer is to balance the Biblical models of Exodus and conquest, with the equally biblical models of wilderness and exile” Ian Duguid, Ezekiel (NIV Application Commentary), Chapter 1

God’s glory is likened to a rainbow, taking us back to the hope of God’s promise given to Noah in the midst of a complete re-write of everything around him. Hear the message of hope for us in this for our day—in those times of deep sorrow and uncertainty, God still speaks and reveals His glory to us. God never abandons His people. And whenever God is still speaking, it means there is still grace available to us!

Pastor Tim Kerr

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. Isa 60:1

In Isa 59, we find that God is living at a distance from His people because of their many sins (vs 2). These sins are catalogued in this chapter and the net result is a polluted thought life (Isa 59:7), resulting in a lack of inner peace (vs 8) and dark hopelessness (vs 9-10). But God promises to send a Redeemer to save those who cannot help themselves (Isa 59;16, 20) and He promises to give His Spirit to change their hearts and words (Isa 59:21). This is what immediately precedes the promise of Isa. 60:1.

The picture is of a person (representing the people of God) who is stooped down in shame because of their many sins. But God calls this person to rise up! He calls them to shine with the glory of God! (Eph 5:8): Two impossible commands! Yet possible, because God first rises upon them—God first shines Hislight upon them (Isa 60:2). And what is the glory of the Lord that rises upon them? It is the fruit of their redemption—the pouring out of the Spirit of God on His people! What hope!

“My Spirit that is upon you” Isa 59:21

“His glory will be seen upon you” Isa 60:2

Pastor Tim Kerr

Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Isa 58:8

Isa 58 is all about God’s people seemingly humbling themselves, seeking His face, and fasting to seek His favour. God responds to their “spiritual devotion” by telling them Hewould rather see love in action toward those in need than simply “private spiritual exercises of devotion”. On top of that, these people were engaging in self-love and loveless actions toward others, even while appearing “devout” in their religious activities.

It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God…..And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken. Isa 35:2, 40:5

The first passage, from Isa. 35, occurs after a chapter depicting God’s fierce judgement on the nations. Just when we are convinced everything is over and there is no hope, the promise of Isa 35:2 appears. The rest of the chapter goes on to describe the effects of seeing God’s glory: strength to the weak; courage to the fearful; the blind seeing; the deaf hearing; the lame leaping; water breaking out in the desert; and great joy for God’s people!

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork…..May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works,….and they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD. Ps 19:1, 104:31, 138:5

God’s creation points away from itself to its Creator and artistic designer. His glorious being is revealed in His actions. We understand the person in the art they produce. The masterpiece is just a small piece of the Master. God’s glory, when encountered, is clearly designed (sometimes) to produce gladness and happiness. It is a means to joy. It gives God joy. It fills our mouths with singing. And it reveals a very important truth to us—happiness is not derived primarily from within our experience, but from our experience of God!

Pastor Tim Kerr

As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD’s house. When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” 2 Chron 7:1-3

Before Solomon’s prayer of dedication of the new Temple, the Scriptures tell us that they sacrificed “so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered” (2 Chron 5:6). Then immediately after his prayer, the Scriptures tell us that, “Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the LORD. King Solomon offered as a sacrifice 22,000 oxen and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.” (2 Chron 7:4-5). The sheer number of blood sacrifices are astounding!

The point must not be lost to us. God’s presence and glory cannot abide with His people without MANY dying in their place for their MANY sins. It is sin that keeps God from us and it is only when sin is dealt with that God can draw near to us. Christ’s death is greater by far than thousands upon thousands of blood sacrifices—“For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Heb 10:4) and “You were ransomed with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19)