GOING UP IN BLAZE OF GLORY

1. When you know WHO you are, WHAT lies ahead and WHERE you are going, the present world becomes bearable. The “WHO”, “WHAT” and “WHERE’ are perfectly aligned in Scripture, “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 John 3:2] WHO you are is a function of your relationship with God, the universal measure of alignment. WHAT lies ahead is hidden from the latest telescopes in space but settled in God’s counsel, “… I AM GOD, and there is none like me, DECLARING THE END FROM THE BEGINNING, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, MY COUNSEL SHALL STAND, and I will do all my pleasure” [Isaiah 46:9-10] WHERE we go after this world is determined by our alignment or nonalignment with God. As many as are reconciled to God through Jesus Christ have a place prepared for them in Him, “… I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I WILL COME AGAIN, and RECEIVE YOU unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” [John 14:2-3]
2. WHO AM I? Many adjectives are readily available, in reality there are only two classes of people; the DEAD and the LIVING. A man’s fame, titles and or possessions is not a true reflection of his person, “… A MAN’S LIFE CONSISTETH NOT in the ABUNDANCE of the things which he POSSESSETH” [Luke 12:15] The man in you is your MIND, this body on which we commit so much time and resources is a temporary accessory, and a cruel master. Don’t ever forget, all men are born in SIN inherited from Adam and Eve. Our MINDS are from birth slave to demands of the flesh and we were as good as DEAD from the womb, “For to be CARNALLY MINDED IS DEATH; but to be SPIRITUALLY MINDED IS LIFE and PEACE. Because the CARNAL MIND IS ENMITY AGAINST GOD: …” [[Romans 8:6-7] Here is the GOOD NEWS, all men are eligible to exchange DEATH with EVERLASTING LIFE by GRACE through FAITH in Jesus Christ, “For if by one man’s offence DEATH REIGNED BY ONE; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL REIGN IN LIFE by one, Jesus Christ” [Romans 5:17] Our parents gave birth to us DEAD ON ARRIVAL, in Christ Jesus we are BORN AGAIN into EVERLASTING LIFE, “Being BORN AGAIN, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, BY THE WORD OF GOD, which LIVETH and ABIDETH FOR EVER” [1 Peter 1:23] It does not matter what you’ve done with your life, God’s arms are wide open in Jesus Christ to receive you.
3. WHAT IS GOING ON, WHAT LIES AHEAD? One word suffices, “MEN’S HEARTS FAILING THEM FOR FEAR, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken” [Luke 21:26] There is palpable FEAR in every soul that has not ETERNAL LIFE because the one who brandishes sword of DEATH is on earth, “And I looked, and behold a PALE HORSE: and his name that sat on him was DEATH, and HELL followed with him. And power was given unto them over the FOURTH PART OF THE EARTH, to KILL with SWORD, and with HUNGER, and with DEATH, and with the BEASTS of the earth” [Revelation 6:8] FEAR is the stink of DEATH and DEATH is no other but the Devil in disguise. The days ahead portend more sorrows as DEATH rides the PALE HORSE; the stench of DEATH has no power over us because Christ already defeated Satan, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy HIM THAT HAD THE POWER OF DEATH, that is, the DEVIL” [Hebrews 2:14] As the world staggers from crisis to disaster, nations are clueless and multitudes paralyzed with FEAR, we are very much excited in HOPE of WHAT LIES AHEAD, “And WHEN THESE THINGS BEGIN to come to pass, then LOOK UP, and lift up your heads; for YOUR REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH” [Luke 21:28]
4. WHERE ARE WE GOING? We are GOING UP IN BLAZE OF GLORY to be with Christ forever, “Then we which are ALIVE and REMAIN SHALL BE CAUGHT UP together with them IN THE CLOUDS, to MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR: and so shall we EVER BE WITH THE LORD” [1 Thessalonians 4:17] Remember, God’s people were not better than slaves in Egypt until it was time to be delivered, “And the LORD GAVE THE PEOPLE FAVOUR in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And THEY SPOILED THE EGYPTIANS” [Exodus 12:36] We may not have all the money in the world, we are not GOING UP in borrowed robes, we are GOING UP in unprecedented outpouring of God’s SPIRIT, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL FLESH; …” [Joel 2:28] There were no Nigerians, Chinese, Russians, Indians and many others in Jerusalem at Pentecost, this time the whole earth shall be ignited with GREAT REVIVAL. FIRE of the Holy Ghost will burn off all SPOTS and WRINKLES in our flesh, we shall be revealed in GLORY of SONS OF GOD and this GOSPEL shall be preached in all nations with “GREATER WORKS”, as foretold; “… He that BELIEVETH ON ME, the works that I do shall he do also; and GREATER WORKS THAN THESE SHALL HE DO; because I go unto my Father” [John 14:12] Then shall the TRUMPET sound and we shall be CAUGHT UP to be with Christ forever, amen.