Recently, I preached the sermon series, “Glorify Yourself in Me.” It has meant a lot to many people, both within our church and online. I have been amazed and blessed by these sermons as well. The essence of the sermons was based upon the truth that there are degrees of glory in heaven, given to each believer on Judgment Day. This glory will not be ours, but His, given to us. It will be the revelation of Almighty God given in a measure that is greater for some and less for others. This glory—these crowns—will be given to us with the statement, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” We will then lay our crowns at His feet in worship.
The glory with which He rewards us enhances our worship of Him.
Greater degrees of glory are given those who pursue a deep abiding relationship with the Holy Spirit. Such a relationship will not only strengthen the believer in the true faith, but it will result in the Holy Spirit testifying the Gospel through that believer, which will save some people and condemn others. There will be blessings, miracles, unexplainable peace, hardships, persecutions, and trouble.
What I have just described is the life of Jesus, manifesting itself in us. It is the will of the Father, taking place in us and through us, by the power of His Holy Spirit. When Jesus was on the earth, the will of the Father was carried out through Him, but now it is carried out through us, as we abide in the Holy Spirit. The following verses tell the story:
“…now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith, of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Pet 1:6-7
“If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.” 1 Peter 4:14
“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Cor 12:10
Perseverance in seeking the Holy Spirit is always done in humility. To seek Him is to always recognize, in prayer and in worship, the sovereignty and magnificence of God. We must proclaim who He is and what He has done. This singular task is rewarded with His life overflowing from within, producing glory—the work of the Father—in you now, and glory—the revelation of Almighty God—when you get to heaven. Jesus was referring to THE wedding banquet when He illustrated this truth in Luke 14:8-11:
When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
In this life, the greatest thing you can do is pursue the Holy Spirit in humility and reverence. In doing so you will lose your own life and find another in Him, resulting in praise, Glory, and honor when Christ returns.
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