Special Study – THE MANIFESTATION OF CHRIST’S GLORY

Gleans from Monday Bible Study with Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
DLBC Old Shomolu Location, Lagos HQ
5th February 2018
Special Study – THE MANIFESTATION OF CHRIST’S GLORY
John 11: 39-57; 1:14; 2:11; 11:4,40; 12:40,41; 17:5,24; 2 Corinthians 3:18;
1 Corinthians 2:7,8; James 2:1
“Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” (John 11:40). He is still saying the same thing to every one of us today, that if you believe, you will see the glory of God.  Thank God I believe and I will see the glory of God. Every prayer of Jesus is always answered, and when He comes to live inside your heart and life, without any rival in your life, the time will come that every prayer you pray will be answered in Jesus Name. The words of Christ must be fulfilled. Whatever the stone that has been rolled over your life and situations, as the words of Christ came to Lazarus to come forth, these same words are coming to you tonight. This year, all the promises of God for your life, shall be fulfilled in Jesus Name. “Loose him and let him go”. That was a great miracle. You are going to find out that the miracles of Jesus Christ actually manifested forth His glory as the Only Begotten Son of God. The Lord Jesus Christ had been with the Father before the beginning of the world. He had glory with the Father, and the disciples beheld His glory. He did what no other man had ever done. As you look at the gospel of St John, he recorded some spectacular, special and supernatural miracles that no other person had done even before Jesus Christ. And it will show you that Jesus Christ actually had glory, and those miracles manifested forth the glory of Christ (John 1:14; 2:11; 11:4). So you will understand that whatever may be the problem or challenge in your life today, God will be glorified in it. He is going to solve that problem, heal that sickness; and you are going to see the glory of God. I will see the glory of God (John 11:40). To see the glory of God only believe in the Lord, and you will see His glory manifested in your life. So you will see that Jesus having glory is not a new thing, for Isaiah saw this glory of Christ even in the Old Testament (John 12:40,41). When did He have this glory? And for how long did He have this glory?  “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was” (John 17:5). Before the creation of the world, Jesus had been in Heaven, because He is Eternal, and He had this glory with God the Father before the world and any angel was created. When you get to heaven you will see this glory, and when you leave this world in holiness, you will get to heaven.  You are beholding His sinless, spotless, righteous and heavenly life as a believer, and as a result of this, you are changed into His glory as you desire to walk like Him (2 Corinthians 3:18).
The raising of Lazarus from the dead manifested forth His glory, and it led many to believe on Him. They saw His glory and it brought them to repentance and salvation. Today, if you will thoughtfully behold the glory of Christ, if you will think through as you see the works and miracles of Christ, it will lead you to a definite decision for Christ, it will lead to your salvation, transformation, sanctification, re-dedication of your life unto the Lord; it will lead you to full, complete, unwavering and entire obedience to Him as the Lord of Glory. “Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:8). Christ is the Lord of Glory, and when He enters into your life, He will bring glory and power into your life. The miracles He performed show forth His glory. He is the Lord of Glory, so there will be no partiality in your life because you are serving the Lord of Glory (James 2:1).
3 points:
Point 1:  The Preparation – “Take Ye Away the Stone”
John 11:39-41; Jeremiah 4:4; Ezekiel 11:18,19; 36:25-27; 1 John 3:5-9; John 11:41-42; 9:31,32; 17:8,9,20; Hebrews 7:25,26; John 11:43-44; 1 Corinthians 15:51,52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Jesus was about to manifest His glory in the life of Lazarus that was dead, in the family of Mary and Martha who had lost their brother, and in the land of Israel, Bethany, but there must be a preparation. I believe you are getting prepared too, because He is going to manifest His glory in your life, family and ministry. But there must be some preparation you will make.  “Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?” (John 11:40). Martha, just obey; that’s the way to a miracle, the way to God’s supernatural manifestation. As they were to take away the stone, there is something you are to take away. “Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings” (Jeremiah 4:4). You ought to take away from your life, transgression, all detestable things, abominations, corruptions and things that God hates. This is how miracles happen. There is always preparation to make for you to see the manifestation of the glory of God in your life and ministry. Then God will take away the stony heart out of your flesh. (Ezekiel 11:18,19). “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you” (Ezekiel 36:25). The Lord can cleanse you and make you clean from all the idols, evils, corruptions, that you become a new creature in Christ. After you have done your part that you repent, and turn away from sin, then God will come in with His supernatural power and take away all the inner corruptions. If you are still living in sin, you have not taken away the stone, and you will not see the miracle, the manifestation of Christ’s glory in your life (1 John 3:5-9). The Lord is waiting for you tonight.  If there is any defilement or abomination there, you will turn away from that, and the power of Satan will be broken in your life, and the Lord will set you free from all sin. Every work of the devil in your life, the Lord will destroy in Jesus Name.
“Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me” (John 11:41). You will take away the stone, and not allow any part to remain because that is the path to blessing and a miracle. They did not argue or doubt any more, they surrendered their will and opinions unto the Lord, and took away the stone. You will not doubt any more.  “And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me”(John 11:42). Jesus prayed with confidence, spoke to that grave with confidence, raised up Lazarus with the confidence of the Son of God. Jesus Christ was always responded to by the Father because He always did the Will of the Father. The Father always answers Jesus’ prayers. He did what no other could do because the Father was always with Him (John 9:31,32). He has prayed for your sanctification, and if you will agree with that prayer, and consecrate everything and lay it on the altar of God, that prayer will be answered and you will be sanctified, and made holy (John 17:8,9,20). This sanctification that Jesus prayed for will be visible in your life in Jesus Name. “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). He is able to save, deliver, sanctify, make holy, righteous, and He is making intercession for you that you will not fail and fall, and that your journey will not end half way, and your journey will not end half way in Jesus name.
After Jesus had made the affirmation that God always hears His prayer, and that He does what pleases the Father, He is going to make a decree and a declaration. “And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth” (John 11:43). He can make that declaration tonight. That brain that is dead will come alive, your family, business, the work of your hand, and everything will come alive in Jesus Name. Loose him and let him go. Every form of bondage, incurable disease you brought to the church, the Lord has given us the anointing and authority that breaks every yoke, to tell you, ‘loose him and let him go’.  You are free in Jesus Name. Also, a day is coming that the Lord will say to all the believers that have died in Christ, to come alive. It is the Resurrection of the Righteous from the dead, and we will be changed in a moment to go with Him at the Rapture (1 Corinthians 15:51,52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). I am looking forward to that day. The Lord is Mighty and Powerful, Majestic and Glorious, and once He says come forth, you are coming forth in Jesus Name.
 
Point 2. The Persuasion – Trust Absolutely in the Saviour
John 11:45; 10:40-42; 4:39-41; 8:30-32; 12:11; Romans 4:21-25; John 11:46-48; 12:9-11; Luke 11:52
When the Lord told Lazarus to come forth, he came forth. This made many people to trust Him and believe on Him. They were persuaded. “Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him” (John 11:45). They saw and they were persuaded; and you too are persuaded tonight. With what Jesus Christ has done, I am sure you believe (John 10:40-42). The effect of miracle is to make you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and trust your life and future into His hands. (John 11:45; 4:39; 8:30). Thank God, I am one of many that have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and because of what He has done in my life and other lives, I must keep on believing. So if you don’t believe, you will be an exception. “As he spake these words, many believed on him” (John 8:30). Thank God I am persuaded. “And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform” (Romans 4:21).  He is here tonight, and it is going to happen.
(John 11:46-47) Some went to tell the Pharisees, who were not there at this time, what Jesus had done. But they should have seen this Jesus Christ raising up Lazarus from the dead. Rather than appreciate and believe Jesus is indeed the Messiah, they were more concerned protecting their place; they were hardened by tradition and religion. What brought joy to other people, brought jealousy and envy in their own hearts. What brought salvation to other people, brought condemnation and damnation to them. Others believed, but they were bitter. They became their own barricade to eternal life. “But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death” (John 12:10). They were so bitter against Lazarus that they even thought to kill him. They were not entering the kingdom, and not happy for those that were entering. Thank God, you are not like this. “Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered” (Luke 11:52). You will not hinder nor stop anyone that wants to get into the kingdom. Religion, tradition will not blindfold your eyes and deadened your heart in Jesus Name.
 
Point 3:  The Prophecy – Truth Announced for All Sinners
John 11:49-57; 18:14; Matthew 20:28; Isaiah 53:1-6; Romans 5:6,8; Ephesians 2:14-16; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18; John 11:54; Luke 22:28-30; 1 John 2:24; John 11:55-57
 
“….. Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not” (John 11:50). This is what Jesus Christ came to do, to die for the nation and all men. One of the religious leaders, Caiaphas the high priest, unknowingly gave that prophecy. It was a true, accurate, scriptural, sure, authentic, right, essential, fundamental, foundational, affirmed, ascertained, prophecy because without the death of Jesus none would be saved from their sins (Matthew 20:28; Isaiah 53:4,5; Romans 5:6). But the high priest that gave that prophecy did not understand nor benefit from it. There are people who preach, but they are not beneficiaries of what they are preaching. They preach salvation, healing, deliverance, holiness, sanctification, sound doctrine, but they do not benefit from what they are preaching. You will be a partaker of what you are preaching. So what Caiaphas said was true but he himself was not a truthful person. Everything you are hearing tonight, you will be a beneficiary and partaker of them all. So salvation is available for every one here today. Jesus will cleanse your life, save your souls and take the punishment of sin away, for He died for you (1 Peter 2:24; 3:18). Christ has done it, and you will be a partaker in Jesus Name.
“Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples” (John 11:54). Because of their unbelief and conspiracy they drove Jesus away from them. You will not drive Jesus away from your life and family. But the disciples continued with Him, and you will continue with Christ. Caiaphas, the Pharisees, and opposers will not intimidate you. You will be with Him all the time and will still continue. “Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations” (Luke 22:28). The secret of being with God and Christ in heaven is that you continue till the very end (1 John 2:24). “Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?” (John 11:56). They were not seeking for the right reason, but you will seek the Lord aright. Those were unbelievers, and they did what they did.  We are here not to oppose nor criticize Jesus, but to believe and receive. What Jesus did for Lazarus, He will do for you tonight and you will see the glory of God in your soul, spirit, life, business, career, job, family, ministry and everything that concerns you. But then, take ye away the stone. You will come forth into power, authority, salvation, deliverance, light, success, and then all the things that bound you will be broken tonight, because Jesus Christ bid me say, ‘Loose him and let him go’. You go from spiritual death to eternal life. Everything blocking the glory of God from your life is removed in Jesus name.
Ponder on this!  Today, if you will thoughtfully behold the glory of Christ, if you will think through as you see the works and miracles of Christ, it will lead you to a definite decision for Christ, it will lead to your salvation, transformation, sanctification, re-dedication of your life unto the Lord, it will lead you to full, complete, unwavering and entire obedience to Him as the Lord of Glory. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.
Reflection – The secret of being with God and Christ in heaven is that you continue till the very end. Pastor (Dr) W.F Kumuyi.