Sheepfold Ministries 2008-04-20 The Glory of GOD

The Glory of God

SERMON STARTER

At a recent ministerial meeting, a longing was expressed for God to reveal Himself in a tangible way. “I want to see the glory of God expressed in His people.” All of us desire to have God reveal Himself, preferable in a non-threatening way that will convince the sinner that God is present.

False Glory - Shills

When I was a 10 year old, the medicine show would come to town. They were essentially selling “snake oil” in the form of small tins of Dr. Jones’ Miracle Salve. Fifty cents would buy you a tin filled with cheap petroleum jelly touted by the Medicine Show salesman as a cure for practically anything that ails you.

They would hard sell you offering, “Three for a dollar for the first five customers.”

I loved the fake melodramas where you’d hiss the villains and cheer the heroes and heroines. The plot would thicken and then the show salesman would interrupt for a commercial for the miracle salve. He’d tell you how the salve if rubbed on a arthritic joint would instantly relieve the pain. Suddenly, up would jump a person who’d run up to the front to say he’d purchased a tin at the start of the show, rubbed some on and he’d ALREADY been delivered from pain!

Curious, that person each night was the same person. Later, I discovered that the “cured one” was called in carnival language a “shill.” They are paid actors who will respond any way you expect them to for a price.

Shills also exist in the religious arena. They may not be paid, but they get the attention and accolade of the crowd. More than twenty years ago we had a “miracle service” at our church and a local young man testified he’d been healed from a life-long allergy problem. Everybody was excited and praised God for his healing.

The next morning he came to my office with his head hung low.

“I lied about the healing last night. I really wasn’t healed.”

“Why did you do it? I asked.

“Because,” he replied, I wanted to please you and give you what you wanted.”

I was dismayed and felt duped by his deception. Sometimes people will tell you what you want to hear and unconsciously become shills of your strong expectations.

Jim Jones of Guyana notoriety, frequently used shills to keep his name and ministry on the headlines of local newspapers. Some of his shills were dupes of his charisma and others were given “ministry favors” to perform according to expectations. Using shills and deceit Rev. Jones attracted nearly 1,000 followers that were passive, gullible and easily led onto his path of deception that led them to drink the kool-aide and die in a mass suicide in a far country.

The Real Glory of God

John Wimber taught that the sacred Presence of Christ in a worship service was like “the dancing Hand of God.” It was as though Christ’s presence would sweep through a service in what Wimber called “gracelets.” Wherever God in His sovereignty chose, His hand would drop and people would be blessed. One Wimber service I attended where God’s glory was manifested was chaotic. People were wailing, weeping over their sins. They were falling to the carpet with no one pushing or touching them. It was not orderly, but it was definitely God.

Personally, in my more than 50 years of knowing and serving Jesus, I have encountered his glory on occasion. Mostly, seeing Him and sensing His presence (glory), has come with deep emotion and tears of contrition. I have never been “amazed and awed” by His presence. I have felt an instinctive gut-level fear mingled with love and adoration.

I served more than three years on the ministerial training staff at Melodyland Christian Center in Anaheim, California. One of my duties was to answer altar calls at services for the 10,000 member congregation. One particular session stands out in my mind. When the people were escorted into a private open room where we “prayer counselors” were to pray with them one-on-one.

One man I approached was in his work clothes. From his appearance I guessed he was a plumber. His rough, calloused hands covered his eyes. He was sobbing from his gut as big tears splashed down on the carpet beneath him. It took him over 20 minutes to gain his breath and composure so he could speak.

I asked him,

“Why are you here?”

He gasped breathlessly, “He told me to come to the front!”

“Who is he?” I asked.

“You know. He was wearing sandals and a white robe. He stood in the aisle and told me to come.”

“Can you see Him now?” I asked.

“No, but He’s here!”

“How do you know?

“I can FEEL Him.”

I experienced the prickly feeling in the back of my neck. It radiated all over my body. Obviously, it took something unusual to “get to” this rough-cut guy who had lived his whole life believing in nothing but himself and the work of his hands. Something, or rather, someone called this man out of his pew. I led him into the confession of his sins before God, and acceptance of Jesus Christ into His heart. I told him that the one whom he had seen now wants residence in his heart. He readily accepted Christ and began the journey of salvation and a life-long walk with Jesus.

The real glory of God is the incredible Presence of Christ to seek and to save that which is lost. Paul, the Apostle, said it best,

“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27