The Glory Of Heaven Changes Everything
May 2023
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“In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train [robe] filled the temple.” —Isaiah 6:1
Do you desire with all your heart to see the glory of heaven on earth? Friend, America needs a real, genuine revival. During the last three or four years, we have read of so many situations where some demon-possessed person secured a gun and then went to a school, a business, a theater, the mall, or even a church, and, with great hatred, simply killed whoever they saw.
In the summers of 2020 and 2021, how many individuals left their homes and did unbelievable violence in the streets of several major cities in America? Cars were destroyed and set on fire, business windows were smashed, jewelry stores were robbed, and police stations were burned down. Why? This happened in Portland, Seattle, Detroit, Minneapolis, Chicago, St. Louis, and several other beautiful cities in America. The FBI reported a 30 percent increase in violent crime in 2020 and 2021. Why? The answer is sin.
In addition to these unbelievable social problems, the Barna Group statisticians informed pastors that since Covid-19, church attendance has dropped off by 30 percent. After Covid-19, many Americans decided to stop attending church. Pew Research Center reports that atheism is on the rise among the youth. There is no hope for America without revival. I have a question for you: what can we do to encourage real revival in America? I contend that real revival will not happen until the church experiences a new and real manifestation of the glory of heaven. The glory of heaven is the manifested presence of God. What does the church have to do to see God’s glory again? Do you desire to see God’s glory again?
The glory of heaven was manifested in Acts 2:1-4, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
In Acts 2:16-17, Peter explained “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh.”
Pentecost was the awesome demonstration of the manifestation of the glory of God with signs following. The reality of God’s glory brings real revival.
Church history books tell the story of the first Great Awakening in America that began around 1730 and lasted about forty years. God used Pastor Gilbert Tennent, Rev. Jonathan Edwards, Evangelist George Whitefield, and other notable pastors to help usher in a great revival in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and other colonial states which contributed to thousands being converted and scores of new churches formed and strengthened. A second Great Awakening occurred in America around 1801, beginning with a revival at Yale University and then becoming huge in the Cane Ridge area of Kentucky and many other places. Crowds of twenty thousand would gather and camp out for a week under the trees where thousands were converted and delivered from the bondages of alcohol and sin. God used Rev. Charles G. Finney to preach great revivals from 1825 to 1835 where entire towns and villages were converted to Christ. In some cases, every tavern would be closed. Many have studied what I call the third Great Awakening—the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the Apostolic Faith Mission Church on Azusa Street in Los Angeles, beginning in 1906 to about 1911 under the pastoral leadership of Rev. William J. Seymour. Multiplied thousands attended this “evangelistic center” where they were healed, filled with the Holy Spirit, and saw real manifestations of the glory of God, which greatly changed many lives. Some witnessed a “ball of fire” resting over the church building.
A VISION OF CHRIST TRANSFORMS ISAIAH
Isaiah, a working priest, was at Solomon’s Temple. He was probably there to pray and worship, and possibly reflecting on the death of the king, who was his first cousin. All of a sudden, the doors of the majestic temple open, and he experiences the incredible glory of heaven. In this vision, He sees the Lord “high and lifted up,” and he hears angels sing, “Holy, holy, holy.” No doubt about it, Isaiah sees the pre-incarnate Christ in great glory and holiness. He is then made to see his own unworthiness, his own sin, and he repents. Soon he is made aware of a lost and dying world and declares, “Here am I; send me.” He sees the awesome glory of God, and it changes his life.
THE GLORY OF HEAVEN CHANGES MOSES
In Exodus 3, Moses sees the burning bush, and he hears a voice. He obeys God, eventually leads the children of Israel out of Egypt’s bondage, and, while in the wilderness, he is invited to the top of Mount Sinai to receive instructions from God concerning the law. After spending forty days in God’s presence (Ex. 24:15-18), Moses experiences the glory of God, and it changes him forever. The glory on Moses greatly influenced all of Israel, and God’s glory came down when the tabernacle was dedicated.
In Acts 9:3-6, we read “And as he [Saul who became the apostle Paul] journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” And he said, Who art thou Lord?” And the Lord said, “I am Jesus,” and his life changed forever. You see, God allowed the heavens to open, the incredible light, which was the glory of heaven, fell on Paul, and he was changed. He was converted, filled with the Holy Spirit, and called to ministry.
II Chronicles 7:14 admonishes us to do three things: humble ourselves, pray and seek the face of God, and turn from all wicked ways. Then God will shew His glory; He will forgive and heal the land and send a mighty Holy Ghost revival again.
When almighty God opens the windows of heaven, His glory will shine forth, and it won’t be long before the church will be experiencing genuine sincere Holy Ghost revival here in America.
I love the song “Old Time Power”:
They were in an upper chamber,
They were all with one accord,
When the Holy Ghost descended,
As was promised by our Lord.
O Lord, send the pow’r just now,
O Lord, send the pow’r just now,
O Lord, send the pow’r just now,
And baptize ev’ry one.
And Lord, send Your glory!
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