Momentum Comes From Unveiling God’s Glory

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Let It Shine

The beauty of light is that by it we see everything else. Dazzling white snow. Rich green evergreens. Fall leaves in bright red, amber, and yellow. Blue skies. White clouds. Colorful flowers. All are revealed by light. The beauty comes out in the reflection. Without light, colors are unseen or indistinguishable. 

Ministry can, at times, be like groping in the dark. Beauty right next to us can remain unseen. Only in the light can the reflected beauty be seen. 

We are ambassadors.  We have been made able ministers of the new testament. (2 Cor. 3:6) However, like mirrors, we reflect the light. The light is not our own. We reflect light either directly or indirectly. The true colors of those around us are shown with varying brilliance by how directly or indirectly we reflect the light of God’s glory. 

Are we busy finding momentum for ministry? Are we looking for it in the right places? We can be busy rearranging objects in dim places when what is really needed is more direct light. 

Here is what the apostle Paul said about his ministry to the Corinthian church. “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” – 1 Corinthians 2:2 KJV

How could He say that?

Veiled

The god of this world hides the glory of the God of the Bible from people.  He hides the light of the glorious gospel of Christ from shining on them. “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” – 2 Corinthians 4:4 KJV

When Moses met with God, his face shone so much with God’s glory that, even as it was fading, people could not look on his face. So, he covered his face with a veil to shield them from the brilliance. (See 2 Corinthians 3) 

“But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 3:14 NLT

As glorious as the old testament was, it is not as brilliant as the glory of the new testament. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life. The veil is taken away by the revelation of God through the Holy Spirit as believing people preach Christ; and as listeners respond in faith (believing God). 

Those who know the God of the Bible, those who have believed Him, have the indwelling Holy Spirit rather than an external encounter. We have the privilege and responsibility to preach the glory of Christ (2 Cor. 4:5) as His ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 KJV

“We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;” 2 Corinthians 4:13 KJV

The Glory is God's

It’s one thing if people know God and reject Him. It’s another thing if people have never been properly introduced. 

As ambassadors to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, it is our privilege to bring people to a right understanding, through His written word, of God’s person, purpose, plan, people, and processes. 

Here is the God who considered every person before He created anything in the world. Therefore each person has more value to Him than anything in or on the earth.

This is the God that reached out to us while we were in rebellion against Him, paid our debt of sin, and lavished upon us His own goodness and righteousness that we might dwell with Him forever. He gave to us eternal life by faith in His Son. 

There is so much more we can share about Him! 

For example, most people breeze through the first two chapters of Genesis without reflecting on the depth of meaning, implication, and care in each verse. If we take the time, we can see what is written and realize what the words mean through observation of the world around us, and through the lens of what is written the rest of the Bible. The very first sentence of the first verse of the first book of the Bible in loaded with doctrine and implications that are relevant our daily lives.  Genesis 1:1 reveals God to us as the triune God who is the pre-existent, all-powerful, all-knowing owner of everything in heaven and on earth. Everything that we know and see, with all of its intricate beauty and complex design, is His and sustained by Him. The more we dig into the implications and relevancy of what is written, the more opportunity we have for our thinking to be reshaped and God’s glory to grow in our understanding.

The hearts and minds of people are opened as the Holy Spirit gives witness to the testimony of God’s written word as spoken by people who believe Him. (Romans 10:8-17, 2 Corinthians chapters 3, 4, & 5)

God’s glory: That is the momentum of ministry.*

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. – 2 Corinthians 4:6

Ministry Momentum

Looking for momentum in ministry? Try teaching in such a way as to unveil God’s glory. 

Here are some resources to help you do that.

 
Missions Keys