GOD’S GLORY:
- Foretold centuries before Jesus’ birth
- Conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit
- Sustained in Joseph who was obedient
- Proclaimed by angels and shepherds
Glory: (latin gloria)- something marked with great beauty, splendor, power, magnificence
Glory Revealed: the manifestation or visible sign of God’s beauty, splendor, power, and magnificence made available to us.
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
1 Kings 19:9b-13 New International Version (NIV)
NOTHING is impossible for GOD
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:10-12 English Standard Version (ESV)
Why did God choose to enter the world this way?
The irony of the census called for by Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus
Jesus came into the world in a whisper…
…that whisper is God’s saving grace that changes everything!
Where do you need for God’s glory to be revealed in your life?
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!
I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 (NIV)
Glory Revealed: God’s Grace in a Manger