Lisa Great

There are certain words, phrases, statements we make in church or as Christians that just become common language without understanding. The language becomes baked into our culture and we may or may not even know what we are saying.

One of those phrases has to do with the words the glory of God. We talk about as though it is a casual, common, revival thing. We say things like glory to God; we want to see the glory of God; show us Your glory. We sing it, we speak it, we declare it, but do we know what it means?

Yes, we know it means weighty, we know that in the glory people get healed; people get saved; people get delivered; but do we actually know what the glory of God is? Honestly, we say and speak of things we know very little about. But the truth is, God wants us to know about His glory.

Glory: Kavod’s root is kabed — heavy, weighty, substantial. It’s the same word used for a “heavy” famine, a “hardened” heart, an “honored” person. So glory-as-weight isn’t just metaphor for importance; it carries a sense of mass breaking into perceptible space — God’s reality becoming dense enough to register on human senses. (Claude)

God’s reality becoming dense enough to register on human senses. Selah. When the glory of God comes, we will know it, not just on the platform, not just on the pulpit, not just on the anointed one, but we will all know it. Not just in one church, at one conference, in one meeting, we will all know it.

Look at this, the glory has had a trajectory shift from mountain (Exodus 19/24); to Tabernacle in the wilderness (Exodus 40); to Temple (2 Chronicles 5); to Throne room visions (Ezekiel 1/10); to now the glory of God is going to fill the whole earth (Habakkuk 2:14/Psalm 72:19).

If we are looking for a revival in a church we are missing what God is doing in the earth. The glory of God is going to fill the earth, not when Jesus returns, but in our generation. God’s reality is going to be dense enough to register on human senses.

The glory of God will not just be luminosity (fire, smoke, gold dust, thunder, cloud) it will also be self-disclosure, revealing the nature and character of God. The glory of God is not going to fill the earth with a show, it is going to catch our attention and then reveal to us the character of our God. The whole earth is going to see and know who God is. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org

The word shame is used in Psalms and Proverbs enough to catch our attention. If we view shame through our humanisitic, I am ashamed or I feel shame, or even I acted shamefully, as our only understanding of the word, we will miss what the word is speaking in context.

Praying Psalm 71 this morning, verse 1 says, “In You, O LORD, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame.” I paused in my prayer because I thought how does putting our trust in the Lord cause us to never be put to shame? Questions unlock revelations, the more questions we ask the more revelations we will receive.

Shame in Hebrew in this Psalm means to pale; be disappointed; delayed; become dry; be long; confused; disconcerted.

I was surprised to say the least by this definition of shame, but in context of putting our trust in the Lord so we are not put to shame, it makes total sense. But I would have never defined shame as disappointment, delay, confusion or even being dry.

When this revelation unlocked for me the definition of shame, I realized our trust is in something other than the Lord if we are feeling like we are being delayed, we have become dry, we are confused or disconcerted. This is a hard truth to hear, but it is the truth.

Trust in the Lord alone is where we experience Him as the Fountain of Living Water, which is how we never are ashamed. Jeremiah 2:13 says, “My people have committed two sins, one they have forsaken Me the Fountain of Living Water and two they have hewn out broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”

If we trust the Lord we will never be ashamed, for He is the Fountain of Living Water, He is the source of all life; He is the headwaters; He is the mouth of the river; He knows the timing; so there is no delay. He is the water so there is no drought. He is crystal clear so there is no confusion. He is eternity, so nothing is considered long to Him.

We might need to get a slight adjustment on where our trust is, for if our trust is in the Lord we will not be put to shame. (Psalm 71:1) Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org

Here is the irony of prosperity…it is not get rich so I do not have to work, it is increase so I can be a blessing to more people. The more you have the more work you will do. When God blesses you with more friends, there are more text messages to respond to. When God blesses your business with more customers there are more products to produce.

We tend to strive to rise when we are struggling to rise. Prosperity is not a problem, but it is more work. Some people spend so much energy striving to prosper, under the Adamic curse of Genesis 3:17, toil from the sweat of your brow. What we don’t know how to do is reveal a work ethic that produces more work, because to whom much is given more will be added.

More added is not striving for more, it is working in such a way that it says, I can handle more for I have managed what you have given me thus far well. It is not earning anything, but it is not apathy either. Sonship is about inheritance, but it is not something for nothing. Sonship is about relationship. Sonship is apprenticeship, teaching you how to take over the Father’s business.

Psalm 2 says, Ask of me and I will give the nations as your inheritance. If you don’t like to work, you will not like the inheritance of the nations. The more we are given the more responsibility we have and the more work we are called to do. Prosperity is a blessing that adds no sorrow to it, because it is not striving, but it is working.

Friends, God wants to prosper us, He delights in the prosperity of His children, but how many of us have a work ethic that reveals we can handle more prosperity? Prosperity is not so you can sit more, it is so you can serve more. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org

We serve a relational God. He is alive right now, seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven. When we pray, He hears, when He speaks we can hear Him. He is fully alive, nothing dead in Him at all.

We are created in the image of a living God. He is not made with the hands of man, He made the very hands of man. He made us with eyes to see, ears to hear, a heart that is created to respond. We are as much alive as He is and actually He is more alive than us, for in Him there is no sin.

The wages of sin is always death, not always death in the sense of ceasing to exist on earth, but death to parts of us that lay dormant, unresponsive. If we cannot hear God our ears are deaf; if we cannot see God our eyes are blind; that means they are not functioning by design. They are dead in a sense.

But we serve a God that makes blind eyes see, deaf ears hear and casts our sins as far as the East is from the West. We have access to abundant life here on earth, not just one day when we die and see Him in the sky.

The question is, do you want to live?

Strongs Concordance number 2222 is Zoe (ζωή) translates to “life,” referring to both physical and spiritual existence. It emphasizes the concept of life as a gift from God, highlighting the connection between vitality and divine essence.

One way to come alive is to forgive those who you have felt like they have wronged you. Another way to come alive is to repent, for he is without sin should not cast the first stone. A third way to live is to surrender control of your life to Jesus. A fourth way to live is to sing, songs have a way of calling us back to life.

God is alive, we are alive and the one thing we were created for is relationships with God and each other. Loneliness is a killer; abandonment is a distorter of design; rejection alters the way we think about people; God is perfect, there is nothing crooked in Him. Return to God and watch Him bring others to you. Life is worth living. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org

Nature is a communicator of truth about God. When we stop to listen to the sounds of creation we will hear the voice of God in a way that is unique to creation.

Birds singing through the heat and cold is a reminder we can have a song in every season, knowing God takes care of us. “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26)

Watch the way of an eagle in the sky. They make their nest up on high, yet them come low to the lake below for food that they grab with their talons in the water. Imagine the sight they have, to see that fish on surface level and the precision they need to grab it in the right moment.

Last night the rain fell with such abundance, it flooded some areas of our city; created a river in our backyard and on our front street. It only rained for maybe 45 minutes, but the abundance was undeniable. Elijah said, “There is a sound of abundance of rain…it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.” (1 Kings 18:41,45)

If you have ever looked up into the night sky away from the city lights, the stars shine like diamonds on a velvet backdrop. During the day the sun releases light and heat that cannot be contained or controlled. Psalm 19 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.”

These are just a few of natures identifiers that communicate what God is. He is the giver of songs in every season like the birds; He has a keen sense of sight and provides for our every need like the eagle; He releases abundance, literally more than we can contain like the rain; and He is declaring His glory to us night and day.

Everything around you is declaring who God is to you! Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org

We have heard a lot about spiritual warfare, but we have heard very little about psychological warfare. I believe most spiritual warfare, people encounter, is psychological warfare. We are in a voice war. Whose voice are you going to believe?

Reading Isaiah 36 this morning yielded what I call psychological warfare tactics 101. Everyone of us hears voices that taunt, trouble, poke, pick on and invite us to yield to a voice that is inferior to God’s voice. This happens in our heads, so most people don’t reveal what they are hearing, but it is happening to everyone of us.

Rabshekah, is the title of a high ranking military officer from Assyria. He uses psychological warfare against the people of Jerusalem and Judah. I believe the tactics he uses are the same ones the enemy uses on us today. See if this resonates with what goes on in your head.

1. Speak in a place where they can hear you. ( v.2)
2. Speak the language the people understand (v.11)
3. Question what their confidence is in? ( v.4)
4. Ask them who backs them if they rebel against you? ( v.6)
5. Remind them they can’t trust Yahweh. (v.7)
6. Promise them provision if they follow you. ( v.8 )
7. Tell them God sent you to destroy the land. ( v.9)

Psychological warfare is manipulation that is hard to detect because it speaks truth, but twists it to get you to believe it. The goal of psychological warfare is two fold, one it seeks to get you to stop trusting in God. Two it seeks to wear you out.

Your battle is not against flesh and blood, it is against voices that speak through situations, circumstances and other people. The voices are speaking inside of you, twisting truth to convince you of a narrative that is not the Truth. Jesus said, you shall know the truth and the truth shall set your free.

Jesus’ voice liberates you and invites you to trust Him and forgive them. The voice of Rabshekah, questions everything that you trust in and erodes your confidence in God and others. This my friends is psychological warfare 101. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org

Did you know it is natural to be a responder? We were made to respond. When a baby is hungry they cry; When a child bumps their head you know it; When a teenager finds out that girl he likes, likes her…We were made to respond.

Negative emotions pervert or pause our ability to respond. Disappointment causes us to stop hoping. Hope is a response. Depression stops our ability to respond, we hear good news but we have no reaction. Anxiety hinders our ability to respond to peace.

Have you ever wondered why the enemy does not want you to respond? Because if you respond, you come alive. Blocking your ability to respond, keeps you in the state you find yourself. When we respond to truth, we come alive. When we respond at a football game to a touchdown, we shout, we clap, we stand, we feel good.

When we respond to God in singing, giving, praying, we feel lighter, we sense the presence of God closer. We were made to be responders. And God is unlocking our ability to respond to good news. Negativity clogs our responders, that is why the news media does not share good news, for they want you clogged not released to respond.

This unlocking of your ability to respond is because good news is all around you and it is only getting better. I heard in prayer this morning, “Pray Psalm 24!” Psalm 24 says, “Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory.”

Doors are opening and will continue to open to good news. I do not know what door you need opened, but pray Psalm 24 is what the Lord is saying. Then get ready for a flood of good news. Rejoicing is a response and God is unlocking our responders, because good news is increasing. Responding to good news is healthy. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org

Did you know it is natural to be a responder? We were made to respond. When a baby is hungry they cry; When a child bumps their head you know it; When a teenager finds out that girl he likes, likes her…We were made to respond.

Negative emotions pervert or pause our ability to respond. Disappointment causes us to stop hoping. Hope is a response. Depression stops our ability to respond, we hear good news but we have no reaction. Anxiety hinders our ability to respond to peace.

Have you ever wondered why the enemy does not want you to respond? Because if you respond, you come alive. Blocking your ability to respond, keeps you in the state you find yourself. When we respond to truth, we come alive. When we respond at a football game to a touchdown, we shout, we clap, we stand, we feel good.

When we respond to God in singing, giving, praying, we feel lighter, we sense the presence of God closer. We were made to be responders. And God is unlocking our ability to respond to good news. Negativity clogs our responders, that is why the news media does not share good news, for they want you clogged not released to respond.

This unlocking of your ability to respond is because good news is all around you and it is only getting better. I heard in prayer this morning, “Pray Psalm 24!” Psalm 24 says, “Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory.”

Doors are opening and will continue to open to good news. I do not know what door you need opened, but pray Psalm 24 is what the Lord is saying. Then get ready for a flood of good news. Rejoicing is a response and God is unlocking our responders, because good news is increasing. Responding to good news is healthy. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org

I am a patterns person. I can see patterns, I can hear patterns, I may not know what they are saying, I may not have the answer to what they mean, but I can’t unsee what I see. 

Over the past two weeks, I have noticed a pattern forming of animals coming out of hiding and into visible locations for people to see. It started with a ride with two girl friends on Lake Barkley in KY. We were in a side by side, just looking at houses and the number of deer we saw was beyond anything I had ever seen. They were laying in grass on the side of the road unmoved. We even saw two bucks laying down, just watching us. 

Then I was in the smoky mountains and four bears, one mom and three babies literally came to our front porch where we were staying. Not to harm, just curious what we were doing and probably looking for food. 

I realize I am a city girl, so these are fascinating sightings for me, but they did not stop in country locations, they have happed in city ones as well. And people have been sending me photos of what they are seeing. Some friends from Warsaw, MO sent me a picture of an eagle taken off the back of the pontoon on the boat right next to them. Majestic bird. 

Last Tuesday I was with some friends in a house they are selling and I saw a hawk on a log, eye level out the back window. Not up in the tree, down low on a log. Then on Sunday, my housemate saw a hawk on our back deck with a bird in its mouth, just sitting there. 

Now on Monday, yesterday, I get another photo of a hawk on my friends truck, just chilling. And on the same day a friend sends me a video of 17 vultures on the lamp posts in the parking lot across from her house in Franklin, TN. Deer, bear, eagle, hawks, vultures. Animals of prey, coming near not to harm but for us to view up close. 

Pattern that cannot be denied. So I hear the Holy Spirit say, “The wolf will lie with the lamb.” I find that verse in Isaiah 11 and then it ends in verse 9 saying, “They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” 

What used to cause harm will no longer harm us, for the knowledge of the Lord is filling the earth. The narrative is shifting and creation is responding. Can you hear what the deer, the bears, the eagle, the hawks, the vultures are saying? God is healing earth again. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org

Psalm 63 has been spoken through songs; prayed in prayer meetings; quoted in books; read in multiple translations; it is a Psalm we know, we have heard, we resonate with. Yet, this morning when I was reading it, I saw something I had not seen before. The word of God is living and active (Hebrews 4:12), so it is always speaking in now time.

Psalm 63:1-2 says, “O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.”

Do you see what I see? A reality of a dry and thirsty land in which there is no water. Barren, cracked, exhausted, tired, bored, no color, no joy, no peace, only a land of longing, wanting, needing something. When people send prayer requests, it is coming from a dry and weary land.

But what is the answer to a dry and weary land, where is the opposite of something that is dry and thirsty? David, the psalmist says, the answer is in the sanctuary. The sanctuary is a place of power of glory. Power and glory are ark of the covenant language, it is a place of God’s presence. David met the presence of God in the temple of God with the people of God.

Life outside of the sanctuary is dry and thirsty. People search for water, look for satisfaction, but do not find it, so they come to the sanctuary looking for power and glory. The question is, are we hosting the presence of God so the people who come in the sanctuary can find what they are longing for? On the show Survivor, they have a place called the Sanctuary and it is said it is where good things happen. They get food to eat and rest for their weary body.

God’s sanctuary is filled with power and glory, and His presence is where we are satisfied. May we be a mobile sanctuary for those who are dry and weary, because we offer power and glory. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org