#418 The Jesus Trip, The Face of Glory

#418 The Jesus Trip, The Face of Glory
By: D. Karl Thomas

(Sermon notes and PowerPoint at the bottom of the page)

John 8:19“‘Where is your father?’ they asked. Jesus answered, ‘Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.’”

Colossians 1:15“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.”
John 14:9“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!”
Hebrews 1:3“The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God,…”

A.W. Tozer (The Knowledge of the Holy) “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. . . . The gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous fact about any man …

… is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like. We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God.”

Revelation 1:12-18“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.”

Revelation 4:6-8“In front of the throne was a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystal. In the center and around the throne were four living beings, each covered with eyes, front and back. The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. …

“…Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”

Purpose of the book of Ezekiel: “And you shall know that I am the LORD,” Phrase found 94 x’s in the O.T. 72 of which are in Ezekiel “Son of man” appears 93 times in Ezekiel.Hope and restoration.

VISION OF THE GLORY OF GOD — THRONE OF GOD MOVING

Ezekiel 1 “On July 31 of my thirtieth year, while I was with the Judean exiles beside the Kebar River in Babylon, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God … Each had a human face in the front, the face of a lion on the right side,… … the face of an ox on the left side, and the face of an eagle at the back. … This is what the glory of the Lord looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground, and I heard someone’s voice speaking to me.”

Ezekiel is wondering what he is doing exiled in Babylon.
Where is God? Has a VISION of God’s Glory! What is God doing Here?
God is with His people! God is working for restoration! God is there!

Ezekiel 11:19“And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart so they will obey my decrees and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.”

Ezekiel 48:35 (Last Verse)“ and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE.” (J Shammah)

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 “… turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us whohave had that veil removedcan see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”

Colossians 1:27 (AMP)“God [in His eternal plan] chose to make known to them how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in and among you, the hope and guarantee of [realizing the] glory.”

Purpose is ultimately empty without personality!!!
Matthew 5:48 (Message) “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it.Live out your God-created identity.Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you”

The gospels are four different pictures of the nature of God.
Matthew — Face Of Eagle Mark — Face Of Ox Luke — Face Of Man John — Face Of Lion

Gospel of Matthew — Eagle The Face Of Excellence (King)
Genealogy: “Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of David and of Abraham…”(1:1) (1:22)“that it might be fulfilled.”
Quotes OT Most. He finished the work with complete excellence!

Gospel Of Mark — Ox      The Face Of A Servant
The Ox was a temple sacrifice.      The Ox would plough, bear burdens
Genealogy: None Servant needs no pedigree   Staraight way … Immediately
Fast pace. Action. More miracles and examples of God serving his creation

Mark 10:43-45 “But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Gospel Of Luke — Man     The Face Of Relationship
Luke 2:1“it came to pass”   Most used phrase … Once upon a time
Geneology: (3:38) “…the son of Adam, the son of God.”   Connecting man and God!!!
Full of relatable stories and parables.    Elevates Women.      Focus Holy Spirit.    Prodigal Son

Gospel Of John — Lion    The Face Of Power (Deity)
John 6:47“Verily, verily,(25x’s) I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”   TRULY TRULY
Geneology: (1:1) “… Word was with God, and the Word was God.”   Eternal … GOD!!!!

Perfectly reveals God: 7 miracles, 7 “I Am” statements and 7 discourses.

John 2:11“This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.” Last supper and the focus on UNION!

We are called to manifest His Glory with excellence (Eagle) as we serve (Ox) in relationship (Man) by the power (Lion) of our union with Him.

The Jesus Trip, The Face of Glory, Sermon notes to print, PDF

The Jesus Trip, Face Of Glory, PowerPoint Slides, PDF