How to Pursue the Knowledge of the Glory of God 1

2 Peter 1:2-3

^“ Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, ³ as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,” NKJV

Every human being goes through seasons in the wilderness of testing. That is because we need to live our lives having a foundation of the glory of the Kingdom of God. The enemy tries to copy a glory (Matthew 4:8-10), but what he is really doing is cause people to focus on self, on their carnal desires, on the works of their hands, on controlling and manipulating their lives and circumstances so they won’t partner with God to demonstrate His supernatural power in their lives and through them on behalf of others.

We are called to seek the presence of God every day of our lives. But many run from Him when they need Him the most because of fear and lack of knowledge of their identity as His children. When we go through challenges, it is the most crucial time to get closer to God to show us how He will bring us through them by His supernatural power. Only He is to receive the glory for bringing us out and not any man-made idol or our own manipulating or controlling of what we go through. 

God wants to lead us and to see that we trust Him by following Him and the instructions He gives to us. Therefore, choosing to do things in our own strength instead of having faith in the strength of God’s arm to fight our battles and give us the victories He promised, causes us to forfeit the manifestation of His glory that is supposed to provoke others to want the same relationship and manifestations of His goodness in their lives. 

 We do not want to give evidence that the things we do to reach our destiny are built on sand that is blown away, and not on the rock (Matthew 7:24-29), Jesus and the ways of His Kingdom that cannot be shaken when a strong wind of challenges comes. This also requires that we walk by faith and not by sight. This means that we believe in His promises and work in partnership with Him as we spend times of intimacy with Him to hear how He chooses to bring them to pass, obey His commands, and take every step He directs us to take. 

Those who walk by sight are people that focus more on their sensual being (living through their senses or what makes them feel good) to find satisfaction, i.e. they are drawn to things If they look good to them, if they sound good to them, if it makes others think well of them, they have fear of being rejected, and of not having what they think they need or want, not realizing that in the riches of the glory of God they find everything they need above and beyond what they could ever ask or think.

Habakkuk 2:14 says, “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, As the waters cover the sea.” NKJV

But in order to make it through the wilderness of testing knowing this glory, I reiterate that we need to learn to give a resounding yes to every command or instruction God gives to us. We do not need to understand the command fully, but we are required to obey. Jesus went through the same process as He was being turned into the Christ (the Anointed One) who was anointed by the Father to buy back our freedom and redemption from Adam and Eve’s fall by dying on the Cross. 

As we take those steps of faith in obedience, the more we to do it, the more we will see God’s favor, authority, and power that enables us to carry out what we were commanded to do. There is no favor and grace in the works of rebellion and manipulation of our circumstances, only toiling and hustling to make things happen. That is the way of the Antichrist spirit (the spirit that wants to not only replace the influence of Christ in our lives but also wants to remove His people who represent Him in the earth from the place God called them to occupy). Matthew 11: 28-30 says, 

²⁸ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” NKJV

This Scripture explains that as we come to the Lord when we are weary because of the storms and trials, Jesus promises that His yoke is easy and His burden is light for us to carry because we have the grace and favor that come from His glory to help us do what He has commanded with ease. This is contrary to the yoke and burden of the oppressor which is heavy and hard to do like it happened to the children of Israel in Egypt when they were expected to make bricks even though the materials they needed to make them were removed one by one (Exodus 5:18). In other words, they were forced to work by doing things the hard way that brings fear and anxiety, frustration, and despair. 

 But as we walk with the Lord of our lives and not away from Him and pursue every level of glory and virtue necessary to overcome and reach our destiny, we will see how He causes the yoke and burden of the oppressor to be destroyed because the anointing we develop in the wilderness of testing enlarges us (makes our neck fat in the spirit because of the abundance of the riches of His glory we now carry) to the point that the enemy cannot fit his yoke around our neck and the oil of our anointing makes it fall apart every time he tries to yoke us to him again (Isaiah 10:27 AMPC).

The more we obey faithfully the commands of the Lord and His word, and choose to walk in love for God (devotion), loving ourselves (receiving God’s love for us and His grace to fulfill our purpose on earth), the easier it becomes to love others because we learn to see them the way God sees them: with eyes of love and compassion for the lost and the fallen. For this, the anointing to destroy the works of the devil and the weapons of warfare God has given us to take territory from him in the spheres of influence He has given us, have to be developed. We do this until we reach our destiny and place where we can take out the Goliath that has risen to harass others that cannot fight him and we were given the anointing and influence to destroy his works and cut his head off with his own sword.

This is something we do with humility and meekness. This signifies that although we walk in the authority that Jesus delegated to us, we also recognize that only God can help us obtain the victory necessary to take territory from the enemy and set many captives free. All we have to do is make ourselves available to Him and seek His heart for what He wants to do and how He wants to do it and take every step of faith guided by His Spirit of truth that will lead us to the manifestation of the victory. 

Matthew 14:28-32 says, ²⁸ “And Peter answered Him and said, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’

²⁹So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. ³⁰But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me.’

³¹And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ ³²And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.” NKJV

We see here how this is a great example of pursuing the glory and virtue of Jesus. For this, it is necessary that we keep our eyes and our hearts on Him. Peter wanted to know the glory of God and Jesus invited him to do so. For this, he needed to get out of the boat. That is because when we are going through a trial or circumstance, God manifests His glory when we flow with Him by for instance, not getting offended when the enemy tries to tempt us to take offense by someone’s actions or words. We do not retaliate and try to fight the person that hurt us because we do not wrestle against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). Instead, we choose to forgive and seek God for the healing of our wounds and pray for that person’s healing and for them to have a closer walk with God so they too can be healed. But we do not allow the enemy to take our eyes from the goal God wants us to focus on. 

John 1:14 also says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” NKJV

As we take every step of faith commanded by God, we will be flowing in the river of glory and walking on water instead of trying to make things happen for ourselves. This way we can receive the grace that brings us ease and the truth of who He is which sets us free and God receives the glory for the victory or breakthrough He manifests for us. This happened to the woman with the issue of blood, who pursued the glory and virtue that came out of Jesus and kept her eyes on Him and on her goal which increased her faith to receive her healing. 

Before that, she had done everything by toiling which resulted in a lot of time and resources spent with no results (Luke 8:43-48). Hence, we pursue the glory of God for every deliverance, provision, healing, or any other type of breakthrough and victory we need out of the riches of His glory (Ephesians 3:16 Colossians 1:27; Romans 9:23; Philippians 4:19) because His glory brings results exceedingly above and beyond what we could ever think, ask, or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

Another important thing to highlight is that no flesh or carnal work can stand in the presence of the Lord when He shows up in His glory (1 Corinthians 1:29). This means that everything that was not done under the direction and guidance of His Spirit cannot stand and like the house built on sand, it will crumble. This is one important reason why spending time in intimacy with the Father is important because it helps us hear and see what will help us build on the rock that can never be shaken no matter what comes against us. Our job is to pursue God in humbleness and keep our minds on Him so we can build onto eternity and not for carnality. 

Now, please join me in this prayer: Father of glory, we come humbly before you to acknowledge that only you deserve our honor and love above all else. You alone deserve our devotion and our pursuance of your loving heart that wants to make us rich in the glory and grace that enable us to live out your plan and purpose for us. Help us to stand firm in our times of trials and testing, knowing that you hold us by your right hand of rightness and justice. We thank you that as we acknowledge and seek you, you lead us on the path of righteousness for your name’s sake where we can taste and see that you are good. We give you thanks because your truth and grace empower us to do what you have predestined for us with ease. We want to be vessels that carry more and more of your glory as you lead us to reach our destiny on behalf of the lost and the fallen. We want to do this for your glory and honor alone. For this, we give you thanks and exult your Holy and Mighty Name. In the name of Jesus, we pray. 

To Him alone be all the glory. ▪

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