Restoring the Glory

Restoring the Glory: Kabod. (A Study on Biblical Names)

  In a dark era in the history of Israel, a dying woman gave her son a prophetic name. Ichabod, was the grandson of Eli, the son of Phineas, and would inherit the title of High Priest of Israel.
1Sa 4:21  And she gave the child the name of Ichabod, saying, The glory has gone from Israel: because the ark of God was taken and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
22  And she said, The glory is gone [departed] from Israel, for the ark of God has been taken.
- she understood her times, not only had her husband died but her father-in-law had literally fallen and broken his neck!
- The glory of God is ever-present, our perception of it as individuals and as a people is dependent on our Faith position.
Glory is PERCEIVED by those whose senses are tuned to it!

כָּבֹד    כָּבוֹד   kâbôd From H3513; properly weight; but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness: - glorious (-ly), glory, honour (-able). Total KJV occurrences: 200 [Strong's #H3519]
Is departed - Properly, “Is gone into captivity.”
> Putting these two concepts together we can use the phrase, "The weight of God's Presence has been taken into captivity".  How can we understand this concept today?
> Have we allowed The Glory of God to be taken into 'captivity'?
> What can we do to set the Glory of God free in our LIVES??
> This is a heart question: Even as I worship or pray or hear a powerful word, I may limit the glory of God by my own process.  The glory becomes 'captive to my mind'.  The music is off key; the Word is poorly presented, my prayer seems to hit a brass ceiling.
> In each case I AM RESPONSIBLE OF PUTTING GOD'S GLORY IN MY OWN MIND!!
Consider Paul's statement: 2Co_4:4  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.
> What Paul observed in his day, and the unnamed mother of Ichabod, we must guard against in our day.
> I find much wisdom in the lyric to song.  'Kabod' is the theme of Paul Wilbur's song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOPPxdb-4GU

1. 
   

Spirit of the Sovereign Lord

Come and make Your presence known
Reveal the glory of the Living God

Let the weight of Your glory cover us
Let the life of Your river flow
Let the truth of Your kingdom reign in us
Let the weight of Your glory
Let the weight of Your glory fall

We do not seek Your hand
We only seek Your face
We want to know You
We want to see You
Reveal Your glory in this place

Let the weight of Your glory
Let the weight of Your glory fall

© 1999 Integrity's Hosanna! Music

Let's give Paul the last word:
Rom_12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Tychicus the Ambassador

  While in prayer with my pastor, I was struck by the final words of Paul in his letter to the Ephesians.

Final Greetings

21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.

23 Peace to the brothers and sisters,[c] and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.

• After Paul shared his wonderful teaching on the Armor of God, the Ephesians would have had a number of questions, indeed, every verse of this letter would have need 'an interpreter'
• Tychicus, whose name is rich in meaning, not only delivered this letter but would have spent some time with the church in Ephesus, not just to report on Paul's state of affairs, but on every aspect of the growing Christian community.
• Tychicus was also the bearer of Paul's letter to the Colossians. Col 4:7 and made was an emissary, perhaps at the same time, to Titus (Titus 3:12)
• An Ambassador, or Emissary, simply means 'One who is sent'. The implication is that they are sent by a governing authority on their behalf to build strong relationships between two governments.  This is the Latin root, in Greek the word would be 'Apostellos' from which we get our word 'Apostle'.
• We know so little but speculation about this man, one thing we need to discover is the meaning behind his name.
• Act_20:4. Paul's companion and fellow laborer in the gospel (Act_20:4); 
• accompanied him in part on his return journey from the third missionary circuit; "of Asia." 
• Trophimus went forward with Paul to Jerusalem (Act_21:29), but Tychicus stayed behind in Asia, perhaps at Miletus (Act_20:15; Act_20:38). 
• With Paul again in his first Roman imprisonment: Col_4:7-8, "a (Greek the, the article marks that Tychicus was well known to them) beloved (in relation to the Christian community) brother and a faithful minister (in missionary services) and fellow servant in the Lord (in serving the same Master)." (from Fausset on 'Tychicus'.

   Now let us make this practical, is there a 'Tychicus' call on your life?

• Are you able to go on a mission for the purpose of sharing news of an 'apostolic' nature?
• Are you in close relationship with an apostolic father such that you  could be entrusted with such a mission?
• Does this passage speak to you about the Advance of the Kingdom and the spread of the Good News of the One True God?
• What are the supporting roles to such a call? [look at Ephesians 6:18-20]

  As ever this blog is intended to stir discussion... hope it fosters some interesting dialogue.