The Promise, Process, and Perfection of Glory

[00:07:15] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
[00:07:44] Amen.
[00:07:53] Let us pray.
[00:08:03] Let us pray.
[00:08:09] Let us pray.
[00:08:29] Let us pray.
[00:08:49] Let us pray.

[00:08:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Let us pray.

[00:09:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
One night in a stable in Bethlehem town The King of all kings from heaven came down He was born of a virgin as the prophets foretold
[00:10:14] He came to this earth from a city of gold He needed no crown to prove He was King No title or deed
[00:10:37] For young and everything the heavens proclaim His majesty, He is the King of eternity

[00:11:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
This is Christ the King who shepherds on and angels sing.
[00:11:28] Glory to the newborn King!

[00:11:52] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Peace on earth and mercy mild God and sinners spread the sound Joyful all nations rise Join the triumph of the skies With angelic hosts proclaim Christ is born

[00:12:15] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Prove He was King No title or deed He owned everything The heavens proclaim
[00:12:32] His Majesty He is the King of Eternity The Heavens proclaim His Majesty

[00:12:56] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Pentecostal grace, this is Christ the King

[00:13:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Good morning.
[00:13:20] It's good to be in the house of the Lord.
[00:13:21] Amen.
[00:13:22] Let's join together now as we stand and sing We Three Kings.

[00:13:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
of Christ Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Reconciliation, Reconciliation of Christ Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

[00:14:15] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy,

[00:14:39] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Star of Wondrous, Star of Night, Star of Loyal Beauty Night, Blessed be His Silver Seating, Guidance to Thy Perfect Light.

[00:15:06] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Glorious Thou, behold Him, O Christ, King and God and Sacrifice,
[00:15:13] Amen, you may be seated

[00:15:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Well good morning.
[00:15:47] It is great to see you all, Trinity family, here on this last Sunday of 2025.
[00:15:53] It's hard to believe, but we are so grateful that you are here and that you've made it through the Christmas celebrations and want to be here in the Lord's house on this final day of 2025, or final Sunday of 2025, and are grateful that you are joining with us to lift up our voices in praise and thanksgiving and honor and glory
[00:16:14] to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ, our Savior and soon-in-coming King.
[00:16:20] If you're visiting with us, we want to bid you a warm welcome in the name of the Lord and on behalf of our Trinity Baptist family.
[00:16:26] In fact, our deacons have some gift bags that they would love to put in the hands of those of you that were visiting with us this morning.
[00:16:33] And if you will lift your hand in just a moment, you'll find some things in there
[00:16:37] God bless you all.
[00:16:57] We also have some special guests that are here with us this morning.
[00:17:08] Guests in some ways but truly part of the family and others.
[00:17:12] And today in many ways marks a bittersweet moment in so many ways as we are celebrating with Carol Anthony.
[00:17:21] Carol Anthony came to serve here at Trinity Baptist Church over eight years ago and has been just more than an administrative assistant, more than a church secretary, more than really even the hub that held everything together in the life and the ministry of the church.
[00:17:40] She is part of Trinity family and she has got her family here with her today and I'm going to ask Carol if you'll come up here and join me just a moment and by the way she hates this absolutely more than anything possible and she brings she has a helper coming with her granddaughter and her husband Mike is seated right here on the front as well
[00:18:03] but Carol we wanted to take a moment today and there's going to be more by the way after the service we want all of you to join us in the fellowship hall before you leave today to speak with Carol personally and let her know how much she has meant to us here and Brother Lewis and the personnel team has some things that they want to do over there but I want to take a moment to give all of you a chance to just know what an incredible lady this is and what an impact that she has had in so many ways
[00:18:32] Not only serving here at Trinity, but serving churches across this area.
[00:18:37] Having served as church secretary, actually served in the association office and leadership there before coming here eight years ago.
[00:18:46] And to a new church, having somebody in the role that she took
[00:18:51] when she came here eight years ago is absolutely phenomenal and today Carol we want to share with you this plaque that says with love and appreciation for Carol Anthony in recognition of eight years of faithful service to Trinity Baptist Church
[00:19:07] Thank you for your kindness, dedication, and joy you brought to our church family.
[00:19:14] May this next season be filled with the precious moments, cherished memories, and abundant blessings as you enjoy more time with your family and grandchildren.
[00:19:25] And again, she has served every role in the life of this church.
[00:19:30] She, whether she was counseling some of you when you called and she's done counseling by phone, whether she has counseled the staff, which she does that every week, or whether she was writing my sermon, which she may do from time to time if necessary, but she certainly was putting together everything that you see happen here on Sunday.
[00:19:50] Take somebody at the Hub that makes an incredible difference and pulls everybody together
[00:19:56] Carol Anthony has been that woman in a tremendous way so Carol we love you and we want to say thank you and thank you to your family for sharing her with us in such a phenomenal way we love you thank you absolutely
[00:20:29] Well, listen, we want to just begin our service today in just going to the Lord and thanking Him for who He is, thanking Him for the faithful ways He does provide in the life and ministry of a church and what He has done in the life and ministry of this church family in so many ways.
[00:20:47] Would you join with me as we go to the Lord in prayer?
[00:20:51] Father, we do want to stop right now, this moment, and thank You for who You are.
[00:20:59] we want to thank you for the ways that that you move in our lives the way that you order our footsteps for your word says that the footsteps of the righteous are ordered by you and lord that's why we don't feel like there are any coincidences in many ways that happen in our lives but lord they are you ordering our footsteps
[00:21:24] You bring us in the paths of people.
[00:21:27] You allow our paths to cross.
[00:21:29] And Father, we see incredible things working as You work through individual lives.
[00:21:37] You gift people with Your gifts to be used for Your honor and Your glory.
[00:21:43] And today, even at the outset of this service, we want to just pause to say thank You for the gift of giving Carol Anthony to Trinity Baptist Church.
[00:21:54] and Father I know that as she moves into this next season for her and Mike and Lord as she looks forward to having that time as mom and grandmother in a special way that Lord you would just put your arms around her and bless her and bless her family strengthen them and continue to give them your grace and your mercy in such a powerful powerful way
[00:22:16] And Father, we pray that as we've gathered here in your house this morning on this last Sunday of the calendar year 2025, it is a time for us to rejoice.
[00:22:27] It is a time for us to lift up our voices in praise and thanksgiving.
[00:22:31] It is a time for us to open our minds and hearts to what you want to say to us as we study your word this morning.
[00:22:38] And Father, we just pray that here you would be pleased and honored and glorified.
[00:22:45] by your people lifting their worship that it would be a sweet sweet aroma to your very nostrils this morning.
[00:22:55] Father we love you, we praise you, and we bring glory to you and we ask you to continue to speak to us in this hour for it's in the mighty name of Jesus that we pray and all God's people said
[00:23:11] Amen well listen if you have preschoolers or children with you that would love to go from preschool up through third grade we want to invite you in just a moment when we stand to greet one another to let those children come and make their way to my right and your left in fact miss terry is right there to greet them and we'll welcome them to children's church if they would like to be a part of that
[00:23:32] and while they're doing that we want to invite you to stand and turn around and shake a few hands, hug a few necks, make each other welcome here in the house of the Lord on this gorgeous Sunday as we lift up Jesus.

[00:25:03] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
In the nighting star he dawned, As with joy they hailed his light, Leading onward meaning bright.

[00:25:28] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
So most gracious are they we, Evermore be led to thee.

[00:25:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
As with joyful steps they stand, To the lowly nature bend, There to bend the kneeling Lord, Here who can render the Lord.
[00:25:56] So may we with prayer and creed, Their words sing thy mercy,
[00:26:00] of the Holy Trinity.
[00:26:08] As their precious gifts they gave,
[00:26:17] Reconciling the Lord All our costless treasures bring Christ to Thee our Heavenly King Watch all His days to lay To beds of Mary's land
[00:26:48] of Christ Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Christ of Latter-day Saints
[00:27:25] of the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit of the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit of the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit of the Holy Spirit,
[00:27:50] of the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit of the Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit of the Holy Spirit,

[00:28:14] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
The weak in his is cold and firm, The present came to hold him.
[00:28:37] The King of kings, salvation reigns,

[00:28:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
We've come to the time in the service where we
[00:29:23] Present our tithes and offerings.
[00:29:24] If you're watching remotely, you can contribute to the ministries of this church at trinitybaptist.com.
[00:29:31] Let's go to Lord in prayer.
[00:29:35] Gracious Heavenly Father, you are our creator, our sustainer, and Father, we thank you so much for your love and your blessings.
[00:29:44] We are more than just your creation.
[00:29:46] Through the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ our Lord, we are made child of God.
[00:29:52] We are secured in your kingdom and we just thank you and praise you.
[00:29:55] We gather this morning to give you our praise, our worship, our love and our offerings and we ask that you accept them to yourself as a sweet fragrance, as love from our hearts to you for all that you do for us.
[00:30:09] We ask these things in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
[00:30:13] Amen.

[00:30:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Love came gently, soft as a baby Born to a lonely virgin girl
[00:30:54] Love came rise and laid in a manger, Love came gently to our world.
[00:31:16] and the Wisest, Fountain beneath the star so bright, While the nations lay deep in slumber, Love came
[00:31:43] and Pharoah trumpets, heralding hope and hope to earn, for the promise tenderly entered, choosing instead
[00:32:25] And to all who trust in the Savior, love comes gently, sweetly to save us, knowing the price he'd have to pay.
[00:32:45] And to all who trust in the Savior, love comes gently, sweetly to save us.

[00:33:08] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
The choir leading us this morning.
[00:33:10] Turn in your Bibles, if you will, to the Gospel of John.
[00:33:13] The Gospel of John is where we find ourselves again this morning, beginning there back in chapter 17, actually, where we left off a couple weeks ago.
[00:33:24] I know last week we had a special guest.
[00:33:27] that shared with you about the Christmas that he remembered and so we're going to be picking back up today at where we were two weeks ago and you'll remember we've already learned several things about this incredible prayer.
[00:33:43] I've told you it's almost as if the Holy Spirit has pulled back the veil and allowed us to look in and watch as the Son
[00:33:53] Praise in this incredible prayer to the Father known as the High Priestly Prayer that the Lord Jesus delivers.
[00:34:01] And throughout the 17th chapter, we've already noticed in those first five verses that the Lord Jesus is actually seen praying for Himself.
[00:34:11] And then from verse 6 through 19 he really is reaching out to the disciples that were surrounding him, Matthew, Mark, and all of these others that were around him.
[00:34:23] And in the midst of this, including these, he prays,
[00:34:29] for God's presence in their lives.
[00:34:33] And then beginning where we're going to pick up this morning in verse 20, he comes to what I consider really the climax as he reaches through the centuries, if you will,
[00:34:44] and he prays for all of those who will become believers, who will become followers of his through the ministry and the word and the work of those disciples.
[00:34:59] So if you just stop and put this in perspective, more than 2000 years ago, Jesus was praying for you and for me.
[00:35:13] And what we find here is what he was praying.
[00:35:17] Now it's also important to know at the outset that in this prayer, he deals with every aspect of the salvation experience.
[00:35:28] You say, what do you mean, Mark?
[00:35:29] Well, in verse one through five, as he's praying concerning our salvation, he's taking care of our past, of that which is in our past.
[00:35:39] But in verse six through 19,
[00:35:41] He is dealing with sanctification, if you will, and praying for our present.
[00:35:49] But now, here in the climax, He's going to be praying concerning our glorification.
[00:35:59] And that's talking about the future that is to come.
[00:36:04] And I want you to stand, if you will, in honor of the Word of God.
[00:36:08] We're going to pick up in verse 20 of John chapter 17 as we find the Lord Jesus having some awesome things in store for his children in the days in the future.
[00:36:20] He says in verse 20, I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.
[00:36:29] that they all may be one as you father are in me and I in you that they also may be one in us that the world may believe that you sent me and the glory which you gave me I have given them that they may be one just as we are one I in them and you in me
[00:36:59] that they may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.
[00:37:12] Father, I desire that they also whom you gave me may be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which you have given me for you loved me before the foundation of the world.
[00:37:29] O righteous Father, the world has not known you, but I have known you, and these have known that you sent me.
[00:37:39] And I have declared to them your name, and will declare it, that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and I in them.
[00:37:55] Would you pray with me please?
[00:38:00] Father we do just thank you this morning that you have not left us alone here to just figure life out but you have given us your word and Lord you've given us your presence and your power to guide us through this journey called life
[00:38:28] And Lord, I just pray that here this morning as we are gathered in your name and we are gathered here under this roof and those that are listening through live stream and those that are listening through delayed broadcast, wherever they may be, anyone under the sound of my voice today, Lord, how I just pray that they would see you high and lifted up and that they would understand
[00:38:55] The amazing grace and the amazing love that you're offering even today.
[00:39:04] Lord, let your presence fill this place, envelop this sanctuary with your power and your presence.
[00:39:14] And I pray personally that you'd let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, Lord, let them be pleasing in your sight.
[00:39:21] In Jesus' name I pray.
[00:39:24] Amen.
[00:39:25] You may be seated.
[00:39:28] Well, the Lord does share some awesome things that He has in store for His children in the days in the future right here.
[00:39:36] And yet I've noticed we're living in a day where folks are really more interested in the here and now.
[00:39:43] In fact, I hear folks from time to time say, don't talk so much about the sweet by and by.
[00:39:48] I want to know about the right here and the right now.
[00:39:52] But the problem is, one of these days, you and I are going to be in the future.
[00:40:00] And we need to be interested in the future because we're going to spend the rest of our life there.
[00:40:05] And that's the reason that the words of Jesus are so important.
[00:40:10] And there's two major themes that jump out off the pages of the Scripture as we've read them this morning.
[00:40:18] One of the themes, no doubt, if you notice, he talks about unity in these verses.
[00:40:26] Several times you'll notice what's on the mind and heart of Jesus.
[00:40:30] in this incredible prayer is he is praying for oneness he's praying for a unity of believers go back and look at verse 21 that they all may be one as you father are in me and i in you that they also may be one in us look at verse 22 and the glory which you gave me i've given them that they may be what
[00:41:00] One, just as we are one.
[00:41:04] And then again, verse 23, I in them and you in me, that they may be made perfect in one.
[00:41:11] So the theme is very clear that is heavy on Jesus' heart and that there would be unity among believers.
[00:41:22] And you and I understand today it's important that those who name the name of Jesus present a united front in this world for the Lord Jesus Christ.
[00:41:34] It helps our testimony.
[00:41:37] It helps the work of the body of Christ when there is harmony being felt and experienced among God's people.
[00:41:45] So one of the clear themes is this whole issue of unity and being unified as a body.
[00:41:56] But there's another theme that I think is extremely strong, and it's the theme of glory.
[00:42:05] G-L-O-R-Y.
[00:42:09] Glory.
[00:42:10] And you'll notice when you read this passage that as you look to the future aspect,
[00:42:16] of what salvation really means, Jesus begins to talk about glory.
[00:42:23] In other words, when Jesus wants to pull together everything that the Heavenly Father has in store for all of us in the future, the word that really pulls it all together is that word glory.
[00:42:40] Glory has got to be one of the most
[00:42:44] Incredible words in all of the Bible.
[00:42:47] Did you know that it shows up 400 times in the Bible?
[00:42:54] That's an important word.
[00:42:56] Shows up 400 times.
[00:42:59] And when you see it, it always seems to describe everything that God has in store for us in the future.
[00:43:08] And that's what I want to be able to share with you for the next few minutes this morning.
[00:43:12] I want us to notice here in the scripture
[00:43:15] what we discover about this whole issue of glory that Jesus is describing number one I want you to jot down this the promise of glory I want you to notice the promise of glory that Jesus offers here in this prayer look at verse 22 if you will and the glory which you gave me
[00:43:44] I have given them that they may be one just as we are one.
[00:43:55] Now I want you to circle that word glory every time you see it because if you really study the word glory you'll go all the way back in the Old Testament and you'll see where the concept of glory begins way back in Old Testament times.
[00:44:12] For instance, when the children of Israel were wandering even in the wilderness, the Bible says there was what?
[00:44:20] A glory cloud.
[00:44:22] You remember?
[00:44:23] The glory cloud that led them.
[00:44:25] In the daytime, it was a pillar of clouds.
[00:44:29] In the nighttime, it was a pillar of rain.
[00:44:34] Fire.
[00:44:35] And it represented the very presence of God leading and guiding His people as they wandered through that wilderness.
[00:44:46] and then when they built the tabernacle you may remember there was the Holy of Holies where the glory cloud resided and that glory cloud rested over above that Holy of Holies where God met his people on the basis of blood and the mercy seat that was right there and then
[00:45:09] After the tabernacle, there was the permanent building, the temple.
[00:45:14] And when it was constructed and Solomon had prayed and dedicated it to the Lord, the Bible says what?
[00:45:21] It says the glory of God filled the temple.
[00:45:28] You say, preacher, what's your point?
[00:45:31] My point is that God's presence was manifested in that glory cloud.
[00:45:41] But something happened.
[00:45:46] You remember what happened?
[00:45:49] Because of their disobedience, because of their unwillingness to be what God wanted them to be, God's glory departed from the children of Israel.
[00:46:09] Go back and read the book of Ezekiel.
[00:46:12] and you'll see how the glory of God lifted from this holy place.
[00:46:19] The next time you saw it, it was at the threshold of the door.
[00:46:25] The next time you saw it, it was out there on the Mount of Olives.
[00:46:30] And the glory of God had departed from Israel.
[00:46:37] And yet God promised one day
[00:46:42] The glory would return to this earth.
[00:46:47] That's right.
[00:46:48] God said one day, my glory again will dwell on this earth.
[00:46:57] And in a larger sense,
[00:46:59] That's what the whole Gospel of John has been about.
[00:47:02] And in John chapter 1, you remember how the whole book began.
[00:47:06] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, and you get down to verse 14 of that first chapter, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
[00:47:22] That's what we've just celebrated this week.
[00:47:25] When Jesus Christ was born,
[00:47:29] God's glory dwelt on this earth once again.
[00:47:34] And as you've seen Jesus living out his life through the Gospel of John that we've been studying, you see on display after display after display the glory of God.
[00:47:52] It was clear.
[00:47:55] The first miracle he performed, remember?
[00:48:00] He turned water into wine.
[00:48:03] The Bible says when He turned that water into wine, He was showing forth His glory.
[00:48:13] At the Mount of Transfiguration,
[00:48:16] What happened?
[00:48:17] You remember that all of the glory that was on the inside of Jesus was manifested to the outside of Jesus so that as Peter described it, they said that his face was shining like the brightness of the sun.
[00:48:39] And then there came that day that just outside Jerusalem
[00:48:47] They took this same Jesus up a hill called Golgotha and they nailed him to a cross.
[00:48:59] They took him down off that cross and they put him in a tomb for three days and three nights.
[00:49:09] And I'm just telling you, the glory of God in the person of Jesus
[00:49:19] was held captive in that tomb for those three days and three nights.
[00:49:28] But then on Resurrection Day, Resurrection Day, the glory of God came out of that grave.
[00:49:42] And then as you recall days later, at His Ascension,
[00:49:47] The Lord Jesus ascended back to the Father and listen to what they sang.
[00:49:53] If you go back, hold your finger here in John and go back to Psalm 24 for just a moment and you'll see what they sang in Psalm 24.
[00:50:05] We looked at this a couple of weeks ago, but it bears watching again.
[00:50:09] When you see it, he says in verse 7, Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be lifted up, you everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in.
[00:50:21] Verse 8 of Psalm 24, Who is this King of glory?
[00:50:25] The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
[00:50:28] Lift up your heads, O ye gates, lift up your everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in.
[00:50:35] Who is this king of glory?
[00:50:39] The Lord of hosts.
[00:50:42] He is the king of glory.
[00:50:49] And all through the Bible, you keep reading about the glory of God.
[00:50:56] But please don't miss it.
[00:50:58] It all came together in the person of the Lord Jesus.
[00:51:03] And here we find ourselves in John 17 reading this Jesus as he prays the glory the Father gave to him, he has given to us.
[00:51:20] And that means that you and I are connected to the very glory of God in Jesus.
[00:51:35] So I got a question for you.
[00:51:38] You ready?
[00:51:42] Do you know what sin really is?
[00:51:48] Do you know what your sin really is?
[00:51:55] It's the loss of the glory.
[00:52:01] It's the loss of the glory.
[00:52:05] Say, preacher, what do you mean?
[00:52:06] I mean when God created man.
[00:52:09] He clothed Adam and Eve in His glory.
[00:52:16] But when Adam and Eve sinned, what happened?
[00:52:20] They lost the glory, and that is why they had to make garments for themselves.
[00:52:26] They had lost the glory of God.
[00:52:31] Stop and think about it.
[00:52:33] Have you ever noticed how sin takes the blush of innocence away?
[00:52:43] Have you ever noticed how the presence of sin not only takes the blush of innocence away from the face, it places the stain of guilt on a soul?
[00:53:04] You see, what needs to be recognized more than anything on this last Sunday of 2025, as you anticipate a brand new year, is outside of Jesus Christ this morning people are stripped of the glory of God.
[00:53:29] That's important.
[00:53:31] That's extremely important.
[00:53:35] Outside of Jesus Christ, humanity is stripped of the glory of God.
[00:53:45] But that's why there's the great news of salvation.
[00:53:49] Because when we receive the Lord Jesus as Savior, that glory is restored to your life.
[00:53:58] Jesus puts the glory back in a life.
[00:54:03] To think that you and me, let's just be honest, who deserve to go to hell, can go to God's heaven and can receive everything that God has in store for us, there is no other word to describe that except glory.
[00:54:32] The glory of God.
[00:54:35] But look at that promise of verse 22.
[00:54:39] So important.
[00:54:41] And the glory which you gave me, I have given them, that they may be one just as we are one.
[00:54:55] Now, you may look at that verse and you may say, well preacher, that's great.
[00:54:59] That's a great promise.
[00:55:01] I see what you're saying.
[00:55:02] But if everything is so glorious,
[00:55:06] Why am I struggling now?
[00:55:09] That's a great question.
[00:55:11] If everything is so glorious and he said that the glory you've given me, I'm gonna give them, why do I feel like my life is such a struggle right now?
[00:55:22] Well, I'm glad you asked.
[00:55:23] Let me tell you, the second thing I want you to jot down is not only the promise of glory, but I want you to jot down the process of glory.
[00:55:32] Because when you look at verse 23,
[00:55:36] It begins to unfold.
[00:55:40] He says, I in them and you in me, that they may be made perfect in one, that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.
[00:55:57] Look at verse 23.
[00:55:58] Underline that in your Bible if it's not underlined.
[00:56:01] And I want you to notice the language.
[00:56:04] Do you see the process that's implied there?
[00:56:10] Two words I want you to circle or highlight or underline, and it's those words, made perfect.
[00:56:19] Made perfect.
[00:56:21] Because let's be honest, we're not all we ought to be right now.
[00:56:27] Amen?
[00:56:30] We're not all that we're going to be out there in the future.
[00:56:35] But God says right here in His Word that there is a change of conduct where we become more of what we ought to be and less of what we are.
[00:56:50] And that process is that word we've talked about a couple of times in this book.
[00:56:56] It's that word sanctification.
[00:56:59] Frankly, that's what sanctification is really all about.
[00:57:04] It's changing where God takes the glory from inside of us and gets that glory to the outside of us.
[00:57:14] In other words, God wants
[00:57:18] On a daily basis, sir, to display outwardly what you are inwardly.
[00:57:31] You got that?
[00:57:32] That's what I'm talking about.
[00:57:34] I'm talking to saved people this morning with this message, with this passage particularly.
[00:57:40] He is wanting on a daily basis to display outwardly what we are inwardly.
[00:57:48] And there's so much that we could talk about this process, but for the sake of time, let me just point out a couple of tools that God uses to help get the glory into our daily lives.
[00:58:00] So, hold your finger here in John and go forward to 2 Corinthians 3.18 for just a minute.
[00:58:08] Turn a couple books over, 2 Corinthians 3.18.
[00:58:15] Chapter 3 verse 18 of 2 Corinthians.
[00:58:19] The whole setting of this statement is built on the experience of Moses at Mount Sinai in the Old Testament.
[00:58:28] 2 Corinthians 3 verse 18.
[00:58:31] He said, But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord,
[00:58:41] are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
[00:58:52] Now, again, keep in mind that passage is going back to when Moses went up on Mount Sinai in the Old Testament.
[00:59:02] You remember what happened.
[00:59:04] Moses went up.
[00:59:05] He met God and the people were down below.
[00:59:08] And Moses being in the presence of God, his face radiated with the glory of God.
[00:59:19] In fact, it was like far worse than the worst sunburn you could ever imagine.
[00:59:25] It so radiated with the glory of God that when Moses came down, they had to put a veil over his face
[00:59:35] because it was radiating so from being in the presence of God.
[00:59:43] But then keep in mind that veil was there because it radiated so bright.
[00:59:52] There's another reason that veil was there because that glow faded over time.
[01:00:02] and Moses would have to go back to that mountain and he would come down and it'd fade and he'd go back up into the presence of God and he would have that glow and he would go back down and it would fade and he would go back it was all about being in God's presence now by the way there's a lot of people who are that way today
[01:00:31] They go to church on Sunday morning and they say, Preacher, I'm here.
[01:00:35] Give me some of that glory.
[01:00:37] And so you hear the music as the choir sings.
[01:00:40] We study God's Word together.
[01:00:42] Our hearts are lifted.
[01:00:43] Our focus is on heavenly things.
[01:00:45] We get in the presence of the Lord and you walk out of here after being at church on Sunday and you go, Whoo!
[01:00:51] What a day it has been!
[01:00:53] And the glory of the Lord is just covering you in a big way.
[01:01:00] But then,
[01:01:02] About Wednesday hits and that glory is fading.
[01:01:10] So what do we do?
[01:01:12] We come back to prayer meeting on Wednesday night.
[01:01:15] Well, some of you do and a few of you do.
[01:01:19] And you pray together and you sing together.
[01:01:23] You study God's Word together.
[01:01:26] And my goodness, before it's over, you go home and again the glow is back.
[01:01:34] The glory is back.
[01:01:38] But let me tell you something.
[01:01:42] It doesn't have to be that way.
[01:01:45] You say, what do you mean?
[01:01:47] It doesn't have to be Sunday to Wednesday to Sunday to whatever.
[01:01:52] You can get a dose of glory every day.
[01:01:56] That's what 2 Corinthians 3.18 is really all about.
[01:02:00] When he talks about, look at what he says there in that passage.
[01:02:05] When he tells us in verse 18, he said, But we all with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord.
[01:02:14] We behold in the Scriptures the glory of the Lord.
[01:02:18] and we're being transformed into the same image from glory to glory.
[01:02:24] He is saying that on a daily basis God will use the scripture to fill your life with his presence and his power and his glory.
[01:02:41] If you spend time in God's word every day
[01:02:48] Just a little bit.
[01:02:50] Having a personal quiet time.
[01:02:54] It's the way that the presence of God fills your life.
[01:03:04] Can I ask you a real honest gut check question?
[01:03:12] You ready?
[01:03:15] Does your life
[01:03:18] On the last Sunday of 2025, does your life radiate more of Jesus today than it radiated on the last Sunday of 2024?
[01:03:37] One year later, can you honestly say
[01:03:45] That your life today is radiating more of Jesus Christ than it radiated a year ago.
[01:03:58] God's given you a tool to glory.
[01:04:02] It's called the Scripture.
[01:04:06] But there's another tool.
[01:04:08] It's also right here in 2 Corinthians.
[01:04:11] Look down at just one chapter over from 2 Corinthians 3.
[01:04:16] Look at 2 Corinthians 4 and look at verse 17.
[01:04:21] It says, this is another tool, For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,
[01:04:31] is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
[01:04:41] Boy, underline that verse.
[01:04:43] You see what he's saying?
[01:04:45] Our light affliction.
[01:04:46] Well, it may not seem very light.
[01:04:51] You may have a heavy affliction this morning, or so it seems.
[01:04:56] But he says, our light affliction, which is but for a moment.
[01:05:01] You may say, preacher, it doesn't feel like a moment.
[01:05:04] It seems like a lot longer than a moment.
[01:05:08] But you do get what he's saying.
[01:05:11] He is saying, ladies and gentlemen, that the sorrow that we experience in this life, He is saying the sufferings that we experience in this life, that they are working out the glory that is in your life.
[01:05:27] In every heart this morning, I have no doubt, there's some sorrow somewhere.
[01:05:34] In every heart this morning, there is no doubt, some hurt.
[01:05:41] That's going on in there somewhere.
[01:05:44] For every heart this morning, there is some kind of affliction that you're dealing with this week.
[01:05:55] And can I tell you something that is so hard to grasp?
[01:06:03] But it really is true.
[01:06:06] God has greatly honored you.
[01:06:12] because he's given you that affliction to prepare you for a job that he truly believes you are able to do.
[01:06:31] That's the reason in Romans 8 verse 18 the Bible says clearly, listen,
[01:06:41] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
[01:06:57] Don't you love that?
[01:06:59] No matter what your suffering and sorrow is right now, it can't even compare.
[01:07:07] to the glory that God's going to get out of you and your life and what you faced.
[01:07:21] Ah, the promise of His glory, the process of His glory, and I close here.
[01:07:26] Look at verse 24, and I want you to notice the perfection of His glory.
[01:07:32] How is that glory made perfect?
[01:07:34] Well, look what he says in verse 24, Father, I desire they also whom you gave me may be with me where I am that they may behold my glory which you have given me.
[01:07:55] What's he saying about the future right there?
[01:08:00] I'm telling you, listen to me carefully.
[01:08:03] He's saying there will come a time in the future when we will see the glory of God in the person of Jesus Christ.
[01:08:17] Now, sir, ma'am, I'm going to be honest.
[01:08:21] You've never seen Jesus with your physical eyes.
[01:08:26] I've never seen Jesus with my physical eyes.
[01:08:30] I talk about him like I have.
[01:08:32] I pray about him like I have.
[01:08:35] I sing about him like I have.
[01:08:37] And I tell others about him like I have.
[01:08:41] But I've never seen Jesus with these physical eyes.
[01:08:51] But one of these days, according to he himself,
[01:08:57] We will see the Lord Jesus face to face.
[01:09:05] We will behold His glory.
[01:09:09] And not only will we see Him in all of His glory, we will share His glory.
[01:09:16] Have you ever thought about that?
[01:09:17] Here we are sinners who deserve a devil's hell.
[01:09:23] Here we are guilty, stained with sin, and yet Jesus comes into our hearts.
[01:09:30] He saves us, He changes us, and He says, one of these days, you will be with me in glory.
[01:09:43] What does that mean, Mark?
[01:09:46] What does that mean to me, to be in glory with Jesus?
[01:09:52] I'll tell you for one thing it means you're going to have a purified character.
[01:10:01] When you are sharing that glory with Jesus you'll be everything you ought to be.
[01:10:07] I mean when one of the angels
[01:10:10] wants to see a display of God's glory.
[01:10:13] You know what the Lord's gonna do?
[01:10:15] I think he'll take that angel to one of the saints and he'll say, do you see this saint who looks like the Lord Jesus?
[01:10:22] There was a day in this person's life that they were a hell-deserving, ungodly sinner and Jesus reached down and saved them by his grace and made that saint everything he is now.
[01:10:39] You'll be on display even for the angels to see.
[01:10:45] And I can almost imagine that all of heaven will let out a shout, glory to God in the highest, a display of God's glory.
[01:10:58] But not only are you going to have a purified character, you're going to have a perfect glorified body.
[01:11:09] And I just got to tell you the older you get the more precious that becomes.
[01:11:14] Amen?
[01:11:17] Because in 1 Corinthians 15 43 it says that it is sown in dishonor and it is raised in glory.
[01:11:26] We're going to have a resurrected glorified body like unto the Lord Jesus.
[01:11:34] That always reminds me of the story of the
[01:11:36] Farmer that lived way way in a rural area and his son and and wife and they went into the city one day and they had never been in one of those high-rise buildings before and they went in and they had never seen an elevator in their lives and and they stood back and just watched everything play out and they watched this little 85 year old lady just kind of ease up and ease into that elevator and the doors closed and they just watched and gone for a while about seven minutes later
[01:12:06] The doors opened back up and this beautiful 25-year-old gorgeous blonde walked out of there and that farmer turned to his son and said, go get your mama and let's run her through that thing.
[01:12:16] I've always thought in some ways that that could be a little bit what it's going to be like.
[01:12:25] We're going to have this glorified body.
[01:12:29] Think about it.
[01:12:30] In glory, the blind will be able to see.
[01:12:35] In glory the deaf will be able to hear.
[01:12:38] In glory the dumb will be able to sing.
[01:12:42] And in glory the crippled will be able to walk.
[01:12:46] All because of Jesus.
[01:12:51] All because of Jesus.
[01:12:54] And know what else?
[01:12:57] You're going to get to spend all of eternity in heaven.
[01:13:05] And friend, heaven is a real place.
[01:13:08] Just as real as Mooresville, North Carolina is a real place.
[01:13:13] Heaven is a real place.
[01:13:17] And that's why you and I need to remember that old song.
[01:13:23] Think of stepping on a shore and finding that it's heaven.
[01:13:29] Think of breathing new air and finding that it's celestial.
[01:13:35] Think of holding out a hand and taking a hand and finding that it's God's.
[01:13:45] Just think about waking up in glory and finding that you're home.
[01:13:55] Home.
[01:13:57] Home.
[01:14:00] Wouldn't you like to spend eternity with Jesus?
[01:14:06] One of these days everything I'm talking about is going to come to pass for every person in this building who has a relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
[01:14:30] You know you're a sinner.
[01:14:34] I'm testifying to you today that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sin.
[01:14:41] And if you will right now repent of your sin, place your faith in Jesus and Jesus alone, and surrender to Him as Lord of your life, you will be saved.
[01:15:03] Not my word for it.
[01:15:06] God's Word.
[01:15:09] If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
[01:15:21] Listen, you come to Jesus Christ, He'll put the glory in you.
[01:15:30] And one of these days, He'll put you in glory.
[01:15:37] Would you bow your heads right where you are, please?
[01:15:39] Heads bowed and eyes are closed all over the sanctuary.
[01:15:47] If you're here this morning and you've never trusted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, I mean, you know you need to.
[01:16:02] You know that there's a hunger and a thirst.
[01:16:06] In your soul this morning, and you need Christ as your Savior?
[01:16:13] In just a moment, Brother Grant's going to come and we're going to sing a hymn of invitation.
[01:16:20] And it is just that.
[01:16:21] It's the invitation that I'm offering to you today to say yes to Jesus.
[01:16:29] The invitation for you to be willing to lay it all down.
[01:16:34] Say, Lord, I do realize I'm a sinner.
[01:16:38] And right now, in this very moment, I understand I need a Savior.
[01:16:46] And I'm willing to turn away from my sin and place my faith in You and You alone.
[01:16:55] Lord Jesus, come into my heart.
[01:16:57] Would you just say that?
[01:16:58] Lord Jesus, come into my heart today.
[01:17:05] Father, there's no more important moment in an entire lifetime than the moment of conviction, the moment of repentance, and surrender.
[01:17:24] And Lord, if there's anybody listening to me by live stream, by delayed broadcast, or somebody listening to me right here in this building this morning,
[01:17:37] who is under conviction who is opening their heart right now to repent turn away from their sin and turn to you and then surrender it all to your Lordship Father would you do it in them this morning
[01:18:06] And may they know here they've been invited to come to Jesus.
[01:18:16] Lord guide this invitation.
[01:18:20] Whatever is on the hearts of your people today, may this altar be open and may they come and just get alone with you.
[01:18:28] Lord, on this last Sunday of the new year, when we ponder that question, are we radiating more of Jesus Christ today than we were on the last Sunday of 2024?
[01:18:38] Father, maybe today there's a believer here that wants to just get on this altar and commit this next year ahead to radiating the presence of Jesus as you sanctify us.
[01:18:55] and as you get more of what's inside of us to the outside reflecting the power and love of Jesus guide this invitation let us be found faithful in Jesus name amen would you stand to your feet brother grant comes to lead us this altar is open and we invite you to come

[01:19:56] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Sin in my heart O sin in my heart O sin in my heart O sin in my heart O sin in my heart
[01:20:45] In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
[01:21:00] Amen.

[01:21:21] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
My heart, O Jesus, is open wide.

[01:21:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
of Christ Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Archangel Michael, Archangel Michael, Archangel Michael, Archangel Michael

[01:22:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Well, amen and amen.
[01:22:19] God bless you.
[01:22:20] Thank you so much for worshiping with us today.
[01:22:22] I pray that the Lord has spoken to your heart and that you have let His Word just guide you and direct you as we finish out this year and look forward to a new year ahead.
[01:22:33] I do want to invite all of you to stick around for a reception that's going to be following.
[01:22:37] In fact, I'm going to invite Carol and her family, if you will, to go ahead and exit out here.
[01:22:42] And Brother Robert's going to be coming to close out our service, and Brother Grant to sing us out.
[01:22:47] And I'm going to let them slip on out and go to the fellowship hall.
[01:22:50] And then after we dismiss, we invite all of you to make your way to the fellowship hall so you can speak to Carol and her family and let them know how grateful you are
[01:23:00] I'm just thankful for all of you and for your faithfulness throughout this year.
[01:23:22] Glad to have some of our family here with us.
[01:23:23] We have two-thirds.
[01:23:24] We're glad that you're here and looking forward to a great year that God gives us in the year ahead as we trust Him and walk with Him and depend on Him.
[01:23:47] For His faithfulness in all that He does in and through us.
[01:23:52] Brother Robert, you come and close us this morning, and Brother Grant will sing us out.

[01:23:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Amen.
[01:23:58] Thank you, Pastor.
[01:23:59] In light of the message and in our dear sister Carol, benediction is inspired by her in a way.
[01:24:05] She shared with us her prayer every day driving to work over the last eight years was simply and powerfully this.
[01:24:12] Lord help me be Jesus covered over in flesh today.
[01:24:16] So Colossians chapter 1 verse 24, this is the word of the Lord.
[01:24:20] Now I rejoice in my suffering for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions.
[01:24:28] For the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations, but now revealed to his saints.
[01:24:46] To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
[01:24:59] Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom that we might present everyone mature in Christ.
[01:25:08] For this I toil, struggling with all his energy, that he powerfully works within me.
[01:25:15] For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face that their hearts may be encouraged being knit together in love to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery which is Christ.
[01:25:41] Would you pray with me?
[01:25:43] Holy Heavenly Father
[01:25:45] God that is our prayer today that you would allow this church to truly represent your body to be Jesus covered over in flesh help our words our thoughts our deeds our actions Lord the secret motivations and intentions of our heart may they be saturated with the gospel fill us with your glory and spill it out over to this community until you call us into glory we ask this in Christ's name amen

[01:26:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
The sweet, sweet Spirit in this place And I know that it's the Spirit of the Lord There are sweet expressions on each face And I know that it's the presence of the Lord
[01:26:53] Holy Spirit, sweet heavenly God, stay right here with us, filling us with your love.
[01:27:09] We lift our hearts in praise Without a doubt we'll know that we have been revived When we shall leave this place

[01:29:20] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen.