Why The Glory?
By Ed Delph

As a pastor of many years, I’ve always heard people talk about the glory. Comments like . . . “The glory of God really descended in that service” or “We’re here to see His glory” or “We want to feel His glory” are standard in many Pentacostal/Charismatic services or events. There are songs about this theme . . . “Let Your glory fall in this room, let it flow forth from here to the nations”. What does God want done with His glory? Why is there ‘glory’? What is the purpose of glory? Let’s explore this idea in this article.

Jesus prayed to the Father in Jn. 17:22 . . . “The glory You (the Father) and I have I gave to them (the disciples) THAT THEY MAY BE ONE.” It seems Jesus is saying that the purpose of glory is unity! The glory God and Jesus have in heaven was given to the whole church for unity. God gives His glory for unity! In other words, glory is purpose-driven. Glory is not the end or goal, but is the means to an end . . . unity! God gives His glory that the church (all the tribes) might present a united picture (the nation) to the community.

This is an amazing truth! How many of us have sought the glory for selfish reasons, to get a buzz, or to have authentication of our church or ministry? We’ve sought the ‘form’, the experience, the feeling, but have failed to see the real reason behind the glory . . . unity.

In Jn. 17:26(a) Jesus says . . . “Father, I came to make You known” . . . That’s quite a principle. All Jesus wants to do is make the Father known . . . not himself. All He wants to do is give glory to the Father, not take glory for Himself. That’s what glory does . . . it makes the Father, Son and Holy Spirit so united you can’t even tell when One stops and the Other starts. That’s what the Bible calls Elohim, the Trinity, the Three-In-One.

Just think of the possibilities at a marriage if all the husband wants to do is make his wife “known” and all the wife wants to do is make her husband “known”. One wants to give the glory to the other so much that they become one! What about churches in the city? Wouldn’t it be amazing if all the Baptist church wanted to do was make the Pentacostal church ‘known’ and vice versa. Could you imagine what the community would think if the Methodist pastor says to his church . . . “Did you hear how the Presbyterians fed the poor?” . . .and the Presbyterian pastor says to his church . . . “Did you hear how the Methodists cleaned up the park in town?” Get the message? The glory of God is for unity . . . to give glory to God and others! Glory is not a ‘commodity’ to be consumed . . . it’s a treasure to be given away! Glory hoarded is glory lost!

Sad to say the testimony of most is what Jesus said to the leaders of Israel . . . “you seek after your own glory, you take glory for yourselves.” That’s really a testimony of many in today’s church . . . taking God’s glory and using it in a self-styled manner. The right thing for the wrong reasons! Many have said glory to God, but would never ever build up the person next to them, the church next to them, or the pastor next to them. In fact, so many seem to promote themselves, their churches, their agenda, using the ‘glory’ as a marketing tool. Wouldn’t it be awesome and wouldn’t we be awesome if we all could use the glory for unity? Perhaps then the earth would be filled with the knowledge of the glory (through unity) just like the waters cover the sea!