"For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." (Mark 8:38)
When Jesus comes back, He is going to come in glory. The Bible says that the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout and there will be a cloud.
What's kind of cloud is it talking about? Humidity? No, it's not talking about moisture content. It's not talking about that kind of a cloud. It's talking about the glory cloud. It's talking about the awesome, radiant presence of God. Do you want to be there? Do you want to walk in God's glory?
The devil tempted Jesus.
"Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, ‘All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.'" (Luke 4:5-6)
The devil was saying to Jesus (Who was the Son of God), "You remember Adam and Eve, Your creation? They had the glory! Well, they sinned, and it's been delivered to me! And I'll give their glory (he's talking about our glory – the glory of man), I'll give that glory to You, if you will fall down and worship me. Because that's my glory and I will give it to whoever I want to give it to."
One thing you need to remember about the devil – he's a liar. Also remember, it is impossible for God to lie. Likewise, it is impossible for the devil to tell the truth. The devil did not have our glory. The glory that we have on the earth today, the glory that was restored to us by Jesus, was not given to us by the devil. The devil has never had it. In John 17 Jesus is talking to the Father. He says, "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one. . ."
In Luke chapter nine, the Bible records the transfiguration of Jesus. "And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him.
"Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah' – not knowing what he said.
"While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!' When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen. (Luke 9:30-36)
When Jesus was transfigured, the Bible tells us there was a cloud there. That cloud was His glory. We can find all through the Word where the glory appeared like a cloud.
"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." (John 1:14)
When Jesus was in Cana He turned the water into wine. "This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him." (John 2:11) Some people read past that. Not only did He turn the water into wine, but He manifested His glory and His disciples believed in Him. So now, all of a sudden, Jesus' disciples believed in Him after He did his first miracle.
I have heard it taught that the reason they believed in Him was because he turned the water into wine. But the scripture tells us that not only did He turn the water into wine, but He manifested His glory. You may say, "Well that may not mean that they saw His glory." When it said His glory was manifested, that meant they saw something. They saw the power, the saw the visible power of God.
The Glory is the manifested presence of God.
Devotion 0133