HIS GLORY
“The Intentional, Passionate, Pursuit” In our secular world, life is a constant quest in pursuit of man’s desire for personal glory; whether that be in the form of wealth, education, fame, family, or other things. Although it is said that the desire to make history is an everlasting human goal, many have failed to realize this dream. This intensely human desire propels us to an intentional passionate pursuit of our respective life ambitions, to be better than our parents, our neighbors, our peers and everyone else. Just as those in the world are in pursuit of the things of this present world, the child of God must be in pursuit of the glory of God. “If he then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:1-2 Our focus must be on that which really matters - the pursuit of God’s Glory. This glory is not limited to the salvation experience, but our desire to become like Him; changed according to His standards. In biblical terms this is actually the pursuit of righteousness; to acquire His characteristics so that we might ultimately stand in His presence. Are we truly seeking God’s Glory or are we pursuing our own agenda? Have we considered what it requires to pursue and attain God’s Glory? Do our lives reflect His Glory, and are we actually passionate and intentional in our pursuit? To reach our potential we must continue to grow; to grow we must be intentional. Emotional and spiritual growth will never happen by accident; they have always been, and will always be achieved only by a commitment to being intentional. The following ‘giants’ of the Bible were great only because of their passionate pursuit of relationship with God: David expressed his personal passion for the God of Israel when he sang, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for you, Oh, God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.” Paul boldly declares, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” John the Beloved in painting a word portrait of the Last Supper declares his passion for the person of Jesus Christ, “Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of the disciples, whom Jesus loved.” Peter was discouraged from having failed in his commitment, yet Jesus asked him, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.” With these very words he began the re-ignition of his passion for Jesus. Peter, David, Paul, and John, believed that a personal, passionate pursuit of God’s purifying presence, propels us into our powerful purpose in Christ. The Apostles were intentional about their pursuit although they understood that the cost was great. They knew that their blessings in this life would outweigh the difficulties they would face, and that eternity with God far surpasses anything else. Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” Luke 18:28-30 The Apostle Paul sums up his view of the comparison between our cost and the benefits of submission to the Gospel of Jesus: “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Rom. 8:18
SUMMIT SCHEDULE
SUMMIT
HOSTS Pastor S. Robert & Sis Jennifer Stewart Dr. David Hamilton 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, 2014 HIS GLORY IN PERSPECTIVE Exodus 33:18-19
God’s glory is often associated with manifestations of the outpouring of the spirit in our worship services; manifestations such as visible light, thunderbolts, fire, smoke, and brightness. However, few believers truly understand what His Glory really is. Understanding His Glory is essential in developing an intentional pursuit of God – to know Him - the realization of His promises for us, our understanding and pursuit of our potential, and to gaining the ultimate prize of entering His Kingdom.
Pastor Alan Todd 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 19, 2014 THE INTENTIONAL PURSUIT Philippians 3:12
The Apostle Paul, in Philippians 3:12, outlines several related aspects to an intentional pursuit of Christ: (1) by realizing you have not arrived (2) by understanding that that is the reason Christ has taken hold of you (3) by forgetting things in the past and striving toward things ahead (4) by understanding it as the prize of an upward call (5) by living up to the standard already achieved. Christ first pursued us and we must now pursue him. If we are going to live the Christian life God calls us to, we must be intentional.
Pastor Devon Dawson 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. - Friday, June 20, 2014 THE PRICE OF PURSUING HIS GLORY Colossians 1:24-29
At one time he held the favor of Pharaoh. He looked daily upon this mighty ruler’s face and enjoyed the best the world’s system had to offer. But Moses wanted to see the invisible God in all of His glory. He chose, “...To suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt...” Hebrews 11:25-26.
Pastor Alan Todd 11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. - Friday, June 20, 2014 THE PASSION PARADIGM Luke 10:38-42
God used the stories of two well-known women in the Bible, Martha and Mary, to demonstrate the type of relationship He wants with each of us. The two sisters had contrasting approaches to their pursuit of Jesus - and thus got different results. Martha was busy with the chores of the house to please Him. Mary spent time alone worshipping at Jesus’ feet.
Dr. David Hamilton 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 20, 2014 PERPETUAL INTIMACY Psalm 42:1
The pursuit of His Glory can never be realized without knowing Jesus intimately. However, intimacy should not be determined simply by our feelings or the pleasure of a single moment with Him. The test of intimacy is seen in a perpetual pursuit and sustained relationship in which we are locked into a “forever relationship” that cannot be severed despite the circumstances.
Pastor Devon Dawson 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon Saturday, June 21, 2014 THE GLORY DILEMMA – MINE OR HIS? Isaiah 42:8
One of the challenges of the church in the 21st century is not the growth of the church, but the health of the church. Through the years, we have witnessed the growth of the church physically in terms of church buildings, exponentially in terms of numerical growth, and financially. Have we become so obsessed with “our glory” – that which we have built and achieved, instead of the Glory of God being manifest in our lives and the lives of those to whom we minister? Are we more concerned with numerical growth than individual personal growth? Are we more concerned with programs than the presence of God?
DRAMA PRODUCTION - “THE CHASE” 7:00 P.M. Saturday, June 21, 2014
Pastor Michael Boyd 10:00 a.m. Sunday School - Sunday June 22, 2014 REFLECTING HIS GLORY II Corinthians 3:18
The persistent pursuit of His Glory brings us into a relationship and fellowship with God that causes us to reflect His image. If we claim to have relationship and we are not reflectors of His Glory then we need a spiritual check-up.
Minister Mark Brown 11:00 a.m. Morning Worship HE REIGNS – BEGINNING & ENDING John 17:1-5
The Glory of God starts and ends with Him. There can be no Glory without Him. His reign is from everlasting to everlasting. He reigns as the King who summons us, His subjects. We can only pursue Him after He has first called us. We then have to acknowledge that “God is” - whoever He says He is. To begin the pursuit, we have to make Jesus king of our lives. The cycle of the pursuit begins and ends with His Reign. REIGN - PURSUIT - REFLECTION - REIGN.
Pastor John Mark Bartlett 7:30 P.M. Evening Service HIS GLORY REVEALED Isaiah 40:4-5
The prophecy in Isaiah 40:4-5 gives us the requirements that must be met for the glory of the Lord to be revealed. “Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; and let the rough ground become a plain, and the rugged terrain a broad valley; then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” In that day we will see the glory of the Lord; we will see the fulfillment of that which we formerly saw by faith. You and I will be either spectators or demonstrators of His glory. Our present-day sufferings will seem like nothing in comparison with the glory that will be revealed.