Focusing on the Future - Lesson 11 - Saints Glorified

II Thes. 1:10-12, ‘When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.’

Christ is to be glorified in His saints
as the element that shines light through us
and as the mirror in which His glory shall shine bright
where the Father should be able to see His Son’s reflection.

For the wonderful glory of Christ is to be shining in us.
And all believers will look upon His approaching
with wonder, reverence and admiration.


Psalm 89:6-11, ‘For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee? Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them. Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm. The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.’


Did anyone watch the Opening Ceremony of the recent Olympics?

It was a few months after September 11th.
The Olympic promoter told a powerful story of the spirit of America.
About the wake up call America received.
And how we rose to the occasion.

It was at this point they wanted to show support and honor to a few.
They invited Mayor Rudy Guillani and President George Bush on stage.
To give them some honor for rising to the occasion,
That no one could have prepared for.

They were given honor.

They then played a video with all the images we were glued to on the TV.
They stirred up emotions that we started to forget…
The images of terrorism and the images of heroism.

After the video a round of applause was handed over to the President and the Mayor.
To let them know that we are thankful,
And support them.

When the applause died down,
The lights dimmed,
The 50 thousand in attendance grew silent,
And a spot light fell on the entrance to the stadium.

8 Olympic hopefuls had a hand on the flag.
The flag we all remember from September 11th.
The flag we remember falling into the cloud of smoke…
As the last tower collapsed.

And here it was from the wreckage.
Ripped, Torn and showing its battle scars.
Being lifted up and carried with all the reverence it deserved.

After the ceremony one of the flag bearers gave testimony.
He commented about the amazing silence in the outdoor arena.
They were outside, under the stars, with 50 thousand people watching.
And all he could hear was the squeaking of his shoes.
And I was sitting on my couch with tears in my eyes.

I can imagine how the President and the Mayor felt,
“I’m not worthy.”

Why do I tell that story?

We aren’t worthy of the blessings we get.
But we do receive blessings when we do what the Lord asks us to do.
Even if the results obtained aren’t what we expected.
He will reward us for doing what He asked.

We dedicate our children to Him.
We dedicate our day to Him.
We dedicate our lives to Him.
Shouldn’t we also expect Him to produce the results?


Saints Glorified


Romans 8:17, ‘And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.’

If so be that we suffer with him;
deny ourselves for His sake,
meet with calmness and bear with patience the trials
which he brings upon us,

And do whatever is needful to honor Him
and do good to men.
That we may be also glorified together;


Colossians 3:4, ‘When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.’


Saints Contrasted with Sinners

Proverbs 10:25, ‘As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.’

The whirlwind is only remembered by the ruin which it leaves behind it,
and this is also true of a wicked person;
but the reputation of a good man
can be compared to an ancient castle,
whose deep foundations stand the test of time,
and remain as enduring monuments from age to age.


Proverbs 11:5, ‘The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.’

The Lord will make our way plain,
so that he shall have no occasion of stumbling.
Where wicked ways are not plain
We will surely stumble,
Our sin will find us out.


Proverbs 15:6, ‘In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.’

The blessing of God makes the possessions of the righteous man,
be they great or small, a source of comfort and usefulness to Him.

Pastor Paul taught us that a true measure of our success
is to count all that we have which cannot be replaced
if they were destroyed in a fire.

Are you successful? What are your treasures?

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