The Spirit of Glory - Dr. Ezekiah Francis

The Spirit of God can be compared to fire. On the day of Pentecost, He descended upon those in the upper chamber like divided tongues of fire. (Ac.2:3.4) Every time the Divine Glory came, either fire or cloud was seen. I believe that was the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Another beautiful name that the Spirit has in the Bible is the 'Spirit of Glory'. (1.Pe.4:14). In the book of Exodus, the Glory of God appeared as either fire or cloud or a pillar of fire. At times, the Father and the Son appeared on that. However, the cloud that brought the presence of God was the Holy Spirit. He is the Spirit of Glory.

Apparition in the bush

God came down from heaven to deliver His people from the hands of the Egyptians. We read this episode in the third chapter of 'Exodus'. Moses came up to the mountain of God, Horeb, pasturing the flock. 'And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in the blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed' (Ex:3:2). The angel of the Lord Who appeared to Moses here was the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the Bible scholars.

We meet with the Triune God here. He said, revealing Himself, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob". (Ex.3:6). It was, in fact, the Holy Spirit who brought the Father and the Son to Moses. The bush began to burn in His divine presence. The major function of the Holy Spirit is to manifest the Father and the Son to men. No one can see the Father or Son without the help of the Holy Spirit. Nor can they hear their voice. Only those filled in the spirit can look into the heavenly realm.

In the Spirit

John was 'in the Spirit' before he could peep into the heavenly realm. (Rev.1: 10) He could hear the heavenly voice and see the vision of Jesus Christ only after coming into the power of the Holy Spirit. Again, he had a glimpse of the throne and the One sitting on the throne; he saw the twenty four elders, the angels, and many other heavenly visions. But only when he was 'in the Spirit' (Rev. 4: 2)

Heavenly Vehicle

It is common knowledge that vehicles carry us from one place to another. The spacecraft takes us to the moon. The aero-plane carries us to several places. The Holy Spirit is like a heavenly vehicle that takes us to the presence of the Father and the Son. We saw that in the burning bush. First, the flame appeared in the bush. Amidst that, Christ, the Angel of God appeared. The Holy Spirit carries us into the presence of God the Father and God the Son. In the same way, He is the Carrier who brings the Father and the Son to us.

Jesus said, "And I will ask the Father and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever…. I will not leave you as orphans; I'll come to you". (Jn.14:16,18).

Christ said that the Holy Spirit the comforter would go to you. In the same breath, He added that He would go to them as well. What does it mean? It means that when the Holy Spirit comes, Jesus Christ comes along with Him. In other words, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ, Himself.

Listen to what Christ said further: "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word; and My Father will love him; and we will come to him and make our abode with him". (Jn.14:24) Does it not make it abundantly clear the Father and the Son also come to us when the Spirit of God comes to us? Do we not refer to the Spirit of God as the Spirit of Father, as well?

There is therefore ample proof to say that every time the Spirit of God appeared to the Israelite in fire or in cloud, God the Father and the Son also came with Him.

Through the pillar of fire & cloud

Just recall the episode of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. The formidable Egyptian army was at their heels. God had already decided to annihilate that army. "And it came about at the morning watch, the Lord looked down on the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud and brought the army of the Egyptians into confusion." (Ex.14:24) God caused chaos and confusion in the camp of the Egyptians with the help of the Holy Spirit.

When the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, the Holy Spirit also came along in smoke and fire. (Ex. 19: 18) When Moses went up the mountain, the Triune God dealt with him. God the Father called him to go up on the mount. Christ, as 'Word of God' was heard by Moses. The whole mount was surrounded with fire.

I will be very happy if you understand the truth, I am trying to explain. A man filled with the Holy Spirit alone can hear the voice of the Father and the vision of Christ. Only the Holy Spirit can bring the heaven to the earth. He alone can open the eyes of our inner man and show us the heavenly visions. The Spirit of God brings the Father and the Son to live within us. He is the one who covers us with the glory of the Father and that of the Son. That explains why He was called the Spirit of Glory (1.Pe.4:14). In fact, any one who has no fellowship with the Holy Spirit will have nothing to do with God.

Yes, my beloved, do you long to see what the early saints saw? Do you earnestly seek to see Jesus face to face? Does your heart pine for the voice of the Most High? Do you desire to see the glory of God like king David? If your answer is 'yes' to all these queries, then you certainly need the favor of the Holy Spirit. He alone is capable of fulfilling your desire.

All the biblical saints enjoyed the heavenly experiences only through the Spirit of God. This is the secret of Moses seeing God and hearing His voice. All the patriarchs saw God and heard His voice because the Holy Spirit had anointed them. Do we not seek the assistance of someone closer to an important man when we desire fellowship with him? Those who are desirous of praying with me seek the good offices of my brother. If he takes a fancy for that person, he somehow brings him to me.

This is how the Holy Spirit acts also. If you are filled in Spirit, He brings you to the Father and the Son without any problem. He alone can bring the Father and the Son to where we are.

Now let us briefly go over what happens when the Spirit of God comes upon us in the form of fire.

Bush that burns

See the importance that the bush received in the wilderness. Moses must have seen that every time he passed that way. Nevertheless, suddenly it became very important. It started glowing. It dazzled like gold. He could not believe his eyes. What happened to that bush? How did it gain that dazzling brilliance? We know that a thorn symbolizes a curse. However, that bush became very special that day! It acquired such importance that it was a red-letter day in Moses' life. Thousand of believers even today meditate upon the glory that came to rest upon that bush! This glory came upon the bush because of the Holy presence oh! God.

Yes, my beloved. If you are not filled in the Holy Spirit, you are more like a bushy growth.

Your life will be a wasted one. You are of no use to anybody unless His light shines upon you. Without the presence of the Holy Spirit, anybody's life is a cursed one. However, if the Holy Spirit begins to shine upon you, those curses become blessings.

Do not be dismayed if your life is devoid of the fruit of the Spirit. Fear not if your life is very dry. If only you allow the Holy Spirit to shine upon you with His Divine Fire. In a fraction of a second, you will be transformed into dazzling golden plant. Every one will look up to you.

Check with any man God has exalted. They will all agree that they are nothing but a bushy growth but for the Spirit of God shining upon them. No one will cast a second glance at me if the Holy Spirit of God is not upon me. It is not my talents that draw people to me; nor are they my people-skills. It is the fire of God that is burning with in me. I realize this better than anyone else does.

Just imagine. What, if the Divine Presence of God is not in you? You will not only not have that charisma, but also become a scandal and stumbling stone to others. It is all right if the bush is not useful; but what if it hurts any one who comes near it. That is how a life devoid of Holy Spirit hurts and wounds many.

In my youth

As a student in the college, I was very thin when compared to many other students. I did not get my due respect. Many mistook me for a school-boy. There were occasions when I was physically stopped while proceeding to the Church and asked to join the children’s Sunday school! It was very delicate and embarrassing.

Not for very long, though. Soon the presence of God began to swell within me and the Spirit of God filled me mightily. God opened the road for my ministry. Invitations came from several quarters.

Whenever I received a call, I would proceed to that church to preach, alone. Calm and composed externally, I would shiver internally because of my poor self-image. The very thought of what those that invited me would think on seeing my small-build sent shivers up my spine.

Very often, the reception would be very casual. It would be rather callous, bordering even on being cold. However, once the Holy Spirit starts ministering through me, there would be a visible change in their attitude. Their initial apathy would soon give way to bewilderment. There were several occasions when the organizers would come to me at the end of the ministry and conveyed their regrets for slighting me. Many who had displayed a condescending attitude initially had told me later that the Holy Spirit dealt with them and that they could feel the presence of God during the ministry.

New doors opened to go abroad and minister even when I was quite young. I really worried when I went to Germany for the first time. However, because the fire of the Holy Spirit was burning within me, people started receiving me well.

Yes, brethren, Holy Spirit indeed changes the thorny life into a glorious life. I have seen what would happen in a man's life if the Holy Spirit honors him. People just overwhelm me with their love and respect.

Is your life full of pains, my beloved? Fear not. The Spirit of God is going to take you places and honor you. Those that despised you until yesterday will suddenly start singing your praises. Do not forget the esteem that the bush received.

May be that Moses had struck the bush with his rod just the previous day, pushing it aside, without giving a second thought to it. However, today he was wonder struck before that very bush. It made a lasting impact in his mind. Glory, Hallelujah!

Praise the Holy Spirit with a grateful heart, saying, "O Spirit of God, Had you not come into my life and brightened it, my entire life would have been a waste like a thorny bush. You have brightened my life and given me recognition. I praise You, Lord".

Reveals Christ

The Holy Spirit appeared as burning flame and revealed Christ to Moses. Today He reveals Christ to us. One of the major functions of the Holy Spirit is to lead the sinful man to the Savior. He is the One who glorifies Christ (Jn.16:14). It is because of the Holy Spirit that Christ has become our own. He made it possible for us to partake of the blessings of Mt. Calvary.

Divine Voice

The voice of the Angel of the Lord was heard from the burning bush. Yes, it is the Holy Spirit Who enables us to hear the voice of God. He is like the spokesman of the heaven. Without His help, we cannot hear the voice of either the Father or the Son.

In other words, He is like the ladder between the heaven and the earth and brings the heaven down to the earth. He brought the word of The Father to Jesus while He was on this earth. It is not an exaggeration to say that He is the Spokesperson of the Triune God.