In Isaiah, God continually speaks of His Glory, His Power, & His Help for His people…

“Arise, shine! For your light has come, & the glory of Jehovah is risen upon you.” Isaiah 60:1

Arise… to stand up, to become powerful, to be confirmed…

“Shine”… to light up, to illuminate,

  • We’ve reason to stand up;

    Because our light has come… Christ has come, with the gospel of salvation!

    “I’m come into the world [as] light, that every one that believes on me may not abide in darkness;”  John 12:46 Jesus said “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
  • We’ve a responsibility to stand up;

    For the purposes of God; Purposes both here on earth, and in the heavenly realm;

    Purposes of God On Earth…

    – Because the glory of Jehovah has risen upon us! “You’re the light of the world: a city situated on the top of a mountain can’t be hid.” Matthew 5:14 “Do all things without murmurings and reasonings, that you may be harmless and simple, irreproachable children of God in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation; among whom you appear as lights in the world,” Philippians 2:14-15 Not appearing as lights because of any strength in ourselves, but, appearing as lights expressing Christ’s glory, when we do as it says in verse 16… “holding forth the word of life,” Holy Scripture, is Christ! He’s The Word that became flesh and dwelt among us. Ref. John 1:14, and as the Church is His body, the Church is a visible expression of God’s glory in Christ.

    2 Cori 4:6 “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

    The Saints have responsibility to express His glory, as stated in Acts 13:47, where He has commanded us saying “I have set you for a light of the nations, that you should be for salvation to the end of the earth.”

    The purpose of God in the Heavenly Realm

    Ephesians 3:8-11 “To me, less than the least of all saints, has this grace been given, to announce among the nations the glad tidings of the unsearchable riches of the Christ, and to enlighten all with the knowledge of what is the administration of the mystery hidden throughout the ages in God, who has created all things,  in order that now to the principalities and authorities in the heavenlies might be made known through the assembly the all-various wisdom of God, according to [the] purpose of the ages, which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord”It’s a common tendency of the “old man” to seek to be noticed, whether for physical ability, “intelligence”, acumen, wealth, relationship to another, or even in some perceived spiritual strength, but it’s wise to recognise that any ability of man, is subject to God’s granting it to be so.

    One such example of this fact, is the account of King Nebuchadnezzar, who walked proudly in his palace and stated… “Isn’t this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” Daniel 4:30.

    God then separated Nebuchadnezzar from “his” intelligence, leaving him with just enough to allow him to walk on all fours, and eat grass as a beast for a period of time, until He was granted enough intelligence to look up, and in doing so, he was recognising where his intelligence had come from, then God reinstated his intelligence and kingdom as before; v34 “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up my eyes unto heaven, and my understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that lives for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:”.

    Humility before God, recognises our responsibility, His provision, & His glory;

    and is obedient to His will.1 Corinthians 15:24 “Then the end, when he gives up the kingdom to him [who is] God and Father; when he shall have annulled all rule and all authority and power.25 For he must reign until he put all enemies under his feet.26 [The] last enemy [that] is annulled [is] death.27 For he has put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he says that all things are put in subjection, [it is] evident that [it is] except him who put all things in subjection to him.28 But when all things shall have been brought into subjection to him, then the Son also himself shall be placed in subjection to him who put all things in subjection to him, that God may be all in all.”And yet, with all His glory, power and authority, God is eternally generous to the saints: Two of many selfless blessings to the saints through Christ, are mentioned in 1 John 1:7 “if we walk in the light as *he* is in the light, we will have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.”. 1- To have the blessing of sharing of the joys of salvation and appreciation for God, with fellow saints, this is Godly fellowship! 2- The cleansing of our minds & hearts, from the stain of sin. Without this, cleansing, there can be depressing feelings of guilt, of worthlessness, or feelings of hardheartedness toward other Saints, and reduction in fellowship with God & the brethren, even manifesting in accusations against the brethren, which is characteristic of Satan.All of these conditions leave one in a state of separation from God’s peace. But if we walk in The Lord, by praying, confessing our sin to Him, reading His Word, singing praise to Him…, we have fellowship with Him and His Saints.
  • Our understanding of Gods Glory and plans…Despite the extensive revelation of Gods glory in His creation, and as described throughout His Word, which is perceived through understanding provided by Holy Spirit; We can still only appreciate an infinitesimal* portion of Gods glory…

         *Dictionary definition … an indefinitely small quantity; a value approaching zero.

But what a treasure it is, to look into the Word and glimpse any portion of it; It’s enough to make the Saints Arise & Shine; “for your light has come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon you.“