soli deo gloria

"All Glory to Him Alone"

Glory is defined as magnificence, great beauty, fame, renoun, prestige and praise. It's also defined as high renown or honor won by notable achievements. Let's be honest, everyone wants glory. Everyone is looking for some sort of attention, appreciation, or affirmation. Why? It's because we were literally created in God's image and likeness. He is where we get our personalities and genetic makeup. I remember my BC (before Christ) days as a collegiate athlete. I trained so hard, for so long, more than everyone else because I wanted all the glory. I wanted the crowd to not only know Andrew Dikas's name but to scream it. I wanted to be the go-to guy and leader. The one people could count on. I wanted the ball when it was time to take the big shot. I ended up becoming that guy for my team and had some big moments. I experienced a level of success by God's grace though I hadn't "known" Him yet. But my senior year of college, everything radically changed. My college coach used to witness to me about Jesus, along with the athletic director and even my girlfriend at the time. I was always curious about the things of God but never took it serious until I heard the Scripture about Jesus being, "The Resurrection and the Life." I had lost a close family member who was very godly but this verse helped me understand more about what happens to God's people when they die. They don't really die, they live forever through Jesus Christ because He Himself is eternal Life! I ended up giving my life to Christ and got filled with the Holy Spirit during one of the praise and worship services. Can you imagine a 6'4 205 guy with hands lifted, weeping, and on his knees. It was crazy but I wasn't the same after. I ended up having a great season and played professionally for years afterwards. I definitely still had my issues but God's grace sustained me as I sought to bring Him glory with my life. It still wasn't until a few years ago that I TRULY TRULY surrendered to God fully to serve Him though. God is patient with us during our process, so just trust Him and love Him. (Side note- the more you surrender and seek after Him, the more healing, wholeness, and blessing comes into your life. The best version of you.) Know that our lives are in His hands, and His desire is to be glorified in our lives at the highest level possible. The more we surrender to His plan, the better because EVERYTHING comes from Him, and exists by His power, and is INTENDED for His glory. Before Christ, it was all about my own glory. In Christ, our lives literally are all about bringing Him ALL THE GLORY....! 

The Book of Revelation boils down to worship, fearing God and giving Him Glory. 

Take the time to slowly read these verses and we will discuss a few reasons why, All glory and honor belongs to Jesus Christ:

‭Revelation 1:4-6

[4] This letter is from John to the seven churches in the province of Asia. Grace and peace to you from the One who is, who always was, and who is still to come; from the sevenfold Spirit before His throne; [5] and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful Witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the Ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. [6] He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to Him forever and ever! Amen.

John, the Apostle of Love/Intimacy, writes to us from the obscure island of Patmos. He was exiled and sent there, a place for criminals, because they literally could not kill him, though they tried. I believe John was chosen write the Book of Revelation because He had the greatest revelation of the love of Christ. He himself wrote that he was the disciple whom Jesus loved, lol, even though He loved them all equally, eternally (John 13:1). Perhaps John knew, believed, and understood it the most out of all the disciples. May you too, understand Christ’s eternal love for you (Jeremiah 31:3; John 17:23; 1 John 4:19)…! John extends grace to us from the One who is, always was, and is still to come, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Jesus is God, the faithful Witness, and the first to rise from the dead. Understand that His resurrection is also our resurrection too. Even though we were dead in sin, we (all true believers together) have been raised up with Him, and are seated with Him as co-heirs in the heavenly places, spiritually speaking. And the major statement by John we are looking at is "Verse 5- All glory to Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding His blood for us."

Yes, all glory to Jesus WHO LOVES US. As you're reading this, understand that the glorious One. The eternal One. The faithful One. The Almighty One. The beautiful One. The famous God of the Bible. The Word of God Himself LOVES YOU. The whole Bible is basically about God's love for us. And just like Sade says in her song, "This is no ordinary love." You tell me anyone you know right now, that's ready and willing to not only die for you, but suffer terribly, excessive and excruciating pain for you. Jesus experienced physical death so that we could experience spiritual life. And, He did this while we were His enemies! He demonstrated His love for us even while we were yet sinners! God made Him who never sinned literally BECOME OUR SIN. He didn't only die for our sin, He became it, beloved. And He has set you FREE. The next part says, that He has freed us from our sin by the shedding of His own blood. According to the Old Covenant Law, almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Heb. 9:22). The blood of bulls and goats used to temporarily purify the people from their sins in the OT. But the problem was that those sacrifices could not take away the people's sins so that the people could enjoy lasting fellowship with God. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world by His one ultimate sacrifice, for all time (John 1:29; Hebrews 10:12, 14)! Glory to God! I want you to understand that His one-time sacrifice has PERFECTED you forever in the Spiritual realm! For real! So God sees Jesus perfect life when He looks at you because we are New Creations in Christ! That's why we pray in Jesus Name only....! (Take a moment to praise your great God). When He said, “It is finished”, Jesus was speaking of the work He was sent here on Earth to do. The work of redeeming His people, His bride and prized possession (YOU and ME). The veil, the heavy curtain in the temple at Jerusalem WAS TORN from top to bottom when the Son of God died. At this moment, God reached down and removed this barrier Himself, TEARING it from top to bottom. Now, no earthly priest is needed to intercede for our forgiveness. ANYONE may enter God’s presence by way of Jesus’ blood, shed to PAY the WAGES of our SINS!

“ And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.”- Hebrews 10:19-20/Also see Romans 6:23

So the reason why we glorify God is because of who He is and what He's accomplished on our behalf. We live for Him because He died for us. Lastly, He has made us kings/queens and priest's, or together a Royal Priesthood for His God and Father. Catch that. HE MADE US what we are. Royalty. Called out of the darkness of sin, into the marvelous LIGHT of His LOVE to proclaim His praises to the whole world. Proclaim that He saves. Proclaim that He redeems. Proclaim His love. Proclaim His glory. Proclaim His story. Proclaim that He lives and that He is Lord. And proclaim to all that He is indeed coming soon!

And we say, even so come, Lord Jesus!

May God's grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with undying and incorruptible Love.

“Andrew desires to see people saved, encouraged, and empowered by the mighty God who loves them. He ultimately writes to help people form a deep and lasting relationship with God.”