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                  The Effects of Seeing The Glory of God!

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By David Wilkerson
June 21, 1999
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          Scripture makes clear that it's possible for every true
          follower of Jesus to see and understand the glory of
          God. Indeed, our Lord reveals his glory to all who ask
          and seek for it diligently. Moreover, I believe the
          revelation of God's glory will equip his people for the
          perilous days ahead. Paul states that this revelation
          "...is able to build you up, and to give you an
          inheritance among all them which are sanctified" (Acts
          20:32).

          Contrary to some Christians' thinking, the glory of God
          is not a physical manifestation of some kind. It's not
          an ecstatic feeling that overcomes you. Nor is it a
          kind of supernatural aura or angelic light that bursts
          forth. Simply put, God's glory is a revelation of his
          nature and attributes!

          The Lord himself defines his glory this way in
          scripture. Therefore, when we pray, "Lord, show me your
          glory," we're actually praying, "Father, reveal to me
          who you are." And if the Lord does give us a revelation
          of his glory, it's a revelation of how he wants to be
          known by us.

          Moses' experience with the glory of God demonstrates
          this truth. The Lord sent Moses to deliver Israel
          without giving him a full revelation of who the God of
          Israel was. The Lord merely told him, "Go, and say I AM
          sent you." But he gave no explanation of who "I AM"
          was.

          I believe this is why Moses cried, "[Lord]...I beseech
          thee, shew me thy glory" (Exodus 33:18). Moses had a
          gnawing hunger and thirst to know who the great I AM
          was -- to know what his nature and character were all
          about.

          And the Lord answered Moses' prayer. First, he
          instructed Moses to hide himself in the cleft of a
          rock. Yet, as Moses waited for the glory of God to
          appear, he saw no thunder, no lightning, no shaking of
          the earth. Rather, God's glory came to him in a simple
          revelation:

          "The Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The
          Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious,
          longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
          keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and
          transgression..." (Exodus 34:6-7).

          Now, God only reveals his power or glory with a purpose
          in mind. So, what was his purpose here? It certainly
          wasn't to give Moses a moment of ecstasy. And it wasn't
          to give him a legacy, something he could tell his
          children and grandchildren about.

          No -- God allowed Moses to see his glory so that he
          might be changed by the sight of it! And the same is
          true for us today. God reveals his glory to us so that,
          by seeing it, we might be changed into his very own
          image!

          Today, Jesus Christ is the express image of who God is.
          When our Lord became flesh, it was as a full revelation
          of the heavenly father's mercy, grace, goodness and
          readiness to forgive. God wrapped up everything of his
          nature and character in Jesus. And any revelation of
          his glory to us now is meant to change us into an
          expression of Christ!

          The apostle Paul understood well the purpose and effect
          of seeing the glory of God. He saw it as power to
          change the beholder -- to revolutionize the life of
          every follower of Christ. "But we all, with open face
          beholding as in a glass [mirror] the glory of the Lord,
          are changed into the same image from glory to glory,
          even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians
          3:18).

          Paul is telling us, "Once you get this revelation of
          God's glory -- of his love, mercy, grace,
          long-suffering and readiness to forgive -- the Holy
          Spirit will continually open your eyes to more of these
          aspects of his nature and character. You'll have an
          ever-increasing revelation of God, in the way he wants
          to be known to you!"

          Paul then says in an even stronger tone: "That the God
          of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give
          unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the
          knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being
          enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his
          calling, and what the riches of the glory of his
          inheritance in the saints" (Ephesians 1:17-18).

          Beloved, God wants to tell us, "Moses understood my
          glory, and now I want you to understand it. I want to
          open your eyes by my Spirit to show you who I am. I'm
          not just a God of wrath and judgment. My nature is
          love!"

          "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that
          ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to
          comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and
          length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of
          Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be
          filled with all the fullness of God" (3:17-19).

          Paul is telling us, "Let this revelation of God's glory
          become so real to you that you become rooted and
          grounded in it. Keep seeking it, studying it, claiming
          it, appropriating it in your life -- until the vision
          of Christ's glory bursts forth in you! As you remain in
          the word, seeking the revelation of his glory, you'll
          be changed. And you'll keep changing, from glory to
          glory!"

          "Unto him be glory in the church by Jesus Christ..."
          (verse 21).

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                      1. The First and Foremost Effect
                      of the Glory Is a Change in Our
                        Relationship With the Lord!

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          When Moses saw this revelation of God's glory -- that
          he is good, loving, caring, gracious, forgiving -- he
          quickly fell to his knees and worshipped. "Moses made
          haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and
          worshipped" (Exodus 34:8).

          The revelation of God's nature overwhelmed this man. He
          saw how merciful, long-suffering and patient God is
          with his children -- including stiff-necked people,
          idolaters and those who grieve him. Moses was so
          stirred by this revelation, he ran out from behind the
          rock, fell down and worshipped!

          It's important to note that this is the first mention
          ever of Moses worshipping. Prior to this revelation of
          God's glory, we find Moses praying and interceding,
          weeping and pleading with God for Israel, talking with
          him face to face. We hear him singing the Lord's
          praises on the victory side of the Red Sea. We hear him
          calling on the Lord at the bitter waters of Marah. And
          we hear his desperate cry to God at Rephidim, when the
          people were ready to stone him for not providing water.
          But this is the first time we read the words, "Moses
          worshipped."

          I believe this one verse tells us much about the church
          today. It says a Christian can pray diligently without
          ever really worshipping. Indeed, it's possible to be a
          prayer warrior and intercessor and still not be a
          worshipper of God. You can plead for your unsaved
          children, pray for the needs of an entire church, be
          holy and meek in seeking God's burden -- and yet never
          truly worship him!

          Now, I don't want to add to the multitude of
          definitions of what it means to worship. There are
          already too many books published on the various
          techniques of worship. But, in short, I will say this:
          worship cannot be learned! It's a spontaneous outbreak
          -- the act of a heart that's been overwhelmed by a
          revelation of God's glory and his incredible love for
          us.

          Worship is a response of gratitude. It recognizes how
          we should have been destroyed by our sin long ago,
          incurring the full wrath of God for all our failures
          and faults -- but instead, God came to us with the
          powerful revelation, "I still love you!"

          At this point, Moses was no longer pleading for sinful
          Israel. And he wasn't asking the Lord for guidance. He
          wasn't crying out for a miracle of deliverance, or for
          power, or for wisdom. He was marveling at the
          revelation of the glory of God!

          Moses could worship even though he wasn't full of hope
          for Israel. He knew the people were bent on backsliding
          -- that they were hiding the golden idols they'd
          brought from Israel. Even though Moses had persuaded
          God to spare them after their idolatry of the golden
          calf, now he must have thought, "How will I ever be
          able to hold this people together? How much longer will
          God put up with their secret lust and murmuring? When
          is his patience going to run out?"

          It could seem here that Moses' pleading on Israel's
          behalf was more compassionate than God's feeling for
          the people. But the truth is, God had no intention of
          destroying these people. He already had all his
          promises for them in his mind.

          No, this was a "mercy test" for Moses. The Lord was
          asking his servant, "How are you going to represent me
          to the people? Will it be as a vengeful God who's full
          of judgment only? No -- I am merciful, long-suffering,
          always ready to forgive my people!"

          Here was the revelation! And it set Moses' heart at
          ease. Indeed, while he was still worshipping, he began
          claiming and appropriating the glory God had revealed
          to him: "God's mercy will see us through! He is
          long-suffering, and he will forgive us. What a glory
          this is! What comfort, what hope!"

          Immediately, Moses began praying, "Lord, you said you
          would forgive the iniquity and transgression of
          thousands. Well, here are those thousands before you.
          We're all stiff-necked and in need of mercy. So, Lord,
          grant your mercy to us. Pardon our many sins!" (see
          Exodus 34:9).

          This passage proves unmistakably that the revelation of
          God's glory is an integral part of worship!

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                         God Is Worshipped When He
                        Sees His People Laying Hold
                         Of the Rights He Has Given
                             Them by His Word.

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          The revelation of God's glory should be the wellspring
          of all our worship. We ought to regularly lay claim to
          his glory, testifying, "Lord, I know you're holy and
          just, and you won't wink at sin. But I've also seen
          your glory. And I know you're not out to destroy me.

          "You don't condemn me in my struggles. On the contrary,
          you show me how loving and long-suffering you are
          toward me. I know I deserve rejection. I've failed so
          often, I should be cast aside completely. But you
          reveal to me that you're merciful, gracious,
          tenderhearted!"

          At times during my years in ministry, I've been
          overwhelmed by enemies who have risen up against me. In
          those times, I felt the discipline of the Lord like a
          rod on my back. I remember one period in particular,
          when I was being slandered on all sides. Other
          ministers asked me, "David, I'm hearing questionable
          things about you. Are they true? Is all this stuff
          about you coming from the devil, or is God trying to
          speak to you?"

          Even that question offended me! After a while I became
          totally overwhelmed by the emotional pain of it all. I
          grew physically exhausted from the ongoing battle. At
          one point, I could barely face going to church to
          preach.

          One morning my wife literally had to lift me up from my
          chair in my study. About halfway to church, I told her
          I couldn't go on. I couldn't face another person in our
          services wondering if I was a phony. Finally I cried
          out, "Lord, what have I done to deserve this? Where is
          my sin?"

          Then, one day, God directed me to this prayer of
          Jeremiah: "O Lord, correct me, but with judgment; not
          in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing"
          (Jeremiah 10:24).

          These words from Jeremiah became my daily prayer
          throughout that severe time of testing: "Lord, chasten
          me and judge me if you must. But please -- don't do it
          in anger! If I hear one more wrathful word, it'll
          destroy me. I'll be brought to nothing. Please don't
          reduce me to dust, Lord. I'm low enough!"

          Whenever I uttered this prayer, the Lord answered me,
          "David, if I choose to correct you, it's because I love
          you. This test is not about my judgment at all. I am
          merciful, gracious, loving, long-suffering toward you.
          Now, stand still and see my glory!" This knowledge of
          his glory carried me through to a place of total rest.
          God vindicated me on all sides.

          Beloved, once you have this revelation of God's glory,
          you need never again fear he'll correct you in anger.
          He carries his rod in a tender, loving hand. He will
          discipline us, but only in gracious compassion. He'll
          never hurt us or cast us aside. Shouldn't this cause
          our hearts to melt before him in worship, as Moses'
          did?

          Moreover, God reveals his glory in Christ so that we'll
          claim it! It is our assigned right, and it is meant to
          be claimed. When Paul says, "I do not frustrate the
          grace of God..." (Galatians 2:21), he means, "I won't
          nullify God's offer of mercy by rejecting it!"

          Those who truly worship God claim the blessing of his
          promises. They see the glory of his love in Christ --
          and they lay hold of that glory, to heal and settle
          their troubled souls!

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                          2. The Second Effect of
                         Seeing the Glory of God Is
                         A Change in Countenance!

                      -------------------------------

          "The children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the
          skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the veil upon
          his face again, until he went in to speak with him"
          (Exodus 34:35).

          A person's countenance is the outward expression of
          what is in his heart. And Moses' face here simply
          reflected the glory of God in his soul!

          Previously, Moses had been shut in with the Lord for
          forty days and nights, with no change in his
          countenance. At that time, he came from God's holy
          presence to deal with Israel's idolatry of the golden
          calf. No one then saw a glowing countenance from him.
          But later, when the revelation of God's glory was made
          real to him, it changed Moses' very look!

          You can bask in God's presence all you want. But it is
          a different matter entirely for his glory to be
          revealed in you. Paul testified, "...it pleased God,
          who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me
          by his grace, to reveal his Son in me, that I might
          preach him..." (Galatians 1:15-16).

          Paul is saying, "I have within me much more than some
          doctrine somebody thought up, more than just a head
          knowledge of Christ. I have a revelation of who Christ
          is -- a revelation of his grace, mercy and love. And
          this revelation has become the very source of all I am
          and do. It's the very essence of my life!"

          The revelation of God's glory is indeed wondrous. Yet
          many have turned that very revelation into a license to
          sin. Jude describes people "...turning the grace of our
          God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God,
          and our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jude 4).

          According to Paul, such people sin "that grace may
          abound." They're saying, in essence, "If God loves to
          express himself through mercy and forgiveness, then I'm
          going to give him every opportunity. I'm going to sin
          and let him keep loving me, so the grace will flow.
          What a testimony to the world that will be. I'll be an
          object of all that love coming down from heaven!"

          Such people are easy to spot. Their countenance gives
          them away. Isaiah spoke of Israelites who "...provoked
          the eyes of his glory. The shew of their countenance
          doth witness against them..." (Isaiah 3:8-9). The
          prophet was saying, in other words, "Your sin witnesses
          against you in your very look. Whatever is in your
          heart is going to reveal itself in your countenance!"

          On the other hand, even the rankest of sinners can tell
          when you've "been with Jesus." How can they tell? You
          look like no one else to them! They say, "You're
          different. You carry yourself with a humble assurance.
          And nothing about you seems hidden. You've got no dark
          spot in your eyes, no secretiveness. You don't seem to
          carry any grudges or bitterness. If you did, I'd know
          it. Your life is an open book!"

          Sin, however, wears a certain look. No smile can cover
          it up. And its voice has the sound of emptiness -- the
          echo of a sounding brass, a tinkling cymbal.

          But those who have appropriated the glory of God are
          being changed every day. Their countenance is becoming
          more and more like that of Jesus!

                      -------------------------------

                          The Revelation Moses Had
                         Was Glorious -- But It Was
                           Only a Fading Thing.

                      -------------------------------

          The radiance that emanated from Moses' face and heart
          was the result of having seen only a little of the
          fullness of God's nature.

          Even so, when the Israelites saw the change in Moses'
          countenance, they knew he'd had a supernatural
          experience. His sister, brother and the others
          exclaimed, "This man has been face to face with God. He
          has gone beyond!"

          Today, we have something far more glorious than even
          Moses had. We actually touch and handle God's glory.
          "That which was from the beginning, which we have
          heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have
          looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of
          life" (1 John 1:1).

          John is saying here, "God revealed the fullness of his
          glory to us in Christ. We saw his glory embodied in a
          person. And we talked with him. We even touched him!"

          Today we not only see the fullness of the glory of God
          -- but it now abides in us! His glory shines forth in
          our hearts: "For God, who commanded the light to shine
          out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the
          light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face
          of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6).

          Paul is saying here, "Jesus Christ, God in flesh,
          embodies all that God is. And since we know God is
          goodness, love, mercy, grace and long-suffering, we
          also can be assured this is the nature of Christ. Since
          Jesus lives in our hearts, we know that the glory of
          God isn't merely out in the cosmos somewhere. No -- the
          fullness of his glory is in us, through the presence of
          Christ!"

          "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath
          appeared to all men" (Titus 2:11). Who is this grace?
          It is Jesus Christ -- full of mercy, kindness, love!

          "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly
          lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly,
          in this present world" (verse 12). Paul is telling us,
          "This grace that abides in you is the revelation of the
          goodness of Christ. And if you will abide in him, his
          revelation will instruct you in holy living! It will
          teach you mercy, grace, tenderness, forgiveness!"

                      -------------------------------

                    One of the Most Important Effects of
                 Seeing the Glory Of God Is a Change in Our
                        Relationships With Others.

                      -------------------------------

          Once we receive this revelation of God's glory, we
          cannot continue in our old ways of treating others.
          That must all change!

          Paul clearly warns, "If the Lord has shown you how
          tender, kind and loving he is toward you, then you'd
          better show this same character of God to others." "Let
          all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and
          evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
          and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving
          one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath
          forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:31-32).

          God is telling us through Paul, "You've seen my glory,
          and you know my nature and character -- that I'm
          gracious, merciful, long-suffering, ready to forgive.
          Now, I want you to express to others who I am!"

          Even though Moses had this revelation of God's glory,
          at one point he misrepresented it to the people. He
          grew impatient with Israel over their disobedience --
          and he angrily struck a rock with his staff, as if to
          say, "You stiff-necked bunch of rebels!"

          God didn't take kindly to that at all. Once he reveals
          to you his glory -- his kindness, goodness, grace and
          mercy -- his patience will not endure your
          misrepresenting his glory to others. Now Moses had
          misrepresented that glory to Israel. And, as a result,
          Moses -- one of the meekest, godliest figures in the
          Old Testament -- was kept out of God's fullness. He
          wasn't allowed to enter the promised land!

          We find another illustration of this in one of Jesus'
          parables. He speaks of a servant who was forgiven a
          great debt by his master. The master showed this man
          incredible kindness, grace and forgiveness. Yet no
          sooner was the servant forgiven than he found a man who
          owed him a small debt -- and he began choking the
          debtor until he paid up. The very one who had
          experienced great love and forgiveness showed no mercy
          in return!

          Jesus is saying in this parable, "You're
          misrepresenting the love of the father! He has given
          you a touch of his incredible glory, through his
          kindness and the forgiveness of your sins. Yet, now
          that you've seen his glory, you're misrepresenting it
          to the world!"

          This is summed up in Paul's command, "Be merciful to
          others, even as he has been merciful to you." The word
          "mercy" here is extracted from the Greek word for
          "misery" ("misericordia"). The full meaning of this
          word is, "to take to heart the misery of another, with
          the intention of giving him comfort and relief." Being
          merciful means taking on another person's hurt!

          This is just what our Lord does for us. How many times
          has Jesus taken on your misery and suffering, giving
          you comfort, rest and forgiveness in return? How often
          has he wiped away your tears and spoken to you a kind
          word, when you didn't deserve it? He's done it time
          after time after time!

          I ask you, then -- how can you not find it in your
          heart to take on the misery and pain of someone you
          know who's hurting? The Greek word for "kindness" has
          its roots in two words: "oracle" and "soft touch." Are
          you an oracle of hope to your brothers and sisters in
          Christ, offering them a word of hope from the Lord,
          with the soft touch of comfort? According to scripture,
          all you have to do to be his oracle of love is to
          represent to others who Jesus is!

          The word "compassion" means "being affected, touched by
          the misery of others, and determining to do something
          about it." This doesn't mean approaching someone in
          sin, and telling him, "I've got a word from heaven for
          you, brother. You've got sin in your life!"

          If that's so, he already knows it anyway. And he would
          probably answer you with Jeremiah's cry: "Please, don't
          deal with me in anger, or you'll reduce me to nothing.
          I'm already down far enough. Don't reduce me any
          further!"

          If you've had a revelation of the Lord's glory, you
          know what it means to taste his love, mercy and
          forgiveness. And you're being changed by that glory.
          Now, Jesus says, take that glory and shine it on the
          world around you. It's time to act in love, as your
          Lord has continually done for you!

          ---
          Used with permission granted by World Challenge, P. O.
          Box 260, Lindale, TX 75771, USA.

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