Called to His Presence
David Wilkerson emphasizes the importance of seeking God's presence through persistent prayer and holiness to experience transformation and renewal in life.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the call to ascend into God's presence, highlighting the necessity of having clean hands and a pure heart. He illustrates this through biblical figures like Abraham, who was tested on a mountain, and Moses, who received divine guidance at Mount Horeb. The sermon stresses that reaching the mountaintop of God's presence requires dedication, daily commitment, and a willingness to face challenges. Wilkerson encourages believers to seek a deeper relationship with God through prayer and solitude, leading to renewed joy and purpose in life. Ultimately, the journey to God's presence is portrayed as a transformative experience that requires perseverance and devotion.
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"Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart" (Psalm 24:3-4).
From the very beginning, God has been calling holy men to the mountain of his presence to hear from heaven. He called Abraham to a mountain to prove him and bring him into close union with himself (see Genesis 22:2). Abraham received the knowledge of who God was as he put the knife to his own son -- and God provided the ram as a sacrifice instead of Isaac: "He said, 'Do not lay your hand on the lad' ... Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in the thicket" (Genesis 22:12-13).
Moses was drawn by God to Mount Horeb, where he received his call to lead Israel out of bondage. And Moses was taken back to the mountain every time God wanted to speak to his people: "And Moses went up the mount to God, and Jehovah called for him from the mountain" (Exodus 19:3, Hebrew Bible).
Peter was on the mount, in the presence of God, when he heard the voice of the Lord. "And we heard this voice which came from heaven, when we were with Him on the holy mountain" (2 Peter 1:18).
The mountaintop is not easily reached. You enter through the secret closet and you stay, willing to risk everything to be alone in God's holy presence until your soul is on fire. It is reached by coming back every day, going higher each time, over rocks and precipices of opposition--and there is no turning back until the summit is reached. No one gets to the summit of God's presence with one-hour devotions. It must become a way of life.
The revelation of Christ is too vast to ever be fully comprehended. But those who are shut in with God in prayer gain an ever-growing appreciation of Christ as the Holy Spirit reveals him in the heart. Get back to the secret closet and be renewed by the Lord's glorious presence. You can have a "mountaintop experience" where your joy is restored and your life takes on new purpose and direction.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Introduction to God's call to His presence
- The significance of clean hands and a pure heart
- Examples of biblical figures called to the mountain
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II
- Abraham's encounter and sacrifice
- God's provision in Abraham's trial
- Understanding God's character through obedience
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III
- Moses at Mount Horeb
- God's communication with His people
- The importance of returning to the mountain
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IV
- Peter's experience on the holy mountain
- Hearing God's voice in His presence
- The transformative power of divine encounters
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V
- The journey to the mountaintop
- The necessity of persistent prayer
- Making devotion a way of life
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VI
- The vastness of Christ's revelation
- The role of the Holy Spirit in understanding
- The renewal found in God's presence
Key Quotes
“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place?” — David Wilkerson
“The mountaintop is not easily reached.” — David Wilkerson
“Get back to the secret closet and be renewed by the Lord's glorious presence.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Dedicate time each day for prayer and reflection to deepen your relationship with God.
- Strive for purity in your heart and actions to ascend to God's presence.
- Embrace the journey of faith as a continual pursuit of God's voice and guidance.