Changed Into His Image
David Wilkerson emphasizes that understanding and seeing God's glory transforms believers into His image.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that every true follower of Jesus can see and understand the glory of God, which is a revelation of His nature and attributes rather than a physical manifestation. He illustrates this through Moses' desire to know God more deeply, as seen in Exodus 33:18, where Moses asks to see God's glory. God responds by revealing His character to Moses, demonstrating that such revelations are meant to transform us into His image. Wilkerson encourages believers to seek God's glory diligently, as it equips them to endure challenging times ahead. Ultimately, the revelation of God's glory is intended to change us and deepen our relationship with Him.
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Scripture makes it clear that it is 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. I believe the revelation of God's glory will equip his people to endure the perilous days ahead.
The glory of God is not a physical manifestation or 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!
When we pray, "Lord, show me your glory," we are actually praying, "Father, reveal to me who you are." The Lord wants to reveal to us how he wants to be known. 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], please, show me Your glory" (Exodus 33:18). Moses had a gnawing hunger to know who the great I AM was -- to know his nature and character. And the Lord answered his prayer. First, he instructed Moses to hide himself in the cleft of a rock where God came to him in a simple revelation -- no thunder, lightning, or shaking of the earth.
"The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, 'The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin" (Exodus 34:6-7).
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.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Understanding God's Glory
- The Nature of God's Revelation
- The Importance of Seeking God
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II
- Moses' Desire for God's Glory
- God's Response to Moses
- The Significance of God's Attributes
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III
- Transformation Through Revelation
- The Impact of Seeing God's Glory
- Living in the Image of God
Key Quotes
“When we pray, 'Lord, show me your glory,' we are actually praying, 'Father, reveal to me who you are.'” — David Wilkerson
“God allowed Moses to see his glory so that he might be changed by the sight of it.” — David Wilkerson
“The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, 'The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious...'” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- Seek a deeper understanding of God's nature through prayer and scripture.
- Recognize that experiencing God's glory leads to personal transformation.
- Embrace the attributes of God in daily life to reflect His image to others.