The Same Glory
We have been given the same glory that the Father gave to Christ, which is unimpeded access to the heavenly Father.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the profound truth that believers have been granted the same glory that Jesus received from the Father, which is the unimpeded access to God. This access allows us to approach the Father boldly and confidently, unlike Esther who had to wait for the king's approval. Through Christ's sacrifice, we are invited into the throne room of grace, where we can communicate with God at any time. Wilkerson encourages believers to recognize their privilege of direct access to the Father and to seek Him fervently, empowered by the Holy Spirit who reveals God's will to us.
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"He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him" (John 14:21). "That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us...and the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one" (John 17:21-23, italics mine).
Take another look at the verse in italics. Jesus says, in essence, "The glory that you gave me, Father, I have given to them." Christ is making an incredible statement here. He is saying that we've been given the same glory that the Father gave to him. What an amazing thought. Yet, what is this glory that was given to Christ and how do our lives reveal that glory? It is not some aura or emotion; it is unimpeded access to the heavenly Father!
Jesus made it easy for us to access the Father, opening the door for us by the Cross: "For through him [Christ] we both [we and those afar off] have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Ephesians 2:18). The word "access" means the right to enter. It signifies free passage, as well as ease of approach: "In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him" (3:12).
Do you see what Paul is saying here? By faith, we've come into a place of unimpeded access to God. We're not like Esther in the Old Testament. She had to wait for a sign from the king before she could approach the throne. Only after he held out his scepter was Esther approved to come forward.
By contrast, you and I are already in the throne room. And we have the right and privilege of speaking to the King at any time. Indeed, we're invited to make any request of him: "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).
When Christ ministered on earth, he didn't have to slip away to prayer to obtain the Father's mind. He said, "I can do nothing on my own. I do only what the Father tells me and shows me" (see John 5:19). Today we have been given the very same degree of access to the Father that Christ had. You may say, "Wait a minute. I have the same access to the Father that Jesus did?"
Make no mistake. Like Jesus, we're to pray often and fervently, seeking God, waiting on the Lord. We don't have to slip away to beseech God for strength or direction, because we have his very own Spirit living within us. And the Holy Spirit reveals to us the mind and will of the Father.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Glory Given to Christ
- A. Unimpeded access to the heavenly Father
- B. The right to enter and approach God with confidence
- II. Jesus' Ministry on Earth
- A. He did only what the Father told him
- B. He had access to the Father's mind and will
- III. Our Access to the Father
- A. We have the same degree of access as Jesus
- B. We have the Holy Spirit living within us
- C. The Holy Spirit reveals the Father's mind and will to us
Key Quotes
“The glory that you gave me, Father, I have given to them.” — David Wilkerson
“We have the right and privilege of speaking to the King at any time.” — David Wilkerson
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We should pray often and fervently, seeking God and waiting on the Lord.
- We have the right and privilege of speaking to the King at any time, and we should take advantage of this.
- The Holy Spirit reveals the Father's mind and will to us, and helps us to pray often and fervently.