THE DESIRE TO GLORIFY GOD
Exodus 33:12-23 - "SHOW ME THY GLORY"
Prepared by: Pastor Tony Maramara
For: Passing the Baton Camp – UNIDA, Silang, Cavite – June 21, 2011 - 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Let us read Exodus 33:18 – “And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.”
Charles Spurgeon calls this “the greatest request a man ever made of God” and I agree with him.
How could Moses have asked for anything larger?
Usually when men pray, they want some special favor from the Lord.
“Lord, help me find a job” or “Heal my child” or “Save me from this day of trouble.”
Now, those prayers are noble in themselves because they ask of God what only God can give.
Even our “ordinary” prayers honor the Lord because they teach us that God is God and we are not.
Now, this prayer of Moses stands entirely alone. No other request can be compared to it.
The Glory of God is the sum total of who He is.
It is God’s power plus His wisdom plus His justice plus His mercy plus His holiness plus His love plus every other attribute of His character.
God’s glory is the shining forth of who God is in His essence.
We will understand this request more, if we consider the context.
• Moses just spent 40 days on Mount Sinai communing with the Lord.
• During those days on the mountain, God revelaed to Moses His law. He Himself wrote the Ten Commandments on the tablets of stone with His own hands.
• While Moses was with the Lord, the Bible says, the children of Israel grew restless, so Aaron gathered gold earrings from the people and made a golden calf. (The People’s BLATANT REBELLION)
• Exodus 32:4 said - they danced and shouted and proclaimed, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt”. The people offered sacrifices to the golden calf and they began to engage in wild revelry.
• And the Lord knew all about it that’s why He told Moses that He was going to destroy Israel and He will start over with a new nation that will worship Him alone and will not replace Him with other gods..
• But Moses interceded with the Lord for his stiff-necked and rebellious people.
• He solemnly told God claimed the promise God gave to their father Abraham, or in effect, Moses is telling God.
• Moses also with genuine concern said that the pagans would say He brought them into the wilderness just to kill them.
• So the Lord relented and He did not destroy the people.
• Then Moses came down from the mountain.
• When he saw the people and their wild celebration, he threw the stone tablets in his indignation. (Their sin’s BITTER RESULT)
• Then, Moses burned the golden calf, ground it to powder, mixed it with water, and made the people to drink it.
• Afrtewards, he called for those who were still loyal to God to rally to his side.
• We all know that – the Levites stood with him, and at his command, they went through the camp killing the idolaters. Three thousand people died that day. (in contrast to the dispesation of grace - 3,000 souls got saved at the day of Pentecost)
• The very next day, Moses pled with God for forgiveness for his people. He even asked God to blot his own name out of His book in order to save the people of Israel.
• God told him to lead the people away from Mt. Sinai and toward the Promised Land, but with one significant condition: God said in Exodus 33:3 - “I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way”
Now listen, THIS IS OUR GREATEST FEAR—that when we go, the Lord will not go with us.
Let me ask you a question . . .
What makes a CHURCH – HIS CHURCH or CHRIST’S CHURCH?
• it is not the big edifice.
• it is not the big attendance or large number of church members.
• it is not the huge amount of the church’s weekly tithes and offerings.
• it is not the good sining ministry, gaya ng mahuhusay naspecial numbers and choir.
• it is not the crowd drawing, inspiring, and pulpit breaking preachings.
• it is not the expensive and luxurious vehicle.
• it is not the big financial support
The church or a church is His church – CHRIST’s CHURCH – because Christ is in the midst of it.
His Holy Presence, His approving Presence, the Lord Jesus Christ is in the midst of that congregation.
(Remember the Church in Laodecia? This church represents our present time. – the Church in Laodecia is a big church, a wealthy church, a popular church – except that is outside this church).
Without the Holy Presence of Christ – the church will become an ordinary and useless gathering.
Another thing . . .
WHY HEAVEN IS – HEAVEN?
• Heaven is heaven – not because of its streets of gold
• Heaven is heaven – not because of its precious stones
• Heaven is heaven – not because of the angelic choir
• Heaven is heaven – not because of the saints are there and someday we will go there
• Heaven is heaven – not because there is no sin, there is no death, there is no curse, there is no sorrow, there is no tears in there
Heaven is Heaven because God’s very Being, His very person and His very presence dwells in there.
Without God – heaven is not HEAVEN and it will not be just an ordinary place but the worst place to spend our eternity.
On the other hand . . .
WHY HELL IS – HELL?
• Hell is Hell – not because of its everlasting fire
• Hell is Hell – not because of the “worms that dieth not”
• Hell is Hell – not because the devil and his angels will be cast into it – for it was prepared primarily for them.
• Hell is Hell – not because of the weepings and the gnashing of teeth
• Hell is Hell – not because of its great torment
Hell is Hell because God’s precious, abiding and, approving presence is NOT IN THERE!
SO . . .
THIS IS OUR GREATEST FEAR - THAT WHEN WE GO, THE LORD WILL NOT GO WITH US.
But the Lord has promised us in Hebrews 13:5 – “. . . I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
WHAT IS THE LORD’S PROMISE IN THE GREAT COMMISSION?
The Lord did not promised – “. . . and, lo, my financial support will be with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”
THE LORD’S PROMISE IN THE GREAT COMMISSION is . . .
Matthew 28:20 – “and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
So Moses intercedes with God again. This time Moses told the Lord, "If you do not go with us, don't make us leave this place.
THAT’S THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TO HAVE.
If God has led us out of Egypt, we’d better not leave him behind at Mt. Sinai.
Why? Because we’re going to need Him, we’re going to need His help to navigate the wilderness.
Then comes Moses’ . . .
I – BOLD REQUEST in verse 18—“SHOW ME THY GLORY.”
(Note: This is the battle-cry of the saints from time-memorial – “SHOW ME THY GLORY” – compare to the present-day preachers’ and missionaries’ battle-cry – “SHOW ME THE MONEY”)
Moses and the Jews had seen God’s glory in the pillar of cloud and fire, as well as in the “storm” on Mt. Sinai, but Moses wanted to see the intimate glory of God revealed to him personally.
Moses had a heart to know and experience God in a deeper and more profound way.
• Moses knew that the nation of Israel could not meet his need.
• He also knew that just working on his leadership skills would not meet his need.
• And Moses understands that the best cure for discouragement, disillusionment and dryness is a fresh glimpse of who God is and what God is all about.
THE TRUE SERVANT OF GOD IS CONCERNED MORE ABOUT THE GLORY OF GOD THAN ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE.
Let me ask you another question . . .
WHY ARE WE IN EXISTENCE AS A LOCAL CHURCH?
In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he told them in Ephesians 3:21 – ‘”Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
The same thing with the Thessalonians, he wrote in 2 Thess. 1:11-12 – “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
It is then, clear, that the taproot purpose of our existence is just like what Wesminster Shorter Catechism: TO GLORIFY GOD, AND TO ENJOY HIM FOREVER.
It is absolutely essential that a church perceive itself as an institution for the glory of God.
But sad to say, many churches (even here in the Philippines) have descended from a church that focuses on glorifying God into a church that focuses on men.
What I mean is, the church has been reduced from an organism that emphasizes knowing and glorifying God to an organization that tries to help people feel better about themselves.
Many churches became ANTROPHOCENTRIC instead of THEOCENTRIC or CHRISTOCENTRIC.
Man-centered and NOT God-centered or Christ-centered.
And even worst, many churches are already infected with the world’s ME-CENTRIC, i.e., everything revolves around ME . . . my happiness . . . my wants . . . my pleasure . . . my rights . . . my way . . . ME! I . . . ME . . . MYSELF . . .
Illustration: In the old days, everybody believed that the universe, and the sun, and the planets revolved around the earth. THEN, in 1543, Copernicus told them that the earth wasn’t the center of the universe. 50 years later, Galileo said that the planets revolved around the sun. They were so opposed to this idea, that they threw him in prison, and kicked him out of the church. The very IDEA that WE weren’t the center of the universe, was unthinkable!
God has a very important LESSON for all of us … the world doesn’t revolve around YOU … or ME. God’s priority is not our comfort … happiness … or pleasure. If God existed to please you & me … THEN … why aren’t we pleased all the time? The TRUTH is … it’s not all about you or me … it’s all about GOD.
If God’s priority isn’t to make us happy … to please us … then … WHAT IS GOD’S PRIORITY? God’s priority is that He receive all the honor and glory.
In Rev. 4:11 we will read this – “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
This is the cry of true believers during the Reformation period who opposes the unbiblical teachings of the Roman Catholic Church – SOLI DEO GLORIA = All Glory to God Alone!!!
In Michael Griffith book entitled, God's Forgetful Pilgrims (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Pub. Co. , 1978, pg. 7), tThere, he said,
“Christians collectively seem to be suffering from a strange amnesia.
A high proportion of people who `go to church' have forgotten what it is all for.
Week by week they attend services in a special building and go through their particular, time-honoured routine, but give little thought to the purpose of what they are doing.”
I can’t help but agree with him 100%. Many churches and church members give little thought to the purpose of what they are doing.
It is of utmost importance that the church doesn't get committed to the wrong principles.
When the church assembles together the purpose is not to showcase human talent or abilities. The church is not about personalities and who’s who. As a Church we have no room for egos or self-promotion. The church is not about me. It is not about you. It is not about whom we are or what we do. Neither is it about associations or affiliations. It is certainly not about politics. This is not a place of parading political candidates or promoting political agendas. The Lord Jesus Christ is to be the center of attention and the focus of our assembling. When you assemble together as a church, every hymn, every word, at every activity is to point our hearts to our Lord Jesus Christ and to enable us to see Him!
“Unto Him be glory in the Church.”
• It is “Him”— our Lord Jesus Christ — He is the message of our songs.
• It is “Him” – the theme of evry sermon.
• He is the subject of the church’s gathering.
• It is “Him” the Lord Jesus – He is the very reason for this CAMP.
This ought to be the practice of the church. To give to Him—the Lord Jesus—the praise and honor that He, and He alone deserves.
The church’s one occupation when it comes together is to lift up and glorify the Name of the Lord Jesus.
• Every Sunday morning your theme must be, “Unto Him be glory.”
• Every Sunday night your purpose must be, “Unto Him be glory.”
• Every Prayer Meeting service and ever special service, your occupation must be, “Unto Him be glory.”
• With every song that is sung, “Unto Him be glory.”
• With every sermon that is preached from this pulpit, “Unto Him be glory.”
• With every invitation that is extended, “Unto Him be glory.”
• With every soul that is saved in this place, “Unto Him be glory.”
• With every life that is changed, “Unto Him be glory.”
Church, just as the Apostle Paul said in Rom. 15:5-6 “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And in 1 Corinthians 10:31 – “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (NOTE: The Apostle Paul here is not primarily referring to the church-life of believers, but to their common-life, “eating and drinking” i.e., their outside the church, daily or day-to-day practice and activities.
CHURCH, just as what is written in 1 Chornicles 16:28-29 – “Give unto the LORD . . . give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”
Our Lord DESERVES glory, He DESIRES glory and He DEMANDS GLORY!!!
Now, Listen to GOD’s . . .
II – BLESSED RESPONSE – (33:19-23)
At first, the Lord’s response seems to be not connected to Moses’ request, although eventually the Lorcd told him in – Exodus 33:20 – “. . . Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.”
In general, in God’s response to Moses’ Request – He gave us the fundamental means where we will not only SEE HIS GLORY, but also the means where we will be able to GLORIFY Him!
In order for us TO SEE HIS GLORY AND TO GLORIFY HIM . . .
A. WE SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE HIS GRACE –
Exodus 33:19 – “And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.”
In this conversation, between God and Moses, the word “grace” is repeatedly mentioned.
Exodus 33:12 – “And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.”
Exodus 33:13 – “Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.”
Exodus 33:16 – “For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.”
Exodus 33:17 – “And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.”
C. D. COLE defined “GRACE” as receiving what we don’t really deserved, and “MERCY” as NOT receiving what we truly deserved.
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(Elaborate – Hiding him in the cleft of the Rock – remember that CHRIST is what that ROCK represents compare it to OZONE LAYER – The Sun’s Harmful Rays – Ultra Violet Rays, and the Helpful Rays – Vitamin D – How Christ blocked God’s judgment and allowed God’s saving grace to reach us).
B. WE SHOULD APPRECIATE HIS GOODNESS –
Exodus 33:19 – “And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.”
STOP COMPLAINING. Each time we complain, we are saying in effect that God is not true to His Word, and that He has forsaken us, which is not true.
Lamentations 3:22-23 said – “It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
And in Psalms 23:6 – “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”
Psalms 37:25 – “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”
C. WE SHOULD ACCEPT HIS GUIDANCE –
Exodus 33:21 – “And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:” Remember the Parable of the Wise and Foolish builder?
Matthew 7:24 – “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:”
Matthew 7:25 – “And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.”
Matthew 7:26 – “And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:”
Matthew 7:27 – “And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”
Exodus 33:23 – “And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.”
(Note: Seeing His back parts signifies FOLLOWING HIM.)
