A Glimpse Of God's Glory Part 2

Looking to Jesus.

When Jacob wrestled with an angel said I will not let you go until you must bring. Years later, Moses said the same thing. Near the end of his race of life. Moses asks God, show me thy glory. You wouldn't let go of the God never let go of him in Chicago this morning with Dr. Sir was clear teaching helps us make it across the finish line. Many of us are so entranced by worldly pleasures that there is little room to want to see God's euro Dave, I'm afraid that you are right because the glory of God is incompatible with our love of the world and the love of the world always competes with our desire to see God's glory. But you know the older I get, the more important it is for me and I trust for all those who are listening to recognize that nothing else matters except God and his glory. The question that we always have to ask is my really pleasing to God today.

That's why I love this story that Moses experienced when he experienced the glory of God because finally Moses was saying nothing else matters except God and his glory.

I trust that as you listen to this message today that you, my friend would be greatly encouraged and that it will enable you to get your priorities in line with God and his glory and how to thank the many of you who continue to help us here at running to win. We now have a matching gift. Some friends are willing to match dollar for dollar up to $90,000. All those who contribute would you become a part of that and find your gift doubled.

Here's what you do go to RTW offer.com that's RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337 but now let us listen as we learn more about Moses seeking the glory of God. This is is explaining something which, of course, God understands what God loves to hear the lips of Sir, he saying, Lord, don't you understand that what distinguishes us from all the other nation is the presence of God. It's not that that makes a distinction that yes it was localized in the cloud in the Old Testament, but it is also applicable to us today. You frequently hurt me quote first Corinthians were the apostle Paul says that when someone comes into your midst. Maybe today there is somebody in the balcony just kind of snuck in and wondered what in the world, Moody church is all about, but through the singing through the reading through the praying what they should say when they leave.

Here is surely God is among them. That's what distinguishes us from all the other people in the world and most of the saying there is no place that can satisfy without God's presence. There is no wealth that can satisfy without God's presence. There is no pleasure that can satisfy without God's presence. There is no marriage partner that will satisfy you without the present of God. Moses is saying we can go unless your presence accompanies us well. God's is okay. He says my presence will go with you and all give you rest now folks, put yourself in the sandals of Moses at this point how many of us would've said well this is wonderful. The nation was not blotted out. God answered the prayer for pardon.

Now his presence is with us now. Let's get everybody together and let's go. That's where I would then probably reviewed them to Moses isn't satisfied you'll notice now. He prays for the very person of God. He says in verse 18. He says show me by Lori in verse 18. Please show me your glory. Wait a moment who's making this request. Moses who is up in the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights talking to God like a man speaks to his friend the Bible. He's been up on the mountain and he and God have been communing and they've been having fellowship and and nobody had more of God in the Old Testament than Moses.

Moses is saying I'm not satisfied, show me your glory and always praying God show me as much of your self as I can take show me your glory.

Now can we see God.

Well, you'll notice that the text says that God is gracious to those he wishes to be gracious to shows mercy on those that he shows mercy to verse 20 but God says you cannot see my face or man shall not see me and nobody can ever see God as God you'd be consumed. It would be like standing 100 yards from the sun to be able to see God you say well how then do we see him we see manifestations of God. We saying we have seen that God's glory. John 118 no man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten son to translate it, the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the father. He has declared him say that's why we sing at Christmas time veiled in flash the Godhead see because if Jesus if Jesus were not veiled in the flesh.

If if the divine nature had not been hidden. You and I could not have seen Jesus and a little bit of that was seen on the Mount of Transfiguration as it broke out, nobody can see God and live.

But God says Moses, I will show you a little part of myself.

You'll notice he says behold, there is a place by me, where you shall stand on the rock. And while my glory passes by. I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I passed by then I will take away my hand and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen. You'll see a glimpse a glimpse of failed glory and your prayer will be answered while think of Moses upon that mountain.

Now remember that Moses didn't make it into the promised land because of disobedience and that because he smote the rock when he was supposed to speak to it the second time God says you know you crossed the line because of your anger. Your temper got you into trouble and therefore you disobeyed me.

I know that there excuses that you could make, but I told you what to do and you didn't do it and Moses complained to got a couple of times this is now Lord, are you sure that you can't work this out. I mean is this is this maybe just a little bit too harsh until God finally said Moses I want to hear about it anymore. You're not going in so you guys on the other side of the land. Now let's fast-forward 14 centuries 14 centuries later, Moses makes it into the land that wonderful it been forgiven by God, and now who is there on the Mount of Transfiguration within the land about Moses and Elijah.

He's finally there is the grace of God, isn't it just like you and I we fail, we sin, and yet someday will be in that land but what is Moses doing 14 centuries later on the Mount of Transfiguration in a blaze of glory quite white glory Moses is absorbing the glory of God when it broke out of the body of Jesus. What is he doing.

He's getting more of God and you think of him praying this prayer.

Show me your glory and at the Mount of Transfiguration, and I'm sure in between times that prayer is Moses is in God's presence is continually being answered and its answered there on the Mount of Transfiguration and it is being even answered today and it will be answered in the future and what will Moses be doing for ever. You and I will be doing forever.

We will be beholding the wondrous glory of God and worshiping with unrestricted unrestricted hindrances. I heard Johnny Erickson taught us say something one time.

She said you know why she's looking forward to going to heaven is not so that she can walk those of you who know her know that she's a quadriplegic was blessed. Millions of people through her life and witness, but she said it's not that you might build a lot. She said it is that she might be able to have on interrupted fellowship with God without the presence of sin in her mind and I thought Johnny, I can identify with that on interrupted fellowship with God without the presence of sin in our minds. Some of you have consciences that are condemning you so you feel you feel that you can't come into God's presence as some of you because of failures because of relationships and you think I have to have all this straightened out before I can enjoy God, God would say to come through Jesus in humility and faith, even in this life, you can begin to behold my glory. Well, I love to turn to second Corinthians chapter 3 where we can see this wonderful truth because were all listening today and I know that if you're thinking like I am the thought that comes immediately to mind is, isn't Moses fortunate. We don't use the word lucky. But if we wanted to use it. I think we probably use it here, isn't Moses fortunate. I mean imagine the presence of God the glory of God absorbed with God 40 days with God on interrupted without television without a political election, 40 days in the presence of God while but you know you and I have that privilege to through the IFA second Corinthians chapter 3. If the contrast in chapter 3 is between Moses who was under the law, and we who are under grace and Paul says this, verse 17 now the Lord is the spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom and we all went on veiled face now. Remember Moses put a veil over his face so that the people would not see the fading glory and by the way, Moses did not know that his face shone. Moses had unconscious godliness in other some of you have walked with God for many years and your face glows and you don't know it, but some of us who know you see it, you're in the presence of God long enough it begins to happen. And Paul says, and we all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord or reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from 1° of glory to another.

For this comes from the Lord who is the now notice that to what the text is saying is this that we have much greater opportunity. First of all, the Old Testament, only Moses saw the glory of God.

High priest went into the holy of holies one on one day a year. They went in several times but only one day a year on the day of atonement and notice it says we all we have more opportunity. So I stretch out my hands to this congregation into those who may be listening by the Internet, or radio or whatever and I say we all.

We all have the opportunity to come. You'll notice that we have greater boldness, boldness, with unveiled face. The Scripture says that we can come boldly into the presence of God to receive the grace to help in time. Greater opportunity, greater boldness, greater clarity greater clarity here it says beholding my translation says the glory of the Lord.

It may also be reflecting the glory of the Lord but but we know things about God that Moses did know because of Jesus, who revealed the father to us. That's why Jesus is so special. He said he who has seen me has seen the father. The glory is veiled, yes, but he who has seen me has seen the father. When we see Jesus we've seen the glory of God and then greater transformation. You'll notice it says that we are changed from 1° of glory to another degree of glory, by the Lord, the spirit as we reflect the glory of God. Like the moon reflects the light of the sun.

What does all this have to do with prayer.

The real purpose of prayer is to is to help us to get beyond the requests to God himself.

The real purpose of prayer is not just for pardon even the presence of God, though, that is, of course, critical also just God, just God reminded of what the Puritans used to say that I don't fully understand, but they they got a hold of something that we've lost in our generation. The Puritans used to say she who has God and everything else does not have more than he who has God only remember one man, George Mueller, who began orphanages in England by faith, he said. He said that the first duty of every Christian is to find his soul satisfied with God.

Why do we sin. What we fall to temptation is our souls, our souls are not satisfied with God. But if we were satisfied with him. We would delight in his presence. We would bring our request because we are asked to we would pray for all of those things that we bring into his presence but we would know that at the end of the prayer.

What we really need is God, the prodigal son went home because he was hungry but he didn't know that he needed his father far worse than he did a good supper. So God continues to push us in his direction would be asking too much to take out 10 minutes every single day this week to spend. Not asking God for anything, but simply reading passages and enjoying God to get used to communing with the Almighty and then we can say Lord we love you show us your glory and will affirm that in Jesus we have seen it and there's more to come. When you join me as we pray together.

Father, I I wonder if we all would be willing to pray Lord, show us as much of yourself as we can take all father we pray make us dissatisfied make us dissatisfied with all the things that we think are so important to our happiness. Help us to get beyond that to enjoy your presence and to say I have God reminded of this almost whom have I in heaven, but the and there is none upon the earth that I desire beside the my flesh and my heart fails God. The portion of my heart forever teaches that as a congregation in all of our busyness in all of our failures. We pray today lead us to know you better and to rejoice in your presence just us, just us.

Whatever God is said to you today.

Would you talk to God right now some of you have never known God through Jesus.

What you need to do is to embrace and the Savior and to say today I want to know God is only one way to know him and that is to accept his son. Father meet us where we are at and lead us deeper into a knowledge of yourself, may we pray with Moses, show us your glory. We ask in Jesus name Amen amen. This is Pastor Luther and I have to tell you today that my heart is filled with joy because in Jesus Christ, we do see the glory of God. We don't see it manifested the way in which Moses did we know that the glory of God is revealed in Jesus Christ and Jesus prayed.

If you can imagine it, that someday we would share his glory how generous our Savior, my friend. Today the ministry of running to win exists because of people just like you. If you're blessed as a result of this ministry, it's because others have invested in this ministry and I want to challenge you to become an investor as well. You know during this period of time.

We have a matching gift challenge that has been put before us. Some of our friends have said that they are willing to match gifts up to $90,000 would you participate and have your gift doubled. Here's what you do go to RTW offer.com that's RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337. I want to thank you in advance for joining hands with us. Call 1-888-218-9337 or RTW offer.com.

Thanks in advance for helping us. It's time once again for you to ask Pastor Lucerne, a question about the Bible or the Christian life.

Having a heart for God, no outcome is more precious is running to when listeners contact us, telling us how they been affected by what they've heard one listener gave us this testimony, along with the question.

I yearn to turn and give my life wholly to God and I believe him on that path. But I'm not sure how to go about studying God's word other than listening to Moody radio. How do I go about learning Bible study techniques help me give myself wholly to God, what a wonderful question. First of all thank you so much for your heart and one of the things that you can do to give yourself wholly to God is to simply tell God that you want to be holy. His that's a good starting point but thank you also for asking about Bible study.

I hope that you do more than simply listen to Moody radio though we thank God that you are listening fact is that you should begin reading the Bible.

Now, when you read a chapter a day and of course there are many books on how to study the Bible, so I'm not going to go into an answer that is detailed but here are three questions in fact there are many people who can benefit from the answer that I'm going to give.

When you read a section of Scripture say 1/2 a chapter or a chapter. Ask yourself these questions number one what does it teach me about God. Number two is there a promise to be believed, and number three is there a command to be obeyed. Now let me give you a little tip that I think could be life changing. When you put down. The Bible, if you read it in the morning and you put it down back on the table or the shelf. You should have in your heart something that you can meditate on throughout the day.

Now, of course, sometimes we read the Bible and we forget what we read. That may not all be bad. I have oftentimes said that even when water goes through a sieve.

It does clean the sieve. But the Bible says that we should meditate in the law of God day and night read it until you have a truth for the day and I think you will be helped if you asked these questions.

What does it teach me about God. Is there a promise to be believed or command to be obeyed. Finally, very important to get plugged into your church you want to give yourself wholly to God and learn to study the Scriptures join a Bible class watch how others do it have others teach you how to do it and in the process. You learn to walk with God in a brand-new way some good advice for listener and for all of us.

Thank you Dr. lutes are if you'd like to hear your question answered. You can go to our website that RTW offer.com and there you can click on ask Pastor Lucerne or call us at 1-888-218-9337 that's 1-888-218-9337 you can write to us at running to win 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614. Today when Luther concluded show me thy glory. The 11th in a series of 12 messages about the life and times of Moses, a man getting closer to God.

Next time, the last days of Moses when he sadly experienced failure at the finish line running to win is sponsored by the Moody church