Revival Sermon: The Glory of God
"Show Me Your Glory" - a Sermon from Exodus 33:18-23
Scripture
18And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. 19And 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 …
Sermon Description
Christians long to see the glory of God as Moses did when he approached the Lord and interceded for the Israelites in Exodus 33:18–23. It is essential that Christians know his increasing boldness, and plead with God to “show me your glory”. Sadly, there are many today who cannot truly say they have a longing to know God more deeply. Many either never knew Him in the first place, or have the feeling that they have “arrived,” and look down upon others who have not. The church today must long for personal and direct knowledge of God. In this sermon on Exodus 33:18–23 titled “Revival Sermon: The Glory of God,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out how often the Psalmist expresses this exact longing when he calls upon the Lord. His satisfaction is found solely in the Lord. Christian prayers should be motivated by a concern for the manifestation of the glory of God. Dr. Lloyd-Jones also points out an example found in the New Testament in the life of Paul. Paul was never satisfied in his personal relationship with Christ, but longed to know Him more. The more he knew about Christ, the more he loved Him and desired to spend his life for the gospel.
Sermon Breakdown
- Moses makes an extraordinary request to see God's glory.
- Moses is not satisfied with what God has already shown and promised him. He wants more.
- Do we have a desire for God himself and to know his glory? This is the highest reach of faith.
- The prayer for revival is ultimately a prayer for the manifestation of God's glory.
- God answers Moses that he will show his glory but only partially. No one can see God's face and live.
- God will allow Moses to see his back but not his face. This is a glimpse of his glory as he passes by.
- Revivals are when God's glory passes by and we get a glimpse of it.
- Though partial, God's answer is definite. Moses will see God passing by.
- We can have glimpses of God's glory even now. We see through a glass darkly but we do see.
- Examples of glimpses of God's glory: Paul on Damascus road and in 2 Corinthians 12; Peter in 1 Peter 1:8.
- Jonathan Edwards and Charles Spurgeon knew glimpses of God's glory.
- We should follow Moses' example, be thankful for what we have been shown but ask for more. Seek God's glory.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Sermon Questions and Answers on Exodus 33:18-23
What is Moses' request in Exodus 33:18, and why is it significant?
Moses requests "Show me thy glory" in Exodus 33:18. This request is significant because it reveals the daring quality of great faith. Despite already experiencing remarkable communion with God (speaking with God face to face as a friend and receiving divine promises), Moses still longed for more. He wasn't satisfied with just receiving blessings from God; he desired to know God Himself more intimately. This represents the highest reaches of faith—seeking God for His own sake rather than merely for His gifts.
How does God respond to Moses' request to see His glory?
God responds by granting Moses a partial view of His glory. He tells Moses that no person can see God's face and live, but He will allow Moses to see His "back parts." God places Moses in the cleft of a rock, covers him with His hand as He passes by, and then removes His hand so Moses can see His back. This shows God's willingness to reveal Himself while acknowledging human limitations in experiencing the full divine glory.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say is the ultimate purpose of seeking revival?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the ultimate purpose of seeking revival is a concern for the manifestation of the glory of God. It's not merely about church growth, increased religious activities, or personal blessings. True revival stems from a deep longing, like Moses had, to see God's glory revealed and manifested in the world. Revival is fundamentally about God revealing Himself in a powerful way that transforms believers and impacts the surrounding culture.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe revival in relation to Exodus 33?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes revival as "the glory of God passing by." Just as Moses was granted a glimpse of God's back as He passed by, revival is a partial but powerful revelation of God's glory in our midst—a "fleeting glimpse" of what God is in Himself. It's like God paying a visit, pouring out His Spirit, and allowing people to experience His presence in an extraordinary way that goes beyond normal Christian experience.
What examples does Dr. Lloyd-Jones give of people experiencing God's glory?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides several biblical and historical examples of people experiencing God's glory: - Isaiah, who cried "Woe is me, for I am undone" when he saw a vision of God - The Apostle John, who "fell down as one dead" when seeing a vision of Christ - Paul on the Damascus road, blinded by Christ's glory - Paul's experience of being "caught up to the third heaven" - Jonathan Edwards, who had extraordinary views of Christ's glory while walking in the woods - David Brainerd, who experienced God's glory so intensely he was sweating though it was freezing - D.L. Moody, who had to ask God to hold back His hand during an intense experience of divine glory
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about the possibility of experiencing God's glory today?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that experiencing God's glory is not limited to biblical figures or special individuals but is meant for all Christians. He states clearly that these experiences are "possible and meant for us." While we cannot see God's full glory in this life (we see "through a glass darkly"), we can and should have partial experiences of His glory. Dr. Lloyd-Jones challenges listeners not to be content with basic Christian experience but to seek deeper knowledge of God Himself, noting that no one who truly desires Christ with "living and longing desire" will fail to find Him.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the progression of spiritual growth in the Christian life?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes spiritual growth as advancing in stages, moving from one level to another. Quoting Spurgeon, he outlines the progression as: thanking God for a little grace, then asking for great grace; moving from hope to faith; from faith to assurance; from assurance to full assurance; from full assurance to enjoyment; and finally to glory itself. He compares this to Moses' boldness in asking for more after each divine encounter. This shows that the Christian life should be characterized by continual growth and seeking, not self-satisfaction or stagnation.
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, what is wrong with many Christians in their spiritual journey?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones suggests that many Christians, even evangelical ones, are characterized by self-satisfaction and a feeling they've "arrived" spiritually. He observes that many become content with conversion or basic Christian experiences rather than striving for deeper knowledge of God. He describes this as "sheer ignorance of God" and notes that many Christians spend too much time "feeling our own pulse, taking our own spiritual temperature" rather than seeking God Himself. The problem is a lack of holy dissatisfaction that would drive them to seek more of God's glory.
Revival Sermons
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.