Bishop T.D. Jakes’ sermon Close Proximity reminds us of an ancient yet timeless truth: God is not far. He is not inaccessible. He is not limited to the few or the qualified. There is, undoubtedly, a spot beside Him for those who dare to come close.
Bishop Jakes conveys more than a message. He gives a spiritual shaking. This is more than just a sermon; it is a call to the soul to rise above complacency, to abandon surface-level faith, and to enter into deeper contact with the living God. This lecture, set against the backdrop of Exodus 33, exposes Moses’ anguished plea: “Show me your glory.” And it invites us to crave more—not just God’s blessings, but God Himself.
Moses’ Desperation for Presence
At the heart of Close Proximity is a soul-cry that has echoed down generations: “I don’t want the promise without the presence.” This is Moses’ cry, and it expresses a righteous displeasure that every Christian should share. God informs Moses, “I’ll send an angel ahead of you, but I will not go myself.” Many people may believe that miracles, protection, and supply are sufficient. But not for Moses. He understands the distinction between God’s hand and God’s heart. And he won’t accept one without the other.
Bishop Jakes reminds us that the greatest tragedy of faith is not unanswered prayer, but opting for proximity over presence. We live in a time when people choose success above holiness, benefits over brokenness, and platforms over presence. But Moses pushes us beyond that. He demonstrates that knowing God intimately is the ultimate source of satisfaction. Nothing.
The Power of Rock
The cleft of the rock, described in Exodus 33, is a key symbol in both theology and everyday application. When Moses asks to view God’s glory, God complies, but on one condition. “You can’t see my face and survive. But there is a place beside me where I will conceal you in the cleft of the rock, cover you with my hand, and let my goodness to pass.”
The rock is not incidental. The rock is symbolic. The rock is Christ.
The breaking of the rock—Jesus Christ—is where we find our safe spot, hidden space, heavenly covering. Bishop Jakes offers a striking parallel: God designed a break in the rock for broken people. And if we crawl into that gap, with all of our flaws, doubts, and worries, God will allow all of His goodness to pass through.
This is not a theory. This is theology that includes thunder. This is where God’s holiness meets our humanity—not with vengeance, but with compassion. God shields us from His own intensity by enclosing us in the protection of His Son. In the rock, we are not judged. We are covered.
Glory: The Weight and Wonder
The Hebrew word kabod, which translates to “glory,” actually means “weight” or “substance.” It is not fluff. It is not vapor. It’s heavy. It transforms rooms, destiny, and spiritual atmospheres.
Bishop Jakes expertly transitions the congregation’s perspective from a feel-good service to a feel-God awakening. He warns that modern churches, adorned with lights, fog machines, and technology, have occasionally sacrificed majesty for gimmick. “Bring back the glory!” he yells, not out of nostalgia, but out of necessity.
The glory of God is not optional. It is essential. It is the substance that fortifies us in times of adversity, carries us through grief, and prepares us for our mission. Moses knew this. For him, the presence of God was survival rather than ministry enhancement. It was intimate. It was everything.
Manifest versus Omnipresence
One of the most significant differences Jakes makes is between God’s omnipresence and His apparent presence. Omnipresence signifies that God is present at all times. But evident presence occurs when God shows Himself, works visibly, and talks personally.
Bishop Jakes’ description of this has a hauntingly beautiful quality. He claims that God has always been present—in the river where Moses floated, the palace where he was raised, and the desert where he roamed. But Moses didn’t realize it. Until one day, God pulled aside the curtain and announced, “I’ve been with you the whole time.”
What an encouraging word for any believer going through a quiet season. God was never absent. He was hiding in the gap, waiting for your cry of “Show me your glory.”
Danger of Dancing Around Calves
In a somber transition, Bishop Jakes reveals the Israelites’ idolatry—dancing around a golden calf while the beauty of God awaited on the mountain. He draws a connection with our culture, where many people continue to dance around idols made of ambition, fame, materialism, and ego rather than Egyptian gold.
However, the tragedy isn’t that they produced a calf. They did it before the law was enacted. They disobeyed the commandment before it was given: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
Bishop Jakes warns that many modern believers are guilty of the same thing. We pursue the things of God—His gifts, favor, and promises—while avoiding the expense of His presence. The truth is that God alone can quench the soul’s thirst. Not gold, nor products. Just glory.
An Invitation to the Secret Place
Jakes leads us back to God’s invitation to Moses: “There is a place beside me.” It was not a generic remark. It was personal. Exclusive. Tender. It wasn’t a public declaration; it was a quiet revelation.
“There is a place beside me,” God declares.
And it is still available. Not for the perfect or the religious elite, but for those who are hungry. For the Moseses who are willing to climb the mountain and say, “I’m not moving unless you go with me.” For believers who are not pleased with angels, blessings, or ministry renown. For those who seek Him.
This message becomes much more critical when you consider that anyone can claim this location. No one was disqualified. No sin is too deep, nor is history too black. The Church of Sermons, for example, freely invites anyone to become a church member. You do not require a resume of righteousness. You only need the desire to be near God.
There is a seat beside Him, but it is not guarded by a velvet rope. Only one rock—Christ Himself—and a summons to come.
A Church Without Glory Is Just A Club
As the lecture reaches its emotional and spiritual peak, Jakes calls for a resurgence of glory in the church. He sees a church that does not rely on professional worship or sophisticated sound equipment. A church that could experience revival with only a washboard and a spoon if it meant God would appear.
He recalls a time when people fell prostrate under conviction, altars were soiled with tears, and the Holy Ghost served as a therapist. He does not disdain therapy; rather, he respects it. However, he claims that glory existed prior to therapy. We need both.
He says that we do not need religion without revelation, form without fire, or church without Christ. We require the glory. And we must be willing to give up everything to have it.
The Rock is Still Available
Bishop Jakes repeatedly refers to the rock. Sometimes we have to stand on it. Sometimes we have to throw it. Sometimes we have to sit on it. But we constantly need the rock.
And that rock is Christ.
Jesus is more than just our salvation; he is also our hiding place. He is the cleft into which we are curled when God’s glory passes. He is our refuge while the fire of holiness burns around us. He is the rock under our feet when the ground shakes and the world crumbles.
In Jesus, we see the Father’s back. God protects us through Jesus. Goodness passes through Jesus.
Your Invitation to the Rock
Bishop Jakes concludes his sermon with a sincere invitation—not simply to receive the Word, but also to react. To come forward. To get close. To avoid leaving church without doing business with God.
He addresses sinners, backsliders, and casual believers. “You have come this close. “Do not walk away.” He asks every heart to make a decision: choose connection over comfort, presence over prosperity, relationship over image.
And for individuals who have felt estranged from religion, God, or themselves, there is a place for them. Whether you’re sitting in the pew, watching online, or struggling alone, there is a spot next to Him.
And if you’re looking for a spiritual home to develop in, The Church of Sermons welcomes you. Anyone can participate. There is no gatekeeping at the rock. You do not need to audition to fit in. You just need to be thirsty.
In conclusion: God’s goodness is about to pass by
This message is more than just a plea to commitment. It is a prophecy. This is a promise. It’s a declaration: “I will shower you with all of my blessings.”
However, this only occurs in the cleft of the rock.
If you want goodness, you must desire grandeur. If you desire the glory, you must enter the rock. Once you do, everything changes. The turbulence of your past serves as a canvas for His grace. The weight of your struggles becomes a platform for His presence.
There’s a place alongside Him. Will you take it?
Lift your hands. Open your heart. And repeat Moses’ cry: “Show me your glory.”
