Exodus 33:14 - 16
The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."
Then Moses said to Him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the Earth?"
As you may know, the context of this conversation between God and Moses is that God said to Moses that He will send them an Angel to lead them into the Promised Land from that point on, and no longer would He Himself go with them.
This is an interesting point to take note of. While theoretically, we know that God is everywhere. But He is not Manifest everywhere. Much like water vapour is everywhere, it's strength and power is felt in stronger measures: Water vapour, condensed water droplets, rain, a river, an ocean, the depths of an ocean. You get the idea? In the same way, the Presence of God is everywhere (like water vapour) but is felt in deeper measures where He chooses to Manifest Himself.
Moses didn't want the comfort of knowing God is everywhere all the time (omnipresent). Nor was he even satisfied with the physical presence of Angel leading him! (Most of us would have settled for that!) Moses had already experienced something greater... the Manifest Presence of God. And He could no longer live without it. If God's Manifest Presence was not going to go with the Israelites into the Promised Land, Moses would rather have the Israelites stay in the desert where His Manifest Presence was.
Friends, as children of God we have the privilege of knowing the direct connection to God Himself. And when we tap into that, even our physical appearance will change! (See 2 Corinthians 3:13 and 18!) There is nothing like the experience of being touched by the Manifest Presence of God. To be in a place where His Presence is there in Glory. It is life-changing.
His Presence distinguishes us from other people. His Presence makes us radiate. His Presence brings joy. His Presence brings peace. People can see someone radiating the Presence of God, even unbelievers.
Friends, God wants us to be refreshed in His Presence. God wants to Manifest Himself among us! In our meetings, in our times of worship and prayer, in our homes, etc. It is not a list of to-dos that He is after in order to come. He is not waiting for us to clean ourselves up. He is just looking for hunger. Do you long for the Presence of God?
I don't know about you, I am not satisfied with a few songs and a well-worded prayer. I want Him! I want His Presence. I long for a touch of the Manifest Presence of God! I find if I haven't experienced His Presence for a period of time (sometimes this is a few days, sometimes a few weeks!), my heart starts to long for Him. Like a thirst that comes out of nowhere, I start craving Him. Often, that craving becomes so strong all it takes is one favourite song in the car and His Presence manifests. That's the power of hunger.
If you don't have such a hunger, don't be condemned! Next week we'll cover this in further detail.
Until then, may you experience the Presence of God in greater measures! Especially this Sunday at the church gathering!
The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."
Then Moses said to Him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the Earth?"
As you may know, the context of this conversation between God and Moses is that God said to Moses that He will send them an Angel to lead them into the Promised Land from that point on, and no longer would He Himself go with them.
This is an interesting point to take note of. While theoretically, we know that God is everywhere. But He is not Manifest everywhere. Much like water vapour is everywhere, it's strength and power is felt in stronger measures: Water vapour, condensed water droplets, rain, a river, an ocean, the depths of an ocean. You get the idea? In the same way, the Presence of God is everywhere (like water vapour) but is felt in deeper measures where He chooses to Manifest Himself.
Moses didn't want the comfort of knowing God is everywhere all the time (omnipresent). Nor was he even satisfied with the physical presence of Angel leading him! (Most of us would have settled for that!) Moses had already experienced something greater... the Manifest Presence of God. And He could no longer live without it. If God's Manifest Presence was not going to go with the Israelites into the Promised Land, Moses would rather have the Israelites stay in the desert where His Manifest Presence was.
Friends, as children of God we have the privilege of knowing the direct connection to God Himself. And when we tap into that, even our physical appearance will change! (See 2 Corinthians 3:13 and 18!) There is nothing like the experience of being touched by the Manifest Presence of God. To be in a place where His Presence is there in Glory. It is life-changing.
His Presence distinguishes us from other people. His Presence makes us radiate. His Presence brings joy. His Presence brings peace. People can see someone radiating the Presence of God, even unbelievers.
Friends, God wants us to be refreshed in His Presence. God wants to Manifest Himself among us! In our meetings, in our times of worship and prayer, in our homes, etc. It is not a list of to-dos that He is after in order to come. He is not waiting for us to clean ourselves up. He is just looking for hunger. Do you long for the Presence of God?
I don't know about you, I am not satisfied with a few songs and a well-worded prayer. I want Him! I want His Presence. I long for a touch of the Manifest Presence of God! I find if I haven't experienced His Presence for a period of time (sometimes this is a few days, sometimes a few weeks!), my heart starts to long for Him. Like a thirst that comes out of nowhere, I start craving Him. Often, that craving becomes so strong all it takes is one favourite song in the car and His Presence manifests. That's the power of hunger.
If you don't have such a hunger, don't be condemned! Next week we'll cover this in further detail.
Until then, may you experience the Presence of God in greater measures! Especially this Sunday at the church gathering!
