Seeing Him An Encounter with Christ Part 2

Exo 33:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

Most people even God’s people don’t really want to be “too” close to God

A few things that will keep you from a close encounter with God:

Religion
The religious attitude of form and order. Making God and serving God into a ritual or repetition of prayers. Somehow we have made a relationship with God into something cold and distant. The religious Pharisees of our day will tell you such a personal and close encounter with Christ is impossible or not for today.

Pride
Many people who have been Christians for a long time and have not had a close experience with God cannot bring themselves to admit that there is a possibility that they lack something in their walk with God. So they block the way for themselves and others. A change of heart would allow them to also approach God amd to come closer.

Unbelief
This one sin will restrict anyone from many things in this life.

Some or even many don’t want or desire a close encounter with Christ.

I took this photo two nights ago. Mount Malindang Philippines Huawei Nova 2i

God delivery Israel from Egypt with miracles and power. As they ate the Passover there was a mass healing as the scripture tells us of these enslaved people that there was none crippled. Psa 105:37 He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes. God puts a wall of fire between the Egyptian army and His people before they crossed the Red Sea. In a few short days after crossing the Red Sea as on dry ground amd destroying the Egyptian army, God leads them to Mount Moriah. Here is where God’s people failed God. It is when God desired to be close and personal to each and every one of them.

It is human nature to want a buffer betweeen God and us. God wanted to be the King of Israel, but instead they wanted to be like others and have a man as their king. God wanted them all to have a close encounter with Him and at this point they rejected this notion and requested Moses speak with God and relay the message to them.

Do you want a buffer between you and God or do you want to know Him for yourself?

Exo 20:18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
Exo 20:19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
Exo 20:20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
Exo 20:21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

God desired a close encounter with His people, but they begged Him away and asked for a buffer between God and them..Moses.

There are always people who want God for what He provides, but even His people, many times don’t want Him. An encounter with God will purge the sin out of our lives Ex 20:20

The people stood far off.
Moses drew near to God.

This is where Israel failed the test. This is the cause for their failure to go into the promise land. This day, was the determining factor that made them spend over 40 years in the wilderness.

Same as today.

• We want a pastor or. Bible teacher to approach God for us.
• We want another to prepare a sermon or study and teach us.
• When we have trouble we go directly to a mere human instead of the One that can really make a difference.

We want God at a distance

By our first verse we can clearly see why Joshua was one of the spies that came back with a good report. We can see why Joshua was the successor to Moses. We can see why when this man prayed the sun stood still.

Exo 33:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

The original language says, “Joshua refused to leave the tabernacle”. Joshua found a place in the presence of the Lord. The fullness of joy in His presence and he realized there is nothing better outside to what he experienced inside.

The exact same opportunity was given to all! God is no respecter of persons. When we decide what is our priority amd if that priority is God, you will seek Him and find Him, if you seek Him with all of your heart.

Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

God is not revealing Himself to those still attached to and full of the love of this world.

The first command!

Exo 20:1 And God spake all these words, saying,
Exo 20:2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Exo 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Exo 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Exo 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

He won’t show Himself to the idolater. He equate idolatry to hating Him.

Come to Him hungry and thirsty and in humility. Come in faith and you will have a taste of heaven even when you are still on this earth.

Next we will look at the New Testament and our ability to have an encounter with Christ.

This is the end of the 2nd part of this series

Part 1
https://steemit.com/steemchurch/@mhm-philippines/seeing-him-an-encounter-with-christ-part-1

Thank you for stopping by,
Daddy William

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