But Moses and Israel refused because the presence of an angel was not a good substitute for the presence of God. And this is something that many Christians today will grab with both hands and will rejoice and be satisfied. God offered to give them the presence of His angel. Moses turned down angelic presence as a substitute. 4 And when the people heard this bad news, they mourned, because they knew what the presence of God meant. When He threatened to withdraw His presence (as we read in Exodus 3), Israel regarded it as bad news. God promised Israel His presence in the pillar of cloud and of fire. Such people seek the things that God gives rather than God’s presence. Those who do not appreciate this great promise are to be pitied. The greatest promise the Lord has made to His people is to be present with them. I want us to consider our topic along the following lines or thoughts: They have made their followers dwell in their presence all the time rather than dwelling in the presence of God. These preachers of new revelation have made their followers dependent on them rather than on the Lord God. When anybody brings anything that is new: new truth – it is not the truth. This is the counsel: If it is new, it is not the truth if it is the truth, it is not new. This is in the context of the new revelations that people come up with these days. Don’t forget in Judges 17:6 21:25 that was the state in Israel: a terrible time when everybody did what was right in his own eyes. It is timely given the scary things we see in Christianity today in this nation and beyond, when many preachers and their followers do whatever seems right in their own eyes, all in the name of new revelation. This topic is not only timely it is timeless. 16 For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.”īreak now, O Lord, the bread of life to all in radioland, by the power of Your Spirit, in Jesus. And consider that this nation is Your people.”ġ4 And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”ġ5 Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. Yet You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.’ 13 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. 3 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey for I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”Ĥ And when the people heard this bad news, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments.ġ2 Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people.’ But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Depart and go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give it.’ 2 And I will send My Angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanite and the Amorite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. Friends, today, I want us to look at ‘Dwelling in the Presence of God’, with the subtitle: ‘The Only Way to Live’. I bring you greetings again, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. DWELLING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD – PART ONE
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