Face to Face (2)

Getting Personal

I’m excited to begin to examine what the Spirit can show us about what we describe as the Presence of God. It may be that this is a thought that doesn’t make sense to us. On the other hand, it may be a reality that we experience in an ongoing relationship with Jesus. I hope that by the end of the series we will have a greater understanding of the Presence of the Lord. But, more than that, I hope that we have begun to experience the Presence of the Lord in our lives.

We just had the coldest blast of air for our winter. I’ve given up on trying to keep anything tropical alive. I’m sure my Sago Palm will be dying back again this year. The hanging plants in the backyard are sure to die. That is what frost does…frost is essentially the deprivation of the sun’s light and heat. Isn’t that a picture of what happened in the Garden of Eden after Adam’s sin?

In Paradise Adam was like the blooming plant, flourishing in the warmth and brightness of the Lord’s presence. By sin he fled from that presence. The result was not merely the loss of light and heat, but since these were essential to his nature, that nature languished, drooped, and withered. The mildew of corruption formed upon it; and the positive process of dissolution was begun, to end only in eternal death. - Abraham Kuyper*[1]

Jesus came so that the frost of this separation would end. Ultimately, I believe that is what we will see as we examine the Presence of the Lord. I think we will see that the Son’s light will bring life and beauty to our lives.

Let’s begin our series with a story from the life of a man named Moses.

Moses and God Face to Face

We will jump into the story of the exodus or freedom of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. God chose Moses to be His appointed deliverer. They’ve left Egypt and gone into the wilderness for what should have been a few days of travel. Instead, they would spend 40 years in the wilderness but during that time, God would establish His Presence in His people, the descendants of Abraham.

God’s Presence with Israel would begin with Moses…

Exodus 33:7–23 NIV

Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” 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?” And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and you wil 

This passage is amazing in that it conveys how essential the Presence of God was to Moses. Moses enjoyed a close communication with God that was described as ‘face to face’. Can you imagine what it would have been like to have seen the ‘glory’ of God as He passed by Moses?

 What can we learn from this passage? How does it relate to our spiritual experience today? Let’s dig a little deeper.

Resting in God’s Presence

Experiencing the Presence of God is Like Being Face to Face

It is interesting that we meet face to face with God in times that we don’t want to experience again. It seems that in tragedy or intense stress, Christians meet with God in amazing revelations through the Word of God, a prophetic voice, or, maybe, a song. We don’t want to experience the event again, but we remember the nearness, the presence, of God during those seasons.

Moses must have cherished the time he spent face to face with God.

Exodus 33:11 NIV

The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

The phrase “face to face” is actually an idiomatic expression that means “in the presence of”. Moses would be “in the presence of” the Lord. The face of God is the revelation of the grace of God. So, when he hides his face, he is withholding his grace. But when he makes his face shine there are blessing and victory. [2]

Psalm 31:16 NIV

Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.

Psalm 44:3 NIV

It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.

The Church has a phrases that reflects this…”seeking God’s face” typically refers to praying or maybe intimate worship. It suggests the desire of a believer to hear from God or for a spiritual strengthening.

The Presence of God is Essential

Jim Cymbala is the pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle, author, and speaker. His most popular book was Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire in 1997. His emphasis was the need of the church for the presence of God.

If our churches don’t pray, and if people don’t have an appetite for God, what does it matter how many are attending the services? How would that impress God? Can you imagine the angels saying, “Oh, your pews! We can’t believe how beautiful they are! Up here in heaven, we’ve been talking about them for years. Your sanctuary lighting—it’s so clever. The way you have the steps coming up to the pulpit is wonderful”?

I don’t think so.

If we don’t want to experience God’s closeness here on earth, why would we want to go to heaven, anyway? He is the center of everything there. If we don’t enjoy being in his presence here and now, then heaven would not be heaven for us. Why would he send anyone there who doesn’t long for him passionately here on earth?[3]

I believe he is echoing the statement that we saw from Moses:

Exodus 33:15 NIV

Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.

If God is real (and we agree He is!), what is the point trying to do life on our own? I am amazed at the foolishness of the Israelites who rebel over and over again against God even while His presence with them was obvious. Moses is on a mountain that is lit up with the Presence of God and they are forging a golden calf!

Deuteronomy 5:4 NIV

The Lord spoke to you face to face out of the fire on the mountain.

In Exodus 33 a pillar of cloud would come down and Moses would meet would God.

 In spite of the obvious Presence of God the Israelites rebelled, complained, murmured, and disobeyed. Each time it separated them from the Presence of God and His blessing.

 Let’s agree with Moses, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”

Have Your Own Face to Face

Your Identity as a Believer is that His Presence Rests on You

According to the Bible, the most unique thing about the Israelites was the fact that their God was present with them.

Numbers 14:14 NIV

And they will tell the inhabitants of this land about it. They have already heard that you, Lord, are with these people and that you, Lord, have been seen face to face, that your cloud stays over them, and that you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

1 Corinthians 3:16 NIV

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?

 His presence in our lives is the heart of our reason for being. We need to understand our privilege and opportunity. We also need to understand that we can grieve the Spirit by our words, thoughts, and actions.

God Fights for You

Moses determined not to go forward, not to fight the enemies in the land without the Presence of the Lord. In the culture of the Levant, the nations believed in the patronage of the gods. Each city had a patron deity (e.g., Marduk in Babylon... [it] meant that when a city or a group of people warred with another, their gods also joined in the battle. The god/gods of the losing side were discredited and often abandoned by their worshipers.[4] Moses used this when interceding for the rebellious Israelites. Moses was certain that it was the Presence and Protection of God that made no enemy a problem.

Deuteronomy 1:29–31 NIV

Then I said to you, “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the wilderness. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.”

Let the Lord fight for You!

You Are a Testimony to Others

The Presence of the Lord in your life testifies about God. What does the imprint of God on your life tell others?

Numbers 14:14 NIV

And they will tell the inhabitants of this land about it. They have already heard that you, Lord, are with these people and that you, Lord, have been seen face to face, that your cloud stays over them, and that you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

Your choices reflect either positively or negatively to the nations (people) around you about how you view your God. Is your god hard and rigid, making you work for your salvation? Is your God a “woke Savior” who would never say anything to hurt someone’s feelings? Is your god a “genie in the bottle” who comes out only when you need him?

 Or, is He an all-powerful Creator who’s Spirit also lives inside your heart? Is he a forgiving God but also demands that we go and “sin no more”?

 How you live your life is a testimony to others.

Freedom in His Presence

I hope that through this series, I can encourage you to seek the presence of God. Having a greater understanding of the Presence of the Lord leads us into a greater personal experience with the Lord.

 Riding with my grandkids is a learning experience. One thing I’ve learned is that yellow cars and Tesla’s are exciting. Each time Charlotte and Hudson see a yellow car or Tesla they shout it out. Now Cindy and I when we are driving down the road will call out yellow cars and Tesla’s. It is like the grandkids are there with us.

 I hope that is what happens in this sermon series. I will continue to point out instances of the Presence of the Lord in the Scriptures. Maybe it will first be interesting, then infectious, and hopefully we all will echo Moses, “unless your Presence go up with us, we will not go”.

Numbers 6:24–27 NIV

“ ‘ “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ’ “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

[1] Elliot Ritzema and Elizabeth Vince, eds., 300 Quotations for Preachers from the Modern Church, Pastorum Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2013).

[2] Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel, “Presence of God, The,” in Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 1751.

[3] Craig Brian Larson and Phyllis Ten Elshof, 1001 Illustrations That Connect (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2008), 42.

[4] Victor Harold Matthews, Mark W. Chavalas, and John H. Walton, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament, electronic ed. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000), Nu 14:13–16.