How can we make a difference?
How can we make a difference?
“What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”
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 favour with me.’
If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favour with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”
The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
(Exodus ch 33 vs 12-14)
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.”
(Exodus ch 33 vs 15-17)
“If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”
The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a person speaks with their friend.
(Exodus ch 33 v 11)
Being in God’s Presence
The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a person speaks with their friend.
(Exodus ch 33 v 11)
Being in God’s Presence
When Moses came down from Mount Sinai … he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD.
(Exodus ch 34 v 29)
The example of Jesus
After he had dismissed the crowd, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone…
(Matthew ch 14 v 23)
Being in God’s Presence
The example of Jesus
After he had dismissed the crowd, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone…
(Matthew ch 14 v 23)
Being in God’s Presence
(Matthew ch 6 v 6)
The teaching of Jesus
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.
First…
Then…
First…
Then…
“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,”
says the LORD Almighty.
(Zechariah ch 4 v 6)
Being in God’s Presence
“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,”
says the LORD Almighty.
(Zechariah ch 4 v 6)
Being in God’s Presence
“If your Presence does not go with me,
do not send me up from here.”
(Exodus ch 33 v 15)
Ebe Prayer Room in 2002
…and still happening in 2026!
“It is a pitfall to view disciplines as virtuous in themselves. In and of themselves, the disciplines have no virtue; possess no righteousness; contain no rectitude. The disciplines place us before God; they do not give us Brownie points with God”.
“Pray as you can, not as you can’t.”
(Dom Chapman)
“Pray as you can, not as you can’t.”
(Dom Chapman)
We cannot be God’s presence, �unless we have been in God’s presence.
Being in God’s Presence
We cannot be God’s presence, �unless we have been in God’s presence.
Being in God’s Presence
Let’s not just be a good presence, but let’s be God’s presence.
Being … God’s Presence
“If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on and no one would know the difference. If the Holy Spirit had been withdrawn from the New Testament church, 95 percent of what they did would stop, and everybody would know the difference.”
(A W Tozer)
… let your light shine before everyone, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
(Matthew ch 5 v 16)
Being … God’s Presence
… let your light shine before everyone, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
(Matthew ch 5 v 16)
Being … God’s Presence
Are we living lives full of God,
or just trying to be nice people?!
Being … God’s Presence
“Are we being just a good presence or are we being God’s presence as well?”
(Exodus ch 33 v 16)
Being … God’s Presence
“Are we being just a good presence or are we being God’s presence as well?”
“What else will distinguish me and your people from all
the other people on the face of the earth?”
Being … God’s Presence
Yes, but…..
The LORD bless you
and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace.
(Numbers ch 6 vs 24-26)