Message Magazine’s Online Devotional for Sunday, September 24, 2017
Listen to “Thoughts in Worship 09.24.2017” on Spreaker.
Devotional thought 11 in “Removing the Veil: Sanctuary Living in the 21st Century.” Our subject is: When God Speaks
Here’s the question for consideration: When God has something to say and we are willing to listen, what’s next?
The Lord Came Down. Moses Went Up.
“And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. And the Lord came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up” (Exodus 19:19–20).
The journey continues. The trumpets are sounding; the mountain is engulfed and smoking; the earth is quaking; thunders are clapping; lightning is flashing; the people are trembling, and now, YHWH is speaking. Are God’s people ready to listen? Moses spoke. What might He have said? I think this Scripture gives us an idea: “In fact, so awful and terrifying was the [phenomenal] sight that Moses said, I am terrified (aghast and trembling with fear)” (Hebrews 12:21, AMP). Now what?
Your Attention, Please
This is the question we must all ask ourselves. When God is speaking and everything around us and within our lives suggests that He is trying to get our attention, what do we do next? If we even tell Him of our fear, awe, trembling, uncertainty, or wonderment, where do we go from there?
The Bible says that God took this encounter a step further and welcomed Moses into His presence. Even this is awe inspiring because the Bible says that God came down and personally welcomed Moses up. Does that remind you of anything? Generally, we can see this as the condescension of God. However, we can also apply this to life events facilitating prayer encounters with God.
Real Communion
Think about it. Jesus said that when we pray, we recognize that our Father is in heaven. The One whose name is Holy, whose kingdom is coming, and prepares to accomplish His will on earth as it is done in heaven, abides in heavenly places. This means that when we pray as the Holy Spirit welcomes us into communion with God, He welcomes us up to His throne of grace.
While the privilege of prayer, in many ways, is God condescending to give us access, His purpose is to immediately elevate us, spiritually, to where He is.
In His presence we find victory over sin. There’s no sin in His throne room. In His presence, we find relief from worry and doubt. There’s no worry in His throne room. In His presence we find peace. There is no discord or strife in His throne room. Thus it is that prayer elevates us to heavenly places.
Sitting Pretty
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love” (Ephesians 1:3–4). “
“And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:6–10).
Immediate Elevation
When God has something to say and we are willing to listen, what’s next? When we listen keenly to God’s will for our lives, He immediately begins to elevate us to personal communion with Him where we will receive power to live according to Jesus Christ’s example. As long as we continue to breathe in His atmosphere and commune with Him daily, we will be well on our way to the fulness of sanctuary living.
