Pursuing the elusive presence of God. You know, every worship leader feels the pressure to make God show up on cue each week. The crowds depend on it. His job depends on it. So he looks for just the right songs, just the right music team, just the right lighting cues and font and fog, so that the Holy Spirit enters the room just at the very moment when we invite Him to do so.
What’s wrong with this picture? After going through the book of Genesis, we should know what is wrong. God shows up when He chooses. He is not a tame Lion, you might say. But in Exodus 3, God does unmistakably show up
If the manifest presence of God is the center of worship, then we have already seen it several times in the book of Genesis. God comes in a dream, in a vision at night, in the form of visiting strangers, or He speaks to someone directly somehow. There are a few other places where the manifest presence of God appears. Since Exodus 3 is the first, we will use this as our launching point for exploring how it seems to work.
God shows up unexpectedly in the wilderness to Moses, who is looking for sheep, not for a burning bush.
He manifests Himself above and within the Tabernacle, in a pillar of cloud or fire.
He appears at Moses’ request to proclaim His name to him and let Moses see His back.
He appears within the Temple at its dedication, filling the room so that the priests are not able to remain inside to do their rituals.
God speaks at the baptism of Jesus, and on the mountain, in a loud voice saying, “This is my beloved Son.”
The Holy Spirit comes to rest on each of the 120 believers on the day of Pentecost, and they proclaim the glory of God in other languages.
He appears to Saul, who became known as the apostle Paul, on the road to Damascus, changing the course of his life forever.
He appears to John on the Island of Patmos on the Lord’s Day, while John is in the Spirit, the Spirit takes him farther than he ever imagined.
What do all of these, and other manifestations, have in common?
They do not happen just to create an emotional experience for the recipient.
They do not happen just to serve as a sign or a wonder to bring people to initial discipleship.
They do not happen just to educate or communicate with a person.
They do not happen just to amuse or confound the witness.
The appearances of God might do all of these things, but the intent is far greater.
In almost every case, God’s appearance is unexpected, unscripted, and God-initiated. It is frightening and awe-some. It brings about reluctant and fearful obedience. It happens only once in a lifetime, once in a generation, maybe once in history, in exactly that manner. It centers on God’s will and His mission. And there is no doubting about the visitation or the point of it.
Today, we talk a lot about “entering His presence.” What does that mean, in light of these passages?
Moses was told not to come any closer without taking off his shoes, for he was on holy ground.
Moses had to be hidden in a cleft of a rock and covered over, lest he see God’s face and die.
The priests fled from the Temple, because they were unable to remain inside to continue their duties.
Some people fall down in fear at the loud voice; others do not understand.
The believers all proclaim the glory of God, in various languages as the Spirit enables them.
Saul falls down and is struck blind, fearful and changed, and Jesus tells him what to do next.
John falls down like a dead man, and Jesus places His hand on him and tells him not to be afraid.
Some people have reduced the presence of Christ to a wafer and cup, which they call “the real presence.” Do any of these biblical examples sound like mere ritual and objective efficacy to you?
Other people have reduced the presence of Christ to a lifestyle of meditating on Scripture and walking in continual prayer. Nice as that is, does that seem to match any of these accounts?
Many worship leaders feel the need to make the Presence show up. They quote a proof text like, “God is enthroned upon the praises of His people” or “where two or more are gathered, I am there in their midst.” And so God’s manifest presence is reduced to an emotion or an act of singing.
What can we learn from Moses and his experience at the bush? Let me suggest a few things:
Shut up! It’s not about you right now.
Fess up! You know what you did. So does He.
Worsh up! It’s about Him. Recognize Who is here.
Listen up! Every word He says is measured. Commit to it.
Give it up! Your will. Your plan. Your understanding.
Follow up! Carry out the mission.
How about this—Here is what NOT to do when God shows up:
Fear. Do not fear.
Try to make it happen, or try to make it linger.
Grovel and complain.
Boast about it to everyone who will listen.
Forget it.
Fall back into old patterns.
Now, time for a quick quiz. Ready?
The Tabernacle.
Was it God’s idea? Yes! He told Moses multiple times to be sure to build it according to the pattern I show you.
Was God pleased with it? Yes!
How do we know God was pleased? He visited it with His presence! In the form of a cloud or fire.
What did the Glory mean? God’s will. When to move. Where to go. Ready or not. Pleasant or not. Enemies or not.
The Temple.
Was it God’s idea? Yes, and no. It was David’s idea, but the Bible says God put the idea there.
Was God pleased with it? Yes!
How do we know God was pleased? He visited it with His presence! In the form of a cloud filling the room.
The synagogue.
Was it God’s idea? It’s hard to say. It doesn’t appear in the Old Testament, but we see it in the New.
Was God pleased with it? Yes!
How do we know God was pleased? He visited it with His presence! Jesus made it His regular practice to attend.
The church.
Was it God’s idea? Yes! He predicted it, it is the Body of Christ.
Was God pleased with it? Yes!
How do we know God was pleased? He visited it with His presence! Jesus said that whenever two or three are gathered in His name. Paul talked about the power of the Holy Spirit at least sometimes being there.
The scattered church.
Was it God’s idea? Persecution? Yes and no. It accomplished God’s will, which was to go everywhere.
Was God pleased with it? Yes!
How do we know God was pleased? He visited it with His presence! We still have that promise today.