STUDY IT FOR YOURSELF! Have the attitude of the Bereans… … take what you are taught and search the Scriptures each day to see if what was taught is what the Word of God says [Acts 17:11]! Have the attitude of the Bereans…

Part 12: SEEKING the PRESENCE of God! PRAYER with FASTING Part 12: SEEKING the PRESENCE of God!

Psalm 27:4 ONE THING I HAVE ASKED from the LORD, THAT I SHALL SEEK: THAT I MAY DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD all the days of my life, TO BEHOLD THE BEAUTY OF THE LORD, And TO MEDIATE IN HIS TEMPLE.

Jeremiah 29:12-13 WHEN YOU SEARCH for Me WITH ALL YOUR HEART.” [12] “Then YOU WILL CALL UPON ME and COME and PRAY TO ME, and I WILL LISTEN TO YOU. [13] And YOU WILL SEEK ME and FIND ME, WHEN YOU SEARCH for Me WITH ALL YOUR HEART.”

Do You KNOW the Difference Between HAPPINESS and JOY? HAPPINESS is BASED on WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE ‘NOW’. JOY is BASED on INTERNAL ASSURANCE INDEPENENT of OUTWARD CIRCUMSTANCES!

JOY – Strong’s Greek noun 5479 A state of CALM DELIGHT resulting in CHEERFULNESS, GLADNESS, and REJOICING This COMES from TIME SPENT WITH GOD!

Romans 14:17 RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT eating and drinking, BUT FOR the KINGDOM (reign) OF GOD IS NOT eating and drinking, RIGHTEOUSNESS and PEACE and JOY BUT IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

Matthew 4:4 BUT ON EVERY WORD that PROCEEDS OUT of the MOUTH of God.’” But He answered and said, “IT IS WRITTEN, ‘Man SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD that PROCEEDS OUT of the MOUTH of God.’”

John 6:33 “FOR the BREAD of God IS THAT WHICH COMES DOWN OUT of HEAVEN, and GIVES LIFE to the world.”

John 6:63 ARE SPIRIT and ARE LIFE. “IT IS THE SPIRIT THAT GIVES LIFE; the FLESH PROFITS NOTHING; the WORDS that I have SPOKEN to you ARE SPIRIT and ARE LIFE.

You ARE ONLY as CLOSE TO God as YOU CHOOSE to Be!

Acts 10:34-35 (Amplified Bible) [34] … God shows NO PARTIALITY and is NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS, [35] … he who VENERATES and has a REVERENTIAL FEAR for God, treating Him with WORSHIPFUL OBEDIENCE and LIVING UPRIGHTLY, IS ACCEPTABLE to Him and SURE OF BEING RECEIVED and WELCOME [by Him].

WE DO! DETERMINE the LEVEL OF HAVE with Him, INTIMACY WE God DOES NOT

LET US therefore DRAW NEAR with CONFIDENCE to the THRONE OF GRACE, Hebrews 4:16 LET US therefore DRAW NEAR with CONFIDENCE to the THRONE OF GRACE, that we MAY RECEIVE MERCY and MAY FIND GRACE to HELP in time of need.

FOUR Levels of INTIMACY in the PRESENCE of God the FOOT of the Mountain

Exodus 19:9-12 [9] And the LORD said to Moses, “BEHOLD, I SHALL COME to you in a thick cloud, IN ORDER THAT the people MAY HEAR WHEN I SPEAK with you…”.

Exodus 19:9-12 [10] The LORD also said to Moses, “Go to the people and CONSECRATE THEM today and tomorrow, and let them WASH their garments;”

Exodus 19:9-12 [11] “and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the LORD will COME DOWN on Mount Sinai in the SIGHT of all the people.”

Exodus 19:9-12 [12] “And you SHALL SET BOUNDS for the people all around, saying, ‘BEWARE THAT YOU DO NOT go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.”

WORSHIPING at a DISTANCE Level 2 – WORSHIPING at a DISTANCE

Exodus 24:1-18 [1] Then He said to Moses, “COME UP TO THE LORD, YOU and AARON, NADAB and ABIHU and seventy of the ELDERS of Israel, and YOU SHALL WORSHIP at a DISTANCE.

Exodus 24:1-18 SHALL NOT COME NEAR, [2] MOSES ALONE, however, SHALL COME NEAR to THE LORD, but they (Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, the elders) SHALL NOT COME NEAR, nor shall the people come up with him.”

Exodus 24:1-18 [9] THEN MOSES WENT UP with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, [10] and THEY SAW THE GOD of Israel….

Level 3 – UPON the MOUNTAIN

Exodus 24:1-18 AND MOSES WENT UP to the MOUNTAIN of God. [13] So Moses arose with JOSHUA his SERVANT, AND MOSES WENT UP to the MOUNTAIN of God. [15] THEN MOSES WENT UP to the mountain, AND the CLOUD COVERED the mountain.

Into the CLOUD Upon the MOUNTAIN Level 4 – Into the CLOUD Upon the MOUNTAIN

Exodus 24:1-18 [16] And THE GLORY of the LORD RESTED ON MOUNT SINAI, and the cloud COVERED IT FOR SIX DAYS; and ON THE SEVENTH DAY HE CALLED to MOSES FROM the MIDST of the CLOUD.

Exodus 24:1-18 [18] And MOSES ENTERED the MIDST of the CLOUD as he went up to the mountain; and MOSES WAS ON THE MOUNTAIN FORTY DAYS and FORTY NIGHTS.

WHY ARE THERE LIMITS of ACCESS to the PRESENCE of God?

Level 1: The GOLDEN CALF – Exodus 32:1-9 [3] THEN all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron. [4] And he took this from their hand, and FASHIONED it with a GRAVING TOOL, and MADE IT INTO A MOLTEN CALF;…

Level 1: [4] … and THEY SAID, “THIS is your god, O Israel, who BROUGHT you UP from the land of EGYPT.” [7] Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “GO DOWN AT ONCE,…”

Level 1: [7] “… for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, HAVE CORRUPTED themselves. [8] They have QUICKLY TURNED ASIDE from the way which I commanded them. …”

Level 1: [8] “… THEY HAVE MADE for THEMSELVES a MOLTEN CALF, and have WORSHIPPED IT, and have SACRIFICED TO IT, and said, ‘THIS IS your god, O Israel…!’”

Level 1: and behold, they are an OBSTINATE (stiff-necked) people.” [9] And the Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, they are an OBSTINATE (stiff-necked) people.”

Level 1 Summary: CORRUPTED themselves [vs 7]! The ‘People’ CORRUPTED themselves [vs 7]! QUICKLY TURNED ASIDE from God’s WAY [vs 8]! MADE for THEMSELVES other gods [vs 8]! Were an OBSTINATE (stiff-necked) people [vs 9]!

Level 2 Summary: The EXAMPLE of ‘AARON’ ASCENDED to the SECOND LEVEL with priests and elders [Exodus 24:1]! With the others he SAW the BEAUTY of GOD’S FEET [Exodus 24:9-10]!

Level 2 Summary: AND YET he AIDED the people in TURNING AWAY from GOD’S WAY TO OTHER ‘gods’ [Exodus 32:1-6]!

Level 3 Summary: The EXAMPLE of ‘JOSHUA’ Following Moses ASCENDED to the THIRD Level [Exodus 24:1]! Was a SERVANT (or minister) to Moses [Exodus 24:13]! Was DILIGENT and FAITHFUL in his SERVICE [Exodus 33:11]!

Level 3 Summary: One of the TWELVE SPIES WHO along with Caleb TRUSTED that GOD HAD GIVEN THEM the LAND [Numbers 14:6, 30, 38; 13:30]! Was CHARGED to be the LEADER of Israel following Moses’ death [Numbers 27:15-23]!

Level 4 Summary: SUBMITTED to GOD [Exodus 3:1-22 and 4:1-20]! ONLY ‘MOSES’ SUBMITTED to GOD [Exodus 3:1-22 and 4:1-20]! Was FAITHFUL in what GOD had CHARGED HIM TO DO [Hebrews 3:2, 5]! SPOKE the WORD of GOD to the people [Hebrews 9:19]

Level 4 Summary: BY FAITH MOSES [Hebrews 11:24-28], REFUSED to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter [vs 24]; CHOSE RATHER to ENDURE ILL- TREATMENT with the people of God THAN TO ENJOY the PASSING PLEASURES of SIN [vs 25];

Level 4 Summary: BY FAITH [Hebrews 11:24-28], CONSIDERED the REPROACH OF CHRIST GREATER RICHES than the TREASURES of Egypt [vs 26]; FOR HE WAS LOOKING TO THE REWARD [vs 26];

Level 4 Summary: BY FAITH [Hebrews 11:24-28], HE LEFT EGYPT NOT FEARING the wrath of the king [vs27]; FOR HE ENDURED, AS SEEING HIM WHO IS UNSEEN [vs27];

Level 4 Summary: BY FAITH [Hebrews 11:24-28], HE KEPT the PASSOVER and the SPRINKLING of the BLOOD [vs 28], SO THAT HE WHO DESTROYED the first- born MIGHT NOT TOUCH the people of Israel [vs 28]!

LEVELS of COMMITMENT to Jesus The MULTITUDES Who Followed The ONE Jesus LOVED – John The THREE The TWELVE The SEVENTY Pharisees Sadducees The Bread Seekers

YOUR LEVEL of MATURITY DETERMINES the BLESSINGS YOU RECEIVE! 3 John 2 Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, JUST AS YOUR SOUL PROSPERS. YOUR LEVEL of MATURITY DETERMINES the BLESSINGS YOU RECEIVE!

Psalm 15:1-5 WHO MAY ABIDE in Thy TENT? [1] O Lord, WHO MAY ABIDE in Thy TENT? WHO MAY DWELL on Thy HOLY HILL? [2] He who walks with INTEGRITY, and WORKS RIGHTEOUSNESS, And SPEAKS TRUTH in his heart.

Psalm 15:1-5 NOR DOES EVIL to his neighbor, [3] He DOES NOT SLANDER with his tongue, NOR DOES EVIL to his neighbor, NOR TAKES up a REPROACH against his friend;

Psalm 15:1-5 BUT WHO HONORS those who fear the LORD; [4] In whose eyes a reprobate is DESPISED, BUT WHO HONORS those who fear the LORD; He swears to his own HURT, and does not change;

Psalm 15:1-5 Nor does he TAKE A BRIBE against the innocent. [5] He DOES NOT PUT OUT his money at interest, Nor does he TAKE A BRIBE against the innocent. HE WHO DOES THESE THINGS will never be SHAKEN.

Psalm 24:3-5 [3] WHO MAY ASCEND into the hill of the LORD? And WHO MAY STAND in HIS HOLY PLACE? [4] HE WHO HAS CLEAN HANDS and a PURE HEART,

Psalm 24:3-5 And HAS NOT SWORN DECEITFULLY. [4] … WHO HAS NOT LIFTED UP HIS SOUL to FALSEHOOD, And HAS NOT SWORN DECEITFULLY.

Psalm 24:3-5 AND RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM the God of his SALVATION. [5] He SHALL RECEIVE a BLESSING FROM the LORD AND RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM the God of his SALVATION.

Deuteronomy 2:3 “YOU HAVE CIRCLED THIS MOUNTAIN (Seir) LONG ENOUGH.…”

Here is YOUR Invitation to SEEK the PRESENCE of GOD!