(Ex 19:10 NLT) Then the LORD told Moses, “Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing.
This morning we continue our series entitled, “Re-Energizing Your Prayer Life.” Yesterday I wrote about reverence. This message flows in the vein. I am convinced that one of main reasons many of us don’t experience powerful encounters with God is because we don’t reverence Him enough to prepare for His presence. In Exodus 19 we see how Moses prepared the Israelites for a meeting with Jehovah. In our text the Lord told Moses to tell the people to consecrate themselves for two days and to wash their clothes. The Lord went on to tell Moses to “Mark off a boundary all around the mountain.” Anyone who crossed the boundary without divine access would die. At the appointed time, the people would hear the sound of a ram’s horn; this was the indicator that the people were clear to approach the mountain and to come in contact with God. Moses did as the Lord instructed. He came down from the mountain, He told the people to consecrate themselves for worship, and they washed their clothes. He even told them to abstain from sexual intercourse for the two days leading up to the encounter with God.
The Bible says, “On the morning of the third day, thunder roared and lightning flashed, and a dense cloud came down on the mountain. The people heard a long, loud blast from a ram’s horn, and they all trembled. Then Moses led them out from the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. All of Mount Sinai was covered with smoke because the LORD had descended on it in the form of fire… and the whole mountain shook violently. As the blast of the ram’s horn grew louder and louder… Moses climbed the mountain. Then the LORD told Moses, “Go back down and warn the people not to break through the boundaries to see the LORD, or they will die. Even the priests who regularly come near to the LORD must purify themselves so that the LORD does not break out and destroy them.” I will stop here. This is an interesting passage. Once again, I am not saying that we need to revert back to Old Testament practices, but the we have come so far in the opposite direction that I believe we forgot what I means to reverence the Lord.
My sister was married in NYC 2000. The night before the wedding the official party had to meet with the priest for a rehearsal at the church. Our caravan of cars arrived and we waited for the priest to emerge from the parsonage. This was a Catholic church in Brooklyn and most Catholic churches stay open, so I went ahead and entered while we waited. There were a few people in the church, scattered about, praying. As I entered I immediately felt the presence of the Lord. When the rest of the party came in with the priest I was surprised that everyone basically whispered while we rehearsed. It was like no one wanted to disturb the presence of the Lord. When I went back outside it dawned on me that many of my cousins were still outside. When I asked them why they did not come in the church, they said, “I can’t go in there. I know I am not living right.” Wow! While I don’t agree with many of the religious practices my Catholic family members, I respect the reverence they have for the Lord and for His sanctuary. That reverence is very much lacking in many of our churches today.
So what does this mean to you today? It means that we must balance the boldness and confidence I have been teaching about with humility and fear of the Lord required to remember that it was God who made us and not the other way around (Ps 100:3). This balance will give us the right disposition when we pray. If we are too afraid of God we won’t have any confidence, but if we are too confident we could cross the line over into pride and arrogance.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for this teaching. I clearly acknowledge Your deity and I recognize no other. My heart fears You with a healthy reverence. I know there is a God and I am not Him. I humbly bow before Your presence daily. You alone are the Lord of my life. Jesus died so that I could become Your child and a joint-heir with Him. This reality gives me confidence and boldness. I balance my boldness with my humility, my confidence with my fear, and my audacity with my worship. This balance helps me in prayer. I understand the position I have in Your Kingdom and my understanding of my position helps shape my disposition when I approach You. And since I come with the right disposition, You hear me when I pray. I declare this by faith. In Jesus‘ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
