A. HOW TO GET READY TO MEET GOD – EXODUS 19: 1-5
1. God gave Moses an invitation to know Him. “The Lord called . . . out of the mountain” (19:3). “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps. 41:10).
2. Geographical prayer. Go to the places where God likes to reveal Himself. “Moses went up (Sinai) unto God” (19:3). Usually, it is our church.
3. Remember God’s past work. “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians” (19:4).
4. Obey is the best way to believe. “If ye will obey My voice” (19:5).
B. WHAT GOD WANTS US TO BECOME? – EXODUS 19:6-7
1. God treasures us. “Ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me” (19:5).
a. A treasure has great value.
b. Inheritance.
c. Self-extension. “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt. 6:21).
2. God wants us to be His priest. “Ye shall be to me a kingdom of priests” (19:6).
a. Worship, “Give God the worship due Him.”
b. Intercession, for self and others.
c. Prayer is relationship.
3. God wants us to be holy. “Ye shall be . . . a holy nation” (19:6).
a. Holy means separation and pure.
b. God wants us to be like Him, “Be ye holy; for I Am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).
c. For us to become like God, He first becomes like us (John 1:14).
C. HOW TO PREPARE TO MEET GOD IN COMMUNITY – EXODUS 19:8-13
1. Come apart. “The people . . . sanctify them” (19:10).
a. Inward purity.
b. Outward to a secluded place.
2. Appropriate garments. “Wash their clothes” (19:10).
a. “Clothed with righteousness” (Ps. 132:9).
b. For corporate worship, Sunday best. But you can go to God at all times, dressed any way.
3. Anticipate His presence. “Be ready” (19:11).
4. When we are ready. God will come. “The Lord will come down in the sight of all the people” (19:11).
5. The atmospheric presence of God. “The Father seeks worship from His worshippers” (John 4:23, ELT).
6. Reverence. “Set bounds unto the people . . . take heed . . . that ye go not up into the mount” (19:12). God is intimate and personal, but not cutesy; no “Hi God.”
7. Total devotion. “Warn them, be careful” (19:12). Get ready for an important event” (19:15, LB).
8. Gather together in unity. “They must gather at the front of the mountain” (19:13, LB).
9. Pledge obedience. Since they are a kingdom of priests, they must pledge themselves to their king. “And all the people answered together, and said, ‘All that the Lord hath spoken we will do.’ And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord” (19:8).
D. WHY CAN’T WE SEE GOD? – EXODUS 19:14-25
1. Nature was disrupted when God showed up. “There were thunders and lightnings” (19:16). The whole mountain shook with a violent earthquake” (19:18, LB).
2. The hidden God. “A thick cloud upon the mountain” (19:16). “All Mount Sinai was covered with smoke (19:18, LB).
3. God is more concerned that you hear and listen, than you see Him. “The Lord called” (18:20)
4. Fire cleanses and judges. “The Lord descended . . . in the form of fire” (19:18). “Our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:29).
5. Don’t try to see God with physical eyes. “Warn the people not . . . to see the Lord, for those who do will die” (19:21, LB).
6. God commanded not to make an image or drawing like Him. “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or any likeness” (Ex. 20:4).
7. Can’t see God because there is nothing to see. “God is spirit” (John 4:24).
8. “If we could see God, we would die. “Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live” (Ex. 33:20).
9. Some seem to have seen God (Gen. 32:30; Ex. 3:6, 24:9-10; Num. 12:6-8; Deut. 34:10; Is. 6:1). It is more correct to say they saw a reflection of God. “Moses . . . bowed his head toward the earth and worshipped” (Ex. 34:8).
10. God is an incorporeal being. He is a real person without a body.
11. Anthropomorphism; God is said to have hands (Is. 65:2), feet (Ps. 8:6), eyes (1 Kings 8:26), fingers (Ex. 8:19), etc. Physical features are attributed to God to tell us God does the things we do with a physical body, but God does them without a body.
12. Faith comes from the heart, and not from physical sight. “If I have told you earthly things and you believe not, how shall you believe if I tell you heavenly things?” (John 3:12). Faith comes from the Bible. “Faith cometh from . . . the Word of God” (Rom. 10:13).
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
All PBC lessons are available online at trbc.org/pbc. Go to www.Hopenow.tv for the current program schedule.
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Dr. Towns' email is ELTowns@liberty.edu
Dr. Towns’ web address is www.elmertowns.com
