Forty days that will change your life, 2.
A life that shines.
Exodus 34:28 -- 35. 05/29/05
This message is a second sermon in our series of messages on forty days that will change your life. Today, we will be talking about a life that shines. Last week we began talking about how Moses spent forty days with God in the mountain. On the mountain, Moses prayed, “God show me thy ways.” So, hopefully you all want to know God’s ways. When we discover the ways of God, we move to the higher plane in our Christian walk.
The Bible says in Psalms that God showed his acts unto the children of Israel but he showed his ways unto Moses. When Moses spent forty days with God in the mountain, he came down with a deeper view of God. Let’s read our text for this morning.
When Moses came down from the mountain an unusual thing happened. So transforming was this meeting that he changed his heart. He had been so touched on the inside that there was evidence of it on the outside. His face was shining and glowing with the glory of God. So bright was his face that the children of Israel could not look upon him. So he had put a veil on to shield them from the shining light so he could deliver the message to them.
Here is the point folks; the life of Moses was so transformed, that when he spoke, the people listened. Paul makes a commentary on what happened to Moses. He says that what happened to Moses is an example to us and that our lives must be so changed by the power of the Holy Spirit that when we speak people will listen. When we share about Jesus, people will listen to what we have to say.
I don’t know what Moses looked like but I do know he had a shining face. Jesus says we are to be the light of the world. We ought to shine for Jesus. When Moses came down from the mountain, people knew that he had been with the Lord.
The Bible tells us that the face of Moses was so bright when he went out to speak to the people, he would wear a veil. When he would go back into the tent he would take the veil off and talk to God as a man would talk with a friend. You know, after a while Moses was just like us, the glow was gone. Still when he went out to talk to the people he would wear the veil. He did not want the people to know the glow was gone.
I wonder how many of you have lost the glow? I wonder how many don’t have the love for God’s Church as you once had? You begin to miss a service here and there until when Sunday night and Wednesday night come around, you don’t even think about it? The glow is gone. You may still wear the veil but you know the glow is gone.
Now we spoke last week about knowing God’s ways versus only his actions. A life that shines knows something about God’s ways. The first step of discovering God’s ways is SEPARATION. Look at versus 3,”and no man shall come up with thee.”
This is the second trip for Moses back into the mountain. His first trip resulted in Moses throwing the tablets down and breaking them. They contained the Ten Commandments. God said Moses come up again and no one must come with you.
There is a place for prayer partners, friends, Church praying together and worshiping together. But if we want to discover God’s ways there has to be a time when it’s just you and God.
When you study the great men of God you find there is a time when God got them away from their people to speak to them. When Daniel was alone in Babylon, God gave Daniel the great visions of the future. It was when John was on the Isle of Patmos, John got the visions we have in the book of revelation. I am saying there must be a time of separation from the things of the world with just you and God.
Step No. 2 is PREPARATION. Look at verse 2. God says be ready in the morning and come up the mountain and present yourself to me.
I want you to notice God said to Moses come all the way to the top. It’s hard to get to the top. You have to climb over a lot of obstacles. It is a lot easier to stay at the bottom or just part of the way up.
Can you imagine how Moses must have spent the night preparing his heart for a time with God? He must have spent some time confessing his sin, getting his heart ready for a date with deity.
Did you make any preparation for today’s meeting with God? Did you pray this morning? Did you make any preparation? Did you spend anytime preparing yourself?
Step No. 3 is ANTICIPATION. The Bible says Moses got the tablets of stone ready for the meeting. He was expecting God to write something on them.
Did you really come this morning anticipating God would do something today? Did you come anticipating that God was going to save some lost soul today? Did you come thinking God is going to give me something today?
Step No. 4 is RESIGNATION. Look at verse 8. Moses bowed his head toward the ground and worshiped. Moses resigned himself to the will of God. Did you come this morning with the attitude not my will God but yours?
Step No. 5, OBSERVATION. Look at verse 4. Moses got the Stones ready as God had commanded him. He observed the Commandant of God. Folks go and glow go together. Moses was the leader God chose for the people of Israel. Can you imagine what would have happened to these people if Moses had ignored the Commandant of God?
Are you a leader in the Church? How important is your position to you? It won’t be any more important to others as it is important to you. People looked to Moses. People look to you for spiritual decisions. You cannot make spiritual decisions unless you are close to God and know his ways. Many churches today have worldly men trying to make spiritual decisions. No wonder a lot of churches are in deep trouble. But worldly leaders don’t put much priority on church attendance and spiritual growth.
I am glad we have a God of a second chance. Today he is ready to meet with you where you are and help you with your trip back. If you ever have been closer to God at one time another than you are right now then you are backslid. For you lost friend, it’s time to come to Jesus.
