Face To Face With God

1. Face To Face With God Text:Ex. 34:29; Mt. 5:16 Scripture Reading: Ex. 34:27-35

2. Intro Jesus is the Light of the world (the source of light) Jn. 1:4-5 4. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. Jn. 8:12 12. Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." Saints are to reflect His Light in letting our lights shine! Mt. 5:16 16. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Rom. 8:29-30 29. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30. and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. Face To Face With God

3. Intro Ex. 34:27-35 27. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel." 28. So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. 29. It came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses' hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him. 30. So when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. 31. Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers in the congregation returned to him; and Moses spoke to them. 32. Afterward all the sons of Israel came near, and he commanded them to do everything that the LORD had spoken to him on Mount Sinai. 33. When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. 34. But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would take off the veil until he came out; and whenever he came out and spoke to the sons of Israel what he had been commanded, 35. the sons of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone. So Moses would replace the veil over his face until he went in to speak with Him. Face To Face With God

4. Intro Ex. 33:11, 20 11. Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent. 20. But He said, "You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!" • While we can’t talk to God in the same way Moses did, we • can spend “face to face” time with Him in two ways: • Prayer (Talking to Him) • Study (Knowing Him) When we spend time with God then others ought to see our light shine, just as Moses did! Face To Face With God

5. Prayer • Saints need to know its necessity, its • power, and its value in one’s life: • Many put on the Armor of God, but forget to pray, not realizing that prayer is the buckles & straps that hold the armor together! (Eph. 6:10-20) • Prayer is the way people of God address God • God has made it possible for His children to talk to Him. (I Tim. 2:5; Heb. 4:14-16) • God asks His children to call upon Him. (Lk. 18:1-8; I Tim. 2:1-3; I Thess. 5:17) • Prayer is the privilege and duty of the righteous (Js. 5:16) • The model prayer of Jesus (Mt. 6:9) shows that prayer was designed for God's children. • Those trying to live righteously have their prayers approved of God. (I Pet. 3:10-12) Js. 5:16 16. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Face To Face With God

6. Prayer • Moses prayed an intercessory prayer for his • people (bravely prayed to God): • Ex. 32:9-14: Moses entreated God on behalf of the people! • Ex. 32:30-32: God listened to Moses’ prayer • Moses’ prayer saved his people from the wrath of God! • (Js. 5:16) It is important to understand prayer and pray to God frequently! Face To Face With God

7. Study II Tim. 2:15 15. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. • Through study (being diligent) we must accurately handle • the word of truth • Be Diligent (NAS, NKJ), or Study (KJV) – II Tim. 2:15 (Ps. 119:105) • Diligent:spoudazō [spoo-dad'-zo ] (G4704) = to use speed, that is, to make effort, be prompt or earnest: - do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavor, labor, study. • Eph. 4:14-16: To not be “carried” away by “every wind of doctrine” we must “grow up” in Christ in “all aspects.” Heb. 6:1; II Pet. 3:18: Through diligence in study of God’s word! How does one grow? Face To Face With God

8. Study II Tim. 2:15 15. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. • II Tim. 2:15 • Accurately Handle the Word of Truth (NAS), or Rightly Dividing (KJV) • Accurately Handling: Orthotomeo [or-thot-om-eh'-o] (G3718) = to cut a straight line: - rightly divide (KJV). • Many do not “rightly divide.” (Discern truth from error – Heb. 5:14) • This is the opposite of wrangling about words (II Tim. 2:14, 16). An unashamed workman needs to know how to accurately apply the Scriptures! • Moses spent time with God in study and learning: • Ex. 34:27-28: Without distraction! Saints need to spend time studying the Word of Truth and apply it correctly! Face To Face With God

9. Reflecting the Light of Christ As Moses’ face shone after spending time with God, so others must see our lives shine! (Ex. 34:29) • Reflection of the Light of Christ: • Radiant & Bright! Mt. 5:16 (Lk. 11:33-36) 16. "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. • Complete reflection of the Son – Rom. 8:29-30 • Eph. 4:14-16: Saints are to “grow up in all aspects into Him!” • I Thess. 5:4-8: God has called us to be “Daylight Disciples!” • Jn. 8:12: Jesus makes “daylight disciples” having the • “Light of life” • His disciples are “children of light.” (Eph. 5:8) • His disciples “walk in the light.” (I Jn. 1:7: contrasted to 1:6) Face To Face With God

10. Reflecting the Light of Christ • Eph. 5:7-11 • God’s people are not to participate (fellowship) the deeds of darkness but expose them! • Jn. 3:19-21: Evil hates the light for fear the dark • will be exposed! Eph. 5:7-11 7. Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8. for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9. (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10. trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; Let your light shine as bright as Christ so that men will “glorify” God! Face To Face With God

11. Conclusion • People in the world live in the darkness of sin, full of • despair and hopelessness! (Eph. 2:11-12) • God’s people are to be lights, beacons of truth that offer hope to the sick and dying (spiritually) – Mt. 5:16; Phil. 2:15 God’s people are to be “Daylight Disciples” as they walk in the light of truth (Ps. 119:105) Do you stray into the dark or stand in contrast to it? • Going just a little into the dark is to walk in darkness and should no longer be a part of a Christian’s life – Eph. 5:3; I Pet. 4:1-3 Face To Face With God

12. Conclusion After spending “face to face” time with God, Moses exhibited physical light After spending “face to face” time in prayer and study, people around us (in the dark world) ought to see the light of Christ in us as we reflect the Son! Can others see the Light of Christ in you? Face To Face With God

13. “What Must I Do To Be Saved?” Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 10:17) Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn. 8:24) Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38) Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom. 10:10) Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16) Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10) For The Erring Saint: Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9), Pray (Acts 8:22)