"Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!" (Isa. 64:1).
Before Israel settled in Canaan, Moses got to the heart of the matter [of why God's presence is so vital. When] he pleaded with God for more help to lead the people... "The Lord replied, 'My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.' Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" (Ex. 33:14-16). How astounding is Moses' prayer! Especially when compared to our satisfaction with far less than the best God has to offer. Moses told the Lord not even to send them toward the Promised Land unless he was with them. How else would others know God's approval of Moses and Israel if there was no glorious presence? Without the Spirit, Christianity is reduced to head knowledge about God, empty traditions, and a social club mentality. We need to ask God to give us a fresh revelation of what his church was meant to look like. Without that proper foundation, we'll end up building on sand. But with it we will see seasons of spiritual renewal from the Holy Spirit that produce amazingly fruitful evangelism and a growing atmosphere of love among believers. Read Part 2, "How to Get There," on Zondervan Blog
-Spirit Rising: Tapping into the Power of the Holy Spirit, by Jim Cymbala
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