Devotion 8 (by Dr Joseph Agbi) : The Life-changing Encounter

I just want to find out where He’s going so I can position myself at the place where He is going to break open. There is an element of sovereignty in God’s choice of places. Nobody on earth strikes the match for burning bushes. Only God can do that. Our part consists of wandering through the wilderness until we find that spot, and then to remember to take off our shoes because we’ve stumbled onto holy ground.

(The God Chasers, p. 55)

In ever believer, there is a spirit of Moses, shared or imparted to us directly from the Holy Spirit (Num. 11:16, 25). In addition there is a New Testament benefit we have in Christ; a direct deposit of His Holy Spirit in our hearts when we are baptized in the Spirit and we become filled to overflowing. The Holy Spirit is our companion anywhere we go, if we let Him. He will not let you go and wander away from God. He cast His shadow over us and keeps us away from the enemy. He seals us unto the day of redemption and continually helps us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling by the grace that is in Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the manifest presence of God. When we encounter Christ in His power and great glory like Paul did on the road to Damascus, that is our burning bush experience like it was for Moses. It is an unforgettable moment with God: A moment that shakes us to the core – a moment of transformation and a moment that will re-orient us who God is. A moment when the glory and face of God will be permanently stamped in our hearts – A Penuel moment (Gen. 32:22-32). God’s manifest presence also appeared to Old Testament prophets like Moses, Joshua, Gideon and David. To Jacob, He appeared as the great wrestler and destiny changer. To Joshua He appeared as the Commander of the Lord’s host (Joshua 5:13-15). To Gideon, He appeared as the Lord of Peace (Judges 6:11-24).

When God appeared to these prophets, at times it was to bless, and at other times to encourage, and yet at other times to judge. His manifest presence may be to awaken us from spiritual slumber and timidity like He did to Jacob and Gideon, or it may be to remind us that He is the Commander or Lord of Host as He appeared to Joshua and David. He may also appear to us to judge us as He did when we stubbornly act against His will as David did when he numbered Israel.

Seeing the glory and manifest presence of God gives us great consolation and comfort. God does appear to men whose hearts are right whether they are bound for exile or are men walking on the streets as citizens in their land. To prophet Ezekiel, in his anguish by the Chebar Canal, the heavens were opened and he saw visions of God (Ezek. 1:1). He also saw great heavenly beings and creatures (Ezek. 1:4-28). In amazement of the glory of God, he fell on his face and worshiped. On another occasion, Ezekiel saw the glory of God fill the temple, he saw the faces of same sets of cherubim he had seen earlier in his vision by the Chebar canal doing assignments in the temple; he witnessed their obedience and saw their speed and wonderful mode of transportation (Ezekiel 10).

Prayer:

1. Whatever the circumstance I am going through, Oh Lord, reveal yourself in your glory to me. Forgive me my iniquities and do not count the sins of my Father’s house against me. Cleanse my heart and let me stand in your presence in holiness.
2. Lord, let me not wander away from your presence. Direct me to the spot where your ladder is so I can reach up to heaven, behold your glory and seeing your angels ascending and descending from heaven with your blessings. Listen to the cry of my heart as I behold your face and I see you on your throne, high and lifted up.
3. Lord as you have saved me, keep me to the end. Lord, you supply the grace for my salvation. You supply the grace for me to come near you and you supply the grace for me to be in your manifest presence. Lord, lead me to your holy ground where your manifest presence is. I remove my shoes and worship you in your holiness. Your love is beyond description and your presence is too wonderful to behold.

Glory to God in the highest. Thank you Jesus. Amen!