FACE TO FACE

FACETIME Session 3

INTRO Changing the camera view; changing the focus; the multitude, the many…

Today another view, the primary view: FACE TO FACE

Intimacy, closeness, kiss

Psalms‬ ‭2:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Kiss the Son, lest he be angry,‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The Lord always wanted to speak to His people face to face. He wanted an intimate relationship.

Deuteronomy‬ ‭5:4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The LORD talked with you face to face on the mountain from the midst of the fire.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

But Israel rejected that face to face relationship.

Deuteronomy‬ ‭5:23–29‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ So it was, when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, that you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders. And you said: ‘Surely the LORD our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire. We have seen this day that God speaks with man; yet he still lives. Now therefore, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the LORD our God anymore, then we shall die. For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived? You go near and hear all that the LORD our God may say, and tell us all that the LORD our God says to you, and we will hear and do it. ’ “Then the LORD heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me, and the LORD said to me: ‘I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken. Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

So Moses and a few others enjoyed what God intended for everyone.

Deuteronomy‬ ‭34:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

‭‭‬‬How did Moses do it? Let’s see how He and God got together and learn from his example.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Exodus‬ ‭33:7–11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the LORD went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp. So it was, whenever Moses went out to the tabernacle, that all the people rose, and each man stood at his tent door and watched Moses until he had gone into the tabernacle. And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses. All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door. So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

1. He took his tent and went ’outside the camp’.

What was ’outside the camp’?

Hebrews‬ ‭13:11–13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Sometimes we have to go get rid of stuff… sometimes we just have to lay it all down… ashes, failures, waste… dreams, ambitions, plans...

“Something Beautiful”

If there ever were dreams that were  lofty and noble, they were my dreams at the start. And the hope for life's best were the hopes that I harbored down deep in my heart. But my dreams turned to ashes; my castles all crumbled; my fortune turned to loss. So I wrapped it all in the rags of my life and laid it at the cross.

Something beautiful, something good
All my confusion He understood
All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife
But he made something beautiful of my life

“Give Them All”

Are you tired of chasing pretty rainbows; are you tired of spinning round and round. Wrap up all the shattered dreams of your life; at the feet of Jesus lay them down

Give them all; give them all.
Give them all to Jesus: shattered dreams, wounded hearts, broken toys

Give them all; give them all.
Give them all to Jesus. And he will turn your sorrow into joy

2. He went ’far from the camp’.

Why? Because of what was in the camp: murmuring, discontent, doubt and unbelief…

You have to get away from the noise!

Leaders need regular times to think!

Jesus often got alone to pray…

3. He went into the ’tent of meeting’.

It was his tent. He had made it a tabernacle.

4. God talked to him.

What happens when we are face to face with God?

1. We get instruction.

Deuteronomy‬ ‭5:31–33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ But as for you, stand here by Me, and I will speak to you all the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments which you shall teach them, that they may observe them in the land which I am giving them to possess.’ “Therefore you shall be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. You shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

2. We wrestle with God.

Genesis‬ ‭32:30‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

There are things you don't understand… Things you wished were different…

When you wrestle wth God, you get:
a new name, a blessing, a limp!


3. We see ourselves.

‭I Corinthians‬ ‭13:12‬ ‭NKJV For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Isaiah‬ ‭6:1, 5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.”‬‬‬‬

4. We receive purpose.

Judges‬ ‭6:22‬ ‭NKJV ‬‬Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the LORD. So Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord GOD! For I have seen the Angel of the LORD face to face.”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

APPLICATIONS

Seek His face, not his hand!

Psalms‬ ‭27:8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, LORD, I will seek.”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Seek His presence, not His power!

II Corinthians‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

One more thing…

Exodus‬ ‭33:11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle. ‬‬‬‬‬‬

Joshua dwelt in His presence!
Moses couldn't go in; Joshua did!

The Blessing

Numbers‬ ‭6:24–26‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬