GET IN TOUCH

1. Introduction

a) The guilt.

i) Lord, the God of Israel, you are righteous! We are left this day as a remnant. Here we are before you in our guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand in your presence.” (Ezra 9:15 NIV)

2. What was the guilty of the Israelites that they would not be able to stand, getting in touch with God?

a) Intermarriage – Since the time of judges, Israelite men had married heathen women and then adopted their religious practices (Judges 3: 5 -7). Even Israel’s great King Solomon was guilty of this sin (1 Kings 11: 1 – 8). Although this practice was forbidden in God’s law (Exodus 34: 11; Deut 7: 1 – 4), it happened in Ezra’s day, and again only a generation after him (Nehemiah 13: 23 – 27).

b) Some Israelites had married heathen spouses and lost track of God’s purpose for them. Even the priests and Levites had intermarried. The New Testament says that believers should not be “unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (2 Corinthians 6: 14).

c) Because marriage involves two people becoming one, faith may become an issue, and one spouse may have to compromise beliefs for the sake of unity. Many discount this problem only to regret it later.

d) Ezra addressed the people and made it clear that they had sinned. The people admitted their sin and devised a plan to deal with the problem. The men had to send away their wives and children. It only involved 113 of 29,000 families.

e) 3Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord ? Who may stand in his holy place? 4The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. (Psalm 24:3, 4 NIV)

f) 22Should you not fear me?” declares the Lord. “Should you not tremble in my presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it. (Jeremiah 5:22 NIV)

3. What should be our attitude when we get in touch with God?

a) We should come with fear and trembling i.e. awe and respect because God sets the boundaries of the roaring seas and establishes the rains and harvests.

i) Meaning: “Awe” is a feeling of fearful or profound respect or wonder inspired by the greatness, superiority of a person or thing and suggests an immobilising effect.

ii) 20In the shelter of your presence you hide them from all human intrigues; you keep them safe in your dwelling from accusing tongues. (Psalm 31:20 NIV)

iii) 15Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord. (Psalm 89:15 NIV)

b) Righteousness, justice, mercy and truth are the foundation of God’s throne. As God’s ambassadors, we should make sure that our actions flow out of righteousness, justice, mercy and truth because unfair, unloving, or dishonest action cannot come from God.

c) Walk in the light of God’s presence:

i) 31but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31 NIV)

ii) 6And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. (2 John 1:6 NIV)

d) God knows all our sins as if they were spread out before him, even the secret ones. We don’t need to cover up our sins before him because we can talk openly and honestly with him. God still loves us and wants to forgive us.

i) 8You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. (Psalm 90:8 NIV)

ii) 7Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. (Psalm 139:7, 8 NIV)

e) God is omnipresent – he is present everywhere. No matter what we do or where we go, we can never be far from God’s comforting presence.

i) 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39 NIV)

ii) No, for the Scriptures tell us that for his sake we must be ready to face death at every moment of the day – we are like sheep awaiting slaughter; but despite all this, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us enough to die for us.

4. Prayer focus

a) Pray that we are getting in touch with the Lord everyday so that we walk right in his ways.