Approaching God Requires Preparation # 169

Exodus 3:5

Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou

standest is holy ground.

While Moses watched the flock, he came into the sacred and holy ground of the Lord. It was holy, evidenced by the manifestation of His divine presence. Standing before His presence causes all the secrets of the hearts to be exposed. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. It was here, in the holy ground that Moses had a genuine encounter with God.

Those that desire to have a genuine encounter with God must follow the proper protocol. The way we approach God will dictate if we are accepted in His presence or not. Two men entered the temple to pray. The Pharisee and the publican both came with the intention of having an audience with God. The publican went home justified and the Pharisee were rejected. The only difference was preparation; the publican had a heart of reverence and humility while the Pharisee was filled with self- righteousness and pride.

The removal of the shoes was a confession of the defilement and depravity of mankind and acknowledgment of His holiness. As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. Moses’ ways were not pleasing to God, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. Before we can have an audience with God our hearts must be purged and our conscience clean from our filthy ways. We ought to approach God with a solemn preparation. Our hearts should express our unworthiness to stand in the presence of His holiness. Our hearts should be filled with reverence and humility as we bow before His presence.

Holy ground is temporary; the moment God leaves the place it becomes unholy. Beware of place that God visited in the past. He may no longer be there, yet people still consider it to be holy ground. Honoring the place above His presence is idolatry. In the absence of His presence there is no conviction of sin. Where there is no manifestation of His presence every man does that which was right in his own eyes. The evidence can be clearly seen by how they come to the house of God with their hearts unprepared. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

Unfortunately, not every place that is called by His name belongs to Him. We can make a place for Him and engage in multiple religious activities to make it look and feel spiritual, however, only God chooses where to manifest Himself. Then there shall be a place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there. Where He writes His name is the place where we can hear His voice as He makes Himself known to us.

Let us be honest with ourselves and consider our ways. If we can come into His house and not be convicted of our sinful ways, is it possible that the place has a form of godliness without the manifestation of His presence? Where there is no conviction of sin there is no revelation of who He is. If you are longing to have a genuine encounter with God, perhaps the time has come to go on a journey in the wilderness like Moses did and looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Heb 4:13, Rom 3:10, Is 55:8, Judges 17:6, Mat 15:7-8, Deu 12:11, Heb 11:10

KJV