In Exodus God descended on Mount Sinai in fire covering the top of the mountain in smoke and thunder. God called Moses up and warned the people not to even touch the mountain less they die. Now read how the people responded to God's awesome presence.
Exodus 20:18 (NASB)
18 All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance.
When God had his great showdown with the false prophets on the top of Mount Carmel Elijah asked God to answer by fire. God answered Elijah's prayer by sending fire to consume to burnt offering and the water he poured on it. When God did look how the people responded.
1 Kings 18:39 (NASB)
39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God."
When Solomon finished praying to dedicate the temple the glory of God descended and filled the temple. Notice how the priests and people responded. They were humbled in the awesome presence of God.
2 Chronicles 7:1-3 (NASB)
1 Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the house.
2 The priests could not enter into the house of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD'S house.
3 All the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of the LORD upon the house, bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave praise to the LORD, saying, "Truly He is good, truly His lovingkindness is everlasting."
Let's look at one New Testament example.
Matthew 17:1-6 (NKJV)
1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves;
2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.
3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!"
6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.
It appears to me by the lack of this response in worshipers today that the awesome presence of God does not always descend on our meetings. People can "go to church" and be unmoved. That does not appear the case when God descended on a place. People were awed. They were humbled. They were terrified. When is the last time you saw any of those reactions in a public worship gathering or a private devotion? I am betting it has been awhile if ever.
I wonder if we uselessly kindle fire in our religious meetings. We plan. We program. We pray token prayers. Do we have the presence of God on our minds, in our hearts and saturating our meetings? I think by the response of the people the answer is obvious.
Do we really yearn for the awesome presence of God. Let me conclude with some stories. Several years ago I preached a revival for a group of students on a college campus. They scheduled the revival meetings to last three nights. God had other plans. The meetings lasted for three weeks. Those services were often three hours long. Most of that time devoted to people dealing with God after the message and worship. On the first night, after a message about repentance, I felt the powerful presence of God in that little room. Two thoughts dominated my mind. First, I needed to get out from in front of the people. Second, I needed to get on my face. I did. I put my head under a chair on the first row and prayed. I can still remember the sound of weeping all over that room as college students repented of sin and called out to God. That invitation time lasted well over an hour.
In another revival meeting in Kosse, TX after preaching another hard word of repentance I again sensed the presence of the Lord. I lay prostrate under the baby grand piano praying. I honestly do not know what happened after that. I just knew I needed to get out of the way and get on my face before the Lord.
In the summer of 2010 God blessed Seminole, TX with a revival that lasted 23 days. In one of those services I went to the altar during the worship knelt down and started weeping. I could not hold back the tears. I felt humbled and humiliated. I felt the weight of the revival crushing me. I could not preach. I did not even know what to preach that night. Eventually the worship stopped but I could not quit weeping on my knees before the Lord up front at the steps leading to the stage. Everybody waited to see what I would do. I could only weep and plead for God's help. I don't know why exactly I wept other than being caught up with God. One wise deacon came and lovingly put his arm around me. He whispered in my ear, "Go ahead and preach what God laid on your heart." I honestly cannot recall one thing that happened in that service after that except that I did wipe my tears and preach. The presence of God humbled me.
Lastly, about a year and a half ago I got asked to preach to a revival meeting in east Texas. I spent the night with a friend afterward. I had an encounter with God the next morning I cannot explain. I sat at a little wooden desk in that bedroom and sought God in prayer. He met me in a way like I have seldom experienced before. It is like His presence came in waves. I basked in His presence with many tears. I could not leave. I did not want to leave. His awesome presence covered me and I felt His love and mercy in a profound way. He humbled me. He loved on me. He engulfed me. He overwhelmed me in that little bedroom. I am embarrassed to even say how long that encounter with God lasted. It seemed but a short time to me in the moment. Suffice it to say it was no ordinary devotion.
Do we really want the awesome presence of God in our devotions? Do we really crave the awesome presence of God in our worship gatherings? This question is biting into me for the past several days. I think we are often content to do our religious things without Him. May we be awakened to see what we are missing. May God be merciful to encounter us today.
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