Isaiah, Ezekiel, and a few of the disciples all experienced God's glorious presence. If we're not careful, like the disciples, we can be tempted to build an altar around our own mountain top experiences. In these examples, they were all sent out of God's presence. We're not to remain on the mountain top. We're to take God's glory to the masses.
Jesus's final recorded statement—even after "It is finished"—was, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." We see at the end of His human life, as our example, the first act of faith under the New Covenant. Just as Jesus did, we can commit our life to God. He is a faithful Father.
We live in a generation when many are carrying wounds from fathers, husbands and men. Our image of our heavenly Father is often distorted by these earthly relationships. Scripture shows us that we are highly valued by God, and that through Christ we are grafted into the family of God. The father accepts us, approves of us, is attentive to us, affectionate and gives us godly authority.
We see in scripture that God has a calendar, timeline and agenda of when and how He plans to operate. However, we also see that the persistent faith of believers can move Heaven.
Pastor Tim Dilena shares about "alligator talk"—those times when our conversation can suddenly and flawlessly switch from godly to sexual, course joking, etc. and back again. Out of the heart, the mouth speaks. There are no five steps to taming the tongue; God must do a work in our hearts.
God doesn’t deliver His people when they are proud and strong in themselves. We must pray without pride and pretense. It’s the honest heart that catches God’s attention. When your prayer becomes a cry God begins, hears and delivers His people. God will raise up ministers who preach the gospel who will shake the very powers of hell. These are the keepers of this generation who God will use to set the captives free.
Have you ever found yourself asking God, "What if I can't…?" That's exactly what Abraham's servant asked when he was sent to find a wife for Isaac. Abraham on the other hand was a man with steadfast faith because he lived in the presence of God. He knew God would move. There is clarity, direction and revelation when we dedicate our time to being in God's presence. Not only will your faith increase, but your faith will be contagious to others.