When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Exodus 3:4.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
“Speak LORD your servant is listening.” To walk in the Spirit, you must hear from Me and you hear from Me by My Spirit in you. But to hear from Me, to even desire to hear from Me, you must know Me, you must have a personal encounter with Me.
All those who knew Me and walked with Me began with an encounter where they did not just know Me by what others said, but knew Me personally, that is, had a real thriving relationship with Me. Noah did, Abraham did, Jacob did, Moses did, Joshua did, Gideon did, Samuel did, David did, Elijah did, Elisha did, Isaiah did, Jeremiah did, and all My prophets did. Think of Mary, think of the disciples, think of Paul, think of Cornelius, and I could go on.
To be close to Me, to hear from Me, to ask Me questions, you must have a personal encounter with Me that leads to a deep and personal relationship that never ends. To even come to Me you must believe that I exist and that I reward those who seek Me. Which is already speaking of a personal relationship between you and Me and not someone else, for rewards are personal.
Do not seek things more than you seek the One in whom all good things are. I desire to give you good things and perfect gifts—all that you need and an abundance till it overflows so that it fills you and then pours out into others. I made everything for you to richly enjoy.
It is time you met Me personally for I AM in the One who made you and made all things and with whom all things are and from whom they come. Seek Me and you will find everything your heart desires and so much more that you never even dared imagine for.
The Israelites, who did not know Me, as they were crying out under the yoke of slavery in Egypt never even dreamed of all the beautiful homes, lands, vineyards, wells, cities and possessions I had prepared for them to own as free men and women at no cost except to go in with Me and take possession of what I had already designated for them in the land I had promised them in My covenant with Abraham. I even gave them riches as they left Egypt so I could dwell among them in the tabernacle they built for Me as a shared project. But though I tried to give them all a personal encounter with Me to make each one of them a royal priest and special treasure of Mine, they would not, but preferred their idols and their own thoughts and interests, which consisted primarily of complaining, blaming, and abusing one another and being disrespectful to Moses, though I had designated him as leader.
But refusing to know Me personally kept them in mediocrity, wandering in the wilderness with no goal until they died a premature death.
But those who opened the door of their heart when they heard Me knock and invited Me in to dine with them turned their futile lives into lives of adventure, victory, and glory. Like Noah, who, at My directions as we walked together, partnered with Me to preserve the entire human race and the animals from being wiped out. Like the Gideon, who was behaving like a coward letting the enemy run all over him until he had a personal encounter with Me and then he became a hero with the strength of an entire army. And he did things he never dreamed possible.
David’s heart was always towards Me and those who seek Me find Me there with them.I told David, to seek My Face. Seek a face-to-face encounter, and by that I mean where you converse with one another in an intimate way. I spoke with Moses like a friend, face-to-face. I called Abraham My friend as well. And Jesus called all of you who have received My Word and know what I am about “friends.”
I tell you that in a generation of people who rejected My Word and every thought they had was evil and strived with My Spirit that I found Noah. How did I find him? I sought someone who would listen to Me and be willing to have a face to face encounter with Me. He was willing to accept My thoughts and My Words and do them. And I called him blameless in My sight. He was willing to walk with Me and change his worldly ways to My ways. And how did this happen? By a face to face encounter that he received and then kept walking in for all his days on earth and now with Me in My Kingdom. My Word cleanses your mind of evil and reprograms it to the good, the pleasing, and the perfect if you will block out any evil thoughts, that is, the lies of the devil.
It is not just one encounter. It starts with an encounter but it becomes a sought after and long term, eternal relationship of oneness of hearts and wills. If you stay close to Me and attach to My Word like a branch to the vine you will bear good fruit, and you will be holy as I am holy.
Walking in the Spirit means only one thing, a constant conversation with and awareness of Me with you and in you. A dialogue between us, not a monologue on either side, this is not one-sided, not at a distance, but close, face to face. Not strangers but intimate friends who each knows what the other is about and grows into mutual trust and entrustment. Covenant.
People give seminars, teachings, and sermons on walking in the Spirit, hearing from My Spirit, being led by My Spirit, and that is good and pleasing and I send you teachers and pastors and preachers, but what it all comes down to is very simple, walking in the Spirit is walking in constant connection with Me, like a friend, but more than a friend, as lovers. You are My beloved and My friend and I am your beloved and your friend.
Lovers that are also good friends never tire of constant conversation and it is not surface conversation like with ones you hold at a distance or just do not know, it is heart conversation. You don’t have to work yourself up and do strange things to hear from your precious beloved friend, when you have a question or need advice you simply call, text, meet in person, go have a meal together, or video conference with them. And beloved friends do not delay, they answer their beloved quickly once they call. Others they may not answer or even forget to answer but for your beloved you stop everything to hear what your beloved is saying. In fact you look forward with delight to a good long visit with your beloved friend. And if you have not had a good long visit with them even for a day, your heart longs to reach out to hear their voice and share what is in your hearts with one another.
Walking in the Spirit is a lifestyle of worship. With Me in you and with you everywhere is holy ground. When I came to speak with Moses, I told him he was standing on holy ground. I am holy and where I am is holy and with My Holy Spirit in you, you must walk in the holy with Me. Sanctify each moment, make it a moment of worship and of wonder.
I told Moses the sign to him that it was I who sent him to deliver My people from the slavery of Egypt would be that when he had brought the people out of Egypt, they would worship Me at the mountain where I was talking with him at that moment, Mt. Sinai, also known as Mt. Horeb. And what did they do when they got to that mountain? And if you recall, I even parted the Red Sea to get them there it was so important to Me. I had set up a meeting at that mountain where I would talk and be heard by all, I would come down and speak with them and tell them My laws that would form them into a great nation as My royal priesthood. They would be My special treasure and they would be Mine. Forever.
Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own special treasure among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.” Exodus 19:3-6.
And I directed the people to wash their clothes and prepare themselves to meet Me and hear My voice on the third day. And they stayed at that mountain for the next nine months as they followed the detailed plan I gave to Moses to build Me a dwelling place so I could personally travel with them, dwell in their midst, right in the center of the camp, give them My Words, and lead them to the Promised Land to take that for them as they fought at My side.
The word translated “worship,” when I told Moses that would be the sign that I sent him, that they would worship Me together at Mt. Sinai where he had first heard My voice, and that is a good translation for the meaning but the word literally means to serve in the sense of doing work for another than yourself, i.e., serving another by working on their behalf (avad (עָבַד): to work, serve). Remember what Jesus told the crowd when they asked Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” John 6:28-29.
I am seeking those who worship in Spirit and in truth, that is, in faith guided by My Word, and I am seeking those who are Mine, washed clean by the blood of the Lamb, released from their sins and made into a kingdom of priests unto Me offering spiritual sacrifice. If you recall when I led My people out of Egypt to worship Me in the desert they came out by the blood of the lamb, the Passover, the sacrifice of the lamb set them free—released them from slavery to a whole new level of knowing Me, no longer as slaves but as treasured sons.
You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ . . . you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:5-6; 9-10.
You enter My gates with thanksgiving, My courts with joyful songs of praise, and in the Holy of Holies you worship and hear My voice. It was there, at the mercy seat, that Moses heard My voice with respect to the laws for the sons of Israel. The Holy of Holies was the sacred place of deepest contact with Me in the very heart of My presence.
I love you and want you to know Me. And now in Jesus, the great High Priest of your confession (homologia), I invite you to come with confidence for a face-to-face encounter with Me. The veil is split wide open and I have made for you in Jesus a new and living way right into My heart.