May 8th, 2021
by Kevin Benton
by Kevin Benton
And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was (Exodus 20:21).
The people saw the lightning and heard the thunder—and they shrank back in fear. Instead of pursuing His glory, they ran from Him. So the result of their running from holy intimacy was that they died before they entered the promised land. As my friend David Ravenhill would say, “They drank from the river but died in the wilderness.” They chose distant respect over intimate relationship.
(Tommy Tenney)
The people saw the lightning and heard the thunder—and they shrank back in fear. Instead of pursuing His glory, they ran from Him. So the result of their running from holy intimacy was that they died before they entered the promised land. As my friend David Ravenhill would say, “They drank from the river but died in the wilderness.” They chose distant respect over intimate relationship.
(Tommy Tenney)
Reflection by Pastor Kevin
Good Morning WHWC God Chasers!
God is near. He is desiring us to come after Him. All we need and we desire is found in Him. Run unto Him while he can be found. The Israelites could see the evidence of God, the thunder, the lightning and the clouds. God invited them to come to Him. They chose not to go. They were not just afraid to go, they were unwilling to leave behind their way of life. They knew they would die if they got close to the presence of God because their hearts and lives were not right and unpleasant to God. God knew their condition, yet He still said "Come". Instead, they told Moses you go, then come back and tell us what God says. Each and every one of us is invited to draw close to God. Run to Him. I am reminded of a woman in the New Testament, who against all odds got her miracle.
God is near. He is desiring us to come after Him. All we need and we desire is found in Him. Run unto Him while he can be found. The Israelites could see the evidence of God, the thunder, the lightning and the clouds. God invited them to come to Him. They chose not to go. They were not just afraid to go, they were unwilling to leave behind their way of life. They knew they would die if they got close to the presence of God because their hearts and lives were not right and unpleasant to God. God knew their condition, yet He still said "Come". Instead, they told Moses you go, then come back and tell us what God says. Each and every one of us is invited to draw close to God. Run to Him. I am reminded of a woman in the New Testament, who against all odds got her miracle.
Luk 8:43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
Luk 8:44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
Luk 8:45 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
Luk 8:46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
Luk 8:47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.
Luk 8:48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
Luk 8:43 And a woman who had suffered from a flow of blood for twelve years and had spent all her living upon physicians, and could not be healed by anyone,
Luk 8:44 Came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His garment, and immediately her flow of blood ceased.
Luk 8:45 And Jesus said, Who is it who touched Me? When all were denying it, Peter and those who were with him said, Master, the multitudes surround You and press You on every side!
Luk 8:46 But Jesus said, Someone did touch Me; for I perceived that [healing] power has gone forth from Me.
Luk 8:47 And when the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came up trembling, and, falling down before Him, she declared in the presence of all the people for what reason she had touched Him and how she had been instantly cured.
Luk 8:48 And He said to her, Daughter, your faith (your confidence and trust in Me) has made you well! Go (enter) into peace (untroubled, undisturbed well-being).
Luk 8:44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
Luk 8:45 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
Luk 8:46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
Luk 8:47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.
Luk 8:48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
Luk 8:43 And a woman who had suffered from a flow of blood for twelve years and had spent all her living upon physicians, and could not be healed by anyone,
Luk 8:44 Came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His garment, and immediately her flow of blood ceased.
Luk 8:45 And Jesus said, Who is it who touched Me? When all were denying it, Peter and those who were with him said, Master, the multitudes surround You and press You on every side!
Luk 8:46 But Jesus said, Someone did touch Me; for I perceived that [healing] power has gone forth from Me.
Luk 8:47 And when the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came up trembling, and, falling down before Him, she declared in the presence of all the people for what reason she had touched Him and how she had been instantly cured.
Luk 8:48 And He said to her, Daughter, your faith (your confidence and trust in Me) has made you well! Go (enter) into peace (untroubled, undisturbed well-being).
This woman had been bleeding for 12 years. She had tried everything and nothing worked. She heard about a man named Jesus who was healing all kinds of sickness and diseases. She heard he was in the village. She had to get to Him! In that day because of her condition, she would have had to walk through town wearing certain garments with her head covered. She would also have to walk with her head bowed down and repeating the phrase "unclean, unclean").
The streets were full of people. People were crowding around Jesus. It would seem impossible to get to Him. This woman was determined. The Word says she pressed through the crowd and touched the hem of His garment. She knew if she could just touch Him. She knew He was what she needed. She touched Him. He felt her touch. She immediately was healed. I believe Jesus felt the touch of her faith. Someone that was so hungry for Him that he felt the healing leave when He felt the touch of her faith reaching out for Him.
Let us not be like the Israelites and stand a far off from God when He is actually inviting us to fellowship with Him. Let us be more like the woman and touch Him at all costs. God is calling us to draw close to Him. God is wanting to be chased and He wants to catch us. Press in, Keep Chasing Him. We must be willing to leave our old way of doing things, our own personal agendas and the things in our lives that separate us from Him. Leave our complacent, comfortable, self centered lifestyles and run to Him forsaking all of our earthly desires and seek the Lord now while he is able to be sought! (P.K.)
Posted in #chasinghim@whwc
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