CD#86 Let His Acts Move you!

Just because we see someone’s acts, their exploits does not mean we know them personally. We know of their actions, their exploits but that’s not all of them. Their exploits are only a part of which they are individually.

God Almighty wants us to come to Him and become His friend. We can only be God’s friends by being placed by Him in the Rock, which is the Way. Point being made is we must move past God’s “acts” and know His “Way”!

• Exodus 33:11 says And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

1. What does the name Moses mean if you fully translate it instead of only transliterating it?
2. Moses means a drawing out of the water, drawn from the water.

Moses was drawn from the water literally and God spoke to him as you and I would to a friend. This was God’s plan from the Garden with Adam and Eve. You and I were created for a close intimate relationship with our Father God Almighty! Think about that: God spoke to Moses as a friend.

1. What is the qualification for being God’s friend?
2. WE have a study tape #75 “To be God’s Friend” that goes into great depth write us for a copy. Let’s turn to John 15 for the answer to our question:

• John 15:14 says Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

“If” you and I have accepted God’s grace as in Ephesians 2:8 then we have been drawn out, drawn out of the waters, meaning peoples if you’ll study Revelation 17:15 in your home study time.

The Lord God Almighty is no respecter of persons:

• Acts 10:34 says Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
• Acts 10:35 says But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

God Almighty has a plan for your life, for my life, and for everybody’s life. We only must come to Him through the “Rock” His Son and accept His grace in reverence working His Word in our lives. We work righteousness in our lives when we obey His Word as in working in His harvest field bringing His children out of Egypt, out of bondage.

• Exodus 33:12 says And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.
• Exodus 33:13 says Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.

We are saved by God’s grace because He loves us and He wants us to love enough to reach someone else with His love. Moses prayed: “show me now thy way”.

1. What is the True Way?
2. Turn to the Gospel of John please:

• John 14:6 says Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus Christ is the Way, the truth and the life! Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father, the door that gains you entrance. You and I will never feel the urgency of the Great Commission, the ministry of reconciliation, the urgency to work in the harvest field unless we understand God’s grace, God’s way!

Since we now understand that Jesus Christ is the way, the life and the truth the Holy Spirit can use us. The Holy Spirit can burn that in our hearts then we’ll get on the Lord’s way working His truth in our lives causing others to come to life! We must see the need others have for God’s grace who are in Egypt, who are in bondage so they can have life, abundant life!

Let’s reread Exodus 33:13:

• Exodus 33:13-14 says Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

When God Almighty shows us the soul, when God opens our eyes to be able to look past the flesh, the trouble, the sin, and see the soul then we’ll work in His harvest field! When that happens we’ll go out into all of our world fulfilling the Great Commission. Pray that God will let’s us see that all are His children that they’re just lost so we can be on the “Way” like Moses!

1. Will you pray this prayer in verse 13?
2. Remember as we have done fore stated God is no respecter of persons and He will answer yes! Not only will God go with us leading us; He will give us rest!

1. What is our rest today in New Testament times?
2. In your home study time look at Hebrews chapter 4 and Colossians chapter 2 at Jesus Christ and the Sabbath. HE is our Sabbath, our rest today if we’re under God’s grace.

• Colossians 2:16-17 says Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

The Old Testament is full of types for teaching of the New Testament that Jesus Christ fulfilled! You and I must learn to “rest” in Jesus Christ each and everyday of our lives so we can obey God’s Word thus being His friend! Let’s go back to the great book of Exodus please:

• Exodus 33:15 says And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.

We should follow Moses’ example, his words here. Jesus Christ is the Shepherd and He goes before His sheep leading us! In your home study time look at John chapter 10 in detail.

When the Lord is leading we can’t go wrong in His Exodus because He’s in control! Hold your place here and turn back to the 13 chapter of Exodus and let’s look at the Old Testament type of leading.

• Exodus 13:21-22 says And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

As Moses was God’s friend leading God’s children out of bondage the Lord Himself made a way for all to know He was with them. They needed leading to go to the Promised Land and they had a cloud & pillar of fire. The Promised Land is an Old Testament type for Heaven!

We walk by faith today but we have God’s Word (they did not have the Bible). We have God’s Holy Spirit to lead us and protect us. Isn’t it encouraging to know that what God did for them He’ll do for you and me! He will lead us and watch our back all at the same time, Praise be to God! Let’s go back to the 33 chapter:

• Exodus 33:16 says For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.

God’s grace is what seperates Christians from the world; we’re no better we just got Jesus Christ. God’s presence in our lives is what changes us from the world!

There is a spiritual separation now but one day there will be a de facto literal separation, turn to the Gospel of Matthew please:

• Matthew 25:32-33 says And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

In order to be a sheep in the Lord’s flock on His right hand we must have that spiritual separation today in our lives:

• 2 Corinthians 6:15 says And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

Belial means or is an epithet of Satan. Infidel means someone who completely disbelieves. Those with Moses who disbelieved did not make it to the Promised Land; they died in the wilderness.

• 2 Corinthians 6:16 says And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
• 2 Corinthians 6:17 says Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

From these two verses of scripture we see how much the Lord loves us and desires to dwell with us. We are to come out and be separate from the world now spiritually speaking.

We are all flesh and we will fall short and make mistakes. But praise the Lord for His grace. The saying “touch not the unclean thing” means not to attach yourself to it. As long as we’re trying, as long as we’re growing God Almighty will receive us. Receive from the Greek means to take one onto favor. If God Almighty be for us who can be against us!

• 2 Corinthians 6:18 says And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

What a promise the Lord has for us “if” we’ll only believe and do our part. In God’s law we always have kind after kind. My meaning being God made an apple seed to make and apple tree and so on. If we’re God’s children then we’ll look different from the world, be separated. That’s why we have the next verse:

• 2 Corinthians 7:1 says Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

If we’re God’s children then we’ll follow His rules and walk in His ways. Back to Exodus 33 please:

• Exodus 33:17 says And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.

The Lord knows us by name, He can take our name out (or put it in) of the “Book of Life” if He so chooses. He knows our name because if we’re in that Book then He’ll confess it before the Father on Judgment Day! In your home study time look at Revelation 3:5 for documentation.

We must work our faith and live in God’s grace leading His children out of bondage. When we do this we have taken on the things of our Father in Heaven.

• Exodus 33:18 says And he said, I beseech thee, show me thy glory.

1. What do you desire tonight from the Lord in the spiritual realm?
2. You can ask what you will in that context and the Lord will provide, He’ll answer. See the following:

• John 15:7 says If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

This word abide was translated from the Greek word meno meaning to stay. The key here is you and I abiding in the Lord, the Vine and His Word abiding in us. All this means we’re hold on to the Word we have in our hearts faithfully working it and He’ll answer our prayers. The reason our prayers will be answered is they will be for others and not just selfish. As Moses was we’ll be concerned for God’s children and working to lead them out of bondage.

We have not sometimes because we ask not:

• James 4:2 says Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
• James 4:3 says Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Moses was not selfish when he prayed Father kill me instead all of these your children. Moses was abiding in the Word; he was spiritually separated as our example. Back to Exodus please:

• Exodus 33:19 says And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

You and I are in the Lord’s Way being His friend working in the Great Commission and “some” will find God’s grace and His mercy! All is required of you and me am that we’re a willing vessel for the Lord to lead and use.

• Exodus 33:20 says And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.

If we’re going to see God one day then we’ll have to crucify this flesh and come alive spiritually. The question is how bad do we want to see God?

• Exodus 33:21 says And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:

1. Do you want to see God’s glory?
2. In order to see God’s glory we must be in a certain place, a certain place that God has ordained. That’s why God said to draw nigh to Him and then (only then) that He would draw nigh to us! We come to that place by the “Rock”!

1. What or better asked Who is the Rock?
2. Jesus Christ the Living Word is that Rock! Remember Jesus stated if you love Me you’d keep My commands, commandments!

1. What are Christ’s commands likened too?
2. They are His Words that Rock that makes us wise if we build our lives upon them. Please go to the Gospel of Matthew please:

• Matthew 7:21 says Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

We already stated those that Moses was leading perished in the wilderness because they did not have faith. We will perish in this wilderness too if we don’t obey the Word! Father like child, we’re to take on the attributes of God Almighty.

• Matthew 7:22 says Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

It does not matter what we have done in His name if He did not instruct us to do it! We must obey His Word not our words for Him.

• Matthew 7:23 says And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
• Matthew 7:24 says Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

House in this context is our life, where is your life’s foundation? When you get up and live each day do you live your life according to the ways of the world or according to the Word?

• Matthew 7:25 says And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
• Matthew 7:26 says And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
• Matthew 7:27 says And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

One day this life will be over and then what? If we have put everything we own in this life we’ll have nothing. Continuing the thought turn to 1 Corinthians please:

• 1 Corinthians 10:1 says Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
• 1 Corinthians 10:2 says And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
• 1 Corinthians 10:3 says And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
• 1 Corinthians 10:4 says And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

The Word is our foundation and also it’s meat and drink to our souls. The Word is the “Living Water” that flows out of the Rock. Remember, as we have fore stated that the Old Testament is full of types for teaching. God your Father fed all of the children with manna from Heaven, water from the rock. Jesus Christ fed 5,000 men one time and 3,000 another time. They did everything they did to draw the people to Them. They wanted the people to know Them personally not just Their acts, Their exploits. Speaking of the “Living Water”:

• John 7:37-39 says In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

When we drink what the Lord has for us we have the Holy Spirit to lead and protect us just as He led and protected the children of Israel in the desert! Let’s move us and worship the Blessor and not the blessing. Remember some that ate of the bread when Christ fed them only followed Him for more bread, more blessings. Everything the Lord does is just to draw us closer to Him personally.

Let’s go back to the great book of Exodus please. Remember we covered those previous verses just to show that it’s Jesus Christ that’s the Rock as where we must stand in order to see God’s glory, see God as a friend!

• Exodus 33:22-23 says And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.

There is so much meat in this verse of scripture! We will only cover what’s applicable to this study for sake of time. Note God says “I will put thee in a clift of a Rock”. Clift was translated from the Hebrew word neqarah meaning a fissure, a crack, and a narrow grove. It all goes back to Jesus Christ and the drawing of our Father:

• John 6:44 says No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

God Almighty the Father must draw us, put us in the Rock, then and only then can we see God’s glory by going through the “door”. That “door” is Jesus Christ according to John 10:7!

On earth today you and I can see God’s glory because of what Jesus Christ! He showed us the Father by His works, His exploits and then He told us to do greater works!

• John 14:6 says Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
• John 14:7 says If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
• John 14:8 says Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
• John 14:9 says Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
• John 14:10 says Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
• John 14:11 says Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
• John 14:12 says Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

We’re for this study keying on verses 9&12. The Lord Jesus Christ showed you and the Father by His works leading us, drawing us to salvation. After that salvation we moved past those exploits and into a deep personal relationship with Him. With that relationship comes God then using you, using me to do greater works, to do exploits! Why exploits? So others of His children that we see because of Him can see the works (exploits) and be saved!

The Lord will make a way for you to show the Father, to lift Jesus Christ up to all of those in a lost and dying world! If you’re fearful ask for strength. Ask for whatever you need to fulfill the Great Commission and He’ll give it to you:

• John 14:13-14 says And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Ask all we must do is ask! You se those without Jesus Christ are on sand, are on the outside of the door. They can’t see God’s way (way of life) only God’s acts! Remember what we read earlier in Exodus:

• Exodus 33:13 says Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people.

Knowing God’s way and seeing His acts, His exploits are two completely different things! Turn to the great book of Psalms for more on this please.

• Psalms 103:6-7 says The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.

We covered verse 6 so we could pinpoint the “He” of verse 7. Let’s understand what He did and what He does. First of all we have 2 completely different actions on the Lord’s part in verse 7, not because God has respect of people but because the difference in the peoples hearts.

1. Do you want to God’s ways or His acts?

Moses was obedient to the Lord thus showing hi love. He thought of God’s children and had compassion for them to bring them out of bondage being a willing vessel. Moses was like his Father, like his Friend.

The children of Israel, (God’s children even today) loved the blessings more than they loved God. They thought only of themselves. They had no faith even after seeing God’s exploits God’s works with the manna, the dividing of the Read Sea ETC….

Most people want to see a sign from God, just as the Pharisees did in Jesus time. In your home study time look at Matthew 12:38-41. Jesus Christ told them the only sign they were getting was the sign of the prophet Jonas. Meaning the greatest sign of all is the death burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. To know this sign one must know Jesus Christ personally!

To Moses God made known His ways. Known was translated from the Hebrew word yada meaning to know certainly by seeing. Moses saw because he was where God told him to be in the clift of the Rock! Ways was translated from the Hebrew word derek meaning a road as trodden, a course of life! Remember John 14:6 we have read earlier!

There is God’s way and then there is man’s way! God’s way is truth and life and man’s way is death.

• Proverbs 14:12 says There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

God’s way is perfect and man’s way will perish:

• Psalms 18:30 says As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.
• Psalms 1:6 says For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

God’s ways and man’s ways are different and one can’t have anything to do with the other.

1. Do you want to only see God’s acts?

The children were made to know God’s acts! Acts was translated from the Hebrew word aliylah meaning an exploit of God.

1. What is an exploit?
2. An act remarkable for brilliance, an bold deed.

God Almighty as we have fore stated done many brilliant deeds for these children. The Lord Jesus Christ did many exploits in the New Testament. The greatest exploit was the Cross-! To see that exploit you must know Him personally not from afar!

1. Why did they do exploits?
2. Because They were making their presence known and felt so these and now you and I could move into God’s ways! Everything was done so we would come into the Way Jesus Christ the Rock and know God personally in the Cleft of the Rock. God wants us to know Him as God the Father, God the person and not God the One who only does exploits. He wanted a personal relationship with us to the point that He died for us. Please let that sink down into you minds and grasp His love!

A lot of people have seen God’s exploits but not as many have seen Him as a friend, seen Him personally and intimately!

1. Will you move closer to your Father today and become like Moses and lead someone out of Egypt, out of bondage?
2. God said in:

• James 4:8 says Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

1. What do we do with our hearts and our mind?
2. Our minds control our actions, what we do or don’t do with our hands. Drawing near to God and changing our ways cleanses our minds, which changes our work into His ways!

This study has been for edification in the Lord’s Way! He wants us to come to Him in the Rock and see His glory and then go out and reach others bringing them out of bondage! Will you heed the call to the Great Commission and do greater works today?

Prayer is the key to this whole thing! Just talk to your Father through the Son and learn His way! If we can help please write us, we’re here to minister. Remember the “just” shall live by faith, not by exploits or acts! Faith is the key that unlocks the door to a perfect friendship with the Lord God Almighty!

GAP Ministries

“REMEMBER GOD’S WORD WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!”

9/26/01 7:17:35 AM 2001