Pursuing Holiness- Part 31

There can be an outward manifestation of Holiness in us as a witness for all to see!

FATHER’S Holiness has manifested in the past and will once again manifest in those who pursue HIS Holiness in establishing the True Kingdom of GOD on earth.  The closer you get to HIS Presence, the greater the resulting Holiness in your life.  Moses is a testimony from the “lesser” covenant.

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Exodus chapter 33:

18  And Moses said to THE LORD, “Please, show me Your glory.”

19 Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the Name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”

20 But He said, “You cannot see My Face; for no man shall see Me, and live.”

21 And the LORD said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock.

22 So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My Hand while I pass by.

23 Then I will take away My Hand, and you shall see My Back; but My Face shall not be seen.”

Afterward, Moses makes two new tablets and FATHER renews the Covenant with Israel.  This was Israel’s second chance after they worshipped the golden calf while Moses was receiving the first tablets of the Ten Commandments.

And in Exodus chapter 34:

29  Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him. 30 So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.

31 Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned to him; and Moses talked with them.

32 Afterward all the children of Israel came near, and he gave them as commandments all that the LORD had spoken with him on Mount Sinai.

33 And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face.

34 But whenever Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out; and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded.

35 And whenever the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone, then Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him.

This was the first instance of the outward expression of Holiness on a man after being in the Presence of GOD.  Moses outwardly reflected GOD’S Presence.

Paul referenced Moses’ face as he wrote by The Holy Spirit in 2nd Corinthians chapter 3:

5  Yet we don’t see ourselves as capable enough to do anything in our own strength, for our true competence flows from God’s empowering Presence.

6 He alone makes us adequate ministers who are focused on an entirely new covenant. Our ministry is not based on the letter of the law but through the power of the Spirit. The letter of the law kills, but the Spirit pours out Life.

7 Even the ministry that was characterized by chiseled letters on stone tablets came with a dazzling measure of glory, though it produced death. The Israelites couldn’t bear to gaze on the glowing face of Moses because of the radiant splendor shining from his countenance—a glory destined to fade away.

8 Yet how much more radiant is this new and glorious ministry of the Spirit that shines from us!

9 For if the former ministry of condemnation was ushered in with a measure of glory, how much more does the ministry that imparts righteousness far excel in glory.

Paul emphasized the difference between the Old and the New.  Moses manifested FATHER’S Glory but it faded away, it was outwardly only.  By being filled with The Holy Spirit, we are destined to walk in a sustained Glory from Above.

10 What once was glorious no longer holds any glory because of the increasingly greater glory that has replaced it.

11 The fading ministry came with a portion of glory, but now we embrace the unfading ministry of a permanent impartation of glory.

12 So then, with this amazing hope living in us, we step out in freedom and boldness to speak the Truth.

This reality caused Paul to embrace boldness as we should.

13 We are not like Moses, who used a veil to hide the glory to keep the Israelites from staring at him as it faded away.

14 Their minds were closed and hardened, for even to this day that same veil comes over their minds when they hear the words of the former covenant. The veil has not yet been lifted from them, for it is only eliminated when one is joined to the Messiah.

15 So until now, whenever the Old Testament is being read, the same blinding comes over their hearts.

16 But the moment one turns to the Lord with an open heart, the veil is lifted and they see.

17 Now, the “Lord” I’m referring to is the Holy Spirit, and wherever he is Lord, there is freedom.

18 We can all draw close to Him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus. We are being transfigured into his very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another. And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

In the past, most of us have assumed that we cannot walk in the same manner as Stephen in whom the Glory manifested in his face.  Let the veil be lifted and expect the undeniable in your life as you pursue Holiness.

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