How can we experience God's presence like in Deuteronomy 5:24 today? The Setting of Deuteronomy 5:24 “Behold, the LORD our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the fire. Today we have seen that God speaks with man, and yet he lives.” (Deuteronomy 5:24) The Israelites stood at Sinai, literally seeing glory, hearing thunderous words, and realizing that the God of heaven can draw near without destroying those who trust Him. That same God still wants His people to know His nearness. The Unchanging Desire of God to Dwell with His People • Eden: “They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden” (Genesis 3:8). • Wilderness: “Have them make a sanctuary for Me, and I will dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8). • Incarnation: “The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us” (John 1:14). • New creation: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man” (Revelation 21:3). God’s heart has never shifted—He desires closeness with His people. Jesus: The Better Mediator of God’s Presence Today • “There is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). • “Through Him we … have boldness and confident access” (Ephesians 3:12). • “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” (John 14:23). Because Jesus satisfied God’s holiness on the cross and rose again, we no longer stand trembling at a mountain; we draw near through a Person. The Holy Spirit: God Within Us • “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). • “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever— the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16-17). • At Pentecost, “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4). God’s presence has moved from an external fire to an internal flame. Practical Pathways to Experience His Presence • Saturate your mind with Scripture – “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you” (Colossians 3:16). • Worship with awe and joy – “Enter His gates with thanksgiving” (Psalm 100:4). • Pray continually and expectantly – “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). • Walk in obedience and holiness – “If we walk in the light … we have fellowship with one another” (1 John 1:7). • Gather with other believers – “Where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). • Remember Him at the Lord’s Table – “Do this in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:24). • Serve and witness – “I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). • Practice stillness and listening – “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). • Embrace trials as avenues of fellowship – “That I may know Him … and the fellowship of His sufferings” (Philippians 3:10). Guarding Against Counterfeits and Distractions • Test every spiritual impression by Scripture (1 John 4:1). • Refuse teaching that veers from the gospel (Galatians 1:8). • Do not grieve or quench the Spirit with unconfessed sin (Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19). Living Continually in His Presence Because the same God who thundered from Sinai now lives within every believer, experiencing His presence is not a rare event but a daily privilege. As we trust Christ, yield to the Spirit, and shape our lives around His Word, we discover what Israel tasted only briefly: “You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11). |
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