>>>
Exodus 3:5 - Holy Ground.

Exodus 3:5: Holy Ground.

Exodus 3:5 (NIV) "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off 
your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground."  

Exodus 3:5 (NLT) Do not come any closer, the LORD warned. 
Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.  

   Why would a God who desires a close relationship with those 
made in His image tell one of His servants not to come any closer? Is 
it because in this introductory meeting between God and Moses at a 
burning bush, closeness would have been dangerous? Because a human being 
next to a holy God is a perilous combination? Perhaps, but that 
doesn't explain why God invited this same Moses up to the top of Sinai 
to experience His intense Presence later - even while warning every 
other Israelite to stay away or else suffer death. Nothing happened 
between the burning bush and Sinai to remove Moses' sin. The sacrificial 
system hadn't been instituted yet, Moses expressed no great confession 
and repentance, God made no declarations of forgiveness. In one 
event, Moses couldn't come close. Sometime later, he could. Why?  
   Perhaps, like Abraham, Moses had demonstrated the kind of 
faith in God that can be counted as righteousness. At the burning 
bush, he was living in exile and unacquainted with God's ways. By the 
time he reached Sinai, he had followed God into Pharaoh's courts, 
through ten plagues, through the complaints of his own people, and 
through the parted waters of the sea. He had grown in the relationship 
to the point that he could enter the cloud of glory on the mountain 
and the other people couldn't. He was allowed to come close to God 
because he had grown close to God.  
   We are given the same opportunity. We are allowed to 
experience more of God's Presence if we choose to grow into it. The more we 
follow Him in faith, the more we are invited into the depths of 
communion with Him. All relationships grow deeper with mutual investment. 
When we invest in God in response to His investment in us, He gives 
us the privilege of greater access to Him.  
   Lord, when I am on holy ground, I want the privilege of 
coming closer. Please help me grow in our relationship to the point 
that You invite me into the cloud of Your glory. [The One Year 
Experiencing Gods Presence Devotional by Chris Tiegreen] 

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

   When people bare their souls to you, you are on holy ground. 
Your responsibility is to listen and love. If you jump in with both 
feet - trying to fix their problems - you pollute the holy terrain. 
Some people will retreat when this happens; others may be too wounded 
to realize they've been violated. Either way, you have spoiled a 
splendid opportunity. 
   To function effectively on holy ground, you need the help of 
the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to think through you, listen through you, 
love through you. As the Spirit's Love shines through you, My healing 
Presence goes to work in the other person. While you continue listening, 
your main, role is to direct the person toward Me and My bountiful 
resources. 
   If you follow these guidelines, both you and others will be 
blessed. They will connect with My unfailing Love at soul-level, and I 
will show them the way they should go. As you listen and love in 
dependence on Me, My Spirit will flow through you like streams of living 
water, refreshing your soul. (Exo. 3:5; Psa. 143:8; John 7:38, 39) 
[Jesus Always by Sarah Young] 

Learn to listen to Me even while you are listening to other 
people. As they open their souls to your scrutiny, you are on holy 
ground. You need the help of My Spirit to respond appropriately. Ask Him 
to think through you, live through you, love through you. My own 
Being is alive within you in the Person of the Holy Spirit. If you 
respond to others' needs through your unaided thought processes, you 
offer them dry crumbs. When the Spirit empowers your listening and 
speaking, My streams of living water flow through you to other people. Be 
a channel of My Love, Joy, and Peace by listening to Me as you 
listen to others. (Exo. 3:5; 1Co. 6:19; John 7:38, 39) [Jesus Calling 
by Sarah Young] 

FURTHER STUDY

John 7:37b, 38 (NNAS) If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me 
and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, From his 
innermost being will flow rivers of living water. 
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2015/20150602-1052.html 

1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 (NLT) Dont you realize that your body 
is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to 
you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you 
with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. 
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2016/20160217-1018.html 

Psalm 143:8 (NLT) Let me hear of your unfailing love each 
morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself 
to you. http://www.abible.com/devotions/2014/20141218-2007.html 

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782

Prayer Made Real: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES AND SEMINARS

Restoring The Power by John Bradshaw: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRogO1SxoZN15Boa7BMon4BouVMdteVaq 

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: http://www.bibleresearch.info/

ABible.com: http://www.aBible.com