How Do We Know?

An excerpt from sermon “Knowing God’s Presence”
From the Gospel Chapel
23 5th Ave SE Conrad, MT 59425

 

“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.” Exodus 33:16.

Let us consider how God’s manifest presence shall be known, both in the souls of those who receive it and in the consciences of others.  The Scripture teaches us how it shall be known.

In Col. 1:27 we read,

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” 

Christ formed in you becomes the hope of glory to God’s dear children, and a mystery to the Gentiles.  They see it; they understand that there is a completely different person: you become a new man. 

Asaph pleaded for pardon and the return of God’s manifest presence that it might be known among the heathen who had rejoiced that he had fallen in sin.  We read in Psa. 79:8-10,

“O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.  Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.  Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed.” 

He asked to be delivered “for thy name’s sake,” because the heathen were rejoicing that he had fallen in sin. 

Why should the heathen say, “Where is their God?”  If Christ is formed in you, they will see it.  They saw how God’s people had fallen in iniquity and they rejoiced over them, saying, “Where is their God?”  Moses also asked, “For wherein shall it be known,” not only in Israel, but also among the heathen.  He did not want the Egyptians to see them destroyed, because they would mock and rejoice.  He said that it would be known in that the Lord went with them and delivered them from all their struggles; He delivered them from all their sin and set them upon the solid rock.

We must be conformed to the image of Christ that the world may know Christ is formed in us.  In John 17:23 we read,

“I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” 

Christ is formed in us that the world may know.  They will not have to ask, “Where is their God?”  They will see Christ in us.

The world knows we have found grace in God’s sight when God helps us in all our trials.  We read that in Psa. 86:17;

“Show me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast helped me, and comforted me.” 

Moses asked,

“For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that you go with us?”  (Exo. 33:16)

How does He go with us?  He delivers us in our temptations; He delivers us in our trials and He carries us upon His everlasting arms.

Even the wicked see it when God’s children find grace in His sight.  Psa. 112:9-10 says,

“He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.  The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.” 

The Lord is jealous of His name before the world, which is such a burden upon us if we bring reproach upon the name of God.  The desire of everyone whose heart is right with the Lord is to avoid bringing a reproach upon the name of God.

Jesus sees us toiling in our own strength, and He comes unto us walking upon the waves.  In Mark 6:47-48 we read,

“And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.  And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea.” 

The Lord sees and understands every struggle and every trial that we go through.  He comes on board our ship and the waves cease.  We read in Mark 6:50-51,

“For they all saw him, and were troubled.  And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.  And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.” 

All of the tumultuous struggles cease when Jesus comes on board, when Christ is formed in us so that even the heathen can see it.  He allows the tumultuous sea to prove us and try us to see what is in our hearts, whether we will serve the Lord or not.  This is how we shall know that we have found grace in His sight.

We read in Isa. 26:3-4,

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.” 

That does not mean that we will not have trials, but that our hearts are fixed, trusting in the Lord, and that we see the Lord in those trials, and that we are able to have perfect peace in the midst of them.  The circumstances may not change, but the posture of the heart changes. 

When we have found grace in His sight, He goes up with us.  He is with us through this life journey, and we can understand this:

“Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.”  (Isa. 26:4) 

Twixt Jesus and the chosen race,
Subsists a bond of sovereign grace,
That hell, with its infernal train,
Shall ne’er dissolve nor rend in twain!
Blessed be the wisdom and the grace,
The eternal love and faithfulness,
That’s in the gospel-scheme revealed,
And is by God the Spirit sealed.

Gadsby selection, 1838