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How do we seek God's face? - 7/24/2008 9:47:49 AM
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rafferty_uy
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Hi,
I'm glad that there're forums like this to ask questions. This is something that I have been struggling with for quite some time now. Thank you in advance for all your insights.
The Bible tells us to seek God's face.
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. - 1 Chr 16:11 NIV
My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek. - Ps 27:8 NIV
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. - Ps 105:4 NIV
But God also said that we cannot see His face.
And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." - Exo 33:19-21 NIV
So... how do we seek God's face? Should we even hope to see His face in this lifetime?
Rafferty
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RE: How do we seek God's face? - 7/24/2008 10:22:33 AM
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iamjc-s
Posts: 357
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I can't quickly & easily find the Bible ref.s but I'll give an example.
If your child is being bad do you spend possitive, enjoyable time with him or do you send him into time-out in a corner or in his room?
I think when it says to "seek God's face" it means to aim & do your very best, with the Holy Spirit's help, to please & obey Him.
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RE: How do we seek God's face? - 7/24/2008 10:26:26 AM
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stampinlady
Posts: 1752
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obedience, imo.
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Deb
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RE: How do we seek God's face? - 7/24/2008 11:11:15 AM
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bob97
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You only have two choices...prayer and the study of His word. This is the only way you can grow to know God. Once you understand the word the Holy Spirit can lead you closer to God Himself.
Your goal is to grow in your love for God and these are two only two tools that you have to accomplish that goal. You only grow in you understand and love by more fully understanding the person...you apparently have the attraction for God so let it grow.
Bob
_____________________________
The LORD clears the road for me!
The LORD is my high ridge, my stronghold, my deliverer!
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RE: How do we seek God's face? - 7/24/2008 11:15:53 AM
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rafferty_uy
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But isn't trying to please God and honor Him different from seeking His face?
I don't think it's the same as knowing Him more either.
Or do you guys think that the command to seek His face is not a command to desire to see Him physically but more of a knowing God more kind of thing, seeking His character, His will, His thoughts, His personality?
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RE: How do we seek God's face? - 7/24/2008 11:47:27 AM
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ames01
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quote:
Or do you guys think that the command to seek His face is not a command to desire to see Him physically but more of a knowing God more kind of thing, seeking His character, His will, His thoughts, His personality?
That's my understanding of it. Seeking to know God, rather than just seeking what He can do for us.
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RE: How do we seek God's face? - 7/24/2008 12:12:07 PM
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PopsiLufsJesus
Posts: 3357
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I read what you had to say and the first thing that came to mind was the song from Fernando Ortega...
"In the morning when I rise, in the morning when I rise, in the morning when I rise...give me Jesus..."
Yes, all those verses you did post are in scripture, but there is another verse and I am sure you have heard it numerous times. The verse that says...He who searches for God with his/her whole heart WILL find Him.
I do not know you personally and so I can't say this for you, but I can say this for me. Sometimes I recite that verse and I am thinking..."I do, I do, I do." I search with my whole heart, but do I really? Do I take personal time with Him everyday and even more than once a day. Or is it a simple prayer in the morning and than expect to know Him personally. I have learned that I have to try for the relationship. And when the relationship comes then I began to ask His Will and I recognize it because I have learned to recognize Him. The relationship we have with Him is for a lifetime and it is our choice of how close we get to Him. OURS. Sometimes I think we put too much emphasis on "God isn't doing this" or "God isn't doing that" when we indeed are the ones not doing what we need to do to get the results we want. I am not saying we can do it without Him, but I am saying that we have our part in the relationship and we can't expect Him to do it all or initiate it all.
That's just what I have learned and thought I would throw out...Take from it what you will...
Hope you find what you are looking for...
_____________________________
"A belief is something you'll argue about. But
a conviction is something you'll die for." ~Howard Hendricks
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RE: How do we seek God's face? - 7/24/2008 12:50:08 PM
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mvic
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When you see the poor and the hungry, when you see the old and infirm, when you see the ill and dying, the down-trodden and the outcast, the innocents in jail - that's when you see God's face. And He is asking you to do something about it.
Also when you see the sun rise, the dew on the grass, the flowers, birds, butterflies and all things good. That too is God's face - and He is asking you to be thankful and rejoice.
God's face is everywhere - we just can't see it because we don't want to.
_____________________________
Christian words of comfort at http://www.holyvisions.co.uk
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MEI VITA INDICO CHRISTUS
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RE: How do we seek God's face? - 7/24/2008 1:53:09 PM
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Mickley
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rafferty_uy,
I think this is a real good post. You make me think. Glad you put it here.
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RE: How do we seek God's face? - 7/25/2008 8:22:31 AM
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rafferty_uy
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quote:
ORIGINAL: mvic
When you see the poor and the hungry, when you see the old and infirm, when you see the ill and dying, the down-trodden and the outcast, the innocents in jail - that's when you see God's face. And He is asking you to do something about it.
Also when you see the sun rise, the dew on the grass, the flowers, birds, butterflies and all things good. That too is God's face - and He is asking you to be thankful and rejoice.
God's face is everywhere - we just can't see it because we don't want to.
Hm... this makes sense... and it does have a biblical reference (Matt 25). Let me chew on it more...
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RE: How do we seek God's face? - 7/25/2008 8:49:41 AM
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armydude
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quote:
ORIGINAL: rafferty_uy
So... how do we seek God's face? Should we even hope to see His face in this lifetime?
The best way to seek God's face is to read God's word.
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Invisible signature!!!
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RE: How do we seek God's face? - 7/25/2008 8:52:12 AM
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rafferty_uy
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quote:
ORIGINAL: PopsiLufsJesus
I read what you had to say and the first thing that came to mind was the song from Fernando Ortega...
"In the morning when I rise, in the morning when I rise, in the morning when I rise...give me Jesus..."
Yes, all those verses you did post are in scripture, but there is another verse and I am sure you have heard it numerous times. The verse that says...He who searches for God with his/her whole heart WILL find Him.
I do not know you personally and so I can't say this for you, but I can say this for me. Sometimes I recite that verse and I am thinking..."I do, I do, I do." I search with my whole heart, but do I really? Do I take personal time with Him everyday and even more than once a day. Or is it a simple prayer in the morning and than expect to know Him personally. I have learned that I have to try for the relationship. And when the relationship comes then I began to ask His Will and I recognize it because I have learned to recognize Him. The relationship we have with Him is for a lifetime and it is our choice of how close we get to Him. OURS. Sometimes I think we put too much emphasis on "God isn't doing this" or "God isn't doing that" when we indeed are the ones not doing what we need to do to get the results we want. I am not saying we can do it without Him, but I am saying that we have our part in the relationship and we can't expect Him to do it all or initiate it all.
That's just what I have learned and thought I would throw out...Take from it what you will...
Hope you find what you are looking for...
I get what you say. Numerous times, the Bible does tell us to "seek God", "seek the LORD", "seek God's will," etc. But I think the verses above are special, it specifically says "seek God's face."
Actually, I am thinking if seeking God's face does not mean physically seeing Him, then it might be, along the line of, God's dynamic relationship with Moses... to speak with Him like a man speaks with his friend. It's not the type where read the word (there was still no Bible during Moses's time), hear a preaching, or even hear a prophetic word and get one or two impacting statements. It could be the level of relationship where we can ask God "Lord, how are you?" and just chat with Him about "non-sense." Non-sense meaning... the casual, usually purpose-less, conversations we have with our friends during lunch break.
But I could be wrong... I just want to understand WHY God had to say: "seek My face." And not just stick with what is more often said: "seek Me," "know more about Me," and "be Christ-like."
Doesn't it break your heart to hear people sing "I want to see Your face" and yet in normal conversations, when you ask them if the want to see God, they would say "not now, I don't want to die yet... maybe next time."
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RE: How do we seek God's face? - 7/25/2008 12:26:55 PM
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PopsiLufsJesus
Posts: 3357
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Oh, I see where you are coming from...
And I am sure that that would break God's heart...
There is just something about faces tho...isn't there?
_____________________________
"A belief is something you'll argue about. But
a conviction is something you'll die for." ~Howard Hendricks
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RE: How do we seek God's face? - 7/25/2008 11:25:58 PM
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rafferty_uy
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mvic really got me thinking...
Could it be that seeking God's face mean seeing His face in other people? The Jews did ask Jesus in Matt 25 "Lord when did we see You..." and Jesus answered "the time when you..." (my paraphrases).
So maybe, seeking God's face is to seek His face in the faces of the poor and needy, and in the faces of Christians (who are supposed to be Christ-like). This possible answer is in line with the great commission... "Why do you want to be used to bring people to God?" Answer: "Because I want to see God in their faces."
What do you guys think?
(I'm still having mixed emotions about this, it stirs me up to advance God's kingdom but at the same time I feel bad that I won't actually get to see God's full face in this lifetime.)
*btw, thanks mvic for your reply.*
Rafferty
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RE: How do we seek God's face? - 7/25/2008 11:27:53 PM
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PopsiLufsJesus
Posts: 3357
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I was thinking about it...and maybe He was just trying to get us to be more personal with Him...Usually when we want to talk to someone and have a personal convo with them...we want to be looking face to face with them...or maybe it is the eyes are window to the soul...
face to face... very real...:)
_____________________________
"A belief is something you'll argue about. But
a conviction is something you'll die for." ~Howard Hendricks
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RE: How do we seek God's face? - 7/26/2008 12:54:45 AM
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whisperingwaters
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I think it involves meditating on Gods word and spending time in prayer and worship and that is seeking Gods face. Yes I too would like to see His glorious face in a face to face meeting in this lifetime but I know I need to wait on Gods timing.
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The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the well-spring of wisdom as a flowing brook. Proverbs 18:4
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RE: How do we seek God's face? - 7/26/2008 12:57:33 AM
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PopsiLufsJesus
Posts: 3357
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symbolically.
_____________________________
"A belief is something you'll argue about. But
a conviction is something you'll die for." ~Howard Hendricks
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RE: How do we seek God's face? - 7/26/2008 1:09:25 AM
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Liveloved
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I don't think to seek God's face means to see Him (as in literal seeing His face)---it means the desire to know Him. Certainly our seeking is to know Him and as we know Him, we do see Him as He is. And as others have already shared, we seek Him by quieting ourselves and reading, meditating on His word. And those who seek Him do find Him. It is His desire that we know Him. (John 17:3) 
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RE: How do we seek God's face? - 7/26/2008 2:22:10 AM
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OneJohn410
Posts: 697
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Rafferty_uy,
quote:
ORIGINAL: rafferty_uy
mvic really got me thinking...
Could it be that seeking God's face mean seeing His face in other people? The Jews did ask Jesus in Matt 25 "Lord when did we see You..." and Jesus answered "the time when you..." (my paraphrases).
So maybe, seeking God's face is to seek His face in the faces of the poor and needy, and in the faces of Christians (who are supposed to be Christ-like). This possible answer is in line with the great commission... "Why do you want to be used to bring people to God?" Answer: "Because I want to see God in their faces."
What do you guys think?
(I'm still having mixed emotions about this, it stirs me up to advance God's kingdom but at the same time I feel bad that I won't actually get to see God's full face in this lifetime.)
*btw, thanks mvic for your reply.*
Rafferty
Reading your post, I thought of lots of things, two really didn't let me go. One was the praise song 'Holy, holy, holy, I want to see You.' The other was at first to wonder what there is for the Bible scholar 'in the Greek' on seeing, or seeking, God's face. I don't have such books, and maybe there's something out there on the 'net. Anyway, I got to thinking about what that means, to seek someone's face. What about a country with a king? Or some person of admiration and respect?
Going show business, there's lots of sword fighting examples. Countless characters in Lord of the Rings, William Wallace in Braveheart, King Arthur, ... . Preparing for battle, thinking the odds are against you, suddenly there's a face in your midst of your leader/hero/or some encourager- and you are emboldened to give your all to the ideals you set out to- or reminded that they are still alive within you. It's that sight of someone who is standing by your side, who is not afraid to lead you into the fray. The battle is worth fighting for all the more because your fear and anxiety are minimal, your hopes and dreams have all been revived by seeing a glimpse of this face that brings hope.
It's not all about wars and such, certainly there are other examples. On the actual side, Sir Winston Churchill inspired England to never surrender when faced by a two-front war. The US has had some leaders provide the same.
Warfare does exist for the Christian, and we've got some specific spiritual weapons and defenses we can choose to apply on a daily basis, or just hope we know how to use when needed and we have time to dust things off. With the wars that took place in the Old Testament, and the ruling authorities of emporers, cesears, pharohs, and their mighty armies, all of this just clicked as another potential consideration toward seeking God's face. I'm not talking about making a personal war against a soft drink vending machine that cheats you of your dollar bill, or against anything much at all. However, to dwell on a face that loves you despite all your faults, all your debts, sins, lies, rejections... and be all suited up for the day with a purpose to be ready to testify, to share, to see needs and try to do something to help. It's not so easy to just do good stuff because you know that's what to do. I'd rather grump today, thanks just the same. To know that God has a face, and to know you are significant in His eyes- when we stay focused on His 'operator's manual' for our lives and not the old, expired one... seeking His face as someone that would follow His Son makes all the difference in our daily lives.
_____________________________
"If God is for us, who can be against us?... death, life, angels, demons, the present, the future, any powers, height, depth, nor anything else will separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8
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RE: How do we seek God's face? - 7/26/2008 8:18:52 AM
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Little_1
Posts: 1213
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: rafferty_uy
Hi,
I'm glad that there're forums like this to ask questions. This is something that I have been struggling with for quite some time now. Thank you in advance for all your insights.
The Bible tells us to seek God's face.
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. - 1 Chr 16:11 NIV
My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek. - Ps 27:8 NIV
Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. - Ps 105:4 NIV
But God also said that we cannot see His face.
And the LORD said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." - Exo 33:19-21 NIV
So... how do we seek God's face? Should we even hope to see His face in this lifetime?
Rafferty
I don't believe we are to seek to see God's face literally because to look at the face of God we would surely die; however, I do believe that whenever the Bible encourages us to 'seek God's face' it means we are to seek God's will (i.e. what is pleasing to Him) and obey such. We can find out God's will by praying and reading His Word (the Bible) and we can perform God's will by depending on the Holy Spirit to strengthen and help us.
< Message edited by Little_1 -- 7/26/2008 8:26:59 AM >
_____________________________
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." ROMANS 12:12
Testimony
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RE: How do we seek God's face? - 7/26/2008 9:22:46 AM
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flare
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check this out from 1 corinthians 13:
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
**in this verse, seeing = knowing
and also 2 corinthians 4:
6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
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RE: How do we seek God's face? - 7/26/2008 10:01:50 PM
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rafferty_uy
Posts: 10
Joined: 7/21/2008
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quote:
ORIGINAL: flare
check this out from 1 corinthians 13:
12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.
**in this verse, seeing = knowing
and also 2 corinthians 4:
6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
Wow... I never saw this verse that way...
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RE: How do we seek God's face? - 7/26/2008 10:07:38 PM
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rafferty_uy
Posts: 10
Joined: 7/21/2008
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I think I got the idea. So God provided means to seek His face in this lifetime, but to actually see Him face to face is not included, that's something that we can all look forward to, after this lifetime.
Thank you all for all your replies. You have ministered to me :)
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