Seeking God's Face: Cultivating Intimacy and Understanding

Tonight’s teaching centers on the profound invitation God extends to every believer: to seek His face and cultivate a living, intimate relationship with Him. Drawing from Psalm 105:4 and the vivid narrative of Exodus 33, the journey of seeking God’s face is not just a religious exercise but a spiritual protocol designed to address our inherent insufficiency. God, in His wisdom, created us with limitations so that we would continually reach out to Him as our sufficiency. The Tabernacle of Congregation, as described in Exodus, was a physical space where God’s presence was accessible to all Israelites, yet only Moses truly took advantage of this provision. This illustrates a timeless reality: though access to God is available to all, few press in to experience the depths of communion He offers.

The relationship Moses enjoyed with God was marked by informality and friendship—God spoke to him “face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” This is not a mystical or unattainable experience; it is the model God desires for each of us. Friendship with God is cultivated intentionally, not passively received. It requires us to acknowledge our insufficiency, to lay aside self-reliance, and to pursue God with deliberate effort. The New Testament clarifies that seeking God’s face is not about physical sight but about the posture of our hearts. As we pray and seek His counsel, our hearts must be engaged, not just our spirits. This discipline—carrying both spirit and mind into God’s presence—enables us to receive divine illumination, wisdom, and direction.

Practical steps were outlined: seeking God’s face means securing His position on matters of controversy, receiving wisdom for complex issues, discerning the Spirit’s present revelation, and understanding God’s mind concerning people and situations. The process is not always immediate; it requires persistence, humility, and the discipline to keep returning until God’s light breaks through. When God shines in our hearts, as described in 2 Corinthians 4 and Ephesians 1, we receive knowledge, assurance, and rest—proof that we have truly encountered His face. This encounter transforms our perspective, enabling us to see the riches of His grace, the hope of His calling, and the surpassing greatness of His power toward us. Ultimately, the call is to move beyond mere knowledge into experiential intimacy, where God’s operating system within us functions maximally, and we become rooted in Him, able to do all things through Christ.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God Designed Us to Need Him Our insufficiency is not a flaw but a deliberate design by God, compelling us to seek Him as our sufficiency. Recognizing our limitations is the first step toward genuine participation with God. When we accept that we cannot fulfill our purpose in our own strength, we are motivated to draw near and depend on Him for wisdom, strength, and direction. [02:07]
• 2. Intimacy with God Is Intentional, Not Accidental Friendship with God, as seen in Moses’ relationship, is cultivated through deliberate, consistent pursuit. It is not enough to have access to God’s presence; we must choose to engage, ask questions, and build a history with Him. Intimacy grows as we intentionally seek His face, not merely as passive recipients of His grace. [18:47]
• 3. Seeking God’s Face Requires the Engagement of Both Spirit and Mind True communion with God involves more than spiritual activity; it demands the discipline of bringing our minds along in the process. As we pray and seek God’s counsel, distractions will arise, but persistent effort to refocus our thoughts is essential. Over time, this discipline enables us to receive clear, relevant feedback from God, aligning our understanding with His revelation. [42:35]
• 4. Divine Illumination Transforms Our Perspective and Experience When God shines in our hearts, He imparts knowledge, dispels confusion, and brings rest. This illumination is the New Testament reality of “seeing the face of Jesus”—receiving insight, wisdom, and assurance that surpasses intellectual understanding. The proof of this encounter is a deep inner satisfaction and peace, regardless of external circumstances. [50:14]
• 5. The Eyes of Our Understanding Must Be Enlightened to Grasp God’s Purpose and Provision Without spiritual enlightenment, we remain blind to the hope of God’s calling, the riches of His grace, and the greatness of His power available to us. As our understanding is opened, we see that God’s resources—measured in grace, not earthly currency—are sufficient for every assignment and challenge. This revelation empowers us to live boldly, knowing that God’s budget for our lives is inexhaustible. [58:11]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:35] - Introduction to Seeking God’s Face
• [01:22] - Psalm 105:4 and the Protocol of Seeking
• [02:47] - Old Testament Foundations: The Tabernacle
• [04:50] - The Tabernacle of Congregation Explained
• [06:07] - Moses’ Unique Access and Israel’s Missed Opportunity
• [13:43] - The Call to Personal Communion
• [15:48] - Face-to-Face Friendship with God
• [20:06] - Moving from Knowledge to Experience
• [25:40] - New Testament Insights: Heart Posture in Seeking
• [29:07] - Embracing Insufficiency and Participation
• [35:02] - Practical Steps in Seeking God’s Face
• [39:51] - Discipline of Mind and Spirit in Prayer
• [44:01] - Divine Illumination: How God Speaks
• [50:14] - The Fruit of Encounter: Rest and Assurance
• [52:15] - Revelation, Wisdom, and the Enlightened Heart
• [58:11] - Grasping God’s Purpose, Riches, and Power
• [77:34] - Prayer for Divine Illumination and Closing

Bible Reading

Psalm 105:4 (ESV) — > Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Exodus 33:7-11 (ESV) — > 7 Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp.
> 8 Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent.
> 9 When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses.
> 10 And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door.
> 11 Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.

2 Corinthians 4:6 (ESV) — > For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Observation Questions

1. In Exodus 33:7-11, what was the purpose of the Tabernacle of Congregation, and who actually took advantage of it? ([13:02])
2. According to Psalm 105:4, what two things are we told to seek, and how often? ([01:22])
3. In 2 Corinthians 4:6, what does Paul say God does in our hearts, and what is the result of this action? ([46:01])
4. The sermon described Moses’ relationship with God as “face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” What does this suggest about the nature of their conversations? ([15:48])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says our insufficiency is by God’s design, meant to draw us to Him. How does recognizing our limitations change the way we approach God? ([02:07])
2. Moses was the only one who regularly entered the Tabernacle, even though it was available to all. What might keep people today from taking advantage of the access they have to God’s presence? ([13:02])
3. The sermon teaches that seeking God’s face is not just a spiritual activity, but requires engaging both our spirit and our mind. Why is it important to bring our mind along in prayer, and what happens if we don’t? ([39:51])
4. When God “shines in our hearts” (2 Corinthians 4:6), the sermon says we receive knowledge, assurance, and rest. How is this different from simply gaining more information about God? ([50:14])

Application Questions

1. The sermon says God designed us to need Him, and that our insufficiency should motivate us to seek Him. Can you think of a recent situation where your own limitations became clear? How did you respond—did it push you toward God, or toward self-reliance? ([02:07])
2. Moses intentionally pursued friendship with God, while others watched from a distance. Are there areas in your life where you are “standing at the tent door” instead of entering in? What would it look like for you to take a step closer this week? ([13:02])
3. The teaching emphasized that intimacy with God is intentional, not accidental. What practical step could you take this week to intentionally seek God’s face—such as setting aside time, asking God specific questions, or journaling your prayers? ([18:47])
4. The sermon described the discipline of bringing both mind and spirit into God’s presence, and how distractions can pull us away. What are the most common distractions for you during prayer, and what is one strategy you could try to refocus? ([42:35])
5. When God gives “divine illumination,” it brings rest and assurance, not just answers. Can you recall a time when God gave you peace or clarity about a situation, even if the circumstances didn’t change? How did that affect your outlook? ([50:14])
6. The sermon said that without spiritual enlightenment, we remain blind to God’s hope, riches, and power for us. Is there an area of your life where you feel stuck or limited? How might seeking God’s perspective change the way you see that situation? ([58:11])
7. The call is to move beyond just knowing about God to actually experiencing Him. What is one way you can move from knowledge to experience in your relationship with God this month? ([20:06])