HOW TO APPEAR BEFORE GOD.

SERIES: THE CHURCH­­-A SPIRITUAL BUILDING

TEXT: 1^st TIMOTHY 3:15-16

When a believer is alone the heavy presence of God is not guaranteed. When believers come together the presence of God is guaranteed, for where two or three gather in the name of the Lord, God must be there-Matthew 18:20.

Whenever one goes to meet an important person, one makes preparations on how to appear. There are protocols observed whenever one meets a great person. If you are to appear before the president of Kenya there is a way you must dress before the president and there is even a way you should stand before the president.

People who appear before their bosses for an interview for a job prepare meticulously on how to look, walk etc. In the wedding of Prince William there was a strict dressing code. How some in the Bible prepared to meet great people:-

JOSEPH MEETS PHARAOH-Genesis 41:14.

• When Pharaoh sent for Joseph who was in the prison, Joseph did not go right away but first went to share so as to appear presentable before the king.

MOSES STANDS BEFORE GOD-Exodus 3:5.

• When God appeared to Moses, he required of Moses to remove his shoes.

QUEEN ESTHER STANDS BEFORE THE KING-Esther 5:1.

• Queen Esther prepared on how to stand before the king, she put on a royal dress.

ISRAEL STANDS BEFORE GOD-Exodus 19:9-11.

• When Israel were to meet God everyone was supposed to:-

1. Be set apart (to live in holiness).
2. Wash their clothes to appear clean before God.

• Keep away from sexual activity, even those who are married.

HOW TO APPEAR BEFORE GOD IN CHURCH

• This is what God says about appearing before Him:-

“Among those who approach me,

I will be proved holy,

In the sight of all the people

I will (must) be honored”-Leviticus 10:3.

• The high priest used to cleanse himself and wear special clothes to enter the presence of God in the Old Testament.
• Our dressing must be decent before God as we appear before Him. If we dress special to appear before human beings, it should even be more serious in appearing before God. Putting on clothes that depict lust is a mockery to the holiness of God.
• Putting on noisy shoes, chewing gums in church, smoking e.t.c must not be there in church.
• When taking the Holy communion-it is the Lord’s Table, prepared by Jesus for His people, one must confess any known sin. It’s called Holy Communion. Many have gotten sick and some have died because of treating the Holy Communion casually-1^st Corinthians 11:30.

CONCLUSION

• Entering the presence of God requires honor.
• The way you appear before God shows how you perceive Him to be.