I was thinking about God and how he moved through people over the years. The conclusion was it all started as life was breathed into man. Man became a living being or soul. God dealt with man in a way it was personal after he created man.
He walked and talked with Adam, yet Adam disobeyed God’s commands. Once that relationship was broken God started to speak to man in an external way. God spoke audibly to many within the Old Testament. The way he made people listen to his commandments was external. Law was to Moses, to let the people know how to govern their lives.
God’s spirit couldn’t dwell within an unrighteous person in that age and time. People came to God out of reverence for him. Understanding who he is at this time was by seeing the power of God being done. This is still an external experience.
Throughout the old testament God demonstrated his power by the external. People had to see something before they believed. God’s hand was over his people, Israel, and many knew this. After the nation came out of the wilderness and into the promised land, by others seeing the external power of God , and from out of fear for him, they believed.
The relationship with God with the Old Testament can be summed up like this. God moved externally among his people, to demonstrate his power and might. Many came to God, walking by faith because of this.
The holy spirit touched the lives of many but it was not the full manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Many allowed God to release his spirit upon themselves. The reason why was those that walked with God they realize God is not just in the external order of things but he can become a personal God.
It wasn’t until Christ died upon the cross it became an internal relationship with God. It became more personal. The encounter people had with Jesus, was to let people know when you encounter Jesus for yourself, expect a change to come .
The redemption power of making it an internal or personal was the total concept of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.
More to come hold on
Givin H.O.P.E. Ministry of Evangelism 