Have You Truly Seen God? (Santosh Poonen)

Don’t assume that you can see God; Jesus promised it only to those who are pure in heart (Matthew 5:8). To be pure in heart is to have an unadulterated devotion to Jesus. Signs that you haven’t seen God (Psalm 73): compare yourself with others prosperity (v3); complain about your suffering (v4-5); constantly aware of your own righteousness (v13); become embittered toward God (v21). Purify your heart, and you will see God (Psalm 73): “Whom have I in heaven but Thee?” (v25); God is my strength even when body fails (v26); the only “good” I desire is being near God (v28). Worship is the spontaneous response of your overwhelmed heart when you finally see God! When you see God you see a merciful and holy God: Moses’ testimony: Exodus 34:6-8 - until I see God’s mercy, I can never see His holiness; John’s testimony: Revelation 1:17. We’ve truly begun to worship when we “fall at Jesus’ feet as a dead man”. There is no heart more “pure” than that of a dead man! When you see God you see a big God: your problems become small (Psalm 24:1-4); you are not shaken (Psalm 16:8); you are delivered from fear (Psalm 34:4); no one can steal your joy (Psalm 105:3-4). The Church is built by worshipers: 1. you fall into the ground and die (John 12:24); you will see God in increasing measure when you are constantly decreasing, until you are as a dead man (John 3:30). 2. Jesus is lifted up (John 12:32); God is most glorified when we are most dead to ourselves and alive in Christ. 3. He draws others to Him (John 1:35-42); let this be the sign at the entrance of our church: “Come in if you want to fall into the ground and die!”You know you’ve truly seen God when you can’t see anything else!