THE GENERATION OF JACOB

SEEKING GOD’S FACE

Psalm 24:6-8 New King James Version (NKJV)

6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face. Selah  7 Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!

The Call to Seek His Face

In Psalm 105:4, God’s faithful ones were called to “seek his face always.” Even if we have not abandoned God, there are times when we neglect to pursue Him. God’s face, His holy character, is often obscured by our human condition and fleshly desires. That is why the Lord urges us to seek His face continually. The Lord desires to be our constant companion in every experience of life. He wants us to know Him through and through. If we draw close to Him, God will draw close to us: “Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world” (James 4:8, NLT).

a) When we seek His face we touch His Holiness and Blessing.

When we approach God in prayer, we are seeking His face: “Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god.   # They will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob” (Psalm 24:3–6).

b) When we seek His Face we gazed into His Power and Glory. (Most Holy Place) Shikenah Glory)

The true nature of worship is to seek God’s face. The Christian walk is a life devoted to seeking God’s presence and favor.  Pursuing God’s face is equivalent to developing an intimate relationship with Him: “O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you!” (Psalm 63:1–3, NLT.

c) When we seek His face we are favored and blessed.

Having God’s face smile on us is an expression of His blessing, love, and favor: “May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you” (Numbers 6:25, NLT; see also

 Psalm 80:3, 7, 19) . When we draw close to God, we are blessed with His shining favor. We do not pursue Him only to give Him a list of wants and needs because we know God is already aware of it.

d) Above all - When we seek His face we desire to be like Him. 

      

Jacob’s generation is a seeker of God; it is a generation that gets a transformation. Jacob’s generation has a breakthrough. He prayed for a breakthrough in his life. Jacob’s generation never gives up. He wrestled with an angel till day breaks. Pray until you pray through. When you pray through then you get your breakthrough.

You don’t want a professing religion! You want a religion that changes you completely.  James says its “pure religion changes you” We hate dead religion. I’m a Christian and I still go to church but I curse and swear, lie and cheat and full of guile” – that’s is a mess up religion.

Jacob says bless me or I would not let you go!  What kind of blessings? Blessings of change. Jacob didn’t want blessings only he wanted the Blesser and people would see you change.  Jacob changed because after the Angel blessed him. He walked like never before. The angel strike his hip side and Jacob’s name changed to Israel.

King David exclaims,  “How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty!
My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.”  - Psalm 84:1-2

And again, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” 

 – Psalm 42:1-2

Seeking God’s face means desiring to know His character and wanting Him—His presence—more than any other thing He can give us. We want the Healer not the healing only. We desire the Provider not the provisions only. We want to experience the Deliverer not His deliverance. We want to know the Redeemer not His redeeming power only. We seek after Him not His. We seek after His face not His Hand.  "If you seek God's hand, you will miss His face.  If you seek His face, you will get His hand also." -  Daniel Henderson.   

 

Remember to seek His character, love, peace, His wisdom, wonderful life in us and not His blessings only.  We desire to be like Him. Just as He is so we are in Christ. Christ in us the hope of Glory.

Keep focusing on Him, keep seeking His face and He will do MORE IN YOUR LIFE than you could ever imagine or ask or think!

Jacob became a new man – Jacob wrestled with the angel and his name was changed – his name, character & life was changed. He is able to face Esau his brother wanted to kill him and Jacob was spared by him. Jacob’s name the place “peniel” or the face of God.  

   

Challenge and Prayer:  As we seek His life let the Holy Spirit change our lives and transformed us into His image. Let us be the Generation of Jacob – the seekers of God. Men and Woman after God’s heart.  Let us come to the altar of God.