August 2026 – Wisdom From the Word

The Face-to-Face Place

The term ‘The Face-to-Face Place’ came to me while writing my last post. It is rooted in both the Old and New Testaments as can be seen in Exodus 33 and 2 Corinthians 3.

¹¹ So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle. Exodus 33:11 (NKJV)

¹² Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech – ¹³ unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 2 Corinthians 3:12–13 (NKJV)

In 2 Corinthians 3 Paul makes an explicit link between the glory that Moses experienced in Exodus 33-34 and what is available to us with Christ living within us. Paul’s primary point is that we have the ability to access something greater, a growing intimacy with Jesus that will not fade away like the glory did on Moses face.

Now while the text in Exodus 33 refers to face to face communication and Exodus 34:29 refers to Moses face shining, we need to dig a little deeper into what Moses experienced. In Hebrew the word translated face also means presence. Which is what Moses experienced. When Moses asked to see His glory, Yahweh was clear that Moses had not seen His actual face nor could he see it and live.

¹⁸ And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.” ¹⁹ Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.” ²⁰ But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” Exodus 33:18–20 (NKJV)

Now back to the connection Paul made. Given what we have just looked at we don’t need to physically ‘see’ Jesus to meet with Him face to face because it is actually about presence. We encounter Him with the eyes of our heart. Our passage below also connects to Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1 for us to have a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

¹⁵ But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. ¹⁶ Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. ¹⁸ But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:15–18 (NKJV)

Paul is telling both what is available and how to access this transformation. I don’t know many of us press into the face-to-face place, I simply know it is available and that I have tasted of it. I will explain.

When I think of what is available in and through Jesus I think of it in a couple of ways. The first is an illustration that came to me the other day while driving. I noticed all of the manhole covers on and the road and began reflecting on how the infrastructure that powers our city is mostly hidden. From water and sewage to electricity, it is there keeping everything functioning but most of us don’t think about it or ever access it, only a few do. Now in this case those who access to this hidden infrastructure have both the authority and responsibility to do so. For us, we also have authority and responsibility. In Jesus we have both the authority to access the face-to-face place and the responsibility. He invites us in but He never forces us.

So, what does this place look like? I think it is different for each of us. I have a friend who regularly encounters the Lord and hears His voice when spending time in scripture or working in the yard. For me, I experience His presence when I choose to simply sit in His presence focusing my heart on Him. I generally hear His voice for others while in intercession for them, in worship, or while ministering to people in being with them and praying for them.

However this may work in our lives, our goal is not mystical contemplation but the training of our heart, remember the centre of heart is ‘ear’ the face-to-face place is about training our heart to focus on Him, know His presence and hear His voice. This is the secret place Jesus referenced in Matthew 6:6. A recent experience I had may help to bring clarity. I was walking with a friend and sharing some things I was ‘doing’ in my walk with Jesus. I then clearly heard the Spirit speak to me, “The only thing I asked you to do is sit with Me.”

This may seem contradictory. The only He wants me to do is seemingly nothing! Yet this has been His ongoing invitation to me for years. When I take time each day to simply focus my heart on His presence, the rest falls into line. I am then drawn to prayer or other acts at various times throughout the day because I am conscious of Him with me and in me.

Let me wrap this up in an odd way by referencing a secular song. A line in an old Jackson Browne song Before the Deluge says, “Let creation reveal her secrets by and by.” As Jesus’ friends we can be privy to His secrets if we allow Him to reveal them in the ‘face to face’ place. After all, He has hidden things for us, not from us, let’s seek them out.

² It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2 (NKJV)

Servant or Friend?

Servant or friend? This is an important relational question. In John 15 Jesus made the following statement to the 11 after Judas had left.

¹⁵ No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. John 15:15 (NKJV)

There are two aspects to this verse. One is that friends know things that servants don’t, that is explicit. The implicit part is the difference in relationship. We do things WITH our friends; we do things FOR our master. That is the area I want to focus on. First, we look at some other scriptural references to being a friend of God.

⁷ Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? 2 Chronicles 20:7 (NKJV)

⁸ “But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend. Isaiah 41:8 (NKJV)

²³ And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. James 2:23 (NKJV)

¹¹ So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle. Exodus 33:11 (NKJV)

These references highlight Abraham and Moses as Yahweh’s friends. It is interesting that in Isaiah 41:8 we have the same pattern as John 15:15, servants and friends. Now, we may conclude that we need to be a special individual, great leader or an apostle to be friends of God. Not so.

Here we look at an important verse about being a friend of Yahwheh, starting with the NKJV then going to the ESV and the meaning of the word ‘secret.’

¹⁴ The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, And He will show them His covenant. Psalm 25:14 (NKJV)

¹⁴ The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant. Psalm 25:14 (ESV)

The Hebrew word translated as ‘secret’ in the NKJV is translated as ‘friendship’ in the ESV. Now an obvious connection is the idea that we only share our secrets with our friends, so a closer look is in order.

The Hebrew sod is the source of our English secret and friendship, yet is also has a fuller range of meaning. We still need to keep in mind that words have objective denotative and subjective connotative meanings. That is, they have a basic meaning and a contextual meaning that clarifies intent.

סוֹד sod (691c); from an unused word; council, counsel:—circle(1), company(1), consultation(1), council(5), fellowship(1), friendship(1), gathering(1), intimate(1), plans(1), secret(2), secret counsel(3), secrets(2).^[1]

Thus, what we get from Psalm 25:14 is that Yahweh is a friend to those who fear Him and that He unveils or shares secrets with them and reveals the benefits of His covenant.

My friend Evelyn stepped from time into eternity a few years ago but a couple of decades ago I asked her how she understood the fear of the Lord. She replied, “Loving Him so much I would never do anything to offend Him.” That stuck with me! I need to love Jesus and seek to never offend Him by my words and actions. Then applying Psalm 25:14 to that means that He will be my friend and share things with me.

I confess that I still at times move back and forth between doing things out of a sense of duty, working for Jesus, and doing things with Him because I enjoy being with Him. The latter is much more fruitful and reinforces a sense of purpose and value. Which takes us back to where we began. Scripture teaches us that He wants friendship with us and we get to choose our level of relationship. After all, scripture clearly states the process and the benefit of the new covenant through which we can draw near to His heart.

¹⁸ For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, ¹⁹ for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. Hebrews 7:18–19 (NKJV)

Let’s embrace this ‘better hope’ and draw near to His heart in friendship and work with Jesus instead of for Him.

NOTE while writing this the term ‘The Face to Face Place’ came to me, that is what we will explore next week in understanding the furtherance of the friendship with Jesus.

^[1] Robert L. Thomas, New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries : Updated Edition (Anaheim: Foundation Publications, Inc., 1998).

Our Impact

Here I am going to address our impact on not just our culture but our environment. First, I need to lay out the concept of our impact and then connect it to scripture. Early in my career I was introduced to the idea of Systems Theory, more specifically Family Systems Theory, the way events and structures play out in a family setting. Later in some of my studies I came across the history of it and found pieces of it could be traced back to the early Greek thinkers of two millennia ago. The basic idea of Systems Theory is how different components interact and influence one another, whether that be family relationships or the parts of a car engine. My goal here is not a treatise on Systems Theory, rather it is to connect some dots.

A good example to illustrate Systems Theory is to imagine a mobile hanging over a child’s crib. The parts are all connected so that if one part moves it affects all of the other parts of the mobile. No part moves independently because they are all interconnected.

Now for a dot. I don’t know if you have ever considered our impact on our culture and weather. I think about it from time to time and will explain the connection. First, I remember decades ago listening to John Wimber speak and he referenced the sanctifying presence of godly individuals. He said in one county in California there was a deeply devout and godly man and you could feel the difference in the spiritual atmosphere when you crossed the county line to where he lived. This was different in a good way and Wimber attributed it to this man’s sanctifying influence in and on the area.

In scripture we see this concept, for good and bad. The first example is the fall, seeing that Adam and Eve’s sin affected all of creation. Paul expresses it this way in Romans.

¹² Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned Romans 5:12 (NKJV)

¹⁹ For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; ²¹ because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. ²³ Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. Romans 8:19–23 (NKJV)

Their sin, mor specifically Adam’s, affected not just their lives but the cosmos. We see the pattern in Yahweh’s dealings with Israel throughout the Old Testament. Sin brought judgment and destruction, godly behaviour brought blessing. Yahweh expressed it this way. Delineating a clear link between the behaviour of Israel and whether or not there would be blessing on the land.

¹³ When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, ¹⁴ if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:13–14 (NKJV)

We see the pattern expressed very succinctly in Proverbs.

¹¹ By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. Proverbs 11:11 (NKJV)

³⁴ Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. Proverbs 14:34 (NKJV)

Seeing this pattern in scripture causes me to reflect on the impact we have on our communities, cultures and nation. This extends from our interactions with our neighbours to natural disasters. I think we need to weigh the impact and influence of our behaviour. Systems Theory is expressed in scripture in terms of impact, as scripture tells us that righteousness exalts and sin corrupts. Just like the effect of one part on all parts of a child’s mobile, there is no private behaviour. Sin and righteousness, private or public have a spiritual impact.

Given that, I pray that we are blessing our city, that our lifestyle of righteousness is affecting our neighbourhood and nation in a godly direction. I pray that through prayer and/or other actions that we moving to end things like abortion and corruption. Our calling is to be salt and light. Salt is a preservative and light drives back darkness. May we be both.

Culture Creep

Recently I was on my way to meet with a prayer group and stopped at the hardware store to pick up some items. Yes, there are always projects at home. On my way out I noticed the addition of new speed bumps in the parking lot. Which led me to thinking about project management and scope creep (the way things are gradually added to a project beyond the original scope). This led me to coin in my head the term Culture Creep. Yes, my mind works in mysterious ways!

The speed bump for me was an indicator of the increasing measures we see put in place to create safety in our culture. More and more are being put in place in our city, more and more obstructions to traffic flow and reduced residential speed limits, to create safety. I don’t know whether they are creating safety, from listening to others I know the various measures are compounding a sense of frustration about an inability to easily navigate the city.

Now you may be wondering what on earth this has to do with the church. I see it in the culture increasingly creeping into the church because we live in it. As our culture focuses on more and more safety measures, we have gone from physical safety to seeking to create emotional safety, which is where the law of unintended consequences comes in.

We are creating in our world in general, and also in the church, a culture that can’t handle or tolerate challenges. We are losing the ability to navigate difficulty, which is bad for both our culture and the church. An example I have shared with a few people is a Facebook group where I am one of the administrators. It is set up as a debate group where Christians and atheists may challenge one another’s viewpoints. We have strong guidelines around respectful dialogue that we adhere to. On one occasion a young man joined the group and raised a point. I disagreed with his point and explained why I disagreed, his response was, “I am going to report you to Facebook for bullying.” I pointed out to him that he had in fact joined a debate group and people were at times going to disagree with him. He promptly left the group. The sad part about the exchange was in his worldview disagreement was not only bad and dangerous, it was bullying behaviour. This has become part of our culture along with a few other undesirable characteristics.

Yet, because our modern western church has become so enculturated this type of thinking also crops up in the church. A well known Christian made a post about an increasingly popular view of the atonement. I commented that I still held to the Penal Substitutionary Atonement (PSA) view as I saw it rooted in scripture. One fellow challenged me, said the view was wrong and quoted a couple of comments from Jesus. I said I agreed with Jesus’ comments but the passages he referenced had nothing to do with atonement. I then provided scriptural comments from Jesus that supported and reinforced PSA. He immediately responded by no longer responding!

This type of behaviour is a pattern I see, an avoidance of addressing issues. Yet that is precisely how Scripture says that we grow. Here are some examples.

⁶ Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Proverbs 27:6 (NKJV)

¹⁷ As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17 (NKJV)

In fact, in one of the key passages in the New Testament on spiritual growth Paul wrote the following.

¹⁴ that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, ¹⁵ but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4:14–16 (NKJV)

We are called to speak the truth in love.

Now, back to culture. I am not advocating the current behaviour of keyboard warriors who attack others from the place of anonymity or the sad cultural practice of ‘cancelling’ others we disagree with or not tolerating dissent. Just the opposite, I believe we need to engage in respectful dialogue, speak the truth to others because we love and care about them, and seek to hear truth about and for ourselves. Over the years I many times referenced Proverbs 27:6 to friends and told them that if they really cared about me, they would care enough to tell me the truth. I want to know.

I believe when we do this, we grow. I am not advocating conflict, I am advocating that we as His body model something different than what the world embraces, a commitment to truth, compassion and respectfully challenging of one another so that we grow. When I coached sports, I spent a lot more time encouraging and supporting players than challenging them. We need both but we need to challenge because we care and, in the process, strengthen those around us.

Are you up to the challenge of shifting our culture?

Now is the Time?

In the New Testament (NT) the most frequently quoted passage from the Old Testament (OT) is Psalm 110. It is a short Psalm about the rule and reign of the coming Messiah. Here are the first two verses.

¹ The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ² The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! Psalm 110:1–2 (NKJV)

The most famous Psalm in the world is the 23^rd Psalm. Here is a key verse related to our subject.

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Psalm 23:5 (NKJV)

The command in Psalm 110 is to rule, referring to the Messiah, Jesus. The message of Psalm 23 is that in the very face of our enemies He prepares a table, a place of nourishment and sustenance for us. Here we will look at the sustaining and transforming role of worship. Which requires some background and a story.

At the end of June and beginning of July in 1995 I, along with my friend Wouter, attended an event in Whistler, British Columbia called The Gathering of the Nations. IT was in fact of gathering of people from many nations with the stated purpose of gathering to seek His face. I can still remember where I was in my basement on our acreage when I read the brochure for the conference. I was on a distribution list for a newsletter, back when these came via the post office! I had picked up the mail the previous day but hadn’t opened this iteration of the monthly newsletter. When I did there was a brochure promoting the Whistler conference. I read it and began weeping. I know, not a normal response. What led to my weeping was that the entire agenda of the conference was to focus on worship and seeking His face and discerning His voice. I knew I was to be there. I won’t go into all the details but, along with Wouter, I made it there.

Spiritually the conference was a very powerful and significant event. While there I found out that the only event actually scheduled was a presentation of Brian Doerksen’s new album and musical production Father’s House (I highly recommend it). For some reason it was never presented or referenced in any of the five days of meetings that took place three times per day.

You are likely now wondering about the significance. During the conference I spent some time chatting with Brian in a hot tub at the hotel we were staying at. He was genuine and open and never referenced his Father’s House project. I later found out that he had mortgaged his home to produce it and when released it was not a success. Fast forward to 1997 and Brian and his family had now moved to London England to help with leading worship and training worship leaders in the Vineyard in the UK.

With the many posts following his recent transition to Jesus’s presence I recently listened to an interview with Brian where he shared about the birth of a worship song after their move ot London. He stated that after their arrival he was at a low point in his life. He had lost everything financially trying to launch his Father’s House musical and was doubting his faith. As he was walking the streets of London one morning pondering and praying, he said he suddenly felt the Lord’s presence moving on him and through him like electricity and felt like he was being visited by the love of God. In this atmosphere he clearly heard the words, “Come, now is the time to worship.” It made no sense to him but he felt like it was an invitation to come and worship in his brokenness so he went home and began working on the song. He played it a couple of weeks later during worship and said that within weeks they heard of it being sung around the world before he even completed the final version or recorded it.

So, back to our verses. Brian was not in a good place when this invitation came. An invitation to embrace a table prepared for him in the midst of discouragement and a host of other negative emotions. What about you, have discouragement, hopelessness or failure become your companions? Are you struggling in some other area? Then I invite you, as I have done in difficult times, respond to the invitation, come, now is the time to worship.

brian doerksen come now is the time to worship youtube – Search