Behold Him

By Kathi Pelton

This morning I posted a short video on my Facebook page (I’ll add a link to that clip below) that was about “beholding the Lord.” As I watched it, I immediately began crying— the anointing and truth of the act of beholding him flooded my soul and it was like getting hit by a sneaker wave— a spiritual sneaker wave that awakens you.

What is it to behold God?

To behold God is to turn my focus from the distractions of this world and of my everyday life and to purposefully and intentionally gaze upon, contemplate, and experience the divine God. This “beholding” extends far beyond casual looking or glancing at and involves holding the Divine in focus with deep awe, appreciation, and intimacy. It is to enter into the act of the fear of the Lord and let your gaze remain there.

This past Sunday was Pentecost Sunday— the day that we remember when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the believers that waited in the upper room after the Lord’s ascension. During our worship service that day— there came a point where, as a congregation, we entered into what I can only describe as “we were beholding him.” It was as if our eyes were being opened anew to see his awe, his beauty and his majesty.

During that moment I clearly heard the words from Luke 11,

“And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭9‬

Then immediately it was followed by the words that follow that verse,

“What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭

The words, “…how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit…”

Give the Holy Spirit! Why does it say that the Father will give the Holy Spirit to the requests for a fish or an egg? Because within every request it is His Spirit that brings forth all that we need and so much more.

The Holy Spirit [Ruach] is the animating or moving life force that comes from God and sustains all living things. Ruach also means the breath, wind or spirit. On Pentecost the Holy Spirit came in like the wind and when that wind blew upon the burning embers of the hearts that had beheld the Lord— it became flames of fire and their mouths were filled with an unknown language or tongue that their native tongue could not express.

The men and women in that room had many needs: physical, emotional and spiritual. They were waiting for the Heavenly Father to answer their prayers and he gave them the Holy Spirit, who is the one who brings forth every other answer.

In Genesis 2:7, God breathes ruach into humanity, making them living beings. His BREATH.

In Genesis 8:1 uses ruach to describe the “wind” God sent over the earth to recede the flood waters. It is also used in the parting of the Red Sea— his wind parts the seas that you can’t cross over. His WIND.

In Isaiah 11:2 we read how the translated phrase “Ruach Yahweh” will rest upon the coming Messiah. It says, “The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD” His SPIRIT.

The Lord said to his disciples that it is better that he goes so that His Spirit can come. For the Spirit can remain with us always and rest upon us (as he did with Jesus) to give us wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and the fear of the Lord (awe and reverence). And we will do even greater works.

But it all begins with beholding him.

As we behold him we receive the Ruach who gives us life, makes a way for us, pushes back the sea and the flood sent against us and leads us in the way we should go. And most of all— his Spirit leaves us in awe at the holiness and majesty of our God.

So rather than glance at God today— slow down or better yet, STOP to behold him. Linger in his beauty and ask for more of the Holy Spirit. May the Spirit breathe new life into you, may his wind come and part the waters that stand before you and may he blow upon the embers of your spiritual life until they become a burning fire.

I will leave you with some verses about beholding,

Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go (Genesis 28:15).

Behold, God is my helper (Psalm 54:4).

Behold, God is my salvation (Isaiah 12:2).

Behold, I am doing a new thing (Isaiah 43:19).

Behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst you (Luke 17:21).

Behold, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Behold, I stand at the door and knock (Revelation 3:20).

He is with you to keep you all the days of your life, he is your helper, he is our salvation, he creates new things, he is in our midst, he waits at the door of our heart— open up and behold him!

Here is the link to the short video that I mention in the first paragraph.

Video Link

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