Shoes on or off? | SermonIndex

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4gvn-or-4gtn Aug 4, 2012

The holy place of the tabernacle is considered as holy ground.

In the book of Exodus 3:5, when the LORD spoke to Moses : put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

When the LORD is present, speaking to/with a person, the ground is considered as holy ground.When one is praying and speaking with the Lord, he would be in the presence of the Lord.When people go to church, is it go before the Lord to praise, and worship Him, pray and speak with the Lord....

Should a person remove his shoes before he steps into the presence of the LORD?

sermonindex Aug 4, 2012

When the LORD is present, speaking to/with a person, the ground is considered as holy ground.When one is praying and speaking with the Lord, he would be in the presence of the Lord.When people go to church, is it go before the Lord to praise, and worship Him, pray and speak with the Lord....
Should a person remove his shoes before he steps into the presence of the LORD? 4gvn-or-4gtn

Islam asks this same question. It answers it by taking off its shoes. Those who truly know God however, are told that in Christ they have removed the very body itself, in the removal of Christ's own body through death. Holiness is separation unto God, by God. Moses was separated unto God on the mountain yet he was told to remove his shoes. We have been separated unto God through Christ yet we are told to cease from sin. When Jesus washed the feet of the disciples Peter asked the Lord to wash the whole man but Jesus said it was sufficient to just wash his feet. The words which Jesus spoke to the disciples had washed them already, so that they were clean. Believing Jesus is what makes a man clean. Judas was said to be unclean even though he was chosen, yet he remained a thief and so he remained unclean. Had Judas believed Jesus he too would have been clean. In the end the Lord said that it was a man's feet which needed to be cleaned. I think this is a measure of our being in the world after believing in Christ. The marriage feast of the Lamb is the place where Jesus will next wash all the feet of the saints who are become the Bride. Shoes or no shoes is of no consequence.

J

jimp Aug 4, 2012

hi, many african and asian believers i have seen take off there shoes(sandals etc) when God obviously shows up in a meeting.jimp

sermonindex Aug 5, 2012

Depends on what your feet smell like.

G

ginnyrose Aug 5, 2012

QUOTE:
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Depends on what your feet smell like.
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LOL!

4gvn, I have been thinking a lot on your question since I read your post last night....

Scripture does not teach us that one should remove your shoes when in the presence of the LORD.

If we look at this incident closely we see Moses being on holy ground because he was meeting God. This is what made the ground holy - God's presence. So, why go barefooted? I have an idea and it is only conjecture.

I have gone barefooted all of my life and still do - people in the south are more likely to do so then those in cold climates. Why so? When you go barefooted you are very sensitive to what you feel through the soles of your feet. Very sensitive. If you are hot, the floor or ground generally is cooler and it will cool your body as well. If it is hot you will be looking for some foot-ware but it is to keep cool.

So, when Moses was told to remove his foot ware, he could sense it in his body in a more real way the holiness of God because God said you are on holy ground.

Wonder what it felt like? hmmm...interesting thought.

This is just an idea based on my experience in going barefooted!

sermonindex Aug 5, 2012

"So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!”
And he said, “Here I am.”
Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.”

Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God."...........

Mostly, I would say; the removal of ones foot apparel is a religious exercise. God looks upon your heart, not your toes. In Moses' case, it mattered to God in some way, but where else does it imply that we must approach Him bare-footed?

It is, however, an outward sign of humility to God...

"Therefore Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back to Jerusalem. And they remained there. [ In the Absolom affair. ]

So David went up by the Ascent of the Mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered and went barefoot. And all the people who were with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went up."

I suspect it is just tradition to many Africans, and probably began with some "holy" leader deciding that this must be done....?? It's OK with me, I guess....but remember...It is an insult all across the East to wear your shoes in a man's hut or home; a cultural thing.

If it is not acceptable in the home? how much more in the meeting house? Africa is a dusty, unpaved world, with roaming dogs, chicken and cattle; and their refuse; Get my drift? Brother Larry over here smells rather odd, and behold! It is not his breath.

G

ginnyrose Aug 5, 2012

QUOTE:
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Africa is a dusty, unpaved world, with roaming dogs, chicken and cattle; and their refuse; Get my drift? Brother Larry over here smells rather odd, and behold! It is not his breath.
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Oh,OH! LOL

M

mguldner Aug 5, 2012

I usually don't take my shoes off at church BUT if I go to a prayer meeting I take my shoes off not really sure why I just feel lead to do it so I do. I really don't think it matters but I could be wrong.

sermonindex Aug 8, 2012

4gvn, I wanted to answer as soon as you posted, but didn't have the link to give to you. I found it in a short audio book and knew this would be better, maybe, than recommending the book itself.

The thought is, to "pray without ceasing".

This book is about being in the Presence of GOD as a normal lifestyle. This book witnessed to my spirit when I was first saved and I do feel that it describes what would be a normal Christian life.

Don't know if you'll like it - but it only takes seconds to download each of these three segments and they aren't very long at all. It was a small book.

http://www.eternalweight.com/audio/audio-books/the-practice-of-the-presence-of-god

GOD Bless you, 4gvn ~ in His Love!

J

jimp Aug 8, 2012

hi, shoes are man made, feet are God made.jimp

C

Coolwater Aug 8, 2012

I sat under a preaching once in the spirit and as the preacher preached he took off his shoes and i stared crying not understanding why in the world i was crying.

How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel.....

Unless they take off there shoes and there is a hole in there sock - lol.............i'm sorry just kidding it becomes holy ground.

E

Elibeth Aug 9, 2012

4gvn or 4gtn,

You ask,"should a person remove his shoes before he steps into the presence of the Lord ?"

I too, have thought on this,...about the shoes,..feet,...path,..walk,..

What I see,..our feet,..shoes,..as it speaks in the Word,is very significant.
Notice before God began to commune with Moses's,and tell him what He wanted him to do,He told him to take his shoes/ sandles off and to NOT
come near....Holy ground,..now we can 'come near'

But is the thought really about,
.if our feet are clean when we come before Him ?
He wants our feet to be clean....have we been walking in a way that is not pleasing to God, ? ...our feet continuely needs a cleansing.

Everything that Jesus did while He was on earth, had a Spiritual meaning.

* He healed the blind,...He wants to open our Spiritual eyes so we can see Spitually
* ear / deaf,....wants to give us 'ear' to hear The Spirit
* lamb / crippled,...heal our walk
* Lazarus,...dead,..bound from head to foot,..we too were dead,and bound
from head to foot,but God raised us up,...loosed us from being bound.
* washing the Desiples feet,...to remind each other, that we are to walk with clean feet.

Another place is where Jesus was preaching the gospel of the kingdom,
....of how we are to live / have Life,..in this kingdom,...under the Kings
Lordship / Rule.....where He says if our foot affend us to cut it off,..that it would be better to cut it off,than to go into hell.

So I believe our place in God is a Holy place,...the temple...where He resides.

That is some of my thoughts,...we are all in this race together.
And doesn't there always seem to be a weight that easly wants to beset us.
...laying aside every weight...

To incourage,...nothing more,

In His love,
Elizabeth

S

sonsigns Aug 13, 2012

I think the answer to this would be up to God when he talks with the pastor in a service, You when you come before him in your hour

I have heard in a few services in Indiana, that the Lord told the pastor to take off his shoes and the congregation to follow because they were on Holy Ground. What a service that would be...

So obey what God is saying. I believe that the Lord is calling the true Church of Jesus Christ, to be Holy as he is Holy.