Creating Sacred Spaces: Encountering God in Our Lives
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound theme of "Making a Place for God" in our lives, drawing inspiration from Exodus 33, where God promises to meet and speak with His people. This divine invitation is not just a historical account but a living reality for us today. We delved into the significance of the tabernacle in the wilderness, a place where God met with Moses and Joshua face to face, and how this Old Testament pattern has spiritual applications for us in the New Testament era.
We discussed three primary meeting places where God desires to connect with us: mountains, tabernacles, and the secret place. These are not just physical locations but spiritual postures we adopt to encounter God. The mountain represents the spiritual climb, where we leave behind our desires and ambitions to ascend to new heights with God. The tabernacle symbolizes the gathering of God's people, where His presence is experienced in community. Lastly, the secret place is where we meet God intimately, away from distractions, in solitude and prayer.
The message emphasized the importance of seeking God with all our hearts, as highlighted in scriptures like Jeremiah 29:13 and Psalm 42. It is in the pursuit of God that we find fulfillment and purpose. We are encouraged to be intentional in creating spaces in our lives where God can meet us, whether it's a physical location or a dedicated time of prayer and worship.
In conclusion, the call is to make a place for God in our lives by climbing the spiritual mountains He sets before us, building His house through community and service, and finding Him in the secret place. This pursuit is not about earning God's favor but responding to His grace and invitation to know Him deeply.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Invitation to Meet God: God desires to meet with us face to face, just as He did with Moses in the tabernacle. This invitation is an opportunity to experience His presence and hear His voice, which is the greatest fulfillment we can have. It requires us to seek Him with all our hearts, as He promises to be found by those who diligently pursue Him. [53:34]
2. The Spiritual Climb: Meeting God often involves a spiritual climb, where we leave behind our desires and ambitions to ascend to new heights with Him. This climb is unique for each of us and requires us to strip off the weights and sins that hinder our progress. By saying yes to God's invitation, we position ourselves to encounter His presence and receive His guidance. [01:00:11]
3. Building God's House: God meets with His people in the gathering places of His church. Being part of a community of believers increases our chances of encountering God and hearing His voice. We are called to be active participants in building the spiritual house that Jesus is constructing, which involves serving, loving, and being planted in the local church. [01:04:50]
4. The Secret Place: The secret place is where we meet God intimately, away from distractions. It is a designated space where we can shut the door and spend time with Him in prayer and worship. In this place, God reveals His heart to us and provides the wisdom and revelation we need for our lives. [01:08:33]
5. The Father's Waiting: God is always waiting for us in the secret place, just as the father waited for the prodigal son. He longs for us to return to Him and experience His love and grace. No matter how far we have strayed, God is ready to welcome us back and restore us to a place of intimacy with Him. [01:16:38]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Generosity and Bibles for San Quentin
[02:00] - Making a Place for God
[04:15] - The Tabernacle's Significance
[07:45] - Invitation to the Holy of Holies
[10:30] - Meeting God in Mountains
[15:00] - Spiritual Climb Explained
[20:00] - Building God's House
[25:00] - The Secret Place
[30:00] - The Father's Waiting
[35:00] - Practical Steps to Meet God
[40:00] - Encouragement to Seek God
[45:00] - Invitation to Respond
[50:00] - Closing Prayer and Worship
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide: Making a Place for God
#### Bible Reading
1. Exodus 33:11 - "Inside the tent of meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend."
2. Jeremiah 29:13 - "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
3. Psalm 42:1-2 - "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."
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#### Observation Questions
1. What are the three primary meeting places mentioned in the sermon where God desires to connect with us? [01:00:11]
2. How does the sermon describe the significance of the tabernacle in the wilderness? [49:33]
3. What does the sermon say about the role of community in building God's house? [01:04:50]
4. According to the sermon, what is the importance of the "secret place" in our relationship with God? [01:08:33]
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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of "spiritual climb" relate to leaving behind personal desires and ambitions? [01:00:11]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that being part of a church community enhances our ability to encounter God? [01:04:50]
3. What does the sermon imply about the nature of God's invitation to meet Him in the secret place? [01:08:33]
4. How does the sermon interpret the story of the prodigal son in relation to God's waiting for us in the secret place? [01:16:38]
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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current spiritual journey. What "mountain" might God be inviting you to climb, and what steps can you take to begin this ascent? [01:00:11]
2. How can you actively participate in building God's house within your local church community? Consider specific roles or actions you can take. [01:04:50]
3. Identify a specific time and place in your daily routine that you can dedicate as your "secret place" to meet with God. How will you ensure this time remains undisturbed? [01:08:33]
4. Think about a time when you felt distant from God. How can the story of the prodigal son encourage you to return to the "secret place"? [01:16:38]
5. What practical steps can you take to seek God with all your heart, as encouraged by Jeremiah 29:13? How can you incorporate these steps into your daily life?
6. Consider the distractions in your life that may hinder your pursuit of God. What specific changes can you make to minimize these distractions and focus more on your relationship with Him?
7. How can you encourage others in your small group or community to seek God more intentionally? What role can you play in supporting their spiritual growth?
Devotional
Day 1: The Divine Invitation to Encounter God
God extends an invitation to meet with us, just as He did with Moses in the tabernacle. This is not merely a historical event but a present reality where we can experience His presence and hear His voice. The invitation requires us to seek Him with all our hearts, as He promises to be found by those who diligently pursue Him. This pursuit is not about earning His favor but responding to His grace and desire to know us deeply. The fulfillment we seek in life is found in this divine encounter, where God reveals His heart and purpose for us. [53:34]
Exodus 33:11 (ESV): "Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to intentionally seek God's presence and hear His voice in your life?
Day 2: Ascending the Spiritual Mountain
Meeting God often involves a spiritual climb, where we leave behind our desires and ambitions to ascend to new heights with Him. This climb is unique for each of us and requires us to strip off the weights and sins that hinder our progress. By saying yes to God's invitation, we position ourselves to encounter His presence and receive His guidance. The journey may be challenging, but it is in the ascent that we find transformation and a deeper connection with God. [01:00:11]
Hebrews 12:1 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."
Reflection: What personal ambitions or desires might be hindering your spiritual climb, and how can you begin to lay them aside today?
Day 3: Building Community as God's House
God meets with His people in the gathering places of His church. Being part of a community of believers increases our chances of encountering God and hearing His voice. We are called to be active participants in building the spiritual house that Jesus is constructing, which involves serving, loving, and being planted in the local church. This communal aspect of faith is essential for spiritual growth and experiencing God's presence in a collective setting. [01:04:50]
1 Peter 2:5 (ESV): "You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
Reflection: How can you actively contribute to building your church community this week, and what role do you feel called to play in it?
Day 4: Discovering God in the Secret Place
The secret place is where we meet God intimately, away from distractions. It is a designated space where we can shut the door and spend time with Him in prayer and worship. In this place, God reveals His heart to us and provides the wisdom and revelation we need for our lives. The secret place is a sanctuary of solitude where we can be honest with God and ourselves, allowing His presence to transform us from the inside out. [01:08:33]
Matthew 6:6 (ESV): "But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
Reflection: Where is your secret place, and how can you create a consistent routine to meet God there daily?
Day 5: Returning to the Father's Embrace
God is always waiting for us in the secret place, just as the father waited for the prodigal son. He longs for us to return to Him and experience His love and grace. No matter how far we have strayed, God is ready to welcome us back and restore us to a place of intimacy with Him. This is a reminder of His unwavering love and the open invitation to return to His embrace, where we find healing and restoration. [01:16:38]
Luke 15:20 (ESV): "And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him."
Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you feel distant from God? How can you take a step towards returning to His embrace today?
Quotes
As if, you know, God was the pool boy or the valet service bringing your car around, right? The Amazon driver with a spiritual message. No, he is the sovereign Lord upon the throne of all eternity. And he invites us to pursue him in holy fear and reverence and awe. All these verses about seeking God. Look at just a few. Jeremiah 29, 13. You'll and find me when you search for me with all your heart. Psalm 34, I sought, that is, I pursued and inquired of the Lord, and he heard me and delivered me from all of my fears. [00:56:41] (33 seconds)
God meets with people in temples tabernacles and the gathering places of his people this is a consistent promise in the word of god look at the promise that he made to solomon as as solomon built the temple that was in david's heart second chronicle 7 god said now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place i've chosen to consecrate this temple so that my name may what be there for you forever my eyes and my heart will always be there now does anybody agree with me when god says always he means always forever but wait a minute dave solomon's temple was destroyed heron's temple was destroyed in 70 a .d the tabernacle of moses no longer exists the raiders of the lost ark are still looking for the ark of the covenant i guess so what is he talking about well clearly he's talking about the spiritual temple that you and i have been involved in. [01:02:14] (56 seconds)
Just as he met with Moses face to face right there in that tent, behind the second curtain around the Ark of the Covenant, that's always been the plan. That's always been the New Testament plan. He wants to know you in intimacy and he wants to reveal the secrets of his heart to your heart. And so in order to do that, we must go to the secret place. It's an open invitation. Exodus 33, 11. Inside the tent of meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, the Hebrew word panim, presence to presence, as one speaks to a friend. [01:02:13] (33 seconds)
There is no green room backstage pass for a few and the rest are left in the outer courts. Every son, every daughter is invited to come close to meet with God, face as friend to friend. This is his desire. I want to get very practical because the secret place is a place you can access. As David wrote in Psalms, he who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide, that means camp, remain, permanent residence, under the shadow of the almighty and then he went on to say i will save the lord he is my refuge he's my shield my god in whom i will trust now this was a pattern of jesus so not only did jesus come as your substitutionary sacrifice on the cross but jesus came to model what life should look like on the planet and so we can we can follow the patterns and the ways and the habits of jesus mark 135 very early in the morning while it was still dark jesus got up he left the house and went off to a solitary place where he prayed this greek word solitary it just means he was alone it was an uninhabited by others space away from the crowd and this was the pattern of jesus so here's healthy mature christian life it's this get in the house of god on his day be a part of community get into small groups serve others love others but then find these times where you find your solitary place nobody's there but you and the lord and you're spending time in the secret place with him. [01:03:30] (97 seconds)
One of the most beautiful pictures in all of scripture is when the prodigal son said, yeah, I don't need you, dad. I don't need the house. I don't need the shelter. I'm just going to go do this thing myself. We've had so many prodigals leave this house. And I pray for them by name as they come to my memory. And God's dealing and drawing and working in their hearts. If you're praying for someone who's been away from God for 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, don't stop. In fact, my brother -in -law, which we've shared his story, Randy, I don't know if Susie's in the building. Is she here? Okay. Oh, they both are. You're supposed to be at San Quentin, bro. Oh, he's leaving right after service. Okay, you get a hall pass. Just talk about him for a little bit. So Randy is now the San Quentin, campus pastor. Can we give it up? But he was pretty much a broken heap of a man for about 30 years. He was, I'm going to just say kindly, he was a rascal. But Susie prayed for him nonstop for 24 years. And a few years on it, ago on an Easter Sunday morning, I remember right where Maurice is sitting. Randy was sitting right there. Like, you know, we're doing 19 services on Easter, right? And I looked down at one of them and there sits Randall, right? There. And I came to that moment where who wants to receive the resurrected Christ as Lord and Savior? And Randy's got tears running down his face. Like, I'm all in. And now he's a pastor at San Quentin. So you got that going for you. [01:05:29] (92 seconds)
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