Embracing God's Presence: Living Beyond Striving
Summary
So often, we find ourselves just striving through life, working and struggling, and sometimes even settling for less than what God has truly made us for. But because of Jesus, we are invited into a different way of living—a life marked by grace, freedom, and the presence of God. We are not meant to simply read about these truths or treat them as distant stories; we are called to experience them deeply and personally.
Reflecting on a family trip to Italy, I shared how tasting real, homemade pasta forever changed my expectations for what pasta could be. In the same way, once we truly experience the living, breathing Word of God, we can no longer settle for a shallow engagement with it. God’s Word is not just a story to be admired; it is meant to be lived and to transform us from the inside out.
To help us grasp this, we journeyed through the story of God’s presence with humanity: from the garden, where we were created to partner with God, to the tabernacle, where God made a way to dwell among His people despite their sin. The tabernacle was a system of worship, sacrifice, and cleansing—a way for people to approach a holy God, but with many restrictions and barriers.
Then Jesus came, not to abolish this system, but to fulfill every requirement. He became the gate, the sacrifice, the living water, the light, the bread, and the intercessor. When He died, the curtain that separated humanity from God’s presence was torn from top to bottom, signifying that access to God was now open to all who believe.
Now, we are called not just to admire this gift, but to put it on—to clothe ourselves in Christ’s righteousness, not our own. We are the new tabernacle, the dwelling place of God’s Spirit. This means we can boldly enter God’s presence, not because of our worthiness, but because of Jesus. Our response is to live lives of worship, offering ourselves as living sacrifices, allowing God’s Word to cleanse and transform us, and sharing the good news with others.
We were made for more than just striving and surviving. We were made to run into the arms of our Father, to experience His presence, and to live as tiny temples of the living God. Let’s not settle for less.
Key Takeaways
- God’s Heart Has Always Been for Relationship, Not Separation
From the very beginning in the garden, God’s desire was to be with us, to partner with us, and to share His presence. Even when humanity chose separation, God’s heart remained unchanged—He continually made ways to draw near, culminating in the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus. This truth should anchor our understanding of God’s relentless love and His longing for intimacy with us. [23:24]
- The Tabernacle Teaches Us the Pattern of Worship and Access
The detailed system of the tabernacle was not just about rituals, but about teaching us the seriousness of approaching a holy God and the necessity of sacrifice, cleansing, and intercession. Each element pointed forward to Jesus, who would fulfill every requirement perfectly. Understanding this pattern helps us appreciate the depth of what Christ accomplished and the privilege we now have to enter God’s presence freely. [29:53]
- Jesus Fulfills Every Barrier and Requirement—He Is the Way In
Jesus did not discard the old system; He embodied and completed it. He is the gate, the sacrifice, the cleansing water, the light, the bread, and the intercessor. His death tore the curtain, removing every barrier between us and God, and opened a new, life-giving way for all people, not just a select few. This is not just theological truth—it is an invitation to experience God personally and continually. [36:22]
- We Are Now the Dwelling Place of God—Called to Live Differently
No longer is God’s presence confined to a tent or a temple. Through Christ, we become the temple, the place where heaven and earth meet. This identity calls us to live as people marked by His presence, to put on Christ’s righteousness, and to let His Spirit transform us daily. Our lives become acts of worship, and our very being is a testimony to God’s grace. [41:45]
- Don’t Settle for Less—Run Boldly Into God’s Presence
It is easy to settle for a distant or passive faith, but we are invited to run boldly into the presence of our Father, clothed in Christ, not our own merit. God is not waiting with crossed arms but with open arms, longing to embrace us and remind us that we look like Him. The fullness of life is found not in striving, but in experiencing and abiding in His presence—this is what we were made for. [49:38]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[13:16] - Made for More Than Striving
[14:12] - The Pasta Story: Experiencing the Real Thing
[17:18] - Settling for Less with God’s Word
[19:34] - Prayer and Opening Scripture
[21:25] - Starting in the Garden: God’s Original Plan
[23:24] - The Heartbreak of Separation
[25:08] - God’s New Plan: The Tabernacle
[29:53] - Walking Through the Tabernacle
[34:22] - Jesus Fulfills the Tabernacle
[36:22] - Jesus as the Way, Sacrifice, and Living Water
[38:12] - The Curtain Torn: Access for All
[41:45] - We Are the Temple: Living as God’s Dwelling
[43:18] - Believing and Putting on Christ
[46:17] - Grace: Putting on What Doesn’t Fit
[49:38] - Running Boldly Into God’s Presence
[52:03] - Worship: Experiencing His Presence
[53:07] - Responding and Next Steps
[01:04:01] - Final Prayer and Blessing
[01:05:19] - Don’t Settle—Live for More
[01:06:22] - Volunteer Recognition and Announcements
[01:08:33] - Closing and Sending Out
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
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### Bible Reading
- Hebrews 10:19-20
"And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's most holy place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place."
- Matthew 27:50-51
"And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split..."
- 1 Corinthians 3:16
"Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?"
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### Observation Questions
1. According to Hebrews 10:19-20, what is the reason we can now boldly enter the Most Holy Place?
2. What happened to the temple curtain at the moment of Jesus’ death, and why is it significant? (Matthew 27:50-51)
3. In the sermon, what did the tabernacle system teach the people about approaching God? [29:53]
4. How does 1 Corinthians 3:16 describe the identity of believers after Jesus’ sacrifice?
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon describes God’s heart as always longing for relationship, not separation. How does the story of the garden and the tabernacle show this about God’s character? [23:24]
2. Why was the system of sacrifice, cleansing, and restricted access in the tabernacle necessary before Jesus came? What does this reveal about God’s holiness and our need? [29:53]
3. The tearing of the curtain is described as God’s work, not man’s. What does this act communicate about who makes the way for us to approach God? [38:12]
4. The sermon says, “We are now the temple, the dwelling place of God’s Spirit.” What does it mean for everyday life that God’s presence is no longer confined to a building? [41:45]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon compared experiencing real pasta in Italy to truly experiencing God’s Word. Have you ever had a moment where God’s Word became “real” to you, not just a story? What changed for you after that? [14:12]
2. Are there ways you find yourself “settling for less” in your relationship with God—maybe treating faith as a story or ritual instead of a living experience? What would it look like to move beyond that this week? [17:18]
3. The tabernacle system required sacrifice and cleansing before entering God’s presence. Now, because of Jesus, we can come boldly. Do you ever feel unworthy to approach God? How does knowing you are “clothed in Christ” change your confidence? [43:18]
4. The sermon says we are “tiny temples”—God’s Spirit lives in us. How does this truth affect the way you see yourself and your daily life? Is there an area where you need to remember you carry God’s presence? [41:45]
5. The pastor encouraged us not to just “peek through the curtain” but to run boldly into God’s presence. What holds you back from fully embracing God’s invitation? Is there a step you can take this week to “run in” rather than hang back? [49:38]
6. Living as a “living sacrifice” (Romans 12) means offering our lives to God in worship. What is one practical way you can offer yourself to God this week—at work, at home, or with friends? [46:17]
7. The sermon ended with a call not to settle for striving and surviving, but to experience the fullness of God’s presence. What is one area of your life where you want to stop settling and start living “made for more”? [01:04:01]
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Close in prayer, asking God to help each person experience His presence deeply and to live boldly as His dwelling place this week.
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus Opens the Way Into God's Presence
Because of Jesus' sacrifice, we can boldly enter into God's presence, no longer separated by sin or ritual, but welcomed as beloved children. The curtain that once divided humanity from the holy presence of God has been torn open by Christ’s death, granting us direct access to the Father—not by our own merit, but by the blood of Jesus. This is not just a theological idea to be admired from afar; it is an invitation to experience God’s nearness, to run into His arms with confidence and joy, knowing that we are fully accepted and loved. [21:25]
Hebrews 10:19-20 (ESV)
"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,"
Reflection: What would it look like for you to approach God today with boldness, believing you are truly welcome in His presence because of Jesus?
Day 2: Jesus Fulfills Every Requirement—He Is the Way, the Sacrifice, and the Cleansing
Jesus is the fulfillment of every part of God’s plan to dwell with His people: He is the gate we enter, the sacrifice that covers our sin, the living water that cleanses us, the light that guides us, the bread that sustains us, and the one who intercedes for us. No longer do we need to strive to meet impossible standards or rely on rituals to be close to God; Jesus has done it all, and through Him, we are made clean, provided for, and brought into the very presence of God. This truth transforms our daily walk, inviting us to experience the fullness of life that comes from abiding in Him. [37:00]
John 14:6 (ESV)
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to trust Jesus as your way, your cleansing, or your provision today?
Day 3: You Are Now the Dwelling Place of God
God’s presence is no longer confined to a temple or a tabernacle; through Christ, you have become the temple, the very place where God’s Spirit dwells and meets the world. This is not reserved for pastors or spiritual leaders, but for every believer—God’s presence is in you, and you are called to carry His love, light, and truth wherever you go. Embracing this identity means living with the awareness that you are a “tiny temple,” designed to reflect God’s glory and to bring His presence into every situation and relationship. [41:45]
1 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV)
"Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?"
Reflection: How can you intentionally carry God’s presence into your home, workplace, or community today?
Day 4: Grace Is the Gift—Put On Christ, Not Your Own Worthiness
The gift of salvation and new life in Christ is not something to be admired from a distance or stored away for a future, “better” version of yourself; it is meant to be put on now, just as you are. You are clothed in Christ’s righteousness, not your own, and grace fills the gap between who you are and who you are called to be. This is the heart of the gospel: you don’t have to earn your way into God’s presence—Jesus has already done it, and He invites you to live each day covered in His love, mercy, and acceptance. [46:17]
Romans 13:14 (ESV)
"But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires."
Reflection: What would it mean for you to “put on” Christ today, trusting His grace instead of your own efforts or worthiness?
Day 5: Worship Is the Key to Experiencing God’s Presence
You were made for more than just striving or surviving; you were created to live in the presence of your Father, to run boldly into His embrace, and to worship Him with your whole life. True worship is not just singing songs or attending services—it is a heart posture of gratitude, surrender, and awe that transforms every moment into an opportunity to experience God’s love and to reflect His glory. Don’t settle for standing at a distance; draw near, worship freely, and let your life become a living expression of praise. [52:03]
Psalm 100:2 (ESV)
"Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!"
Reflection: How can you turn an ordinary moment today into an act of worship, drawing near to God with a grateful heart?
Quotes
Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple? You are the tabernacle. You are the tent of meeting. You are the place where God's presence comes down and intersects with people on the earth. You are that overlap. You, not just pastors, not just priests, not just people that went to Bible college. You are the dwelling place of God now. Hallelujah. That's like life-changing and mind-blowing, isn't it? It should be. We should read those words and we should say, whoa, I am a tiny temple. I am. I'm a tiny temple. I'm the dwelling place of God. [00:42:10] (52 seconds)
Grace is the distance between where I am and where I'm meant to be. And Jesus fills it with himself, not with what I have done. That is the point. This is why we can't just settle for reading. We have to dig in. We have to see what this really means. Because as soon as I put this on, now it's like, let's go, right? Let's go. Now I get to walk and I get to follow Jesus. I get to follow him. And now my life looks a little different because now everything that I'm doing is running through the filter of who he is. [00:46:26] (43 seconds)
He died for you. He died for me. And he did it so that we can experience true life through him. And so often we're settling for just reading the story and then moving on. And so today, what does this mean for us? It means everything. It means everything. It really does. [00:39:45] (25 seconds)
This was not done just for the high priest. That curtain wasn't torn just for the priest to enter in and out. It wasn't just torn for Jewish people to go in and out. He did it for everyone. He did it for us so that we can boldly, confidently run through and enter into his presence. [00:41:03] (22 seconds)
I am the tiny temple of the living God and so are you. We're made for more. We're made to run through that curtain. We're made to embrace our father, to see him face to face. We were made for more. Don't settle. [00:51:23] (19 seconds)
If you don't believe in him today, that is your first step. Believe that he did this for you. Believe that he did it for you. You right where you are, not for the future version of yourself that's better and worthy of it. He did it for you today. Believe. [00:43:31] (19 seconds)
Romans 12 says, therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of everything that God has done for you, it says, offer your lives back to him as a living sacrifice, as a holy sacrifice. Think about those words. It's a living sacrifice. We come to that altar and we say, Jesus, because of all that you have done for me, I willingly, freely, joyfully offer my life to you, whatever that looks like. I lay it down before you. [00:47:10] (30 seconds)
Let's not settle. We were made for so much more than just striving, than just working, than just dying. Thank God, right? That we were made for more. Not just for eternity. Right now. Today. [01:04:15] (19 seconds)
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