Experiencing God's Presence, Purpose, and Pleasure Daily

 

Summary

In today's message, I explored the profound reality of God's presence, purpose, and pleasure in our lives, and how these three elements can transform our daily existence. I began by discussing the tangible, manifest presence of God, which is like rivers of living water that refresh us continually. This presence is not just a theological concept; it's an experiential reality that resets our souls. I emphasized the importance of living a life drenched in God's presence, not just during worship on Sundays but every day, through prayer and inviting His Spirit to fill our lives.

I then transitioned to the purpose of God, highlighting that Jesus received an anointing not only to experience God's presence but to walk in God's purpose. Jesus proclaimed His mission in the temple, citing Isaiah 61, to preach good news, bind up the brokenhearted, and set captives free. In the same way, we are called to be salt and light, the hands and feet of Jesus, bringing purpose to our daily lives and assignments. I challenged the congregation to view their work and daily routines as opportunities to live out their divine assignments, rather than mundane tasks.

The third element I discussed was the pleasure of God. I shared a personal anecdote about meeting a hero of mine and the awkwardness that can come from such encounters. This led to a reflection on how Jesus, before beginning His ministry, was affirmed by God the Father, who expressed His love and pleasure in Jesus. This divine affirmation is also available to us, and when we draw from the bucket of God's unconditional love, we find our true worth and identity.

I concluded by encouraging the congregation to share the living water they've received with others, especially as we approach Easter. I shared a story about inviting people to church in a winsome way, even those who may have preconceptions or doubts about church. The message ended with a call to action for everyone to bring someone to the well of living water, which is the church, where they can encounter the presence, purpose, and pleasure of God.

Key Takeaways:

- The manifest presence of God is more than a theological truth; it's an experiential reality that can reset our entire being. When we intentionally seek God's presence daily, we find ourselves refreshed and empowered to face life's challenges. [01:09:42]

- Our purpose in life is intrinsically linked to God's purpose for us. When we align ourselves with God's mission, as Jesus did, we find true fulfillment and meaning in our daily activities. This shift in perspective can turn mundane tasks into divine assignments. [01:11:53]

- The pleasure of God is not dependent on our performance but is a constant affirmation of our identity as His children. When we understand that God's love for us is unconditional, we are freed from the need for external validation and can live authentically. [01:13:09]

- Inviting others to experience God's presence is not about having all the answers or being a theologian; it's about sharing our personal encounters with God's love and inviting them to "come and see" for themselves. [01:18:39]

- Even when we feel spiritually parched, God offers us living water that can satisfy our deepest thirst. It's essential to recognize our spiritual dehydration and seek the refreshment that only God can provide. [01:24:15]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. John 4:1-26 (The story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well)
2. Isaiah 61:1-3 (Jesus' mission statement)
3. Mark 1:9-11 (The baptism of Jesus)

#### Observation Questions
1. What did Jesus offer the Samaritan woman at the well, and how did she initially respond? ([50:11])
2. According to Isaiah 61:1-3, what are some of the purposes for which Jesus was anointed?
3. What significant event happened during Jesus' baptism in Mark 1:9-11, and what did the voice from heaven say? ([01:09:01])
4. How did the pastor describe the manifest presence of God, and what impact does it have on our lives? ([01:09:42])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose to reveal Himself as the Messiah to the Samaritan woman, despite the cultural prejudices of the time? ([49:05])
2. How does understanding our purpose in life, as described in Isaiah 61, change the way we view our daily tasks and routines? ([01:11:53])
3. What does the affirmation from God the Father during Jesus' baptism teach us about our own identity and worth? ([01:09:01])
4. How can the concept of "living water" that Jesus offers be understood in the context of our spiritual thirst and daily life? ([01:24:15])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually parched. What steps did you take to seek God's presence, and how did it impact you? ([01:24:15])
2. How can you intentionally seek God's presence daily, not just during Sunday worship? What practical steps can you take to invite His Spirit into your daily life? ([01:09:42])
3. Think about your current work or daily routine. How can you view these tasks as divine assignments and opportunities to live out God's purpose? ([01:11:53])
4. In what ways do you seek external validation, and how can you shift your focus to draw from the bucket of God's unconditional love and pleasure? ([01:13:09])
5. Identify someone in your life who might be spiritually thirsty. How can you invite them to experience the "living water" of God's presence, perhaps by inviting them to church or sharing your personal encounters with God's love? ([01:18:39])
6. How can you remind yourself daily of God's affirmation and love for you, especially when you face challenges or feel inadequate? ([01:09:01])
7. What are some practical ways you can share the living water you've received with others, especially as we approach significant events like Easter? ([01:18:39])

Devotional

Day 1: Encountering God's Refreshing Presence
God's presence is a living reality that revitalizes our spirit and brings renewal to our daily walk. This presence is not merely an abstract idea but a tangible experience that can reset the very core of our being. When one seeks God's presence through prayer and openness to the Holy Spirit, life becomes infused with a sense of refreshment, akin to a river of living water that continually nourishes and rejuvenates. This pursuit of God's presence is not limited to Sunday worship but is a daily journey, where every moment is an opportunity to be filled and transformed by the divine. It is in this daily seeking that one finds the strength and empowerment to face life's challenges with grace and resilience. [07:40]

"O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water." - Psalm 63:1

Reflection: How can you create intentional moments throughout your day to seek and acknowledge God's refreshing presence?

Day 2: Living Out Divine Assignments
The purpose one finds in life is deeply connected to the divine purpose God has ordained. Aligning oneself with God's mission, as exemplified by Jesus, brings a profound sense of fulfillment and meaning to even the most ordinary tasks. Every aspect of daily life, from work to interactions with others, can be seen as an opportunity to live out a divine assignment. This perspective transforms what might be considered mundane into a significant act of service and ministry. By embracing this mindset, one can approach each day with the intention of being salt and light, embodying the hands and feet of Jesus in the world. [11:53]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." - Ephesians 2:10

Reflection: What is one routine task you can approach differently tomorrow, viewing it as a divine assignment rather than a mundane chore?

Day 3: Basking in God's Unconditional Pleasure
The pleasure of God is a profound affirmation that is not based on performance but on the unchanging truth of being His beloved children. Understanding that God's love is unconditional liberates one from the pursuit of external validation and allows for a life lived authentically and confidently. This divine pleasure was voiced over Jesus before His ministry began, and it is a declaration that is also spoken over each individual. When one draws from the well of God's love, they discover their true worth and identity, which is not contingent on achievements but on their inherent value as a child of God. [13:09]

"The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." - Zephaniah 3:17

Reflection: Can you identify an area in your life where you seek external validation? How can you remind yourself of God's unconditional pleasure in you today?

Day 4: Sharing the Living Water
Inviting others to experience God's presence is an act of sharing the personal encounters one has had with divine love. It is not about having all the theological answers but about extending an invitation to "come and see." This approach is especially poignant as believers approach Easter, a time of reflection and celebration of the ultimate expression of God's love. By sharing the living water with others, one can facilitate encounters where others can experience the presence, purpose, and pleasure of God for themselves. [18:39]

"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." - Isaiah 55:1

Reflection: Who is one person you can invite to experience the living water of God's presence this week, and how will you approach them?

Day 5: Recognizing Spiritual Thirst
Acknowledging one's spiritual dehydration is the first step toward seeking the refreshment that only God can provide. Just as the body craves water when parched, the soul longs for the living water that satisfies our deepest spiritual thirst. This divine provision is always available, and it is essential to recognize the moments when one is in need of this spiritual sustenance. By turning to God and seeking His presence, one can find the living water that quenches and revitalizes the soul, ensuring that even in the driest seasons, there is hope and renewal. [24:15]

"For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light." - Psalm 36:9

Reflection: What signs of spiritual thirst have you noticed in your life, and how can you seek God's living water to quench it today?

Quotes

1) "The life I experience will be determined by the bucket I draw from. The bucket I draw from will determine the life I experience. So what bucket should we draw from? What bucket did Jesus draw from? How did Jesus stay full?" [01:07:20]( | | )

2) "Jesus replied if you only knew the gift of God and who was speaking to you, you would ask me for a drink and I would give you living water. Isn't it funny how we just jump to explaining how God can't do what he said he's gonna do?" [51:50]( | | )

3) "I think deep down we have a hunger in our souls and honestly theologically as someone who believes that we were placed in the garden with the presence of God inside of us and then we detached from God, it actually makes sense that there is a universe-sized space inside of us that was made for God, is absent of God, and now is extremely thirsty." [45:42]( | | )

4) "My source because I'm not living from performance, I'm living from the pleasure of God who's already spoken a word over my life that nobody can take away. And you know the real goal, the goal is that I'm drawing from these buckets of presence and purpose and pleasure so much so that eventually it spills over and affects other people." [01:18:39]( | | )

5) "I'm telling you life changes if there can be a revelation light bulb that the father has already spoken and he says I see you before you ever get on the court I am proud of you and I love you and my pleasure and smile is on you." [01:15:53]( | | )

6) "But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life. Then she says what anybody in their sane mind would say, she says well then please sir, give me this water, then I'll never be thirsty again and I won't have to come here to get water." [53:05]( | | )

7) "Just because I have access to it doesn't mean that I access it. Just because I have a well doesn't mean I drink it. Listen, somebody can deposit 20 million dollars in your account today, but just because something's deposited, it doesn't matter what's deposited in your account if you never withdraw it." [01:02:17]( | | )

8) "I'm telling you something switches when you stop going into work like that's another Monday. I hate those stupid Monday memes, just another Monday. Once you walk in, yes Monday, the spirit of God's on me because I'm gonna walk into my assignment today and I'm actually gonna be Jesus today." [01:11:53]( | | )

9) "One moment in the tangible manifest presence of God is like rivers of living water that just refreshes you over and over again. Isn't it just like a reset for your whole soul? This is what happened in the baptism waters, the Spirit of God like a dove descended on Jesus." [01:09:42]( | | )

10) "Jesus loves us so much that he bypasses the symptoms of our thirst to speak to us about the source of our thirst. See, we have a lot of theories about this particular context in this culture and even what this woman may have been forced to do because the way marriage is happening, there's a whole lot to this context." [55:50]( | | )

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Transcript
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Were there any personal stories shared?