God's Presence: Hope and Peace in Our Journey
Summary
In the sermon delivered at Opendoor Church Online, the speaker explores the theme of God's presence among His people, drawing from various biblical narratives and personal anecdotes to illustrate this profound truth. The sermon begins with a reflection on Exodus 25, where God instructs Moses to build a sanctuary, symbolizing His desire to dwell among the Israelites during their journey, including their 40-year wilderness wandering. This concept is paralleled with the idea that God is with us in our life's journey, through struggles and uncertainties.
The speaker then discusses the story of Abraham and Sarah from Genesis 18, emphasizing that God's visit brought hope to the barren couple. Despite Sarah's initial laughter at the prospect of having a child in her old age, God's presence transformed her disbelief into hope. This narrative serves as a reminder that even when life does not go as planned, God's presence can bring hope to seemingly impossible situations.
The importance of being born again spiritually is highlighted, referencing Jesus' teachings and sacrifice, which brought love, restoration, and peace into the world. The speaker explains that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but also the reconciliation between individuals and God, and within oneself.
A personal story is shared about a friend who found peace by expressing anger and loss to God, illustrating that God can handle our emotions and desires to restore our relationship with Him. The speaker reassures that Jesus is present, offering peace and support through difficult times.
The sermon also touches on the joy that comes from God moving into our neighborhoods and lives, and the ultimate hope of dwelling with Him in a new neighborhood. The well-known verse John 3:16 is referenced, explaining that God's love prompted Him to offer Himself for a relationship with each person.
Reflecting on the congregation's collective grief following Pastor Greg's passing, the speaker finds solace in the Gospel of John, which interprets the Christmas story as Jesus, the Word, becoming flesh and dwelling among humanity, offering reconciliation to all.
The speaker draws a parallel between the clean-up of San Francisco streets for a presidential visit and God's approach to us, emphasizing that God takes care of the cleaning and invites us to communion, symbolizing Jesus' sacrifice for our sins.
Personal anecdotes are shared, including a canceled trip to Israel and the comfort found in a father's arms during a thunderstorm. The speaker invites the congregation to find solace in Jesus' presence and to communicate with Him about their burdens.
The sermon concludes with reflections on Psalm 23 and the Valley of the shadow of death, both as a physical location and a metaphor for life's darkest moments. The speaker shares a personal story of their mother's diagnosis and passing, finding comfort in God's presence and the support of loved ones.
Key Takeaways:
- The construction of the tabernacle in Exodus 25 symbolizes God's desire to be intimately involved in the lives of His people, not as a distant deity but as a present companion in every season of life. This ancient narrative encourages believers to recognize that God is with them in their own wilderness experiences, offering guidance, provision, and presence. [58:29]
- The visitation of God to Abraham and Sarah serves as a testament to the transformative power of hope that God brings into seemingly hopeless situations. Sarah's laughter, which transitioned from skepticism to joy, reminds us that God's promises can defy human expectations and limitations, bringing forth life where there was barrenness. [51:29]
- Jesus' message of being born again and His promise of peace underscore the profound spiritual rebirth and inner tranquility available to believers. This peace transcends external circumstances and addresses the core of human conflict: the broken relationship with God and the inner turmoil of the soul. [01:04:55]
- The act of expressing one's deepest emotions to God, as exemplified by the speaker's friend, is a crucial step towards healing and peace. It demonstrates that God is not intimidated by our raw emotions and that authentic communication with Him can lead to a restored and strengthened relationship. [01:08:46]
- The concept of God moving into our neighborhood is not just a theological idea but a call to experience the joy and transformation that comes from an intimate relationship with God. This relationship is the source of true joy and the anticipation of an eternal dwelling with Him, as highlighted by the interaction between Jesus and Nicodemus. [01:01:21]
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Exodus 25:8 - "Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them."
2. Genesis 18:12 - "So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, 'After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?'"
3. John 1:14 - "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
### Observation Questions
1. What was the significance of the sanctuary that God instructed Moses to build in Exodus 25? How did it symbolize God's presence among the Israelites? [58:29]
2. In Genesis 18, why did Sarah laugh when she heard the promise of having a child? What does her reaction tell us about her initial belief? [52:12]
3. According to John 1:14, what does it mean that "the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us"? How does this relate to the theme of God's presence? [49:54]
4. How did the speaker's personal story about his mother's passing illustrate the comfort found in God's presence during difficult times? [46:20]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the construction of the tabernacle in Exodus 25 reflect God's desire to be intimately involved in the lives of His people? What does this tell us about God's character? [58:29]
2. What can we learn from Sarah's transformation from skepticism to joy in Genesis 18? How does this story illustrate the power of God's promises? [52:12]
3. In what ways does John 1:14 emphasize the significance of Jesus' incarnation? How does this passage deepen our understanding of God's love and grace? [49:54]
4. How does the speaker's friend's experience of expressing anger to God demonstrate the importance of honest communication with Him? What does this teach us about our relationship with God? [01:08:46]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like you were in a "wilderness" experience. How did you sense God's presence during that time, or how could you have sought His presence more intentionally? [58:29]
2. Sarah's laughter turned into joy when she saw God's promise fulfilled. Is there a situation in your life where you need to trust God's promises more fully? How can you cultivate that trust? [52:12]
3. The incarnation of Jesus is a profound demonstration of God's love. How can you embody this love in your daily interactions with others? What specific actions can you take this week to show God's love? [49:54]
4. The speaker shared about finding peace by expressing deep emotions to God. Is there something you need to express to God honestly? How can you create a space for that conversation this week? [01:08:46]
5. The concept of God moving into our neighborhood brings joy and transformation. How can you invite God's presence into your "neighborhood" or community? What practical steps can you take to foster a sense of God's presence where you live and work? [01:01:21]
6. Reflect on the speaker's story about his mother's passing and the comfort he found in God's presence. How can you support someone in your life who is going through a similar valley of the shadow of death? What specific actions can you take to be a source of comfort and God's presence for them? [46:20]
7. The speaker mentioned the importance of reconciliation and peace. Is there a relationship in your life that needs reconciliation? What steps can you take to pursue peace and restore that relationship? [01:06:29]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Presence in Life's Wilderness
God desires to walk with us through every season, offering His guidance and presence in our wilderness. The construction of the tabernacle was a physical representation of God's commitment to journey alongside His people, a promise that extends to us today. In our own times of uncertainty and struggle, we can take comfort in knowing that God is intimately involved in our lives, just as He was with the Israelites. [58:29]
Psalm 139:7-10 - "Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast."
Reflection: In what ways do you feel like you are in a wilderness right now, and how can you seek to be more aware of God's presence with you during this time?
Day 2: Transformative Power of Hope
When God enters our lives, He brings the transformative power of hope into our most barren situations. The story of Abraham and Sarah reminds us that God's promises can defy our expectations and limitations, turning our skepticism into joy and bringing forth life where there was none. In the face of impossibilities, we are invited to trust in God's faithfulness and His ability to do the unexpected. [51:29]
Hebrews 11:11-12 - "And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore."
Reflection: Can you think of a situation in your life that seems hopeless? How can you apply the hope that comes from God's promises to this situation?
Day 3: Peace Beyond Circumstances
The peace Jesus offers transcends our external circumstances, addressing the core of human conflict and inner turmoil. Being born again spiritually opens the door to a profound inner tranquility that reconciles us with God and brings peace within ourselves. This peace is not dependent on the absence of conflict but is rooted in the restoration Jesus brings. [01:04:55]
Colossians 1:19-20 - "For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are experiencing inner turmoil? How can you invite Jesus' peace into that part of your life today?
Day 4: Authentic Communication with God
God invites us to express our deepest emotions to Him, demonstrating that He can handle our rawest feelings and desires to restore our relationship. Like a friend who found peace in expressing anger and loss to God, we too can find healing and strength in being honest with Him about our struggles. Authentic communication with God is a crucial step towards experiencing His peace and presence. [01:08:46]
Lamentations 2:19 - "Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger at every street corner."
Reflection: What emotions or struggles have you been holding back from God? How can you begin to express these to Him more openly?
Day 5: Joy in God's Intimate Relationship
The joy of God's presence in our lives is a foretaste of the eternal dwelling we anticipate with Him. God moving into our neighborhood through Jesus is a call to experience the transformative relationship He offers, one that brings true joy and hope. This intimate connection with God is the source of our deepest satisfaction and the promise of our future with Him. [01:01:21]
Revelation 21:3 - "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.'"
Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper sense of joy in your relationship with God, and what practical steps can you take to invite Him more fully into your daily life?
Quotes
"God can handle your anger; you can't anger Him beyond repair. God loves you and will listen to all that's on your heart because He wants to restore the relationship." [01:10:04] (Download)
"Jesus comes into your neighborhood, pitches His tent right beside you, and sits by the fire to give you peace with all that you are dealing with." [01:10:42] (Download)
"You do not have to clean up before God comes; He'll take care of the cleaning, you just have to let Him in, and He'll come." [01:11:27] (Download)
"None of us have it all figured out, none of us are perfect in our relationship with God; we're all broken. And this word that became flesh, Jesus himself, came and said, 'I'm going to offer myself so that the relationship between us can be restored.'" [01:12:48] (Download)
"When God moves into the neighborhood, he brings hope no matter what you're dealing with. He still brings hope." [51:29] (Download)
"Our joy comes from God moving into our neighborhood and one day moving us to a new neighborhood to dwell with him." [01:02:05] (Download)
"Restoration comes through love and grace because God pitched his tent with us, sat down beside us, and grants us the opportunity for his light to enter our Darkness." [01:05:41] (Download)
"Peace is not just the absence of conflict between two warring enemies, but also within ourselves, and most importantly, between us and God." [01:08:03] (Download)
"When God comes, he brings hope, but when he comes into the neighborhood, he also brings joy. God is with us, God is with you in the good and the bad of your journey." [58:29] (Download)
"The constant abiding presence that brought me comfort was knowing that God was with me, and He was comforting me." [47:04] (Download)
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