Learning to Linger in the Presence | Daniel Bentley

We need to learn how to disconnect so we can connect with God. So we have this invitation. God invites us to come to him. But now in verses eight through 11, we get to see what happens when we draw near. Let's read on in verse eight. And when Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents watching Moses until he entered the tent. And as Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance while the Lord spoke with Moses. And whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. And the Lord would speak to Moses face to face as one speaks to a friend. The second invitation is an invitation to draw near to God. That's what we see modeled by Moses. I mean, imagine this scene as it unfolds. It might have been it must have been quite the spectacle. [00:19:44] (57 seconds)  #DrawNearToGod

But it's also a bit troubling because what are we to do? Well, simply this, it means that we and not he are the determining factor in how close to God we are at this very moment. You say, I want more of the Lord. Well, you have as much of the Lord as you really want. A story illustrates the point. I heard a story about a married couple. They were riding down the road in the guy's old pickup truck. It was one of those trucks that has a bench seat in the front. [00:17:07] (30 seconds)  #YouChooseCloseness

That's a lot of scrolling and swiping and tapping. And then I thought of this question. What if we sought to touch the heart of our father as many times a day as we touch our phones? I mean, our world would be radically different, but not just globally, so too personally. Just reaching out and and and setting a space and a time where we can seek the heart of the father. We're far too distracted, and it's hindering our ability to deeply connect with the Lord. [00:19:10] (34 seconds)  #SeekGodOverScreens

You will get it if you commit to it because you were designed to know and walk in and experience God's presence. He's given you all the tools and all the faculties that are required. This isn't like, you know, for professionals only. Don't try this at home. This is me saying, no. The Lord is inviting you to experience him, to know him, to hear his voice, and to walk with him. It's what God designed you for. [00:43:58] (26 seconds)  #DesignedForHisPresence

I'll say this as well. When you get in his presence, things change. In his presence are the keys to a thousand doors. In his presence are the answers to every question in your heart. In his presence are the solutions to all the problems that you face. We have questions. We have we have problems. We we we have we have all these things going on and and we need to know, Lord, is this the door that you're opening? And you find the answers to those things in the presence. [00:44:25] (35 seconds)  #PresenceTransforms

Neither one was really talking to the other, and they were in a bit of a fight. And finally, in a huff, the the wife who's looking out the window looks over to his husband on the other side of the bench seat, and she says, what happened to us? We used to ride all snuggled up. You'd put your arm around me and hold me close, but we're not that way anymore. What happened? And after a moment of silence, the husband calmly observed, I'm not the one who moved. [00:17:37] (27 seconds)  #IWasntTheOneWhoMoved

And so the way to eliminate worry is to focus on the the heart and the nature and the character of God. And then you wait and then he comes. But how do you know when he's come? I mean, will there be a light in the room? Will will I hear a trumpet? I mean, what is that experience like? I mean, it will change. And just like you have personal relationships, God wants to have a personal relationship with you. But sometimes when the Lord meets with me, oftentimes there's a sense of peace that I encounter. [00:42:32] (31 seconds)  #FindPeaceInHisPresence

A story helps illustrate the point. There's a an old story about a group of European missionaries who were serving on the field in Africa, and they hired a local group of villagers as porters to help them carry their many supplies. After pushing fast and hard for several days, the porters told the missionaries that they couldn't go on until they had had an entire day to rest. When the missionaries inquired what the problem was, one of the porters responded. We've traveled so far and so fast for so many days that we must wait here for our souls to catch up to us. [00:06:57] (41 seconds)  #LetYourSoulCatchUp