Reclaiming Awe: Transformative Worship and Communion with God

 

Summary

Taking a moment to reflect on the awe-inspiring privilege we have in our relationship with God, it's crucial to remember the significance of our acts of worship and giving. Often, we can become desensitized to the profound impact of our contributions, whether it's through financial support or our time and energy. The story of a young girl in Africa, whose life was transformed through the power of prayer and support, serves as a poignant reminder that our actions are not just about supporting a cause but about impacting real lives. This transformation is a testament to the power of God working through us, and it should reignite our passion and awe for what we can accomplish together.

In Exodus 19, we see a vivid depiction of God's holiness and the reverence required to approach Him. The Israelites were instructed to consecrate themselves and set boundaries around Mount Sinai, emphasizing the sacredness of encountering God. This passage challenges us to examine how we approach our time with God today. Have we allowed our encounters with Him to become ordinary or burdensome? The awe that once accompanied meeting with God seems to have diminished in our fast-paced, distracted lives.

The challenge for us is to reclaim that sense of awe and focus in our spiritual practices. In a world filled with distractions, we must fight to maintain a clear and sober mind, as 1 Peter 4:7 urges, for the sake of our prayers. Prayer is not merely a means to an end but a profound goal in itself. It is the space where we meet with God, where we can experience His presence and power. We must learn to detox from the noise of the world and find our own "tent of meeting," a sacred space where we can be alone with God, free from distractions.

Ultimately, the goal is to cultivate a deep longing for God, to desire His presence above all else. This longing should drive us to seek Him earnestly, to fight for our focus, and to cherish the privilege of being able to commune with the Creator. As we do so, we will find that our lives are transformed, and we become more aligned with His purposes, bearing fruit that glorifies Him.

Key Takeaways:

- Rediscovering Awe in Worship and Giving: Our acts of worship and giving should never become routine. They are opportunities to impact lives and participate in God's transformative work. Remembering stories of transformation, like the young girl in Africa, can reignite our passion and remind us of the profound impact we can have. [02:28]

- The Holiness of Meeting with God: Exodus 19 reminds us of the sacredness of encountering God. We must approach Him with reverence, understanding that meeting with God is not ordinary but a holy moment. This challenges us to examine how we approach our time with God today. [09:01]

- Fighting Distractions for Focused Prayer: In a world filled with distractions, maintaining a clear and sober mind is crucial for effective prayer. 1 Peter 4:7 urges us to be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of our prayers, emphasizing that prayer is not just a means to an end but a profound goal in itself. [24:21]

- Creating Sacred Spaces for Communion with God: We must find our own "tent of meeting," a sacred space where we can be alone with God, free from distractions. This space allows us to detox from the noise of the world and experience His presence and power. [19:28]

- Cultivating a Deep Longing for God: Our ultimate goal is to cultivate a deep longing for God, to desire His presence above all else. This longing should drive us to seek Him earnestly, fight for our focus, and cherish the privilege of communing with the Creator. [28:52]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - The Awe of Giving
- [00:56] - A Transformative Encounter
- [02:28] - The Power of Participation
- [03:23] - Rescued Lives
- [05:12] - Worship Beyond Routine
- [06:47] - The Holiness of God
- [08:03] - Setting Boundaries
- [10:23] - A Holy Moment
- [12:21] - The Tent of Meeting
- [14:43] - Meeting God Today
- [17:40] - Longing for the Mountain
- [19:02] - Access to the Tent
- [24:21] - Focused Prayer
- [28:52] - Longing for His Presence

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Exodus 19:9-19
- 1 Peter 4:7

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Observation Questions:

1. In Exodus 19, what specific instructions did God give to Moses regarding the people's preparation for His appearance? ([07:11])

2. How did the people react when they witnessed the events on Mount Sinai as described in Exodus 19? ([10:41])

3. According to 1 Peter 4:7, what are believers urged to do for the sake of their prayers?

4. What transformation did the young girl in Africa experience, and how did it impact the speaker? ([02:00])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. What does the requirement for the Israelites to consecrate themselves before meeting God in Exodus 19 suggest about the nature of approaching God? ([08:44])

2. How does the speaker's story about the young girl in Africa illustrate the impact of prayer and giving on individual lives? ([02:28])

3. In what ways does 1 Peter 4:7 challenge modern believers in their approach to prayer and focus?

4. How does the speaker describe the difference between communal worship and personal time with God? What might this suggest about the value of both experiences? ([06:30])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current acts of worship and giving. Have they become routine, and if so, how can you reignite a sense of awe in these practices? ([00:40])

2. Consider your personal time with God. Do you approach it with the reverence described in Exodus 19, or has it become ordinary? What changes can you make to restore its sacredness? ([15:36])

3. Identify specific distractions in your life that hinder focused prayer. What practical steps can you take to minimize these distractions this week? ([24:21])

4. The speaker mentioned creating a "tent of meeting" for personal communion with God. What might this look like in your life, and how can you establish such a space? ([19:28])

5. How can the story of the young girl in Africa inspire you to view your contributions to others' lives as significant and transformative? ([02:28])

6. Reflect on a time when you felt a deep longing for God's presence. How can you cultivate this longing in your daily life? ([28:52])

7. In what ways can you encourage others in your community to fight for focus and maintain a clear mind for the sake of their prayers? ([24:21])

Devotional

Day 1: Rediscovering the Impact of Worship and Giving
Our acts of worship and giving are not mere routines but opportunities to participate in God's transformative work. Often, we may become desensitized to the profound impact our contributions can have on real lives. The story of a young girl in Africa, whose life was changed through prayer and support, serves as a powerful reminder of the difference we can make. This transformation is a testament to God's power working through us, and it should reignite our passion and awe for what we can accomplish together. By remembering these stories of transformation, we can renew our commitment to worship and giving, understanding that they are not just about supporting a cause but about impacting real lives. [02:28]

2 Corinthians 9:11-12 (ESV): "You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God."

Reflection: Think of a specific way you can contribute your time, energy, or resources this week to impact someone's life. How can you approach this act with renewed passion and awe?


Day 2: Approaching God with Reverence
Exodus 19 provides a vivid depiction of God's holiness and the reverence required to approach Him. The Israelites were instructed to consecrate themselves and set boundaries around Mount Sinai, emphasizing the sacredness of encountering God. This passage challenges us to examine how we approach our time with God today. Have we allowed our encounters with Him to become ordinary or burdensome? In our fast-paced, distracted lives, the awe that once accompanied meeting with God seems to have diminished. We are called to reclaim that sense of awe and reverence, understanding that meeting with God is not ordinary but a holy moment. [09:01]

Hebrews 12:28-29 (ESV): "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire."

Reflection: Reflect on your current approach to spending time with God. What practical steps can you take to restore a sense of reverence and awe in your daily spiritual practices?


Day 3: Fighting Distractions for Focused Prayer
In a world filled with distractions, maintaining a clear and sober mind is crucial for effective prayer. 1 Peter 4:7 urges us to be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of our prayers, emphasizing that prayer is not just a means to an end but a profound goal in itself. Prayer is the space where we meet with God, where we can experience His presence and power. We must learn to detox from the noise of the world and find our own "tent of meeting," a sacred space where we can be alone with God, free from distractions. This focused prayer life allows us to connect deeply with God and align ourselves with His purposes. [24:21]

Colossians 4:2 (ESV): "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."

Reflection: Identify one major distraction in your life that hinders your prayer time. What specific action can you take today to minimize this distraction and create a more focused prayer environment?


Day 4: Creating Sacred Spaces for Communion with God
We must find our own "tent of meeting," a sacred space where we can be alone with God, free from distractions. This space allows us to detox from the noise of the world and experience His presence and power. In this sacred space, we can cultivate a deep longing for God, desiring His presence above all else. This longing should drive us to seek Him earnestly, fight for our focus, and cherish the privilege of communing with the Creator. As we do so, we will find that our lives are transformed, and we become more aligned with His purposes, bearing fruit that glorifies Him. [19:28]

Psalm 27:4 (ESV): "One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple."

Reflection: Consider where you can create a "tent of meeting" in your daily life. What changes can you make to ensure this space is free from distractions and conducive to experiencing God's presence?


Day 5: Cultivating a Deep Longing for God
Our ultimate goal is to cultivate a deep longing for God, to desire His presence above all else. This longing should drive us to seek Him earnestly, fight for our focus, and cherish the privilege of communing with the Creator. As we pursue this longing, we will find that our lives are transformed, and we become more aligned with His purposes, bearing fruit that glorifies Him. This deep longing for God is not just about personal fulfillment but about aligning ourselves with His will and becoming vessels of His love and grace in the world. [28:52]

Psalm 42:1-2 (ESV): "As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?"

Reflection: Reflect on your current spiritual desires. What steps can you take to cultivate a deeper longing for God's presence in your life, and how can this longing influence your daily actions and decisions?

Quotes

Our acts of worship and giving should never become routine. They are opportunities to impact lives and participate in God's transformative work. Remembering stories of transformation, like the young girl in Africa, can reignite our passion and remind us of the profound impact we can have. [00:40:64]

I don't want us to ever lose the awe of how amazing this is that we get to help another human being. Man, I saw a picture just two weeks ago that brought me to tears. Okay, because last year, last year after I left passion in January, I went to Africa. [00:40:64]

The thrill of thinking, man, I had a peace in that. I got to participate in that. I got to see the way she was and how she is now. And that's why, you know, a lot of times we can give and we forget just the amazing thing that's happening there. [00:161:40]

Exodus 19 reminds us of the sacredness of encountering God. We must approach Him with reverence, understanding that meeting with God is not ordinary but a holy moment. This challenges us to examine how we approach our time with God today. [00:599:80]

God is showing here is this is not just an ordinary thing. This is holy. Holy is the opposite of common. This is set apart, it's distinct, and he wanted everyone to know, look, a man is about to meet with God, so you don't even want to get too close to this. [00:604:12]

In a world filled with distractions, maintaining a clear and sober mind is crucial for effective prayer. 1 Peter 4:7 urges us to be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of our prayers, emphasizing that prayer is not just a means to an end but a profound goal in itself. [00:1471:44]

We must find our own "tent of meeting," a sacred space where we can be alone with God, free from distractions. This space allows us to detox from the noise of the world and experience His presence and power. [00:1168:32]

Ultimately, the goal is to cultivate a deep longing for God, to desire His presence above all else. This longing should drive us to seek Him earnestly, fight for our focus, and cherish the privilege of communing with the Creator. [00:1727:96]

I love just as much, maybe even more, just to be alone in the presence of him, and I hope you feel the same way about him. You know, I was reading Exodus chapter 19 a couple weeks ago, and I just started repenting. It had such an impact on me. [00:386:44]

I want you to picture that scene in Exodus 19 where all the people were standing at the base of the mountain, and they're watching as Moses goes up the mountain, and the whole place filled with smoke and this large cloud descending into it. [00:2319:44]

I want to just give you a few minutes of silence. Would you just bow your heads right now? I want you to picture that scene in Exodus 19 where all the people were standing at the base of the mountain, and they're watching as Moses goes up the mountain. [00:2285:76]

I want you to think what goes through your mind when you hear that 21 days detached from everyone else with just the Bible and Jesus. I talk to people who say, wow, that's weird. I've talked to people that have, you know, whose response was just like, oh, I don't think I could do that. [00:1732:919]

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Transcript
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