Restoring Access to God's Transformational Presence

Oct 02, 2023

Devotional

Day 1: Encountering God’s Presence Through His Word

The living Word of God is not just a source of information or inspiration—it is God’s primary means of revealing Himself to us, exposing the deepest motives of our hearts, and inviting us into a face-to-face encounter with His presence. When you approach Scripture, you are not simply reading words on a page; you are being read, convicted, and transformed by the Spirit who inspired those words. The Bible divides soul and spirit, judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart, and lays us bare before God, inviting us to drop our posturing and meet Him as we truly are. Expect God to meet you in His Word, to speak personally, and to bring freedom and healing as you submit to its authority and open your heart to the Holy Spirit’s illumination. [08:05]

Hebrews 4:12-13 (ESV)
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Reflection: Before you read the Bible today, pause and ask the Holy Spirit to expose and heal any hidden motives or wounds in your heart—what do you sense Him revealing as you listen?

Day 2: The Transforming Power of the Prophetic

God’s presence is made manifest not only through His written Word but also through the prophetic gifts of the Spirit, which bring conviction, encouragement, and confirmation that God truly sees and knows us. When the prophetic is exercised in a healthy, biblical way, it lays bare the secrets of our hearts, brings us to worship, and causes even unbelievers to exclaim, “God is really among you.” These moments are not about spectacle or chaos, but about God’s loving pursuit of His people, often using others to speak into our lives when we most need it. Are you open to God using you—or others—to deliver a word that brings freedom, clarity, or affirmation to someone’s deepest questions? [17:42]

1 Corinthians 14:24-25 (ESV)
But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

Reflection: Is there someone in your life who needs encouragement or a word from God? Ask the Holy Spirit if He wants to use you to speak life or hope to them today.

Day 3: Walking by the Spirit’s Promptings

The Christian life is not meant to be lived by mere willpower or by following rules, but by walking in step with the Holy Spirit, who reorders our desires and leads us into God’s purposes. The Spirit’s promptings may be subtle or surprising, but they are always aimed at drawing us closer to God and aligning our lives with His will. Whether it’s a nudge to reach out to someone, a conviction to turn from sin, or a call to step out in faith, the Spirit is actively guiding those who are willing to listen and obey. Are you cultivating a life of quiet, attentive openness to the Spirit’s voice, ready to respond—even if it feels uncomfortable or unexpected? [25:50]

Galatians 5:16-18 (ESV)
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Reflection: What is one prompting or nudge from the Holy Spirit you sense today? How can you act on it, even if it stretches your comfort zone?

Day 4: Seeking God’s Presence in Prayer

Prayer is not a one-way conversation or a therapeutic exercise; it is a living encounter with the God who speaks, directs, and gives promises to His people. When you seek God in prayer, you are invited to listen as well as speak, to inquire of the Lord, and to expect Him to respond with wisdom, direction, and even specific promises from His Word. God delights to meet those who seek Him with hunger and expectation, and He often marks our lives with answers to prayer that shape our destiny and calling. Are you making space in your prayer life to listen for God’s voice and to receive His guidance for your life? [35:16]

Acts 13:2-3 (ESV)
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Reflection: In your next time of prayer, set aside a few minutes simply to listen—what do you sense God saying or directing you toward?

Day 5: Living as People of God’s Presence

The heart of discipleship is not just believing the right things or avoiding sin, but living as people who are filled with and centered on the manifest presence of God. Through Jesus, the veil has been torn and we are invited to draw near, to be filled and refilled with the Holy Spirit, and to organize our lives around God’s presence rather than our own ambitions or preferences. This is not reserved for a spiritual elite; it is the inheritance of every believer—to know the Holy Spirit as Helper, Comforter, Counselor, and Empowerer. Will you surrender afresh, confess any barriers, and ask God to fill you with His Spirit, so that your life overflows with His love and power? [51:02]

Ephesians 5:18-20 (ESV)
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection: What would it look like for you to organize your day around God’s presence—what is one practical step you can take to invite the Holy Spirit to fill and lead you today?

Sermon Summary

Human beings were created to know and enjoy the presence of God. The deepest wound of sin is not just moral failure or rebellion, but the loss of access to God’s presence. From the very beginning, our purpose has been to live in fellowship with Him, and the story of redemption is about restoring that access. The greatest discovery in life is not a scientific breakthrough or a personal achievement, but the manifest, tangible presence of God. This presence is not merely theoretical or abstract; it is transformational, personal, and available to those who seek, obey, and open themselves to Him.

God’s presence is most reliably encountered through His Word. The Scriptures are not just a source of information or inspiration; they are alive, exposing and transforming the deepest parts of our hearts. When we approach the Bible with humility and expectation, the Holy Spirit meets us, convicts us, and sets us free. Beyond the Word, God’s presence is also experienced through the prophetic—when God speaks through others to reveal the secrets of our hearts, encourage, and direct us. These moments are not reserved for a spiritual elite but are part of the inheritance of every believer.

The Holy Spirit also leads us through promptings—those inner nudges and directions that, when obeyed, can result in profound encounters and even miracles. These promptings require a posture of listening, availability, and willingness to obey, even when it seems unusual or inconvenient. Prayer is another vital way we encounter God’s presence. Prayer is not a monologue but a dialogue; God speaks, gives wisdom, and imparts promises that shape our lives and destinies.

All of this is possible because of the new covenant in Jesus. The veil is torn, and we are invited to boldly enter God’s presence, not as a distant ideal but as a daily reality. The Holy Spirit is not a force or a feeling but God Himself—our Helper, Comforter, Counselor, and Empowerer. The invitation is to organize our lives around His presence, not just our work, preferences, or ambitions. This is not about striving or earning, but about receiving the gift of God’s love and power, living as people marked by His nearness, and making space for Him to move in and through us.

Key Takeaways

1. The loss of God’s presence is the true tragedy of sin, and the restoration of that presence is the heart of redemption. We were made to know God intimately, and everything else in life is secondary to this purpose. The manifest presence of God is not a theological concept but a living reality that transforms us from the inside out. [02:25]
2. Encountering God through His Word requires humility and expectation. The Scriptures are not just to be read, but to read us—exposing, convicting, and healing the deepest wounds and motives of our hearts. When we submit ourselves to the authority of God’s Word, we open ourselves to life-changing encounters with Him. [08:05]
3. The prophetic and the gifts of the Spirit are not reserved for a select few but are meant for the whole body of Christ. When we create space for God to speak through others, we experience the reality that He knows us, sees us, and cares about the details of our lives. These encounters are often the catalyst for healing, direction, and deeper faith. [21:17]
4. The promptings of the Holy Spirit invite us into a life of responsiveness and adventure with God. Obedience to these promptings, even when they seem strange or risky, can lead to miraculous outcomes and reveal God’s intimate involvement in the world. The key is cultivating a posture of listening, availability, and willingness to act. [30:50]
5. Organizing our lives around the presence of God, rather than our work, preferences, or ambitions, is the mark of a true disciple. The Holy Spirit is not just a doctrine but the living God who empowers, comforts, counsels, and fills us with love. Our inheritance is not just to believe in God, but to know Him, walk with Him, and be continually filled with His Spirit. [44:55]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Introduction: The Call to Discipleship
[02:25] - The Loss and Restoration of God’s Presence
[04:56] - Omnipresence vs. Tangible Presence
[07:02] - The Word of God: Alive and Transforming
[09:39] - Personal Testimony: Encountering God in Scripture
[13:11] - Approaching the Bible with Expectation
[13:55] - The Prophetic: God Speaks Through Others
[17:42] - Testimony: The Power of a Prophetic Word
[22:52] - Promptings of the Spirit: Walking by the Spirit
[26:57] - Stories of Obedience to the Spirit’s Promptings
[33:05] - Seeking God in Prayer and Expecting Answers
[38:54] - Living as People of God’s Presence
[44:55] - Receiving and Being Filled with the Holy Spirit
[52:57] - Prayer for Filling and Closing
[55:06] - Communion: Remembering Jesus
[57:14] - Final Blessing and Invitation to Worship

Bible Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: Living in God’s Presence

Bible Reading

Hebrews 4:12-13 (ESV)
> For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Galatians 5:16-18 (ESV)
> But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

1 Chronicles 16:10-12 (ESV)
> Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles and the judgments he uttered.

Observation Questions

According to Hebrews 4:12-13, what does the Word of God do in the life of a believer? How is it described in terms of its effect on our hearts and motives?
In Galatians 5:16-18, what is the relationship between the desires of the flesh and the Spirit? What does it mean to “walk by the Spirit”?
In the sermon, what is described as the deepest wound of sin, and what is the heart of redemption? [[02:25]]
What does David do in 1 Chronicles 16 to organize his life and leadership around God’s presence? How does this contrast with Saul’s leadership? [[44:55]]

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that the greatest tragedy of sin is the loss of God’s presence, not just moral failure. Why is this distinction important for how we view our relationship with God? [[02:25]]
The Bible is described as “alive” and able to expose and heal the deepest parts of us. What does it look like to approach Scripture with humility and expectation, rather than just for information? [[08:05]]
The gifts of the Spirit and prophetic words are said to be for all believers, not just a spiritual elite. How might this change the way we view our role in the church and our expectations of God? [[21:17]]
The Holy Spirit’s promptings can sometimes seem strange or risky. What are some reasons people might ignore or resist these promptings, and what does the sermon suggest is needed to respond well? [[30:50]]

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to organize our lives around God’s presence, not just our work, preferences, or ambitions. What is one area of your life that is currently organized around something other than God’s presence? What would it look like to re-center that area on Him? [[44:55]]
When you read the Bible, do you expect God to speak to you personally, or do you approach it more as a routine or obligation? What is one practical step you can take this week to approach Scripture with more humility and expectation? [[08:05]]
Have you ever experienced a moment when God spoke to you through another person, or when you sensed a prompting from the Holy Spirit? What happened, and how did you respond? If not, what holds you back from being open to these experiences? [[21:17]]
The sermon describes prayer as a dialogue, not a monologue. How much of your prayer life is spent listening versus talking? What is one way you can create more space to listen for God’s voice in prayer this week? [[33:05]]
The Holy Spirit is described as Helper, Comforter, Counselor, and Empowerer. Which of these roles do you most need in your life right now, and how can you invite the Holy Spirit to fill that need? [[44:55]]
The sermon says that the gifts and presence of the Holy Spirit are not something we earn, but a gift to be received. Are there any areas where you feel you have to “earn” God’s presence or favor? How can you shift your mindset to receive rather than strive? [[44:55]]
Think about a recent decision or situation where you needed wisdom or direction. Did you seek God’s presence and guidance, or rely on your own understanding? What would it look like to invite God into your decision-making process this week? [[34:13]]

Close in prayer, inviting the Holy Spirit to fill and lead each person as they seek to live in God’s presence this week.

Sermon Clips

“A church is only as good as its disciples. So, you may love the small groups. You may love the preaching. You may love the worship. But if the church fails to make disciples, people who think like Jesus, live like Jesus, act like Jesus, the church is not good. Jesus' great command was to make disciples of the nation.”

“You're not a random collection of cells in a giant, unpurposed, biological experiment on a little blue star hanging in the middle of a universe and here for no reason going nowhere later. You matter. You're made in the image of God to know God. But the loss of access to the presence of God is what sin has done to us.”

“When you study the Bible, yes, God is making up for our sin, but the purpose of paying for our sin is not just so that we get off or are forgiven. It's so that we can enjoy His presence and His fellowship again. And discovering why Jesus came and what the Holy Spirit has done to bring you back into the presence of God is the greatest discovery of life.”

“You don't know what someone's like until they reveal themselves, until they choose to communicate themselves. The Bible is God saying, here is what I'm like.”

“So, when you go to God's Word, this is not just academic. It's not just informational. It's not just inspirational. This is reading you. It is convicting you, changing you, getting into your heart. And we should expect when we go to the Scriptures that God will meet us. His voice will come through the Scriptures.”

“The primary place we can expect to encounter the manifest presence of God is through His Word. Yet, sadly, the last place many Christians think to look for an encounter with God is through His Word. We've got to be people of the Word.”

“Some of you are living on other people's revelations. That's not bad, but there's something better. You can hear from God Himself in His Word.”

“Do you anticipate things like that happening when you read the Bible? I was caught up in a glory portal. Sam, who oversees our prayer stuff, he's a bit of a pacer because he's walking when he's praying. But I could feel him coming near me because he could sense glory was coming off me when I was doing that. And he literally said, dude, I could see, I don't know what was happening with you, but I could see God's touching you in a powerful way.”

“Weird is not necessary for God to move. People make it sound like unless someone's like doing weird stuff god can't move he can move without your weirdness weirdness is weirdness is optional but not required for the power of god.”

“Having a spiritually provocative life when non -believers are grabbing a hold of the hem of your life saying what is this source of love and joy and power that you have what sort of faith is that.”

“When you've got stuff in your heart that you've never shared with anybody, and then God comes in and just reads your mail like that, it just makes you go, there is a God who sees the cry of my heart. And the reason we should learn to grow in the prophetic can hear the voice of the Lord on behalf of others is to give them the gift of encounters like that.”

“So many people come to church, they expect singing and Bible teaching and greeting, but do we really expect God Himself to be there? Did you come tonight thinking, oh, I'm going to meet with a living God? Or were you like, I hope they're friendly? Many of us have given up on hoping to meet God at church.”

“Without the Holy Spirit within you, without a regenerated spirit that desires to know God and please God, you're driven along by your emotional and bodily desires. Okay? So you think about a typical person, it's like, hey, Sunday night, I'm bored, I want to look at porn. At Sunday night, I'm bored, I'm going to get online. At Sunday night, I'm bored, I'm going to get a pizza. I mean, I don't, what are you going to do on a Sunday night? Just whatever you want. And that's what the flesh does. It just lets your desire.desires, and your preferences dictate your life. But when the Holy Spirit comes into your life, He reorders your desires, and He reorders your appetites in such a way that they want the things of God.”

“Walking in the Spirit is not just about avoiding sinning, it's about responding to what God is doing in the world around us. So, walking in the Spirit is having an awareness of what God is doing, and being sensitive to His promptings as He leads and guides us.”

“If God wanted to speak to you like that, would you be available to hear Him? Do you have a willingness to obey if you get a prompting like that? See, I think when I look at a city the size of New York, this whole region has the population of Australia in it, 24 million people in the New York region. Do you think that God's only saving one or two people at a time up here? I think, imagine what would happen in our church if every person woke up and for 10 minutes in the morning said, in the name of Jesus, I bind the voice of the evil one, I silence the flesh and Holy Spirit, you've promised to speak to me, here I am, what do you have for me today?”

“When you go to the Lord in prayer, are you expecting Him to give you promises from His Word? Are you expecting to hear from God? Are you expecting an encounter with the divine? Are you expecting Him to talk back? We've got to have an element of listening when we pray, creating space.”

“We are called to be people of His presence. You are called to be a disciple that knows the presence of God, not just to believe the Bible, not just to try not to sin. You're called to live in the reality of the new covenant where Jesus, by His blood, has made full atonement for your sin. Now the veil has been ripped into ansays you can go boldly into the presence of God to find mercy and help in your time of need. What an invitation.”

“It's great to believe the Bible, but do you believe the things in the Bible? Because these things are in the Bible. So, it's not enough to say I believe in the Bible on a general level. You have to have a conviction that what's in it is supposed to be lived out and encountered as a part of our discipleship.”

“Outside of the sometimes of severe discipline, the presence of God feels like liquid love. It feels like, it feels like being chased down by love incarnate.”

“We need not just the power of god, not just the gifts of the spirit, not just encounters with god, what we need is god himself. We need the holy spirit in his fullness in our lives.”

“God's got more for you. You're not meant to be a functional deist, you're not meant to be someone with a biblical worldview but zero encounter of the presence of god. It's not father son and holy bible and I love the bible but you've got to know the holy spirit.”

“This is not something you earn. You don't get brownie points. It's not like A -plus gold star Christians who get this. This is a gift. The conditions are humility and hunger.”

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