Seeking God's Presence and Glory: A Transformative Journey

Devotional

Day 1: Intentional Spaces for Divine Encounters

Creating intentional spaces in our lives for God is crucial for deepening our spiritual journey and leadership. Just as Moses set up the Tent of Meeting away from the camp's distractions, we too must find or create specific places where we can be alone with God, free from the daily hustle. This practice isn't just about physical location but also about setting aside dedicated time for prayer, meditation, and reading Scripture. By doing so, we allow ourselves to experience God more deeply and consistently, which is essential for our spiritual health and leadership within the community. This act of separation helps us to focus on God and listen to His voice more clearly. [01:05:12]

Exodus 33:7-11 "Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the Tent of Meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the Tent of Meeting, which was outside the camp. Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend."

Reflection: What specific time and place can you set aside this week to seek God without distractions?

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Day 2: The Perils of Impatience in Faith

The story of the golden calf is a stark reminder of the dangers of impatience and spiritual complacency. When Moses was on Mount Sinai, the Israelites grew impatient for his return and turned to an idol, a tangible substitute for God's presence. This teaches us the importance of steadfastness and patience in our faith journey. We must resist the urge to seek quick fixes or visible signs when divine timing does not align with our expectations. Instead, embracing a steadfast faith like Moses can help us withstand spiritual trials and deepen our reliance on God. [01:07:15]

Exodus 32:1 "When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, 'Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.'"

Reflection: How can you cultivate patience and steadfastness in your spiritual life, especially during times of waiting?

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Day 3: Divine Guidance as Our True North

Moses' insistence on not moving forward without God's presence underscores the necessity of divine guidance in our lives. True progress in our spiritual journey and ministry efforts hinges on our alignment with God's will. This dependency ensures that our actions are fruitful and aligned with divine purposes. We must continually seek God's presence to guide us in every decision and action, recognizing that without Him, our efforts are ineffective. This reliance on God's presence not only leads to effective ministry but also to personal spiritual growth. [01:11:57]

Numbers 9:15-18 "On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony. And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning. So it was always: the cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night. Whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to seek God's guidance today to ensure your actions align with His will?

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Day 4: Transformative Power of Seeking God's Glory

While experiencing God's presence is foundational, aspiring for His glory is transformative. The glory of God, described as "kavod" in Hebrew, carries a weight that empowers us to fulfill His will more effectively. This pursuit is crucial for breaking the yokes of bondage and bringing about change in our lives and those around us. By seeking God's glory, we invite His transformative power into our lives, enabling us to serve Him and others in a more profound and impactful way. [01:13:59]

2 Corinthians 3:18 "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."

Reflection: What does seeking God's glory look like in your daily life, and how can you make it a more intentional pursuit?

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Day 5: Beyond the Outer Courts to True Intimacy

The call to move beyond the outer courts into the Holiest of Holies symbolizes our invitation to deeper intimacy and power in our walk with God. This movement is made possible by the sacrifice of Jesus, who tore the veil, granting us direct access to God's glory. As believers, we are encouraged to not just reside in the outer courts of superficial faith but to enter into a deeper, more intimate relationship with God. This deeper communion is where true transformation and empowerment occur, enabling us to live out our faith boldly and effectively. [01:15:59]

Hebrews 10:19-22 "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Holy Places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."

Reflection: How can you move deeper into your relationship with God, beyond superficial practices, to experience His transformative presence and power?

Sermon Summary

In today's sermon, I explored the profound relationship between Moses and God as depicted in Exodus 33, emphasizing the transformative power of God's presence and glory. We began by reflecting on the significance of Moses' interactions with God, particularly his ability to commune with God face-to-face, which set a precedent for spiritual leadership and intimacy with the Divine.

Moses' practice of pitching the "Tent of Meeting" outside the camp was highlighted as a deliberate act to seek God's presence, away from distractions. This act of separation and dedication was crucial for Moses and serves as a model for us, illustrating the importance of creating space in our lives to connect with God.

The narrative then shifted to the Israelites' impatience, which led them to create the golden calf. This incident underlined the dangers of spiritual complacency and the human tendency to revert to tangible idols when divine timing does not align with personal expectations. Moses' contrastingly steadfast faith and his intercessory role were underscored, emphasizing his commitment to God's presence.

I delved deeper into Moses' plea to God, "Show me your glory," which is a pivotal moment in Scripture. This request was not just for Moses' benefit but was also about ensuring that God's presence was unmistakably with the Israelites. This teaches us the critical nature of God's presence in achieving divine rest and guidance.

The sermon culminated in a call to not only experience God's presence but to also seek His glory. The glory of God, described as "kavod" in Hebrew, which means heaviness or great significance, is transformative. It is this glory that empowers us to carry out God's will effectively and break the yokes of bondage in our lives and in the lives of those around us.

The movement from merely residing in God's presence to actively seeking His glory was presented as essential for spiritual growth and effectiveness in ministry. This transition is crucial for us as believers if we are to impact our world significantly.

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Key Takeaways

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Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was the significance of Moses pitching the "Tent of Meeting" outside the camp? ([01:05:12])
How did the Israelites react when Moses entered the Tent of Meeting? ([01:05:12])
What was Moses' request to God in Exodus 33:18, and how did God respond? ([01:12:26])
What does the term "kavod" mean in Hebrew, and how is it related to God's glory? ([01:13:59])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Moses chose to set up the Tent of Meeting outside the camp, away from distractions? How does this reflect on his leadership and relationship with God? ([01:05:12])
What does Moses' plea, "Show me your glory," reveal about his understanding of God's presence and his own spiritual journey? ([01:12:26])
How does the incident of the golden calf illustrate the dangers of spiritual complacency and impatience? ([01:07:15])
In what ways does seeking God's glory go beyond merely experiencing His presence? How does this pursuit impact our spiritual growth and effectiveness in ministry? ([01:13:09])

Application Questions

Reflect on your daily routine. How can you create intentional spaces in your life to seek God's presence, similar to Moses' Tent of Meeting? ([01:05:12])
Have you ever experienced a time when impatience led you to seek substitutes for God's presence? How can you cultivate steadfastness and patience in your faith journey? ([01:07:15])
Think about a recent decision or action. How did you ensure that it was guided by God's presence? What steps can you take to make sure you are always seeking divine guidance in your life? ([01:11:57])
What does it mean for you personally to move from experiencing God's presence to seeking His glory? How can this transition transform your spiritual life and ministry? ([01:13:09])
Consider the concept of moving beyond the outer courts into the Holiest of Holies. How can you deepen your intimacy with God and experience His glory more fully in your daily walk? ([01:15:59])
Identify one area in your life where you feel "stiff-necked" or resistant to God's leading. What practical steps can you take to surrender this area to God and seek His presence more earnestly? ([01:06:33])
How can you encourage and support others in your community to seek God's presence and glory? Share specific ways you can foster a presence-centered culture within your small group or church. ([01:08:30])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "There is more to this than just coming into church on a Sunday, and coming into a neighborhood, and experiencing the presence of God there. Sometimes we get addicted to that little shot that we feel, when we come into the altar, and we feel his presence, and then we kind of take that high, and live off of that high for the remainder of the week." [01:10:35]( | | )

2. "And then there may be some people. I know a lot of people in this room have had an experience with God. But you want to feel his presence in a more tangible way. And you can come into this room and come to the altar. And seek the presence of God like you've never seeked him before." [01:17:57]( | | )

3. "God, please show us your glory. Does anyone want the glory of God? There is something about the glory of God. It may be heavy, but the glory of God is what breaks yokes. The glory of God is what breaks chains." [01:13:09]( | | )

4. "And I believe that what this world is needing is the glory of God. And if we believe that the Lord is not only wanting to meet with us in this building, but wanting to meet with us out in the streets, and wanting to reach the lost, we have to have the glory of God in us and working through us." [01:13:59]( | | )

### Quotes for Members

1. "Moses said to the Lord, if your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. And we've made it a part of who we are, that we will be a presence centered people. And we are a house of prayer." [01:11:57]( | | )

2. "Now, Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp." [01:05:12]( | | )

3. "Moses said, please show me your glory. God, please show us your glory. Does anyone want the glory of God? There is something about the glory of God. It may be heavy, but the glory of God is what breaks yokes. The glory of God is what breaks chains." [01:12:26]( | | )

4. "You can move into the holiest of holies. And when you move into the holiest of holies, that's when the glory of God begins to cover you. That's when the glory of God begins to speak to you and shield you and lead you into new things." [01:15:59]( | | )

5. "If we will not be a people that are like Moses, will go into prayer on behalf of others, and who will be a people of prayer that are presence-centered, we will not have Joshua's. We won't have a generation come up after us that can do the same things that Moses did." [01:08:30]( | | )

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