Seeking God's Presence: The Key to True Fulfillment

Devotional

Day 1: The Incompatibility of Sin and God's Glory

Description: Sin and rebellion cannot coexist with the glory of God. This is a crucial lesson from the Israelites' experience in Exodus 33 and 34. Despite witnessing God's miracles, the Israelites turned to idol worship, provoking God's anger. God's response was to offer them the promised land but without His presence, which deeply distressed them. This teaches us that true fulfillment comes from God's presence, not just His blessings. We often seek the benefits of God's promises—wealth, success, and comfort—without wanting to adhere to His teachings. This has led to a culture of spiritual depravity, manifesting in societal issues like crime and unrest. The solution to these problems is not more laws or reforms but a return to God. [31:50]

Exodus 33:3-4 (ESV): "Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people. When the people heard this disastrous word, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments."

Reflection: Think of a time when you sought material blessings over God's presence. How did it affect your spiritual well-being, and what steps can you take today to prioritize God's presence in your life?

Day 2: The Illusion of Material Wealth

Description: Wealth and comfort without God's presence lead to spiritual emptiness. The Israelites were offered a land flowing with milk and honey but without God, which made them realize that material wealth without God's presence poisons the soul. This is a powerful reminder for us today, as we often seek material success while neglecting our spiritual well-being. True peace and fulfillment come not from material blessings but from God's presence. We must be cautious not to fall into the trap of valuing wealth and comfort over our relationship with God. [45:03]

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (ESV): "He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity."

Reflection: Reflect on your current pursuits and ambitions. Are there areas where you are prioritizing material success over your relationship with God? What changes can you make to ensure that God remains at the center of your life?

Day 3: The Root of Societal Problems

Description: The issues we face in society, such as crime and unrest, stem from a lack of God's presence. The mayor of Birmingham noted that their city has a culture problem, not just a crime problem. This highlights the need for a spiritual revival, as societal reforms alone cannot address the root cause of our issues, which is spiritual depravity. The church has a crucial role in this, as we are called to bring people into the presence of God and share His love and mercy. [36:22]

Isaiah 59:2 (ESV): "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear."

Reflection: Consider the societal issues you see around you. How can you, as a member of the church, contribute to bringing God's presence into these situations? What specific actions can you take to address the spiritual needs of your community?

Day 4: The Role of the Church

Description: The church has a vital role in bringing people into the presence of God. We must move beyond seeking comfort within our church walls and actively reach out to the lost. This involves sacrifices and stepping out of our comfort zones to share the love and teachings of Jesus Christ. The church is called to be a beacon of hope and a place where people can experience God's transformative power. We must be intentional in our efforts to reach out to those who are spiritually lost and guide them towards God's love and mercy. [39:14]

Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV): "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Reflection: Think about your role within the church. How can you actively participate in reaching out to the lost and sharing God's love? What specific steps can you take this week to step out of your comfort zone and be a light to those around you?

Day 5: God's Mercy and Love

Description: Despite our sinfulness, God's love and mercy are far greater than we can imagine. Moses' encounter with God, where he was allowed to see God's goodness, foreshadows the ultimate revelation of God's love through Jesus Christ. This is the essence of the Gospel, that through Jesus, we can dwell in God's presence and experience His transformative power. We are reminded that we are far worse than we think, but God's love for us is far greater than we can imagine. This profound truth should inspire us to seek God's presence and share His love with others. [55:38]

Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV): "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved."

Reflection: Reflect on the depth of God's love and mercy in your life. How can you share this transformative love with others? What practical steps can you take to demonstrate God's love and mercy to those around you today?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, everyone. Today, we delved into the profound themes found in Exodus 33 and 34, focusing on the glory and mercy of God. We began by acknowledging the prayer needs within our church family, lifting up those who have recently experienced loss. We then transitioned into the main message, exploring how God's holiness and human sinfulness cannot coexist. This is vividly illustrated in the story of the Israelites, who, despite witnessing God's miracles, turned to idol worship, provoking God's anger.

God's response to their rebellion was to offer them the promised land but without His presence, a scenario that deeply distressed the Israelites. This serves as a powerful reminder that true peace and fulfillment come not from material blessings but from God's presence. We drew parallels to our own society, noting how we often seek the benefits of God's promises—wealth, success, and comfort—without wanting to adhere to His teachings. This has led to a culture of spiritual depravity, manifesting in societal issues like crime and unrest.

We emphasized that the solution to these problems is not more laws or reforms but a return to God. The church has a crucial role in this, as we are called to bring people into the presence of God and share His love and mercy. Moses' desire to see God's glory and God's subsequent revelation of His goodness and mercy highlight the importance of seeking God's presence above all else.

In conclusion, we are reminded that we are far worse than we think, but God's love for us is far greater than we can imagine. This is the essence of the Gospel, the good news that through Jesus Christ, we can dwell in God's presence and experience His transformative power.

###

Key Takeaways

1. being. [45:03]
3. The Root of Societal Problems: The issues we face in society, such as crime and unrest, stem from a lack of God's presence. The mayor of Birmingham noted that their city has a culture problem, not just a crime problem. This highlights the need for a spiritual revival, as societal reforms alone cannot address the root cause of our issues, which is spiritual depravity.

4. The Role of the Church: The church has a vital role in bringing people into the presence of God. We must move beyond seeking comfort within our church walls and actively reach out to the lost. This involves sacrifices and stepping out of our comfort zones to share the love and teachings of Jesus Christ.

5. God's Mercy and Love: Despite our sinfulness, God's love and mercy are far greater than we can imagine. Moses' encounter with God, where he was allowed to see God's goodness, foreshadows the ultimate revelation of God's love through Jesus Christ. This is the essence of the Gospel, that through Jesus, we can dwell in God's presence and experience His transformative power.

### [45:03]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[24:56] - Opening Prayer
[26:18] - Introduction and Personal Story
[27:41] - God's Presence and Power in Exodus
[29:01] - The Golden Calf and Israel's Rebellion
[30:28] - God's Glory Revealed
[31:50] - Sin and God's Glory Cannot Coexist
[33:22] - The Illusion of Material Wealth
[34:26] - America's Spiritual Depravity
[36:22] - Societal Problems and Spiritual Solutions
[39:14] - The Role of the Church
[40:48] - The Tent of Meeting
[43:08] - The Value of God's Presence
[45:03] - Wealth Without God Poisons the Soul
[49:08] - The Consequences of Excluding God
[55:38] - God's Mercy and Love
[65:22] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
[68:26] - Testimony and Rededication
[73:38] - Announcements and Closing Remarks

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was God's initial response to the Israelites' rebellion with the golden calf? (Exodus 33:1-6)
How did the Israelites react when they heard that God would not go with them to the promised land? (Exodus 33:4-6)
What did Moses request from God in Exodus 33:18, and how did God respond? (Exodus 33:18-23)
How does God describe Himself when He passes in front of Moses in Exodus 34:6-7?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God offered the Israelites the promised land but without His presence? What does this reveal about the nature of God's holiness? [31:50]
How does the Israelites' mourning over God's absence reflect their understanding of true fulfillment? [33:22]
In what ways does the story of the golden calf illustrate the incompatibility of sin and God's glory? [29:01]
How does Moses' desire to see God's glory and God's subsequent revelation of His goodness and mercy foreshadow the coming of Jesus Christ? [55:38]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you sought material success or comfort without considering God's presence. How did that experience affect your spiritual well-being? [34:26]
The sermon mentioned that societal problems stem from a lack of God's presence. How can you contribute to bringing God's presence into your community? [36:22]
The church has a vital role in bringing people into the presence of God. What specific steps can you take to move beyond seeking comfort within the church walls and actively reach out to the lost? [39:14]
Moses' encounter with God highlights the importance of seeking God's presence above all else. How can you prioritize seeking God's presence in your daily life? [55:38]
The sermon emphasized that we are far worse than we think, but God's love for us is far greater than we can imagine. How does this truth impact your understanding of the Gospel and your relationship with God? [58:55]
Consider the societal issues mentioned in the sermon, such as crime and unrest. How can you, as part of the church, address these issues through spiritual revival rather than relying solely on laws and reforms? [37:19]
Reflect on the role of God's mercy and love in your life. How can you share this message of hope and transformation with others who may be struggling with sin and rebellion? [56:13]

Sermon Clips

1. "In Exodus 33 and 34, we see a continuation of a theme of how some things don't go together. And especially when you talk about our sin and the holiness of God. Those two things, should never be together. They can't be together. They cannot coexist in the same place together. And so what we need to remember is, is that God in Exodus, as we've been looking at it here, if you remember, if you've been following along, God has gifted His people through no act of their own. He has gifted them with His presence and His power." [27:41] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "We are a people who want all the promises of God. We want the blessings. We want the care. We want the provision. We want him to grant us success. We like the wealth that we could have. And we live in a country that's been so blessed. We've got a wonderful land. We've got amazing wealth compared to so many other countries in the world. Even though with inflation, it doesn't feel like it right now for a lot of us. We have so many blessings. And we want that, right?" [34:26] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We want the presence of God without the teachings of God. Because God's presence is so valuable, isn't it? It's so amazing. His presence and His power is greater than anything. One of the ways we know God is glorious is that God is better than everything else. All of it put together. I want to walk through some of His promises here. That He's saying He's going to give them and He has been giving them." [43:08] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Despite our sleep number beds. Despite our air conditioning we can control wherever we are and keep it either as warm or as hot or as cold as we want it. Or in our case in the auditorium as cold as Walter wants it. Right? In spite of the fact that we can have a vehicle to get us where we want to go. In spite of the fact that we can have a roof over our heads. And in spite of the fact that we can in most cases try to get our bills paid like we need to. In spite of all of that here's the problem. We in America have not found rest for our souls in those things. Because they don't provide it." [46:08] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Jesus is going to teach that idea later in Mark chapter 8 and verse 36 he asks this question. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world and yet forfeit their soul? Or what would a man give in exchange for his soul? That's the question. We're giving the soul of America to prosperity we're exchanging our souls for the stuff. And we're wondering why are there mass shootings? Why is there so much crime? Why is this happening? Why are people feeling disenfranchised? Why do they feel like they don't have value or worth? It's because when you take out the presence of God everything else leaves you empty." [49:08] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Creation without the creator is chaos. And we're raising up chaos in our nation. Because we're making it all about everything but the most important thing. Bringing people into the presence of God. Having them come under the power and the presence of that God. So Jesus came to bring us the presence of God. The Israelites had Moses in the tent bringing in the presence of God. And yet God says your actions have demonstrated to me that you don't really want my presence because my presence brings my glory and my glory will not welcome your sin." [50:56] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Moses understands more than anything else he wants to see and be in the presence of the glory of God. And God says, I'm going to allow you to get a glimpse of it. But here's the thing. It's a foreshadowing. It's a looking ahead. Moses could not actually see the face of God, but here's what's going to happen for us. He was looking ahead to the provision he was going to make so that not only could we see the face of God, but we could remain there and dwell there through Jesus Christ, our Savior." [55:38] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "You're far worse than you think you are. You didn't want to write that one, I know. But that's the truth. It's true for me too. I wrote it down in my notes. I am far worse than I think I am. But here's truth number two. He loves you far more than you think he does. He loves you far more than you think he does. Friends, this is the gospel. It's the stunning reality of the amazing love and grace of God in view of our sin and our rebellion." [58:20] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Guess what God graced us with? His presence and his power. So that we actually got to see God in the flesh The Bible says he is the exact representation of the Father. When you see Jesus Jesus says when you've seen me you've seen what? The Father. God came to us to rescue us in his love and his grace and his mercy. So if you're not a Christian here today and you ever wonder what in the world are we always celebrating as Christians? We're celebrating this. That God is glorious but he's also merciful." [01:00:56] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "We celebrate not because we're so good. Not because of anything we've done but because you've offered us your power and your presence and you came and made the sacrifice for us that absolutely had to happen in order for us to be reconciled to you and be able to be back in your presence again. Father you want more than anything to have a people who love you who understand the privilege and the honor of being welcomed into your presence and having your power at work in our lives." [01:04:18] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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