Walking Daily in God's Transformative Presence
Summary
### Summary
Today, we gathered to delve into the importance of walking in God's presence daily. We began by acknowledging the significance of being in God's presence, not just on Sundays but every day. The sermon emphasized that Jesus spent time with God daily, and we should strive to do the same. We prayed for our children, especially those heading off to college, asking for God's protection and guidance in their lives.
We discussed a sobering statistic: over 23 million people in America have transitioned from practicing Christians to non-practicing ones, with many young adults leaving the church after high school. The root cause, as revealed by God, is the lack of experiencing His manifest presence. Jesus promised in John 14:21 that those who love Him and keep His commandments will experience His manifest presence. This tangible presence of God is essential for a fulfilling Christian life.
Moses and David both highlighted the importance of God's presence, with Moses stating that it sets God's people apart and David finding fullness of joy in it. The lack of joy and strength among believers is often due to not experiencing God's presence. We need to pursue authentic holiness to experience this presence. Holiness has been misunderstood and misused, leading to legalism. However, true holiness is irresistible and brings us closer to God.
We explored the concept of positional holiness, which is our standing before God because of Jesus' sacrifice, and behavioral holiness, which is our conduct aligning with our position. Just as a marriage certificate declares a couple married, our salvation declares us holy. However, our behavior must reflect this position. Pursuing holiness involves intentionality and urgency, as stated in Hebrews 12:14.
We also discussed the importance of not letting anything come between us and Jesus, comparing it to marital faithfulness. Just as we wouldn't tolerate infidelity in marriage, we shouldn't allow anything to take Jesus' place in our lives. The fear of God, which is not about being scared but about being terrified of being away from Him, keeps us in His presence. This fear was Jesus' delight and should be ours too.
In conclusion, we need to pursue holiness and God's presence daily. This pursuit will transform us, just as it did for Isaiah, Job, Moses, and John. We must not be content with just hearing about God but strive to see Him and experience His glory. This will empower us to live a life of holiness and experience the fullness of God's presence.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Importance of God's Presence: Experiencing God's presence is essential for a fulfilling Christian life. Jesus promised that those who love Him and keep His commandments will experience His manifest presence. This tangible presence brings joy, strength, and direction, setting us apart as God's people. [58:20]
2. Positional vs. Behavioral Holiness: Positional holiness is our standing before God because of Jesus' sacrifice, while behavioral holiness is our conduct aligning with this position. Just as a marriage certificate declares a couple married, our salvation declares us holy. However, our behavior must reflect this position, requiring intentionality and urgency in pursuing holiness. [01:03:33]
3. The Fear of God: The fear of God is not about being scared but about being terrified of being away from Him. This fear keeps us in His presence and was Jesus' delight. It should be our delight too, as it empowers us to live a life of holiness and experience the fullness of God's presence. [01:39:00]
4. The Transformative Power of God's Presence: Experiencing God's presence transforms us, just as it did for Isaiah, Job, Moses, and John. We must not be content with just hearing about God but strive to see Him and experience His glory. This pursuit will empower us to live a life of holiness and experience the fullness of God's presence. [01:26:31]
5. Living a Life of Holiness: Pursuing holiness involves intentionality and urgency. We must not let anything come between us and Jesus, just as we wouldn't tolerate infidelity in marriage. This pursuit will transform us and empower us to live a life of holiness, experiencing the fullness of God's presence. [01:11:13]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[0:45] - Introduction and Importance of God's Presence
[2:30] - Prayer for Children and Graduates
[4:00] - Sobering Statistics on Faith
[6:20] - Experiencing God's Manifest Presence
[8:00] - Moses and David on God's Presence
[10:00] - Pursuing Authentic Holiness
[12:00] - Positional vs. Behavioral Holiness
[14:30] - The Fear of God
[16:00] - Transformative Power of God's Presence
[18:00] - Living a Life of Holiness
[20:00] - Conclusion and Communion Preparation
[22:00] - Taking Communion Together
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. John 14:21 - "Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them."
2. Hebrews 12:14 - "Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord."
3. Psalm 16:11 - "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."
### Observation Questions
1. According to John 14:21, what is the promise given to those who love Jesus and keep His commandments?
2. In Hebrews 12:14, what are believers encouraged to pursue, and why is it important?
3. How does Psalm 16:11 describe the experience of being in God's presence?
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to experience Jesus' "manifest presence" as described in John 14:21? How does this differ from simply knowing about Jesus? [58:20]
2. How can the pursuit of holiness, as mentioned in Hebrews 12:14, impact a believer's daily life and relationship with God? [01:11:13]
3. Psalm 16:11 speaks of joy and eternal pleasures in God's presence. How can this understanding of God's presence influence a believer's approach to daily challenges and struggles? [01:00:04]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily routine. How can you intentionally make time to experience God's presence every day, not just on Sundays? [50:54]
2. The sermon mentioned the importance of not letting anything come between us and Jesus, similar to marital faithfulness. Are there any "infidelities" in your spiritual life that you need to address? How can you start making changes today? [01:20:39]
3. The fear of God was described as being terrified of being away from Him. How can this perspective change the way you live your life and make decisions? [01:39:00]
4. The sermon highlighted the transformative power of God's presence, using examples like Isaiah, Job, Moses, and John. Can you recall a time when you felt transformed by God's presence? How did it change you? [01:26:31]
5. Pursuing holiness involves intentionality and urgency. What specific steps can you take this week to align your behavior with your positional holiness in Christ? [01:03:33]
6. The sermon mentioned the sobering statistic of young adults leaving the church. How can you support and encourage the younger generation in your community to experience and value God's presence? [56:40]
7. How can you cultivate a deeper sense of joy and strength in your life by seeking God's presence, as described in Psalm 16:11? What practical actions can you take to make this a reality? [01:00:04]
Devotional
Day 1: Experiencing God's Presence Daily
Experiencing God's presence is essential for a fulfilling Christian life. Jesus promised that those who love Him and keep His commandments will experience His manifest presence. This tangible presence brings joy, strength, and direction, setting us apart as God's people. The sermon highlighted that over 23 million people in America have transitioned from practicing Christians to non-practicing ones, with many young adults leaving the church after high school. The root cause is the lack of experiencing His manifest presence. Moses and David both emphasized the importance of God's presence, with Moses stating that it sets God's people apart and David finding fullness of joy in it. We need to pursue authentic holiness to experience this presence. [58:20]
Exodus 33:14-15 (ESV): "And he said, 'My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.' And he said to him, 'If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.'"
Reflection: Think about your daily routine. How can you intentionally create space to experience God's presence today?
Day 2: Aligning Conduct with Positional Holiness
Positional holiness is our standing before God because of Jesus' sacrifice, while behavioral holiness is our conduct aligning with this position. Just as a marriage certificate declares a couple married, our salvation declares us holy. However, our behavior must reflect this position, requiring intentionality and urgency in pursuing holiness. The sermon explained that pursuing holiness involves intentionality and urgency, as stated in Hebrews 12:14. This means that our daily actions and decisions should reflect our holy standing before God. [01:03:33]
1 Peter 1:15-16 (ESV): "But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"
Reflection: Identify one area of your life where your behavior does not align with your holy standing before God. What steps can you take today to bring your conduct in line with your position?
Day 3: Embracing the Fear of God
The fear of God is not about being scared but about being terrified of being away from Him. This fear keeps us in His presence and was Jesus' delight. It should be our delight too, as it empowers us to live a life of holiness and experience the fullness of God's presence. The sermon emphasized that this fear of God is essential for maintaining a close relationship with Him and living a life that reflects His holiness. [01:39:00]
Proverbs 9:10 (ESV): "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight."
Reflection: Reflect on your understanding of the fear of God. How can you cultivate a healthy fear of being away from His presence in your daily life?
Day 4: The Transformative Power of God's Presence
Experiencing God's presence transforms us, just as it did for Isaiah, Job, Moses, and John. We must not be content with just hearing about God but strive to see Him and experience His glory. This pursuit will empower us to live a life of holiness and experience the fullness of God's presence. The sermon highlighted that this transformation is essential for a fulfilling Christian life and that we should actively seek to experience God's glory. [01:26:31]
2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "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: Think of a time when you felt transformed by God's presence. How can you seek to experience His glory more consistently in your life?
Day 5: Living a Life of Holiness
Pursuing holiness involves intentionality and urgency. We must not let anything come between us and Jesus, just as we wouldn't tolerate infidelity in marriage. This pursuit will transform us and empower us to live a life of holiness, experiencing the fullness of God's presence. The sermon compared this to marital faithfulness, emphasizing that we should not allow anything to take Jesus' place in our lives. [01:11:13]
Hebrews 12:14 (ESV): "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord."
Reflection: Examine your life for anything that might be coming between you and Jesus. What steps can you take today to remove these obstacles and pursue holiness with intentionality and urgency?
Quotes
1. "I don't know about you, I need the presence of God. I need it more than just once a week. I need His presence every day. And tell your neighbor, you need the presence of God. Come on, turn to somebody else and use that bony prophetic finger and say, you need the presence of God." [51:50] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I believe believers are struggling and burnt out because they don't have joy. Therefore, they have no strength. The joy of the Lord is our strength. And in order to endure tribulations and hardships, and afflictions, and trials, and the onslaught of the enemy, we need the joy of the Lord in our lives." [01:00:04] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "When we experience God's presence, it becomes irresistible. The Bible says, taste and see that the Lord is good. And as a result of legalism, the pendulum has been swung to the complete other side. So now you have pastors and leaders and ministers saying, we don't need to be concerned about holiness, because Jesus is your holiness. Yes, Jesus makes us holy. But he also wants us to seek holiness." [01:01:49] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "If I want to have a good marriage, I have to position myself correctly. There's a reason why I do not commit adultery. Here's the biggest kind of humiliation don't have any money to treat my wife but amERE the most terrible mistake just by looking with my own eyes because she has an airplane we call in during her free time and now I have to go out and fight and if I leave I'm gonna turn myself away from the people that I care those things don't last right." [01:16:01] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I want to remain faithful to serving Jesus because I don't want to lose my intimacy with him. I know I need him in my life every day because the more I spend time with him, the more irresistible he gets. The more I spend time with this blonde-haired, green-eyed girl, the more irresistible she gets. She looks good. She smells good. She has never had morning bad breath, anything. I'll kiss her 24-7. I don't care if she's brushed her teeth or not." [01:17:25] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "We need God's presence every day. We need to see every facet of the holiness of God. We need to pursue holiness. We need to be changed like Job and Isaiah and Moses and John. We can't just be content with being a hearer and a complainer and a poster on Facebook like Job was over 30 chapters before this moment of encounter." [01:28:05] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Are we going to be more enamored by what's going on in the world around us? Because the world's glory has nothing compared to God's glory. Now listen to me. I know a lot of young men, women, you know, amazing sports athletes, they're doing things now. I saw all the highlights of the Olympics. I saw. I saw all that. I love Michael Jordan. I used to think I was him." [01:29:24] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "If I pursue holiness, I will get a greater glimpse of his glory. And the better glimpse I get of his glory, the more I change. Understand that the more I see Jesus, the more I'm transformed. I'm It's not something nowadays, but it's taking part of you. The grace, the loss, the debt, but it's more than it is in heaven." [01:30:35] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "The fear of God has nothing to do with being scared of God but it's actually being terrified of being away from God. The fear of God the bible says was Jesus's delight it's what kept him strong even when when he was facing the cross the bible says in Isaiah 33 6 wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times and the strength of salvation the fear of the lord is his treasure it was the treasure of the lord the treasure of Jesus." [01:39:00] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "We got to be 100% loyal to Jesus. Where I want more of his presence, I want more of him. I don't want to live any day of my life without him. Today, as we take communion, I want us to remember God's love for us. That he sent Jesus to die in our place, that his body was broken so that we could live in victory. We could live this place of holiness, experiencing God's best, where we could have that fear of the Lord, where we could see Jesus and see God and live, saying, I don't want to live life without you." [01:48:23] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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