Yearning for God's Presence: A Life of Service

 

Summary

In our journey through Psalm 84, we have been exploring the deep longing of the psalmist for the presence of God. This longing is not a passive desire but an active pursuit, a pilgrimage of the heart that seeks to dwell in the house of the Lord. The psalmist declares that even the sparrow finds a home near the altar of God, illustrating the innate desire of all creation to be close to the Creator. This is the posture we are called to emulate—a posture of yearning, of being consumed by a zeal for God's dwelling place.

The psalmist exclaims, "Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you." This is not a fleeting visitation but a permanent residence in the presence of God, marked by continuous praise. It is in this dwelling that we find our strength, as we set our hearts on pilgrimage, transforming even the valleys of weeping into places of refreshing springs. The journey from strength to strength culminates in appearing before God in Zion, a metaphor for the ultimate encounter with the Divine.

As we gathered for prayer on Monday night, the atmosphere was charged with a surrendered posture, a collective desire for more of God and less of ourselves. The multitude of prayer cards represented the cries of our hearts, each one lifted before the Lord by our intercessory team. This is the essence of being consumed by God—our prayers, our desires, our very lives offered up as a living sacrifice.

The psalmist then presents a profound contrast: the choice between being a consumer or being consumed. To be a consumer is to seek personal gratification, to be fed without giving in return. To be consumed is to be a servant of the King, to use our gifts, time, and talents in service to Him, to live as an extension of our worship. Our posture should reflect this servitude, a life surrendered to the will of God.

In my own life, there have been unmistakable moments of divine direction, such as when I committed my life to Jesus at 17. I promised to go wherever He led, to do whatever He asked, and to be whoever He called me to be. This is the essence of being a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord—preferring one day in His courts over a thousand elsewhere. It is a posture of humility, yet one that recognizes the incredible privilege of serving the Almighty.

We are reminded in 1 Peter 2 that we, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Our identity is found in being chosen, royal, holy, and belonging to God. Our purpose is to declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light.

As we consider our posture before God, let us embrace the nobility of being a child of the King. Let us not seek status or approval from the world, but find our identity in serving God, even if it means being a doorkeeper in His house. For it is in His presence that we find true hope, joy, strength, and restoration.

Key Takeaways:

- The longing for God's presence is not passive but an active pursuit that transforms our lives. As we yearn for God, we become like the sparrow that finds a home near His altar, signifying our innate desire to be close to our Creator. This yearning is the catalyst for a life of continuous praise and strength found in dwelling with God. [07:14]

- Our posture in prayer is a reflection of our heart's orientation towards God. When we gather collectively in prayer, surrendering our desires for His will, we create an atmosphere where the Spirit moves powerfully. Each prayer is a sacred conversation with the Divine, and as a church, we commit to interceding for every need presented before us. [10:10]

- The choice between being a consumer and being consumed by God is pivotal. To be consumed is to live as a servant of the King, using our God-given gifts in service to Him. Our lives should be an act of worship, reflecting our love for the Lord in everything we do. This is the posture of a true disciple. [37:41]

- The call to be a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord is a call to humility and service. It is a recognition that even the lowest position in God's house is infinitely more valuable than the highest honors the world can offer. Our identity as children of God is not diminished by service; rather, it is through service that we truly understand our royal inheritance. [30:31]

- Our identity and purpose as believers are to be living stones, built into a spiritual house, offering spiritual sacrifices to God. We are chosen, royal, and holy, called to declare God's praises. This identity shapes our actions and gives us a mission to shine His light in the darkness, proclaiming His goodness to the world. [41:22]

Study Guide

Bible Reading:

1. Psalm 84:1-4, 10 (ESV)
"How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! ... For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness."

2. 1 Peter 2:4-5 (ESV)
"As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

3. Romans 12:1 (ESV)
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."

Observation Questions:

1. In Psalm 84, what does the psalmist compare his longing for the courts of the Lord to, and what does this suggest about the nature of this desire?
2. What does the psalmist mean when he says he would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of God than dwell in the tents of wickedness?
3. According to 1 Peter 2:4-5, what are believers being built into, and what is the purpose of this spiritual construction?

Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the imagery of the sparrow finding a home near the altar of God in Psalm 84 inform our understanding of our innate desire for God's presence?
2. What does the psalmist's preference for being a doorkeeper in the house of God over dwelling in the tents of wickedness reveal about the values of God's kingdom compared to the world's?
3. Considering 1 Peter 2:4-5, what does it mean to be a living stone in the spiritual house of God, and how does this identity affect our daily lives?

Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you experienced a deep longing for God's presence. What practical steps can you take to cultivate that desire daily?
2. Identify a situation in your life where you can choose servanthood over personal gratification, emulating the psalmist's desire to be a doorkeeper in the house of God.
3. In light of Romans 12:1, what is one area of your life that you can offer up as a living sacrifice to God this week?
4. Choose one spiritual gift or talent you possess. How can you use it this week to serve others as an act of worship?
5. Think about your current posture towards God. What is one change you can make to reflect a heart that is more surrendered to His will?

Devotional

Day 1: Active Pursuit of Divine Presence
The longing for God's presence is a dynamic journey that requires active engagement, not passive wishing. It is like the sparrow that seeks a place near the altar of God, a symbol of our own innate desire to be close to our Creator. This pursuit is not merely about being in God's presence but about making His presence the central focus of our lives. It is a pilgrimage that transforms us, turning our valleys of weeping into springs of joy. As we seek to dwell in the house of the Lord, we find ourselves moving from strength to strength, our lives marked by continuous praise and worship. This active pursuit is a testament to our commitment to God and the transformative power of His presence in our lives. [07:14]

"O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water." - Psalm 63:1

Reflection: What practical steps can you take this week to actively seek God's presence in your daily routine?

Day 2: Surrendered Hearts in Prayer
When hearts are aligned with God's will, the atmosphere of prayer becomes charged with the Holy Spirit's power. The collective surrender of desires for His will creates a space where the Spirit moves mightily. Each prayer becomes a sacred conversation with the Divine, and as a community, there is a commitment to intercede for every need. This surrendered posture is not just for moments of corporate prayer but is a lifestyle of yielding one's ambitions and plans to God's greater purpose. It is in this posture of surrender that believers find themselves consumed by God, offering their lives as a living sacrifice. [10:10]

"And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us." - 1 John 5:14

Reflection: How can you cultivate a surrendered posture in your prayer life, and what specific area of your life do you need to surrender to God today?

Day 3: Servitude Over Consumption
The choice between being a consumer and being consumed by God is a defining one. To be consumed by God means to live as a servant of the King, using one's gifts, time, and talents in service to Him. It is a life that reflects worship in every action, a life that is not about personal gratification but about giving and serving. This servitude is not a loss but a gain, as it aligns with the true purpose of life—to love and serve the Lord with all one's heart. This is the posture of a true disciple, one who finds joy in being used by God for His glory. [37:41]

"For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another." - Galatians 5:13

Reflection: What is one way you can shift from being a consumer to being consumed in service to God this week?

Day 4: The Privilege of Humble Service
Being a doorkeeper in the house of the Lord is a call to humility and service, recognizing that even the lowest position in God's house is more valuable than the highest honors the world can offer. This call is not about diminishing one's identity but about understanding the true nature of royal inheritance through service. It is in humble service that believers truly understand their identity as children of God. This understanding brings a sense of privilege and joy in serving the Almighty, no matter the capacity. [30:31]

"For who is greater, the one who reclines at table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves." - Luke 22:27

Reflection: In what ways can you embrace the role of a humble servant in your community, and how does this reflect your identity as a child of the King?

Day 5: Living Stones in God's Spiritual House
Believers are like living stones, being built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood that offers spiritual sacrifices to God. This identity as chosen, royal, and holy is not just a title but a call to action—to declare God's praises and shine His light in the darkness. It is a mission that gives purpose and direction, shaping actions and attitudes. As living stones, believers are interconnected, supporting one another and growing together into a dwelling place for God's Spirit. [41:22]

"You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." - 1 Peter 2:5

Reflection: How can you live out your identity as a living stone in God's spiritual house, and what spiritual sacrifices can you offer to God today?

Quotes

1) "There is power in a Hallelujah posture... it serves you at its absolute dynamite power when you are insecure, uncertain, don't know what's going on in a hard season, yet still will I praise Him. Hallelujah." [18:34] (Download | )

2) "Am I a consumer or am I consumed? Are you a servant of the king, using the gifts that he's given you, is your life simply an extension and a response, an act of worship?" [37:41] (Download | )

3) "I was 17 when I went all in with Jesus... I said, 'I'll go wherever you tell me to go, I'll do whatever you tell me to do, I'll be whoever you call me to be.' That's what it is to be a doorkeeper in the house of my Lord." [39:04] (Download | Download cropped video)

4) "Being a doorkeeper in the house of my Lord isn't make me nobody; being a doorkeeper in the house of my Lord is a declaration of who I really am. I'm a child of God, an heir with the king of the Universe." [36:24] (Download | )

5) "You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. This is your identity." [41:22] (Download | )

6) "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere. I'd rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." [12:24] (Download | )

7) "The posture of 'I'd rather be a doorkeeper' is this: to humble myself before the Lord is the best. It's humility. Just give me that, and I'd rather be that than serving anybody anywhere else." [30:31] (Download | Download cropped video)

8) "We need to be reminded and embrace the nobility of being a child of the king. We should be putting our shoulders high, not because of how great I am, but because of how great the one in whom I belong to is." [37:02] (Download | )

9) "In his presence is fullness of joy, in his presence there is hope, in his presence there is forgiveness, in his presence there is healing. They were longing to be consumed by his presence." [16:33] (Download | )

10) "I'd rather just be a doorkeeper, just to serve and to be and to dwell. The person he's describing is not in the house to consume, it's not there to get what he can get, he's there just to be in and around." [30:31] (Download | Download cropped video)

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Transcript
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