Yearning for God's Presence: A Personal Encounter

 

Summary

In today's message, I shared a deep yearning for the presence of God, inspired by the words of James McDonald. This longing is not just a fleeting desire but a profound need to experience God in a real and tangible way. It's about moving beyond mere words and teachings to a place where God's presence is genuinely felt and known. This is not about quoting scripture or performing religious rituals; it's about a heartfelt connection with the Divine, where God is actively moving and speaking through us.

I recounted a conversation with a friend from India, who lamented the state of many pastors and congregations in America. He observed that many seem content to hear from others who have been with God, rather than seeking His presence themselves. This resonated with me deeply, as it highlights a common issue in our spiritual lives: the tendency to rely on others' experiences with God instead of pursuing our own. We must not be satisfied with secondhand encounters; we are invited to ascend the mountain ourselves and behold His glory.

Reflecting on my own journey, I shared a personal struggle with insecurity in my relationship with God. Despite being a leader and speaker, I sometimes find myself doubting His love, which leads to striving and working for approval. This is a reminder that our security should be rooted in the cross of Christ, where we find true rest and assurance of His love. The cross is the ultimate demonstration of God's love and sacrifice, and it calls us to lay down our efforts and rest in His finished work.

I also shared a story about my daughter, who chose to fast and pray for guidance rather than relying on my advice. This illustrates the power of seeking God personally and earnestly, trusting that He will lead us. It's a call to prioritize His presence over our plans and strategies, recognizing that true strength and direction come from Him alone.

Finally, I challenged us to examine our spiritual lives and ask if we truly know God. Are we content with rituals and routines, or do we have a burning desire to experience more of Him? This is a call to pursue God with all our hearts, to not settle for less, and to be willing to change and seek Him earnestly. May we be a people who are known for our deep connection with God, who walk in His presence and power, and who inspire others to do the same.

Key Takeaways:

- The presence of God is not just a concept but a reality we must earnestly seek. It's about moving beyond quoting scripture and performing rituals to experiencing God in a tangible way. This requires a deep longing and a willingness to pursue Him with all our hearts. [03:24]

- We must not be content with secondhand experiences of God. Like Moses, we are invited to ascend the mountain ourselves and behold His glory. This personal encounter with God is essential for a vibrant and authentic faith. [10:18]

- Our security in God's love should be rooted in the cross of Christ. Despite our insecurities and doubts, the cross is the ultimate demonstration of His love and sacrifice. We are called to rest in His finished work and find assurance in His love. [17:37]

- Seeking God personally and earnestly is crucial for guidance and strength. Like my daughter who chose to fast and pray, we must prioritize His presence over our plans and strategies, trusting that He will lead us. [26:09]

- We are called to examine our spiritual lives and pursue God with all our hearts. This means not settling for rituals and routines but having a burning desire to experience more of Him. It's a call to be willing to change and seek Him earnestly. [39:00]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:53] - Longing for God's Presence
- [01:40] - Social Media Misunderstandings
- [02:22] - Quoting God vs. Experiencing God
- [03:24] - Earnest Longing for God
- [07:31] - A Hero's Tears
- [08:56] - Going Up the Mountain
- [10:18] - Personal Encounter with God
- [11:54] - Time Alone with God
- [13:01] - Stubborn Plans Without God
- [15:00] - Resting in God
- [16:13] - Insecurity in God's Love
- [18:18] - The Cross and the Garden
- [21:26] - Jesus' Agony and Submission
- [24:18] - Resting in the Cross
- [26:09] - Seeking God's Guidance
- [30:20] - Strengthening in the Lord
- [39:00] - Pursuing More of God

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Exodus 33:15-18 - Moses' desire for God's presence.
2. Isaiah 30:15-18 - Trusting in God's plan and resting in Him.
3. Philippians 3:8-9 - Counting all as loss for the sake of knowing Christ.

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Moses express about the importance of God's presence in Exodus 33:15-18?
2. In Isaiah 30:15-18, what does God say about the strength found in returning and resting in Him?
3. How does the sermon describe the difference between quoting God and experiencing His presence? [02:40]
4. What was the pastor's personal struggle with insecurity in his relationship with God, and how did he address it? [16:13]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Moses' request in Exodus 33:15-18 reflect a deeper understanding of God's presence compared to merely following religious rituals?
2. What does Isaiah 30:15-18 suggest about the consequences of relying on our own plans instead of seeking God's guidance?
3. How does the pastor's story about his daughter illustrate the importance of seeking God personally for guidance? [26:09]
4. In Philippians 3:8-9, what does Paul mean by counting everything as loss for the sake of knowing Christ, and how does this relate to the sermon's message about pursuing God?

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own spiritual life. Are you content with secondhand experiences of God, or do you have a burning desire to experience Him personally? What steps can you take to pursue Him more earnestly? [08:56]
2. The pastor shared his struggle with insecurity in God's love. Have you ever felt insecure in your relationship with God? How can you find assurance in the cross of Christ? [17:37]
3. Consider a time when you relied on your own plans instead of seeking God's guidance. How did that turn out, and what can you learn from Isaiah 30:15-18 about trusting in God's plan?
4. The sermon challenges us to examine our spiritual lives. What changes can you make to prioritize God's presence over your plans and strategies? [26:09]
5. How can you create space in your life for personal encounters with God, similar to the pastor's 48-hour retreat? What practical steps can you take to make this a regular practice? [11:54]
6. Reflect on the pastor's story about his daughter choosing to fast and pray. How can you incorporate similar practices into your decision-making process to seek God's guidance?
7. In what ways can you encourage others in your community to pursue a deeper connection with God, moving beyond rituals and routines? [39:00]

Devotional

Day 1: Experiencing God's Presence Beyond Rituals
In our spiritual journey, the presence of God is not merely a concept to be understood but a reality to be experienced. This requires moving beyond the confines of quoting scripture and performing religious rituals. It involves cultivating a deep longing and willingness to pursue God with all our hearts. The essence of this pursuit is to feel and know God's presence in a tangible way, where He actively moves and speaks through us. This is a call to seek a heartfelt connection with the Divine, transcending the superficial layers of religious practice. [03:24]

"For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.'" (Isaiah 57:15, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to move beyond rituals and genuinely seek God's presence in your life?


Day 2: Pursuing Personal Encounters with God
Many people find themselves content with secondhand experiences of God, relying on others' encounters rather than seeking their own. However, like Moses, we are invited to ascend the mountain ourselves and behold His glory. This personal encounter with God is essential for a vibrant and authentic faith. It challenges us to not be satisfied with hearing about God from others but to seek Him earnestly and experience His presence firsthand. This pursuit requires intentionality and a willingness to step out of our comfort zones to truly know God. [10:18]

"And the Lord said to Moses, 'Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.'" (Exodus 24:12, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical way you can seek a personal encounter with God this week, rather than relying on others' experiences?


Day 3: Resting in the Assurance of God's Love
Our security in God's love should be deeply rooted in the cross of Christ. Despite our insecurities and doubts, the cross stands as the ultimate demonstration of His love and sacrifice. It calls us to lay down our efforts and rest in His finished work, finding assurance in His love. This is a reminder that our worth and acceptance are not based on our performance but on the unchanging love of God demonstrated through Jesus' sacrifice. Embracing this truth allows us to rest and find peace in His love, free from the need to strive for approval. [17:37]

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find yourself striving for approval, and how can you rest in the assurance of God's love today?


Day 4: Seeking God's Guidance Through Personal Devotion
Seeking God personally and earnestly is crucial for guidance and strength. This involves prioritizing His presence over our plans and strategies, trusting that He will lead us. Like the example of fasting and prayer, it is a call to seek God with sincerity and openness, allowing Him to direct our paths. This personal devotion is a powerful reminder that true strength and direction come from God alone, and it requires us to be intentional in setting aside time to seek His guidance. [26:09]

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one decision or area in your life where you need to seek God's guidance today, and how can you prioritize His presence in this process?


Day 5: Cultivating a Burning Desire for More of God
We are called to examine our spiritual lives and pursue God with all our hearts. This means not settling for rituals and routines but having a burning desire to experience more of Him. It is a call to be willing to change and seek Him earnestly, allowing His presence to transform us. This pursuit requires a deep commitment to knowing God more intimately and being open to the changes He wants to bring in our lives. It challenges us to move beyond complacency and actively seek a deeper connection with God. [39:00]

"As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?" (Psalm 42:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your spiritual life where you feel complacent, and how can you cultivate a deeper desire to seek more of God today?

Quotes

"I just fear I'm going to go into sermon mode and just do things that I know to do in the flesh and not truly abide in you to where there would be fruit that lasts God just like Moses said if your presence doesn't go with us we don't want to go God I don't want to preach a sermon if your presence is not with me if your spirit is not truly moving through me." [00:04:50]

"Some of the pastors so many of the pastors I meet in your country I walk away go man I wish he knew Jesus I wish he really knew him and he wasn't saying this in a judgmental way he's crying and he goes in the people the people in your churches it seems like they're content to hear from Moses rather than going up the mountain themselves." [00:08:36]

"I want you to think right now how close are you to God God I mean if I could ask God himself how close you are to him what would he say when's the last time you walked up the mountain yourself and you just were in awe of his glory where you just sat there and thought God I cannot believe I am your child I cannot believe I'm in your presence right now." [00:10:56]

"Ah stubborn children declares the Lord who carry out a plan but not mine and who make an alliance but not of my spirit that they may add to sin who set out to go down to Egypt without asking for my direction to take refuge in the protection of pharaoh and to seek shelter in the shadow of Egypt therefore shall the protection of pharaoh turn to your shame and the shelter in the shadow shadow of Egypt to your humiliation." [00:12:57]

"He was shown me that I was still insecure in my love relationship with him that there was still this sight of me that's still chasing after something like maybe if I do this right maybe if I do a little bit more here I don't think I'm accomplishing more and I'm running running running running and some of that was out of just insec Security in my relationship with God." [00:15:59]

"I just wonder how many people in this room are resting right now just completely sure that Jesus loves you deeply and how many here are still working out of an insecurity like I tend to drift back into and I just want to remind you of the cross again this is what I'd like us to dwell on as we finish out this conference is the cross of Jesus Christ." [00:17:44]

"One of my daughters she's uh she's 14 and she was going to go on a mission trip this summer to Cambodia she would spend the summer away from us in Cambodia this was a couple months ago and and uh she couldn't figure out what to do because there started to be some conflicts on her team and she couldn't read the situation going God should I still go is this a sign from God not to go." [00:25:04]

"Do you guys know him man like do you really do you really long for him cuz man sometimes I just want to walk in a church building and hear the guy up front pray like he he's really talking to someone that he knows rather than just as a cue so that the band can walk on or or just as a transition or just because it says on the schedule prayer time." [00:27:00]

"Man seriously I'm listening to the message message before mine and I know I keep referring to it but it's really messing me up because I'm I'm looking at the crowd as he's talking I'm going Lord do they are they getting this are they getting this this is so huge this really is the problem in our churches is people aren't going up to the mountain they're not really coming into the presence of God and it starts with us and we're busy with so much stuff." [00:28:53]

"I just pray that if some of you hear that that I'm not talking about blowing up the church or doing anything crazy I'm just saying man I really believe that's of the Lord that when you look in the scriptures you see there's more available and it don't sell for Less man I believe that that burning in you is from the Holy Spirit and that it's not okay to just be fine with the unreached people groups out there and people going to hell." [00:40:00]

"There's like patterns and there's like things that we do and there's just these rituals and things that we learned and that were passed on and and sometimes I can see like an emptiness in the eyes while the actions are are there but I'm not seeing like like inside your heart you're just dying like inside your heart you're thinking man people are going to hell I got to do something I got to save them I don't see it in your eyes like man I don't know God I got to know him deeper and deeper and there's like this not this longing." [00:37:00]

"I just feel like I walk in the service sometimes and I feel like it's so dead God I got to have your power I've got to have your presence and maybe I've substituted it by just going through the service order another week and I I just feel like God I I so don't want to get out of my off my knees say this to you but I I I just had to say something and I I don't know if that resonates with some of you that I I remember sometimes where I would sit in a service and where I'd sit in a church service and everything inside of me just wanted to scream like there's more there's more there's something in me that just dying to get out." [00:38:12]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?