Seeking God's Presence and Glory: A Transformative Journey

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.

### Key Takeaways

1. **Creating Space for God's Presence**
Just as Moses set up the Tent of Meeting away from distractions, we too must create intentional spaces in our lives for God. This separation from daily routines allows us to encounter God more deeply and consistently. Such practices are not just for our benefit but are essential for spiritual leadership and communal spiritual health. [01:05:12]

2. **The Danger of Spiritual Complacency**
The incident of the golden calf serves as a stark reminder of what happens when we grow impatient with God’s timing and seek substitutes for His presence. This teaches us the importance of steadfastness in faith and patience, qualities that Moses exemplified even when faced with challenges. [01:07:15]

3. **The Necessity of God's Presence for Guidance**
Moses’ insistence on God’s presence for moving forward highlights that true progress in our spiritual journey and ministry efforts is impossible without divine guidance. This dependency on God's presence ensures that our actions are aligned with His will and are thus fruitful. [01:11:57]

4. **Seeking God's Glory Beyond His Presence**
While experiencing God's presence is essential, aspiring for His glory is what transforms us and breaks the yokes of bondage. The glory of God carries a weight that empowers us to fulfill His will more effectively, making it a crucial pursuit for every believer. [01:13:59]

5. **Moving Beyond the Outer Courts**
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. [01:15:59]

### Chapters
- 0:00 - Welcome
- 01:04:12 - Introduction to God's Presence
- 01:05:12 - Moses and the Tent of Meeting
- 01:06:33 - Challenges of Leading a Stiff-necked People
- 01:07:15 - The Golden Calf: A Lesson on Patience and Faith
- 01:08:30 - The Legacy of Spiritual Leadership
- 01:09:07 - Moses' Plea for Guidance
- 01:10:00 - Moses' Continuous Desire to Know God
- 01:10:35 - The Ever-Present More of God
- 01:11:13 - The Essentiality of God's Presence
- 01:11:57 - The Ineffectiveness Without God's Presence
- 01:12:26 - Moses Requests to See God's Glory
- 01:13:09 - From Presence to Glory
- 01:13:59 - The Weight of God's Glory
- 01:15:07 - Beyond the Outer Courts
- 01:15:59 - Entering the Holiest of Holies
- 01:16:57 - Invitation to Experience God's Glory
- 01:17:57 - A Call to Seek God's Presence and Glory

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. **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. And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up and each would stand at his tent door and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent. When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent."

2. **Exodus 33:12-23** - "Moses said to the Lord, 'See, you say to me, "Bring up this people," but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, "I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight." Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.' 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. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?' And the Lord said to Moses, 'This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.' Moses said, 'Please show me your glory.' And he said, 'I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name "The Lord." And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,' he said, 'you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.' And the Lord said, 'Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.'"

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

#### Interpretation Questions
1. 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])
2. What does Moses' plea, "Show me your glory," reveal about his understanding of God's presence and his own spiritual journey? ([01:12:26])
3. How does the incident of the golden calf illustrate the dangers of spiritual complacency and impatience? ([01:07:15])
4. 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
1. 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])
2. 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])
3. 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])
4. 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])
5. 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])
6. 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])
7. 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])

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?

**Presence Jesus, and we submit to your words tonight. God, we know that we are... thank you. Oh, you are so great, God. Core alphabet prompter, relate by Israel. Let's all listen to the already in this room. The presence of the Lord is here with us today. I almost just want to sit here for just a few moments and just continue to worship Him. That makes room for the presence of God. Why don't you reach over to the person next to you and just begin to pray for them right now, if it's appropriate? Come on, why don't we lift up each other's burdens in this place tonight? Lord, that you would minister to the broken heart tonight, Jesus, for the hurting, God, for the people that are moving into new dimensions, Jesus. Yes, just intercede on behalf of one another in this room. God, we thank you for your presence, Jesus. Hallelujah.**

**I'm just going to go right into what I feel for tonight. I had more sections of this that I was going to talk about, but I just want to get right into the point because the presence of God is already in this room. Exodus 33, verse 7. 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. And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up and each one would stand at his tent door and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent. When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent. And the Lord would speak with Moses. And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship each at his tent door. Thus, the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face as a man speaks to his friend. And when Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.**

**I'm going to speak for the next few minutes from this chapter of Exodus 33. You can be seated for just the next few moments. It's not going to be very long. We see here in verses 7 through 11 that Moses had a deep relationship with God. He was the leader of the people of Israel. And in the section before this, the Lord had told Moses, "I will send the angel of the Lord before you into the promised land, and into the land flowing with milk and honey. But I'm not going with you. I'm going to send the angel of the Lord before you, but these people are a biblical word, stiff-necked people." I think I might have a stiff neck right now, to be honest. He said that these people are a stiff-necked people, and they have been rebellious, and I can't go among these people because I'll consume them. And Olivia talked about tearing down idols; well, the Israelites resurrected an idol. And that was the golden calf in the chapter before this chapter. And these people could not wait on the Lord long enough before they built up an idol. And while Moses was up on Mount Sinai, they resurrected this idol.**

**And when we get to verse 7, we see that Moses is praying. He's a man of prayer. He is meeting with the Lord on behalf of the people of Israel. And one thing I want to highlight here is that he was presence-centered. He wanted to be in the presence of the Lord, and he made space for the presence of the Lord. And this is why he was able to lead the people of Israel, because he dwelled in his presence. Just like Edna had said, we have to be a people that dwells in his presence. And one thing I want to highlight here, which is a sub-point, says, I just want to say this right here. If we will not be a people that are like Moses, who 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. And I believe that there, I see many, I'm a young man. I feel like the people that came before me are the reason that I'm standing here today, because someone else had a prayer life. And we may be a church plant, and we may, a lot of us, be young, but let me tell you this: if we will establish a place of prayer in our lives, if we will be a presence-centered people, Jesus-following, apostolic church in the city of Dallas, we will have Joshua's that come up after us that will do even greater things than we. And I believe that with all of my heart.**

**And Moses was the epitome of presence-centered. He would not do anything without the presence of God. And then we go on to verse 12. Moses said to the Lord, "See, you say to me, bring up this people, but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.' Now, therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me your ways that I may know you, in order to find favor in your sight." How is it that Moses could go up to Mount Sinai, spend 40 days with the Lord on Mount Sinai, and receive the Ten Commandments, and have all these great and powerful experiences with God, and then he can go into the tent of meeting, and pray, and seek the face of the Lord, and a pillar of cloud would come down before the tent? And yet he is still saying, "Show me your ways." He's still saying, "I want to know you."**

**Here's what Moses understood that we have to understand: There is more to God than we have ever experienced before. 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 we live off of that high for the remainder of the week. But what we're seeing here is that Moses, who had all of these incredible encounters with God, unlike anyone has ever seen, he's saying, "Lord, I still know that there is more of you. There is more than I have ever experienced before. And Lord, you have more for me that I can walk into." And so, he knew that there was more of God.**

**And then we go to verse 14. He said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." And he said to him, 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. And I think sometimes we as people, as humans, can grow comfortable with the idea of not having the presence of God in our lives. And here is what I've learned from Moses: We cannot move from where we are unless we have the presence of God going before us. You can do nothing apart from the presence of God. Anything that you did that was outside of the presence of God has no benefit whatsoever. And so, that is what I'm feeling today. We must have the presence of God in everything that we do.**

**And then I will go to verse 17. And the Lord said to Moses, "This very thing that you have spoken, I will do. For you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name." And Moses, this is kind of where I want to hit right here. 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. And the Lord is wanting to envelop this church with His glory. We have known what the presence of God feels like. I'm sure everyone in here knows what the presence of God feels like, and you can enter into His presence, and you can feel it on a Sunday. But here is where God is trying to take us to. He's trying to take us from this place of just experiencing His presence to being showered with His glory, and to being enveloped with His glory. God, I want Your glory in my life, Jesus. Lord, I want Your glory in my life, Lord. Lord, Your glory is all that we want, Jesus. We want Your glory, Jesus.**

**In Hebrew, the word glory means "kavod." And I was looking up what the definition of glory means, and one of the first words that it means was heaviness. And there is a weight that comes with carrying the glory of God. But it's a weight that I believe that God is calling Apostolic Church to walk into. And it also can mean heavy armor, armament. Which means that we have this ability to carry the glory of God like armor. 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. Because the glory is what is going to break the yokes on the people that have not experienced Him before. The glory is what this world needs.**

**And I am reminded of the tabernacle where the people of Israel would come into the outer courts and they would present their offering before the Lord. And the priests would sacrifice the offering for them on their behalf and atone their sins for them. But the people stayed within that outer court. And the priests were the only ones that were allowed to go inward. And ultimately there was only one high priest that was allowed to enter into the holiest of holies. And I think that there are times where we will get comfortable with only being a people that stay within that grace and repentance element. Where we sin, and then we sacrifice. We repent, and then we stay there. We fall again, we repent, we sacrifice. We experience the love of God that comes through repentance. But oftentimes we stay in that. And what I feel God is speaking to us and what God wants us to understand is that there is more. Yes, repent. Every day, repent. Live a life of repentance. But what God is wanting us to know is that you don't have to stay behind the veil. You can move forward into the veil. 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.**

**And I want to make a point right here that when Jesus died on the cross for you, the veil was torn. So you no longer have to have a priest that goes before you to sacrifice for you. You can enter into that place with God. And this is what God is wanting from us. He's wanting us to enter into the holiest of holies. He's wanting us to want His glory. I don't want to be satisfied with just feeling the presence of God on a Sunday. I don't want to be satisfied with less than what God has offered for me. And I believe right now tonight that Jesus wants to... His glory into this room and cover us with it. Why don't we all stand tonight? We're about to go into a time of prayer in this place. We're going to go into a time of repentance. And we're going to have an altar call, and I just want to kind of direct how the altar call can go. There may be some of you that have never experienced God before. And maybe you're at a place where all you need to do right now is repent. And you need to come before God and just say, "Lord, I confess my sins to you, Lord, and I know that you're faithful and just to forgive me." 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 sought Him before. And then there's some people that have known the presence of God but want the glory of God. Some of you want the glory of God. And here's what the Lord is saying: You can have the glory. You can walk in my glory. And I believe that there's many people in this room that want the glory of God to come over them. Because when we have the glory, we can do His will like we would never be able to do before without it. So right now, if that is you tonight, why don't you just begin to make your way down to this front? Lord, we want your glory today, Jesus. Lord, we're not satisfied with anything else, God. We're not satisfied with anything else, Jesus. We want to feel your glory in a tangible way, Jesus.**

### 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](Make raw clip | Make vertical clip | Make vertical captioned clip)



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](Make raw clip | Make vertical clip | Make vertical captioned clip)



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](Make raw clip | Make vertical clip | Make vertical captioned clip)



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](Make raw clip | Make vertical clip | Make vertical captioned clip)



### 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](Make raw clip | Make vertical clip | Make vertical captioned clip)



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](Make raw clip | Make vertical clip | Make vertical captioned clip)



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](Make raw clip | Make vertical clip | Make vertical captioned clip)



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](Make raw clip | Make vertical clip | Make vertical captioned clip)



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](Make raw clip | Make vertical clip | Make vertical captioned clip)