Longing for God's Glory: Embracing His Presence

In today's gathering, we explored the profound theme of longing for God's glory, a continuation of our series "Glory in the Highest." As we approach the Christmas season, we are reminded of the significance of the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, who broke the silence of 400 years and brought the glory of God to earth. This moment in history was not just about a baby in a manger but about the arrival of the King of Kings, the Savior of the world. The glory of God, as described in the New Testament, is His presence, His majesty, and His splendor. It is the essence of who He is, and it is what we were created to experience and live in.

The story of the shepherds and the multitude of heavenly hosts in Luke 2 illustrates the awe-inspiring moment when God's glory was revealed. These simple men, tending their sheep, were witnesses to a divine worship service, a sign that the Messiah had come. This glory is not just a historical event but a present reality that we can experience today. It is seen in the transformation of lives, in healings, and in the moments of worship where we feel a deep connection with God.

We also reflected on the lives of Simeon and Anna, who exemplified a life of longing and waiting for God's glory. Simeon, a devout and righteous man, recognized Jesus as the Messiah because he had positioned his life to welcome God's presence. Anna, a prophetess, spent decades in the temple, worshiping and fasting, holding on to the promises of God. Their stories remind us that God's glory comes where it is welcomed, and it is available to all who seek it with a sincere heart.

As a church, we are called to be a people who welcome God's glory, not out of a desire for emotional experiences, but out of a longing for the person of Jesus. We are encouraged to live in His presence, to be aware of His glory around us, and to position ourselves to receive more of Him. This is not just for a select few but for everyone who desires to encounter the living God.

**Key Takeaways:**

- The glory of God is His presence, His majesty, and His splendor. It is the essence of who He is, and it is what we were created to experience and live in. Our lives suffer when we live outside of His presence, much like a fish out of water. We were designed to thrive in His glory. [07:38]

- The story of the shepherds in Luke 2 reminds us that God's glory is not just a historical event but a present reality. It is seen in the transformation of lives, in healings, and in moments of worship where we feel a deep connection with God. We are invited to recognize and welcome His glory in our lives today. [11:48]

- Simeon and Anna exemplified a life of longing and waiting for God's glory. Their stories teach us that God's glory comes where it is welcomed, and it is available to all who seek it with a sincere heart. We are encouraged to position our lives to receive His presence. [15:41]

- As a church, we are called to be a people who welcome God's glory, not out of a desire for emotional experiences, but out of a longing for the person of Jesus. We are encouraged to live in His presence, to be aware of His glory around us, and to position ourselves to receive more of Him. [19:07]

- The deepest longing of the human heart is to know and enjoy the glory of God. We were made for this, and nothing else will satisfy. When we encounter His presence, everything changes, and we are reminded of our purpose to live in His glory. [21:14]

**Youtube Chapters:**

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:33] - Introduction to the Series
[07:38] - The Glory of God Explained
[11:48] - The Shepherds' Encounter
[15:41] - Simeon's Longing Fulfilled
[17:26] - Welcoming God's Glory
[19:07] - Indifference vs. Welcoming
[21:14] - The Deepest Longing
[24:53] - Anna's Faithful Waiting
[35:43] - Responding to God's Call
[36:14] - Invitation to Salvation

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: Longing for God's Glory**

**Bible Reading:**
- Luke 2:13-20
- Hebrews 1:3
- John 1:14

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**Observation Questions:**

1. In Luke 2:13-20, what was the shepherds' initial reaction to the appearance of the heavenly host, and how did they respond to the message they received? [02:33]

2. How does the sermon describe the concept of God's glory, and what Greek word is used to explain it? [07:38]

3. What role did Simeon and Anna play in recognizing Jesus as the Messiah, according to the sermon? [15:41]

4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the present reality of God's glory in our lives today? [11:48]

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**Interpretation Questions:**

1. How does the sermon suggest that the glory of God is more than just a historical event, but a present reality we can experience? [11:48]

2. What does the sermon imply about the importance of positioning oneself to welcome God's glory, as seen in the lives of Simeon and Anna? [15:41]

3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between longing for God's glory and experiencing transformation in our lives? [19:07]

4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that indifference can prevent us from experiencing God's glory? [19:07]

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**Application Questions:**

1. Reflect on a time when you felt a deep connection with God during worship. What specific actions or attitudes helped you experience His presence? [11:48]

2. Simeon and Anna were described as longing and waiting for God's glory. How can you cultivate a similar longing in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to position yourself to welcome God's presence? [15:41]

3. The sermon mentions that God's glory is available to all who seek it with a sincere heart. What might be hindering you from seeking His glory more earnestly, and how can you address these obstacles? [19:07]

4. How can you become more aware of God's glory in your everyday life, beyond church services and worship gatherings? Identify one area in your life where you can intentionally seek His presence this week. [21:14]

5. The sermon challenges us to not be indifferent to God's glory. What are some signs of indifference in your spiritual life, and how can you actively combat them? [19:07]

6. Consider the story of the shepherds in Luke 2. How can you be more like them in recognizing and responding to God's glory in unexpected places or situations? [02:33]

7. The sermon emphasizes the importance of longing for the person of Jesus rather than just emotional experiences. How can you shift your focus to deepen your relationship with Jesus this week? [19:07]

Day 1: Created to Thrive in God's Glory
The glory of God is His presence, majesty, and splendor, and it is the essence of who He is. Humans were created to experience and live in this glory, much like a fish is designed to thrive in water. When we live outside of His presence, our lives suffer, as we are not fulfilling our intended purpose. The glory of God is not just a concept but a reality that transforms lives, bringing healing and a deep connection with Him. We are invited to recognize and welcome His glory in our lives today, understanding that it is not just a historical event but a present reality. [07:38]

"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: In what areas of your life do you feel like a fish out of water? How can you invite God's presence into these areas today to experience His glory and thrive?


Day 2: Recognizing God's Glory in Everyday Life
The story of the shepherds in Luke 2 serves as a reminder that God's glory is not confined to the past but is a present reality. These simple men witnessed a divine moment that signified the arrival of the Messiah. Today, God's glory is seen in the transformation of lives, in healings, and in moments of worship where we feel a deep connection with Him. We are encouraged to be aware of His glory around us and to position ourselves to receive more of Him, recognizing that His presence is available to all who seek it with a sincere heart. [11:48]

"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." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent moment where you felt a deep connection with God. How can you cultivate an awareness of His glory in your daily routine to experience more of these moments?


Day 3: Longing and Waiting for God's Glory
Simeon and Anna exemplified a life of longing and waiting for God's glory. Simeon, a devout and righteous man, recognized Jesus as the Messiah because he had positioned his life to welcome God's presence. Anna, a prophetess, spent decades in the temple, worshiping and fasting, holding on to the promises of God. Their stories teach us that God's glory comes where it is welcomed, and it is available to all who seek it with a sincere heart. We are encouraged to position our lives to receive His presence, understanding that this longing is a deep desire to know and enjoy the glory of God. [15:41]

"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" (Psalm 27:14, ESV)

Reflection: What are you currently waiting on God for? How can you position your life to welcome His presence and glory during this season of waiting?


Day 4: Welcoming God's Glory with a Sincere Heart
As a church, we are called to be a people who welcome God's glory, not out of a desire for emotional experiences, but out of a longing for the person of Jesus. We are encouraged to live in His presence, to be aware of His glory around us, and to position ourselves to receive more of Him. This is not just for a select few but for everyone who desires to encounter the living God. The deepest longing of the human heart is to know and enjoy the glory of God, and when we encounter His presence, everything changes. [19:07]

"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (James 4:8, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your motivations for seeking God's presence. Are there areas where you seek emotional experiences over a genuine relationship with Jesus? How can you shift your focus to truly welcome His glory?


Day 5: Encountering God's Glory and Finding Purpose
The deepest longing of the human heart is to know and enjoy the glory of God. We were made for this, and nothing else will satisfy. When we encounter His presence, everything changes, and we are reminded of our purpose to live in His glory. This encounter is not just a one-time event but a continual journey of experiencing His majesty and splendor. As we live in His presence, we find our true purpose and are transformed into His image, reflecting His glory to the world around us. [21:14]

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you." (Isaiah 60:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel a lack of purpose? How can encountering God's glory help you find and fulfill your true purpose in this area?

Good. All right. You can be seated.

Welcome to all of our locations that are tuning in today. And a big shout out to Calgary, Canada. I guess this is the first time that I'm speaking to you guys. Pastor Andrew said so, hey, nice to meet you.

Good. Good to be here. But I am expecting for God to speak to us today. It is a good day to be in God's house. Do you feel that? You can just sense it, that it is a good day to be in His house and that it's always a good day. But I specifically feel this morning that the Lord is going to speak to your hearts as we are in this series called "Glory in the Highest." Pastor Rich started us out last week, and this is leading to our Christmas services in a few weeks, which again, invite some people—neighbors, friends, family members—that need the hope of Jesus. It's going to be an amazing time.

But Pastor Rich started us out as he talked about how we were created to give God glory, right? To give God our unique glory. It's amazing. Check it out if you missed it. He also talked about how he doesn't love Christmas music. And so I just felt like I needed to just lay it out for you. I've been listening since October 31st. So, my people, my people are out here. I mean, 'tis the season, right? And I get it. There are some songs, and I'll give him credit. He said he does love some of it. Okay, so Rich, I'll give you credit for that. But I love all of it. I'm like, dude, we have a short amount of time. Christmas is here. Let it roll.

You know, there's like one song that stresses me out—Dominic the donkey. Have you heard that one? Makes me feel weird. So I just, we bypassed that one. Other than that, let them all go. Even the ones I don't really love, I'm like, who cares? It's Christmas. We have a short amount of time. So I love all things Christmas.

And come to find out, 10 years ago, this lady comes up to me at church, like she was going to give me a word from the Lord. And she said, "Do you know what your name means?" I said, "No." She said, "It means Christmas day."

Guys, it took everything in me to not just burst into laughter. I was like, self-control, self-control, self-control. I'm like, really? You don't say. I haven't heard Tasha in a lot of Christmas carols, but okay, we'll go with you on this one. Sure enough, I looked it up online—the good old Google. And Tasha means Christmas day. So you're welcome. Christmas is here.

It's like a variant of Natasha and all this stuff. But it literally says, if you have a daughter born on December 25th, a great name would be Tasha. What?

So in the end, though, I was like, it makes sense. It makes sense. I love Christmas. And here we are, and we're diving into this series leading to Christmas. And we're in the Christmas story this morning.

But I want to just tell you today that we're going to talk about this topic, the longing for His glory. We talked about how we were created to give Him glory, and today I want to talk to you about how we are to long for His glory.

So we're going to jump in. If you have your Bible, if not, it'll be on the screens, into Luke 2. I'm going to pick up in verse 13.

And it said, "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased.' And when the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.' And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger."

This is the Christmas story. This is a moment in our history and in time. This is a scene that is unforgettable.

So you got the shepherds. As Pastor Rich was talking about last week, just these simple dudes, you know, just out in the field taking care of the sheep. You know, they're at the night hour watching if there's any wolves or whatnot. And out of nowhere appears an angel. And then not just one angel, but it says a multitude of heavenly hosts.

So you have all these angels, and I just have to envision it, right? They're in their sandals just out there with their—what are the—I keep forgetting—the staff. Yep. Holding the staff just out there. And a multitude of heavenly hosts, angels—not little ones on clouds, like big old dudes with muscles. And they start a worship service, and they're like, "Glory to God in the highest place." Five-part harmony. It's like this, what?

These guys are out in the field. Like, are you kidding me right now? What, are we on drugs? Like, what's happening? Like, it was this crazy epic moment in history. And it was the sign that the Messiah had come, that the glory had come, that the good news was here.

You have to remember that there were 400 years of silence before this. There were no words from God. There was no fresh revelation. There was no glory. And the Christmas story broke the silence. A couple of chapters before, Zachariah and Mary, they get visitations from angels. And then here we have the moment that changes everything. Jesus is born. Jesus is brought to the earth.

All the people of God, they were longing for the glory, and they were holding on to the promises and the prophecies prophesied hundreds and hundreds of years prior. They were hanging on that their Messiah, their Redeemer would come and rescue them. And here it is, the good news, right?

Hebrews 1:3 says that He, Jesus, is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature. John 1:14 says, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory."

1 Samuel 15 says that He, Jesus, is the glory of His people. So it wasn't just about a baby, right? Your little postcard that you have with the manger on there. You got a little, you know, thing in the front yard. Oh, isn't that cute? No, this was not about a baby. This was about the Messiah. This was about the King of Kings. This was about the Savior coming to earth—God incarnate, the Word made flesh, the Lord sending His one and only Son to save and rescue all mankind.

This is a big deal, and this is the Christmas story.

And what I want to talk to you specifically about right now is this concept of the glory of God. The concept of the glory of God. What is the glory of God? Simply stated, the glory is His presence. His presence is His glory.

The New Testament was originally written in Greek. And so there's this Greek word for glory in these verses that we see, and it's this word "doxa." It says this, that doxa was used to translate the Hebrew word "kavod," which signifies weightiness or importance, often in the context of God's manifest presence.

And in the New Testament, doxa takes on a richer theological meaning, emphasizing the divine glory revealed in Jesus. So this glory, it's His honor, it's His majesty, it's His splendor, it's His nature, it is the manifestation of God.

And this, I love this quote. It says, "Glory, it is who God is; it is the essence of His nature; it is the weight of His importance; the radiance of His splendor; the demonstration of His power; and the atmosphere of His presence."

The atmosphere of His presence. This is what the glory of God is. The glory is His presence, and His presence is His glory.

For those in the back that need me to say it again: The glory of God is His presence.

And sometimes in life, we kind of miss these moments where the glory is among us. Throughout our Christian journey or just walking through life, you miss, you know, it's not a shining light. It's not a baby coming before us. It's not a multitude of hosts singing out a choir. No, there are these moments in time, even in our service today—baptisms. We see these baptisms week in and week out at all our locations where someone is coming out of darkness and being brought into light. What is that? Glory. That's His glory, right?

They were blind and now they see; they were in darkness and now, whoa, I've been rescued out of the pit. That's His glory. Healings and miracles. We see healings all the time here at the Father's House. Just recently, a man was healed of stage four cancer. What is that? That's the glory of God. You can't make that kind of stuff up.

Or maybe in times of worship, you just sense this longing in your heart. Maybe you're drawn to tears, or when the preached word is happening and there's this burning in your spirit and this faith rising. Is it emotionalism? No, it is the glory of God—the glory among us.

And I want to tell you today, church, that you were created to live in the glory of God. You were created to live in His presence, in sync with the presence of God. Because our lives suffer when we live outside the presence.

You know, you've maybe heard that quote of like a fish out of water. Outside of His glory, we suffer like a fish that's just flopping around on the shore, just gasping for air because it's not in its environment that it was created for. It suffers. It doesn't make it.

And just like you and me, whether believer or unbeliever, whether you've been serving God or you're seeking and trying to find answers to life, you were created by the Creator for a purpose and a reason, and that is to be in the glory and presence of God—to live in the presence of the Almighty God. This is what you were created for.

And this may be a revelation to someone today. You wake up sometimes and you're like, "What is the meaning of life? What am I supposed to do? I can't do another day."

Lord, your purpose—the reason why you were designed—is to live in the glory and the presence of God. God, as we just talked about last week, it is to give Him all the glory. And as we give Him all the glory, His glory comes. And it's this supernatural encounter that happens. And it is for every single one of us today.

No matter where you're at in your journey, you were created to live in the presence and the glory of God. I love this. It says the deepest longing of the human heart is to know and enjoy the glory of God. We were made for this. We were made for it.

That's why sometimes when you come into church, you've been living your life, you come into this atmosphere—even if you don't like the songs or you're like, "I don't know what they're doing up there." But when the presence of God fills the room, when we're singing, "You have it all," there's something that happens in the hearts of human beings created by the Creator that goes, "Whoa, the presence, I need that. I've tasted and I'm seeing and I want more of this because you were created for it."

I remember when I was a kid. I was like eight years old. My parents were leading worship at this prayer gathering thing. There were a couple hundred people in the room, and back in those days—in the nineties—kids were just roaming the churches. You know, we just like, I was, I had a bag of snacks and my coloring books, and my parents were on stage. Nobody was watching me.

And I'm in the back of this church. I had my chair, you know, I was laying on the ground at times just looking around, and I started to watch the room. And these people were worshiping with every ounce of their being. Some had their hands lifted as high as they possibly could, tears streaming down some of their faces. Some of them were kneeling. Some of them were laid out on the ground.

And I just remember this moment as a little kid, just sitting there like, "Whoa." The atmosphere began to become overwhelming. And I could sense like this warmth over my body. And it might sound weird to someone, but you may have experienced this before, but just this warmth started to come, and it felt like there was either something or someone that almost felt like an embrace—like this love and this purity.

And I just, nobody told me, nobody put their hand on me. I just got on my knees in the back of this room filled with all these people worshiping. And I just began to weep in the presence of God.

Now, I wasn't crying because I was sad. I was crying because I could sense the glory, the manifest presence of Jesus literally coming over me. And in that moment, right then and there at eight years old, my life was marked. There was a marking on me for the presence of God.

And this is my story. This will be my song until I see Jesus face to face. But there is this longing inside of me that nothing else will satisfy than the very manifest presence and glory of God.

And I'm telling you today, when God marks your life, when you have an encounter in His presence, there is something that changes, and nothing else will satisfy. You will want nothing less than the glory of Jesus. You will want nothing less than to live your life in His presence.

And when you get out of His presence, you feel like a fish out of water. You begin to gasp for the air. But when you get back in His presence, you're like, "This is what I was created for."

As some of you today, there is an ache in your heart. There is a longing inside of you. Maybe even a frustration inside your spirit today, where you're like, "There has to be more than this." And I'm here to tell you today that there is. You were not created to live outside of His glory. You were not created to live outside of His presence, but you were created to live right smack dab in the middle of it.

And He has that for every single one of us today. Even if you're in the room and you're like, "Dude, I don't know. I don't feel that spiritual. I don't know a lot of what you're talking about." Listen, I was eight years old. Did I know doxa and Shekinah and all that? No. If I heard, I was like, "Whoa, are they speaking a different language?" Like, I didn't know what was going on.

But I did know that when the glory of God came in that room, my life was forever changed. And it's here for you today. It's here for you in your life, for your family, for your city, for our church. The glory of God is available to every single one of us.

And continuing on in this story, in verse 25, I'm going to jump in. It says, "Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. And this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ."

And he came in the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents, Mary and Joseph, they brought in the child Jesus to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he, Simeon, took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said, "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation, that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for the Gentiles, and the glory to your people, Israel."

Now, we don't know a lot about Simeon, but what we do know, even right here in this text, is that he was devout and righteous. Meaning he lived a life of worship. He lived a life focused on God, set apart for God. He wasn't, you know, just doing whatever he wanted, headed to the bar. No, he was literally set apart.

And he was waiting and expectant for the coming of Christ. He was longing for Jesus, the Messiah. He was holding on to promises and that deposit that he had in his spirit. And he said, "No, no, no. I know that He's coming. And so therefore I'll wait."

And it's crazy because here in this moment, we don't know much about him, but here's Simeon. And what does he get to do? He literally holds baby Jesus. None of us are going to be able to hold baby Jesus. You know what I'm saying? Like, this is a moment in time. He has been waiting for this Messiah, and he sees and holds the King of Kings.

This is crazy. Our human understanding can't even make reason of this. Like, it's so beyond us. But in that moment, because Simeon had waited and he had positioned his life for the glory, when he saw that baby, it wasn't just any baby to him. It was the King. It was the Savior and the Redeemer for all mankind.

How did he know that? Because he had been in a place of waiting and longing. He had been setting his life apart in worship and coming before God and saying, "Lord, I'm here. I'm Yours. I'm going to live this life for You." And he had the discernment and the revelation to know that this was the King of Kings.

The glory comes. And it was because he welcomed Him. And I want to tell you today that this isn't just for some; this isn't just for a few. This is for all of us.

And I love that Simeon—we don't know much about him. He's a great man. Here he is. He's holding Jesus. He gets to be in the canon of Scripture. The Lord literally used him in Scripture to declare and proclaim that Christ had come. Just this guy—just this guy, a little Sim over here. You know what I mean?

And it's for every single one of us to encounter the glory of God and to live in His presence. Sometimes we write ourselves off. "I've done too much. I'm living a certain way. I can't do that." But you were created and designed for it. And you are positioned and welcomed to come into this next level of glory with the King.

But why does He come? He comes when He is welcomed. Let me say that again. He comes where He is welcome.

When Jesus came in Luke, not everybody welcomed Him, right? Herod tried to kill all the baby boys. There were people that were just indifferent to Him. They just went, "Whatever, this baby was born," had nothing to do with Him. And then there were those who took notice, who took notice that the King had been on His way. They turned aside and they worshiped Him.

They're mentioned in the canon of Scripture. The other ones that were indifferent with God, we don't even hear about them. They're not even there. But these people that turned aside and focused in, they got to be a part of the history-making moment. They encountered the glory of God.

The shepherds, they welcomed Him in. The wise men—we'll hear a little bit more about next week—they worshiped Him. And then Simeon, he welcomed in Jesus.

So I have a question for us today as a church: Will we be indifferent to the glory of God, or will we welcome Him?

That's right, sister. I got a welcomer over here. Get her on the welcome team.

But the question, it's real. Will we be indifferent to the glory of God? The glory of God and His presence and what He is doing, or will we welcome Him?

Will we just float through life and through our Christian journey indifferent to what's going on? "Oh, baptism today. Oh, that bless our hearts. That's so cool. Next." Oh, this song? "Okay."

Will we be indifferent when the glory is literally in front of us? When a move of God is literally happening all around us, you can be smack dab in the middle of a revival and miss it if your heart isn't open to the presence and purpose of God.

And this is not a rebuke. This is an encouragement. This is an exhortation. There's an urgency in my spirit, especially if you call the Father's House your home church, that's saying today, come on, we got to wake up and we have to be aware that the glory is coming, that it is among us, that it is around us, and that we were created for this.

I hope you hear that encouragement in your spirit this morning and that you're sensing something—not from me or my words, but from the Holy Spirit saying, "Oh, I got to welcome. I got to welcome the presence of God into my life."

We got to be a people that are longing for the glory of God. People that are longing, not for what we can get from His glory, not the goosebumps we can get from His presence, but because He is glory. It's Him. It's Jesus.

And ever since I was eight years old, that moment that marked me—yes, there were times and seasons where, you know, you find your way through it. But ever since that marking of the Holy Spirit, there has been this holy frustration inside of me that will not settle until I see Him, will not let go. I will long and I will linger until He comes with all of His might and all of His power and all of His majesty.

And when I come into worship or I'm leading worship, my focus is Jesus. I want to long for You. I want to long for You—not the blessings that come from You, but from You, the person of Jesus.

We got to come back to that first love where it's all about Jesus and His glory. When He comes into the room, everything changes.

When He comes into your life and your circumstance, you don't even think about it anymore. When you're in the presence of God, that grief and that pain and the brokenness and the bondage and all this stuff of your life and "What am I going to do with my life?"—the future—all of that literally disappears when you're in the presence of the Almighty God.

There's something so supernatural and divine when God steps in the room. And we will, I'm telling you right now, we will be a people that welcome Jesus.

We will be the ones that are not indifferent. We will be the ones that say, "God, here we are. Find us waiting for You."

Continuing on in this story, there's this woman that shows up in the scene. Verse 36, it says, "Anna, a prophet, was also there in the temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. And then she lived as a widow to the age of 84. She never left the temple, but stayed there day and night worshiping God with fasting and prayer."

She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph and began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem, for God to rescue His people, for God to rescue the world.

We find this woman, and I just picture her—this sweet grandma of the church, you know. For decades, she had been holding on to age-old prophecies from Isaiah, you know, "Unto us a child is born." Like she's holding on to these promises and these prophecies.

She's holding on to these promises and these prophecies. And day in and day out, she worshiped and she fasted and she prayed. Why? Because she was expectant that the King was coming.

She could have gotten tired a decade in. "All right, I'm going to go out. I'm going to start sewing some clothes or something." No, she stayed in the temple. She stayed in the house, waiting—perseverance, holding on to what God had spoken.

She had a longing in her heart. Man, when I read about Anna, something resonates in my spirit. I'm like, "Oh God, let me be." I mean, I don't want to wait till I'm 84 to see it come to pass, but Lord, I'm willing.

But she waited, and she was desperate and longing for the Messiah. And then He comes, and it says that when she saw Him again, she knew—that's the King.

As she began to worship, she sees Mary and Joseph and Simeon and Jesus—little baby Jesus, you know, just drooling over there—and she recognized, "That is the Messiah."

What? This is beyond, as my high schooler would say, "That's crazy." This is crazy. She recognizes, she discerns by the revelation of the Holy Spirit that this is the Messiah whom God has sent to rescue us.

And what is her response? Worship. She begins to glorify the King in that moment.

And I just want to say today that there are some Annas in the Father's House. I could look around; I could point you out, but I won't do that because I'll probably start crying. But you've been around for decades, and maybe you are up into your latter years, and you've been holding on to promises.

You've been holding on to prophetic words. You've been in the prayer closet. You've come to Pursuit for 20-plus years. You've been seeking. You've been asking. You've been praying. You've been fasting. You've been worshiping. You've been showing up. You've been faithful in the house of God. You've been faithful to Him, and you've been with Him.

And I want to tell you today, do not lose heart that God is on the way.

In church, there is a mighty outpouring of the Spirit of God that is on its way. And I want us to be like the Simeons and the Annas who are waiting with anticipation and expectation that He will do what He promised He would do—that we would not get weary in the waiting, that we would not let go and just say, "I'm going to go this way with my life," and we miss out when God shows up.

Because again, God is coming, and yes, we've seen glimpses, and we've had moments—sweet moments in His presence. Every weekend, there are salvations. Every single weekend at the Father's House, all of our locations, God is moving. We're in the midst of a mighty move, but there is more. There is more, and you were created for the more.

You were created to live in the presence of God.

And as we close today, I'm going to go to the piano. It's not a recital; it's not a piano recital, so don't just be watching. No, I'm going to go to the piano because this is my response.

Even as I was praying for you guys and prepping this, I'm like, "Oh, there's this longing inside of me." And I'm believing today that if you do not have that longing, or you've lost that longing, or you're getting weary in the waiting, that something would begin to rise up inside of you.

And so I'm going to sing this song this morning, and it really is like a song of Anna, I feel like. And as I've listened to this for a few years, I could barely get through it every time I would listen to it because I feel like this is the song of my life.

And I believe today that it could be your song, and it could also become your song today.

And so we're just going to take a moment. This is our response today, and then I'm going to come and pray and dismiss our campuses. So you don't need to leave or get up or anything. Just take a minute right now—your busy week, all the craziness—and just here in this room, you can close your eyes, you can kneel, you can sing along.

But I just want to let the Holy Spirit do what only He can do and let a longing just stir up in our hearts today. Are you guys down for that?

Okay, good, because otherwise, we're doing it anyways.

I'm going to let the campuses be dismissed out here all the time. But just right here in this room, if we could just stay just in this place of longing for Him today.

Because when the—don't even just write where you are, if you're standing or sitting. And you're just asking today for just a fresh longing for His presence, for His glory in your life. Would you just put your hand over your heart this morning?

I believe that there is impartation today.

Father, we declare it right now over this room. God, every person with their hand over their heart. Lord, how we declare, Lord, that an impartation of hunger rise up within us, Jesus.

Right here, right now, Lord. When Your glory is in the room, we don't need anything else. When we're living inside Your presence, God, in the atmosphere of Your presence, Lord, nothing else is needed.

So, I declare today, Jesus, over every person that is crying out, that is hungry for the more, God, that You would meet us right here, right now.

And if you just need to even—God, that You would meet us right here, right now—and repent right now of some stuff that has gotten in the way.

Maybe you feel like your life, it's just cluttered and there's so much going on. Just here in this moment, in this sweet moment that we have in His presence, just in your own words, just begin to tell the Lord, "God, Father, I repent right now. I lay down all the other things. God, I give You my life again. I give You my heart again. And I position myself, Lord, in worship and expectancy."

If you would, just as a church, can we just declare over us together that we will be a church that He does not pass by, that there would be no indifference in this house.

But even just now, would you lift your hands to heaven and just begin to ask the Holy Spirit, "Father, we're longing. We're longing for You, for the person of Jesus. We're not here for just services and a religious routine. God, we're here for the good. We're here for the glory of God to come to earth. Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

And we're declaring as a church family today, "Father, we position ourselves again to say, Father, have Your way, have Your way. We respond to the call today, Jesus."

And before we dismiss, if there's some of you in the room this morning and you need to welcome the Lord as your Savior, as your personal Lord and Savior, you need to surrender your life to Him. You've been far off. You've been trying to do things on your own. And today you're saying, "I'm coming to You."

Our prayer team is going to start coming to the altars. And I just want you to come down here and ask for some prayer this morning and say, "I need to give my life to Jesus."

And we're just going to continue. But if you guys are dismissed, I'd encourage you to keep just longing and lingering in His presence. Keep running after Him this week. Position yourself to expect Him to come.

Amen. Thank you guys for being here today. You can be dismissed.