Manifest Presence (FBC)
Rend the Heavens (FBC) • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Manifest Presence
Isaiah 64:1-4
Ruby and Abel- May 2014 bitter for 11 days
Friend played the role of a prophet and called me out.
In June we went to the SBC.
SBC Pastor’s Conference in Baltimore- James McDonald preached on Isaiah 64:1
Since that time Isaiah 64 has been very special to me as I have studied it and the context of the chapters around it.
Hard, stressful, sad events do not have to make us run from God.
They should cause us to run to him.
Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence—
as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence!
When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.
4 Actions That Lead to God's Presence
4 Actions That Lead to God's Presence
1. Desire(1a)
1. Desire(1a)
Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence—
"Oh that you would"- a desire to be in the presence of God.
Rend the heavens"-- to be in the manifest presence of God.
Jews pictured a great curtain that separated heaven from earth.
The curtain was used in the Temple to separate the Holy of Holies.
Jesus "rend the curtain"- demolished the separation because of sin.
So why do we get satisfied not living in his presence.
Omnipresence
Manifest presence-- Jesus was the greatest example.
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
Worst affliction is for God to remain silent (64:12)
Will you restrain yourself at these things, O Lord? Will you keep silent, and afflict us so terribly?
They were experiencing the worst time in Israel's history. Taken into captivity and temple destroyed.
What was worse than these horrible calamities was for God not to be present.
But Isaiah was concerned and crying out to God for the spiritual condition of the nation not the physical condition.
Your holy people held possession for a little while; our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary.
We have become like those over whom you have never ruled, like those who are not called by your name.
Connect to Isaiah 64:1
Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence—
ILL- U.S. is going through a difficult time.
Attempted assassination/ school shootings/ divisive election/ inflation/ nation-wide homeless crisis.
But what should drive us to our knees is the spiritual condition of our country.
if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Spending time with God causes us to desire him more.
Moses had spent 40 days on Mt. Sinai with God receiving the 10 Commandments.
Was that enough to satisfy him? No
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.”
God rewards Moses’ desire- he doesn’t rebuke him as selfish.
Spending time with God in prayer and devotion causes us to want him more.
2. Change (1b-2)
2. Change (1b-2)
Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence—
as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence!
There is never a question when God shows up.
Earthquake November 5, 2011-- Saturday night after watching football- sitting at computer looking at sermon. Jonathan had not yet gone to sleep. Whole house shook.
Pentecost-- No one had to ask the person next to them if The Holy Spirit had just come. It was obvious.
When God is in control of your life it will be evident to everyone.
"filled with the spirit"= We always have the Holy Spirit in our lives. But there are times when the power is different.
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders,
And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
Stephen before being stoned in Acts 7:55
But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
No one ever experiences the presence of God without change.
3. Remembrance (3)
3. Remembrance (3)
When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
More than likely a reference of Mt. Sinai
“These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly at the mountain out of the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and he added no more. And he wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.
And as soon as you heard the voice out of the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes, and your elders.
And you said, ‘Behold, the Lord our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire. This day we have seen God speak with man, and man still live.
Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us. If we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, we shall die.
For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire as we have, and has still lived?
Go near and hear all that the Lord our God will say, and speak to us all that the Lord our God will speak to you, and we will hear and do it.’
“And the Lord heard your words, when you spoke to me. And the Lord said to me, ‘I have heard the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken.
Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!
Do you remember times in your life when you experienced God's power?
Do they drive you, like Moses, to want even more of God?
Monday night at Southern Baptist Convention was one of those times. I want to stay close to that God who touched my heart and brought me back to where I needed to be.
4. Patience (4)
4. Patience (4)
From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.
God acts- but for those who wait on him.
Are you trying to do it on your own?
If you act like you don't need God you are saying you don't need God.
Would you rather do nothing than to do something without God?
We must stop being busy without God.
We must stop doing ministry without God.
We must stop teaching without God.
We must stop singing without God.
It's just empty religion without the presence of God.
It's about relationship. I love him so much I don't want to live without him.
I read about a story of a couple in Holdenville Oklahoma who died on the same day after 63 years of marriage.
When I was looking up that story I found two other stories of couples who died on same day after 63 years of marriage.
It is a moving story of couples being together so long they can’t live without the other.
Are you satisfied living without God’s presence in your life?
Are you comfortable living without God's presence in your life?
CONCLUSION
Do you desire the manifest presence of God?
Do you desire the manifest presence of God?
Do you desire to know God more?
Do you desire to see more of God?
What is the prayer of your heart today?