2018-11-25 Exodus 33
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12 Moses said to the Lord, “Look, you have told me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor with me.’
13 Now if I have indeed found favor with you, please teach me your ways, and I will know you, so that I may find favor with you. Now consider that this nation is your people.”
14 And he replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
15 “If your presence does not go,” Moses responded to him, “don’t make us go up from here.
16 How will it be known that I and your people have found favor with you unless you go with us? I and your people will be distinguished by this from all the other people on the face of the earth.”
17 The Lord answered Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor with me, and I know you by name.”
Would we notice if God’s presence were not among us?
Would we notice if God’s presence were not among us?
12 Moses said to the Lord, “Look, you have told me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor with me.’
13 Now if I have indeed found favor with you, please teach me your ways, and I will know you, so that I may find favor with you. Now consider that this nation is your people.”
14 And he replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
God not only saw Moses’ plea, but also the humble repentance of the people.
God not only saw Moses’ plea, but also the humble repentance of the people.
12 Moses said to the Lord, “Look, you have told me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor with me.’
13 Now if I have indeed found favor with you, please teach me your ways, and I will know you, so that I may find favor with you. Now consider that this nation is your people.”
14 And he replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Illus: A chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link. A church is only as humble as it’s most prideful member.
My heart is that God might work through First Baptist Church of Vidalia, Louisiana. Over and over the pattern is simple, God works when people are broken and humbled.
Why would God come and work if our hearts saw no need for Him.
Why would God come and work when our hearts are often hardened.
Moses pleaded with God, but he was also surrounded by a congregation (not of perfect people) but instead of humble and repentant people.
For God’s spirit to move in our church, we must become broken people.
Illus:
10 As all the people saw the pillar of cloud remaining at the entrance to the tent, they would stand up, then bow in worship, each one at the door of his tent.
11 The Lord would speak with Moses face to face, just as a man speaks with his friend, then Moses would return to the camp. His assistant, the young man Joshua son of Nun, would not leave the inside of the tent.
Let us have hearts of humble desperation.
Let us have hearts of humble desperation.
12 Moses said to the Lord, “Look, you have told me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor with me.’
13 Now if I have indeed found favor with you, please teach me your ways, and I will know you, so that I may find favor with you. Now consider that this nation is your people.”
Illus: As I have served and walked with people over the last fourteen years as a senior pastor, I have noticed a trend.
I can clearly see God working in the lives of people walking though struggle, pain, and anguish far more than though health and wealth.
Why? Most days we are far to preoccupied with ourselves, our pride, our own agenda to see any need for God to work.
I am becoming more certain for God to work in our midst we need to be a desperate people. Until every one of us longs for God in desperation, we will be too busy with our own lives to see Him work.
Are you desperate for God, or does God fit into the leftover spaces of your life?
6 But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
7 Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Be miserable and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
How dependent are we on God?
How dependent are we on God?
15 “If your presence does not go,” Moses responded to him, “don’t make us go up from here.
16 How will it be known that I and your people have found favor with you unless you go with us? I and your people will be distinguished by this from all the other people on the face of the earth.”
We are powerless without the presence of God.
We are powerless without the presence of God.
15 “If your presence does not go,” Moses responded to him, “don’t make us go up from here.
16 How will it be known that I and your people have found favor with you unless you go with us? I and your people will be distinguished by this from all the other people on the face of the earth.”
Illus: We are in the midst of deer season. Imagine heading out to your stand. You sit and watch as a massive twelve point buck emerges. Not only does this buck emerge, but it is 75 yards out standing sideways as if to beg you to shoot it.
You pull your gun up, site in the buck, and the pull the trigger.
CLICK.
The bullet does not fire. Quietly and quickly you reload another bullet into the gun. Click. nothing.
At that moment the deer darts off and you are left with nothing.
You get home and realize that you bought bullets without gunpowder in them.
How powerless is a bullet without gunpowder… about as powerless as a church without God’s presence.
A church without God’s presence may look like a church, go through the motions as a church.... but is completely powerless unless God works.
12 I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry—
13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief,
14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
What distinguishes us from the world is the presence of God.
What distinguishes us from the world is the presence of God.
15 “If your presence does not go,” Moses responded to him, “don’t make us go up from here.
16 How will it be known that I and your people have found favor with you unless you go with us? I and your people will be distinguished by this from all the other people on the face of the earth.”
Illus: The most anti Christian group in the bible was also the most moral. What separates us is not our morals, but God’s presence.
There is this tenancy to think that if we moralize the world around us, then they will become more christian.
What makes us different is not our morals, trust me Mormons have the edge on that one, but instead the real presence of God in our lives.
God’s presence will lead us to pursue his holy character… be we are far more than moralism.
Do you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has changed you and placed his presence in you?
2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
God is with us.
God is with us.
17 The Lord answered Moses, “I will do this very thing you have asked, for you have found favor with me, and I know you by name.”
How is God with us today?
How is God with us today?
God is not hiding. His presence does not wish to evade us.
In fact God knows us by name and pursues to be with us.
The step you need to take is to get off your throne and let God take over.
18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
