His Presence for the Present
His Presence for the Present 2/3/08 A.M.
Ex 33:14-16
We are looking today at part of a conversation between Moses and the Lord. Moses had been on the mountain receiving the commandments of the Lord for the people – the Ten Commandments; while he was gone the people strayed from God and had Aaron to make them a calf of gold to worship. Moses became angry with them as was the Lord. The Lord was going to destroy them for their sin but Moses was interceding for them. The Lord agrees to continue with them on their journey through the wilderness to the Promise Land. And that is the focus of our attention this morning; how to successfully, according to the Lords’ instructions, go through the wilderness and reach the Promise Land.
Our wilderness is this sinful world;
Our Promise Land is Heaven;
Our journey is this physical life;
Our road map, instruction manual is the Word of God – The Bible;
Our journey through the wilderness is filled with the same challenges, obstacles, concerns, grieves, and problems as the Children of Israel faced.
Ex 33:14-16 14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. 16 For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.”
Just as they were faced with fear of their enemies, so are we;
Just as they were faced with enemies bigger than themselves, so are we;
Just as they were faced with the unknown, so are we;
Just as they were faced with physical needs, so are we;
Just as they were faced with deceptions, so are we;
Just as they were faced with the influence of the ungodly, so are we;
Just as they were faced with the need for food and water, so are we;
Just as they were faced with the loss of loved ones, so are we;
Just as they were faced with battles and wars, so are we;
Just as they were faced with being faithful in all areas of their life, so are we;
Just as they were faced with knowing and understanding life, so are we;
Just as they were faced with how to live successfully, so are we.
suc•cess \sək-ˈses\ n
[L successus, fr. succedere] 1537
1 obs : outcome, result
2 a : degree or measure of succeeding
b : favorable or desired outcome also : the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence
3 : one that succeeds
Success according to God;
The favorable or desired outcome: a mature Christian
The attainment of;
Wealth, the things of Christ
Favor, the blessings of God
Eminence; being influenced by Christ & an influence for Christ
(Eminence- rank or influence)
So how can you meet the challenges of life in the modern day in which we live?
#1 WITH GOD YOU CAN DO IT - My Presence=Grace/favor Rest=success
Ex 33:14 14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
EXAMPLES;
JACOB – God was with him & kept him; during years w/Laban & brought him home safe
Ge 31:3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to
your family, and I will be with you.”
MOSES – was safe & victorious while in Egypt, same in the Wilderness
Ex 4:1212 Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what
you shall say.”
JOSHUA – against all odds concurred the land of Cannon
Dt 31:2323 Then He inaugurated Joshua the son of Nun, and said, “Be strong
and of good courage; for you shall bring the children of Israel into
the land of which I swore to them, and I will be with you.”
YOU- you are Jacob because you are bless through Abraham,
You are Israel because we are spiritual Israel
– he is a Jew who is one inwardly-not outwardly
Is 43:1-3 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; (multitudes)
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. (threats, concerns)
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, (trials, tribulations)
Nor shall the flame scorch you. (no negative results of fire)
3 For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
#2 WITHOUT HIM YOU CAN DO NOTHING
Ex 33:15 15 Then he said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not
bring us up from here.
Moses realized that w/o Gods’ presence & blessings - they could not and would not be successful.
EXAMPLES
CHILDREN OF ISRAEL
Nu 14:42-43 43 For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and you shall fall by the sword; because you have turned away from the Lord, the Lord will not be with you.”
SAMSON
Jdg 16:20-21 20 And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.
21 Then the Philistines took him and 4put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison.
SAUL
1 Sa 28:15 And Saul answered, “I am deeply distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me and does not answer me anymore, neither by prophets nor by dreams.
Jn 15:5 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
#3 THEREFORE, SERVE HIM, ASK HIM, AND OBEY HIM
Ex 33:16
16 For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.”
It will be known that I have found grace in Your sight because You go with me!
The question is HOW DO WE INVOKE THE FAVOR OR GRACE OF GOD?
FIRST – SERVE HIM
The first step in securing God’s presence, God’s Grace, God’s Favor in our lives is to server Him
Ex 3:12 So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
SECOND – ASK HIM FOR HIS GRACE, notice that Moses asks God to be with him, for help
Heb 4:14-16 4 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to HELP in time of need.
THIRD – OBEY HIM – listen to God’s word & God’s Holy Spirit
With God’s presence comes His Voice of Instruction and His Mighty Power
Dt 4:36-37 36 Out of heaven He let you hear His voice, that He might instruct you; on earth He showed you His great fire, and you heard His words out of the midst of the fire. 37 And because He loved your fathers, therefore He chose their descendants after them; and He brought you out of Egypt with His Presence, with His mighty power,
Ps 9:10 10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;
For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.
To have His Presence for “Your” Present Need;
#1 WITH GOD YOU CAN DO IT - My Presence=Grace/favor Rest=success
#2 WITHOUT HIM YOU CAN DO NOTHING
#3 THEREFORE, SERVE HIM, ASK HIM, AND OBEY HIM
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4 Lit. bored out
