PUSH AHEAD, part one: wait in God's Presence
Notes
Transcript
Repeat after me: push ahead
The Jewish people—the Israelites, the children of the person Israel (aka Jacob—of the lineage Abraham, Isaac, Jacob)—are generational recipients of a divine covenant God made with their patriarch Abraham, and therefore are beneficiaries of a divine promise that requires a journey to fulfill that promise.
(The promise was made in a moment but it is received/realized in a process.)
(In a “moment” you received your acceptance into a program but it is a “process” to complete it. In a moment you received the job offer/internship offer but it takes a process to execute—you now have to work that job, carry out that internship.)
In the text, Jewish people/the Israelites/the Children of Israel are in their journey from bondage (in Egypt) to freedom, but not yet to their promised place of rest in/with God.
1 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Depart and go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give it.’ 2 And I will send My Angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanite and the Amorite and the Hittite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite. 3 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, lest I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.”
4 And when the people heard this bad news, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments. 5 For the Lord had said to Moses, “Say to the children of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. I could come up into your midst in one moment and consume you. Now therefore, take off your ornaments, that I may know what to do to you.’ ” 6 So the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by Mount Horeb.
7 Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the Lord went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp. 8 So it was, whenever Moses went out to the tabernacle, that all the people rose, and each man stood at his tent door and watched Moses until he had gone into the tabernacle. 9 And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. 10 All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door. 11 So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.
12 Then 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 grace in My sight.’ 13 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people.”
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.
(Ex 13:21–22 the Pillar of cloud was God’s presence.
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people.
)
Push ahead: in God's presence
Push ahead: in God's presence
(Pray)
In every life, every journey, every race, every adventure there are moments of transition.
In every life, every journey, every race, every adventure there are moments of transition.
From not in it to starting; from beginning to entering the half-way point; from progressing to entering the last mile.
Whatever stage you are--whether you are about to begin, entering the second half/at the midway point, in the final stretch--the transition (zone)--the crossover moment--is a critical period for your life.
It does not matter what the experience is.
The transition zone, the crossover moment is a critical period because it is often here that things stop or progress, are lost or won, grow or shrink, are affirmed or denied, are bought or sold, canceled or renewed.
I draw your attention to this critical period because it is often/sometimes the place God renewals Himself to you.
The enemy is often active, trying to wear your down along the way, even before you get started, such that when it is time to transition, you bail out, you don't show up, or you make some critical decision that is against your best interest.
It is true that momentum is a leader's best friend--
It is true that momentum is a leader's best friend--
a visionary's best friend, a journeyman's/a journeywoman's best friend for momentum is the wind at your back that helps you to push forward with less effort--the more the momentum grows the less effort needed to do that same job (conversely, a decrease in momentum necessitates an increase in effort to do that same job).
So while momentum in your life may be a good thing, momentum is also something to be stewarded.
Think about riding a bike--you may pedal to get started; at some point the bike may continue without a similar need for you to pedal; however, many of us learned quickly (or maybe not quickly enough) that what is required of you is steering. You steward the momentum by steering, by channeling, by harnessing.
So this transition period is one of motion--movement in time, if nothing else.
The transition period is also the place of exchange, the place of renewal, the moment of clarification.
The transition period is also the place of exchange, the place of renewal, the moment of clarification.
It's here that I exchange:
old habits with new habits;
old patterns of thought with new patterns of thought;
relationships that don't serve me well with relationships important for this new leg of my journey;
broken beliefs with critical confidences.
I exchange what's holding me back for what will propel me forward.
It's here that I renew
my commitments,
my convictions,
my strength,
restore my appetite (to proceed),
my covenant(s) (relationships).
It's here that there is clarification
of who I am,
of Who God is,
of who I am in Christ,
of purpose,
of potential,
of the promises that will be fulfilled,
of the nature of the journey--what this new/next leg will require of me and those with me, and who will be those against me.
The transition period is a place of exchange, renewal, and clarification.
PUSH AHEAD
PUSH AHEAD
Without question, where you are going next requires a push to get you fully into it.
Hannah, when she is trying to ride her bike, I try to teach her, that if she is going from (no movement) being stopped, she might have to give herself a push and then start pedaling.
When she is riding and comes to a bit of an incline, I tell her that she has to keep pushing those pedals to keep going up.
Coming down off of a hill, entering a straightaway--the momentum coming off of a decline will carry but only so far (the coasting slows)--when Hannah wants to continue her progress to the end, I tell her keep pedaling and push to the end for you are almost home. Push.
Today, whatever stage you are--whether you are about to begin, at the midway point and entering the second half, or in the final stretch--push (to get and keep going) forward.
Israelites knows a thing or two about taking a journey, making a transition, and pushing through, moving forward.
Israelites knows a thing or two about taking a journey, making a transition, and pushing through, moving forward.
Today, I want to begin a conversation with you using part of the Children of Israel's life for our learning.
Say to your neighbor, PUSH AHEAD.
Push ahead in God's presence.
There are three lessons/messages in this passage that I believe God wants for us to know/for me to share with us.
I'll give you (the first) one today.
7 Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the Lord went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp. 8 So it was, whenever Moses went out to the tabernacle, that all the people rose, and each man stood at his tent door and watched Moses until he had gone into the tabernacle. 9 And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses. 10 All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each man in his tent door. 11 So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.
Today’s one lesson, today’s message:
Stay in God's presence.
Wait in God's presence.
Stay in the place of God's presence.
Wait in the place of God's presence.
"...Joshua...a young man...did not depart from the tabernacle."
Today, it is not popular to wait.
Today, it is not popular to wait.
Modern technologies and conveniences greatly reduce, if not seemingly eliminate all together, waiting time. Moreover, when and if you do need to wait, during this shortened window you can quickly do several other things--check your email, send a text, do a search on Google, watch a short video clip--thereby eliminating any wait altogether.
Last night Hannah asked for pizza for dinner.
Last night Hannah asked for pizza for dinner.
So we ordered from a local pizza place, picked it up, brought it home, had it for dinner, put the leftovers in the refrigerator.
I know how meal time today is going to go:
After service, Lady Rashele is going to say to me, "I am warming Hannah some pizza for lunch. Would you like for me to warm you a slice." I will say, "Yes."
In 10 minutes I am going to leave this computer and go to the dining room. There will be no food on the table. I'll then go into the kitchen and Lady Rashele will just be putting the pizza into the oven.
I'll say, "Oh, the pizza is not ready. You asked me about it 10 minutes ago."
She'll say, "Yes. The oven was pre-heating and just got up to temperature. The pizza will be ready in 12 min."
Now, when you look at the oven, you'll see the burners on top. About 2 ft--24 inches, maybe 36 inches--directly above the burners (straight line) is another oven--a microwave oven.
It would take me all of 3 seconds to snatch my slice of pizza out of the oven, put it on a place, and put it into the microwave over. In another 45 secs, not even, I can have a hot, reheated slice of pizza ready to go. In under 60 seconds I can be at my dining room table eating my lunch. Albeit alone, but no longer hungry.
So, I already know that at mealtime today, I will have a dilemma (“the dilemma of waiting”). Because if you ask Lady Rashele why she uses an oven when there is a microwave oven, she will say that the food reheats better and taste better from a conventional oven than a microwave.
So ,I will have to choose--whether to wait for the better dining experience or eat right away.
Today, it is not popular to wait (....whether it is for God or for food or for anything in between.)
Today, it is not popular to stay.
Today, it is not popular to stay.
COVID "Stay-At-Home" Orders--need I say more? Folks ready to fight.
Even without the official order, staying at home as an act of wisdom has been trying even for the best of us.
Some people live life on the move. And having to stay in one place is a whole different existence (unfamiliar and undesired).
"...Joshua...a young man...did not depart from the tabernacle."
"...Joshua...a young man...did not depart from the tabernacle."
In the presence of the Lord is joy.
Psalm 16:11 (NKJV)
You will show me the path of life; In Your presence [is] fullness of joy; At Your right hand [are] pleasures forevermore.
In the presence of the Lord is communication and direction.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
Exodus 33:9 (NKJV) And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood [at] the door of the tabernacle, and [the LORD] talked with Moses.
In the presence of the Lord is protection.
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”
3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”
Let's not be in a hurry to get back to common things.
(Peter reminds those of us being grafted into the family of God:)
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
When you leave (loose the awareness of) God's presence there is no telling when you will get back into God's presence.
When you leave (loose the awareness of) God's presence there is no telling when you will get back into God's presence.
When you leave God's presence sin is more likely.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
And today out Light comes from Jesus, God’s living Word:
John 12:46 (NKJV)
“I have come [as] a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.
When you leave God's presence you are left with yourself.
Song: In The Garden
And he walks with me, And He talks with me, And He tells me I am his own; And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known.
And he walks with me, And He talks with me, And He tells me I am his own; And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known.
We are in the month of May.
As each of us transitions into another part of our journey, push into God's presence...and stay...wait.
Joshua was of a different generation.
Joshua was of a different generation.
Joshua was and represents a different set of priorities, ambitions, disciplines.
You may recall, Joshua will be 1 of 2, out of 12 who gets a sneak peek into the promises of God.
God even chose Joshua to continue in leadership where Moses leaves off.
This week, I challenge us to tarry. (Because things are better with God.)
49 “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
Wait.
WHY wait?
WHY wait?
Because God has what you need.
4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; 5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
HOW shall I wait? With Thanksgiving, Prayer, Song, Scripture, Doing God’s Will...
HOW shall I wait? With Thanksgiving, Prayer, Song, Scripture, Doing God’s Will...
Wait in a posture of Thanksgiving.
Continue in prayer (pray without ceasing).
17 pray without ceasing,
Sing because you have to, not because/irrespective of if you want to.
"I need thee, Oh, I need thee. Every Hour I need thee. O Bless me now my savior. I come to thee."
"I need thee, Oh, I need thee. Every Hour I need thee. O Bless me now my savior. I come to thee."
Read because your life depends on it.
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
Luke 4:4 (NKJV)
But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ”
Do God's will because it is your sustenance.
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
So, What is this all about?
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.