There is a Place

Exodus 33:12–23 NIV84

12 Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” 14 The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” 17 And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” 18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” 19 And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” 21 Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.”

1. Favor is found in knowing God

Everyone wants God’s favor when in need

When in trouble, it seems that people remember God

Favor comes by knowledge of Him

Hos 4:6 “6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will reject you from serving as my priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your sons.”

We must know Him to have His favor

Favor places you at the front of the line

When you have favor you don’t need to compete, you get what is yours

God will always work things out Rom 8:28 “28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”

Favor causes things to work out for you

If God is for you, He is more than enough

2. Don’t go without His presence

In His presence there is fullness of joy

In His presence there is healing

In His presence there is victory

In His presence there is peace

In His presence there is security

In His presence there is protection

In His presence you are complete

In His presence you lack nothing

Why would you want to go anywhere without His presence?

His presence is all we need

We can’t do anything without Him

I can do all things through Christ

I live and have my being in Him Acts 17:28 “28 For in him we live and move and have our being, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’”

He is the vine, Jn 15:5 “5 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.”

3. His goodness is more than enough

His goodness blesses

Don’t only love Him because of what He does and can do

We need to love Him with all that is within us

Don’t just love Him during good times but at all times

Rejoice in the Lord always

When I was in the hospital I was asked, “Are you upset with God?”

My answer, “No. He has been too good to me.”

God will place you in places where you will experience His goodness

He is faithful, 1 Cor 10:13 “13 No temptation has come upon you except what is common to humanity. But God is faithful; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to bear it.”

His goodness will provide a way out of your trial

Don’t move in to your trial

Look for the way out

You got the way out before you went in

Don’t let the pain of the trial blind you to the way out

He is faithful because He is good and His goodness is with you

4. There is a place to stand

There is a place where we can hold our head up

There is a place where we are confident

There is a place where shame is no more, Is 61:7 “7 In place of your shame, you will have a double portion; in place of disgrace, they will rejoice over their share. So they will possess double in their land, and eternal joy will be theirs.”

There is a place where you can get double for your trouble

Some have left the place where they can stand

The enemy has been knocking them down

God still has a place near Him

God still has a place where you can stand

Hear the Word of the Lord, Zech 9:12 “12 Return to a stronghold, you prisoners who have hope; today I declare that I will restore double to you.”

Come back to the place where you can stand

5. There is a place to be covered

There is a place where God will cover you

Your covering is not everywhere

God has designated a place for your covering

Beware of the “lone ranger Christians,” Jn 5:30 “30 “I can do nothing on my own. I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of him who sent me.”

We need to be covered

Psalm 91:1–8 (CSB)

1 The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say concerning the Lord, who is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust:

3 He himself will rescue you from the bird trap, from the destructive plague.

4 He will cover you with his feathers; you will take refuge under his wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield.

5 You will not fear the terror of the night, the arrow that flies by day,

6 the plague that stalks in darkness, or the pestilence that ravages at noon.

7 Though a thousand fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, the pestilence will not reach you.

8 You will only see it with your eyes and witness the punishment of the wicked.

When you are in the right place you are under protection

Get under authority, Rom 13:1 “Let everyone submit to the governing authorities, since there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.”

He will protect and rescue you

Lack of submission has gotten many in trouble

Many refuse to be under a covering

God told Moses, “I will place you in the crevice of the rock and cover you.”

Jesus is our Rock and God will cover you in a place where He has set you and planted you

Do not transplant yourself

You are under protection when you are in the place where God placed you

You are not here by accident, you are here because this is the place of your covering

You are covered against all the attacks

That is the Promise from God

There is a place to be covered

Get back to that place

Get to the place and be covered

You will experience victories you can’t experience on your own

Get the the place