The Need of God's Presence

Text: Exodus 33

Introduction: The Israelites had seen God do stupifying things . . .

Call a man to lead them

The 10 plagues

Give them wealth, freedom

Part the Red sea, defeat Pharaoh's army

Establish them as an independent nation

Water, manna, even quail

Now they beheld Mt. Sinai on fire with the presence of God

Which makes their abandonment of God so shocking

Gdolden calf, God's judgment (Levites, plague)

It would have also cost them God's presence were it not for Moses

They were about to realize just how important God's presence really was

Do you realize how important God's presence is in your life?

Has it been a while since you felt that close connection with your Lord?

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Proposition: You need to seek God's presence.

Interrogative: How?

Transition: 2 traits you must develop

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I. Develop a Sensitivity to the Lack of God’s Presence 33:1-17

A. A lack of God's Presence is caused by sin 33:1-3

God had been with them and demonstrated His presence among them

Now God would instead send an angel, not go among them

God is supremely offended by sin

Your sin offends God and breaks fellowship with Him

If you are not experiencing God’s presence, your sin is likely the cause

B. A lack of God's presence should cause mourning 33:4-11

“Ornaments:” Jewlery, spoil of Egyptians, sign of God's blessing 33:4-6

“Tabernacle:” Tent, not the proper tabernacle, a temporary tent 33:7-11

“Afar off:” Symbolized God’s separation from the Israelites

As Moses met with God there, the Israelites saw from a distance

The removal of God’s presence caused them to mourn, realize what they had done

Does a lack of God’s presence in your life cause you to mourn?

Do you realize how horrible it is to not experience the close presence of God in your life?

Illustration: Lack of someone's presence . . .

Maybe career took them somewhere else

Maybe Covid separation for a couple of years

Maybe you lost someone you love

It causes pain, mourning, a sense of severe loss, heart hurts

Application: Your sin causes a lack of God's presence . . .

Does it hurt? Do you feel it? Do you notice?

Your relationship with God and experiencing His presence is far more important than any human relationship you will ever have

If we feel this for a person, how much more should we feel this for our Lord?

God saves us so we can have an intimate, real, personal relationship with Him

A lack of God's presence should cause pain, mourning, a sense of severe loss

If you do not feel mourning as you lack the presence of God, you have a problem today

Be sensitive to your sin and to the lack of experiencing God’s presence

II. Develop A Desire to Experience God’s Presence 33:12-34:9

A. Recognize God's presence as your desperate need 33:12-17

“Hast not let me know:” Moses did not like the uncertainty . . . an angel or God?! 33:12

Moses did not want to continue without God’s presence 33:13-15

Moses recognized that it was God’s presence that made them special 33:16-17

Moses knew that they desperately needed God’s presence, and he would not continue without it!

If you are going to desire His presence, you need to first recognize that you desperately need His presence

We get used to going about life on our own . . . . but Jesus said . . . “for without me ye can do nothing”

Do you recognize how desperately you need God’s presence in you life?

B. Make God's presence your desperate want 33: 18-23: 34:5-8

“Shew me thy glory:” a request to experience the full weight of God’s presence 33:18

Moses asked God to see His glory as an assurance that God would indeed be with Him

This wasn’t just some business deal, Moses wanted to experience the fullness of God’s presence now!

Moses already experienced burning bush, direct discussion on Sinai, interaction at Tabernacle, but he wanted more!

God promised to show his as much as possible 33:19-23

Man cannot see the fullness of God and live

Moses was promised to see the “back parts,”

Figurative for a limited view of God’s glorious presence

This was the most that a man could witness of God and not be killed!

God appeared to Moses 34:5-8

God’s presence was Moses’ desperate want, and God rewarded him!

If you make God’s presence your desperate want, God will reward you too!

The difference between OT and NT presence . . .

God is always here, even in you, YOU ARE THE TENT

But you can lose your experience of His presence and power

Someone in the same room . . . feels like you are a mile apart . . .

Is a dull and dry Christianity really the extent of our experience of the presence of God??

It can’t be considering how the Bible describes His presence for believers . . .

Colossians 1:27 KJV 1900

27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Christ dwells is us!

John 14:21 KJV 1900

21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Jesus promised to reveal Himself to us, to make Himself known to us

John 7:38 KJV 1900

38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Experiencing His presence should satisfy the deepest part of you (the Holy Spirit)

John 16:7 KJV 1900

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Experiencing His presence should give you comfort and help

Philippians 4:7 KJV 1900

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Experiencing His presence should give you peace!

Ephesians 3:16 KJV 1900

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

Experiencing His presence should give you strength!

Ephesians 3:19 KJV 1900

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Experiencing His presence should fill you with Christ’s love!

BUT ALL OF THIS IS SPOILED BY OUR SIN . . . .

Ephesians 4:30 KJV 1900

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

SO HOW DO WE EXPERIENCE GOD’S PRESENCE?

James 4:8 KJV 1900

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

You have to seek to experience His presence

Illustration: Seeking to see a loved one . . .

When we long to see someone we love, we will do anything in our power to be with them, see them again

How many times I have planned to see my parents . . .

A time you really went above and beyond to experience someone's presence

Application: You must seek God's presence . . .

What do I do? Go above and beyond to experience His presence!

Turn offTV, set aside your phone, seek Him!

Confess your sin . . . Read His Word . . .

Desperately and insistently ask to experience His presence . . . That Jesus would Manifest Himself to you

His satisfaction, peace, comfort, strength, love

You should be able to feel His presence, His power, His love

Your relationship with God is not just a list of rules you keep or a body of facts you know, it is a relationship you experience

Do everything in your power to experience His presence!

GOSPEL PRESENTATION

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Conclusion:

After the Israelites abandoned God, they realized just how important God's presence

Do you realize how important God's presence is in your life?

Has it been a while since you felt that close connection with your Lord?

Proposition: You need to seek God's presence.

Interrogative: How?

Transition: 2 traits you must develop

I. Develop a Sensitivity to the Lack of God’s Presence

A. A lack of God's Presence is caused by sin

B. Make God's presence your desperate want

II. Develop A Desire to Experience God’s Presence

A. Recognize God's presence as your desperate need

B. Make God's presence your desperate want

Will you seek God’s presence today?