Hunger for God: Finding Strength in His Presence

• The Necessity of God's Presence 00:43:55 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor asserts that life is impossible without the active presence of Jesus, using Moses' demand for God's presence as a model for believers.
• Divine Knowledge and Relationship 00:47:41 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor explains that God knows individuals by name, indicating a personal relationship rather than just a distant deity.
• Protection in the Cleft of the Rock 00:50:38 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses the imagery of the cleft of the rock to describe spiritual protection from evil during difficult times.
• The Presence and Glory of God 00:51:15 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor describes the overwhelming nature of God's glory, using Isaiah's vision and the concept of 'weight' to explain how believers should be overtaken by it.
• Humility Before God 00:55:46 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor argues that encountering God's glory must result in humility, citing biblical figures like Isaiah, Moses, Jacob, and Job who were humbled before being equipped.
• Protection in the 'Cleft of the Rock' 00:50:12 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses the metaphor of the cleft in the rock to describe God's protection and the revelation of His glory to believers during difficult times.
• Spiritual Warfare and Defeat of the Devil 01:00:47 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor distinguishes between the enemy's attempts to agitate believers and God's control, asserting that those hid in Christ cannot be destroyed by the devil.
• God's Glory and Presence 01:04:25 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor describes the tangible weight of God's glory in biblical times (tabernacle) and asserts that God's glory is manifested in believers today, urging them to seek it with hunger.
• Worship 01:05:27 ▶️ 📄
  > Worship is defined not as a ritual but as something 'birthed within' the believer through beholding God's glory and entering His presence.
• Human Purpose 01:09:20 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor cites the Westminster Shorter Catechism to define man's chief end as glorifying God and enjoying Him forever, linking this to the creation narrative in Revelation.
• Accessibility of God's Presence 01:08:15 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor debunks the idea that God's presence is limited to church buildings, citing personal experiences in daily life (driving, work, shopping) as evidence of God's omnipresence.

• Sermon Illustration 00:41:21 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor recounts the biblical narrative of Moses interceding for Israel after the golden calf incident, specifically focusing on Moses' plea for God's presence and God's response that He knows Moses by name.
• Sermon Illustration 00:50:38 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor references the biblical account of Moses being placed in the cleft of the rock where God covers him with His hand before passing by, illustrating divine protection.
• Sermon Illustration 00:51:30 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor references Isaiah's vision in Isaiah 6 where he saw the Lord on His throne, the angels crying 'Holy, Holy, Holy,' and realized his own undone state compared to God's perfection.
• Sermon Illustration 00:56:10 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor recounts Moses encountering the burning bush and Mount Sinai, noting he had to remove his shoes for holy ground and was veiled after seeing God's glory.
• Sermon Illustration 00:56:35 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor describes Jacob wrestling with the angel of the Lord (pre-incarnate Christ) until he received a blessing and his name was changed.
• Sermon Illustration 00:57:50 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor cites Habakkuk's physical reaction to God's presence, where his lips quivered and body trembled, illustrating the overwhelming nature of divine encounter.
• Sermon Illustration 00:58:17 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor mentions Job's frustration with God leading to a realization of his own vileness and subsequent repentance.
• Sermon Illustration 00:58:58 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor references John the Apostle falling at Jesus' feet like a dead man upon seeing His glory in Revelation.
• Sermon Illustration 01:04:25 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor recounts the biblical account of Moses entering the tabernacle where the glory of God descended, causing the people to worship, and contrasts this with modern experiences of God's presence.
• Sermon Illustration 01:08:27 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor shares personal anecdotes of feeling God's presence in mundane settings such as his office, while preparing a deceased individual, and walking through grocery stores like Walmart or Food Lion.
• Sermon Illustration 01:10:55 ▶️ 📄
  > The pastor uses the historical example of the Israelites in the wilderness who died because they lacked faith to believe God would lead them, contrasting them with Moses who relied on God's presence.

• Pastoral Charge 00:45:10 ▶️ 📄
  > Shout amen in agreement with the preceding statement about needing God's presence.
• Pastoral Charge 00:47:14 ▶️ 📄
  > Give God a hand of praise.
• Pastoral Charge 00:51:11 ▶️ 📄
  > Thank God for His protection and presence.
• Pastoral Charge 00:55:26 ▶️ 📄
  > Agree with the pastor's description of feeling the weight of God's presence.
• Pastoral Charge 00:56:35 ▶️ 📄
  > Remember personal transformation through Christ and persist in seeking His blessing.
• Pastoral Charge 00:57:56 ▶️ 📄
  > Write down the scripture reference for future study.
• Pastoral Charge 01:10:35 ▶️ 📄
  > Verbally pray to God expressing a desire for more of His presence.

[00:00:02] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[00:00:02] God is still good.

[00:14:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:14:04] The doubt may darken the way, but showers of blessing will come any day.
[00:14:12] He'll bring me through.
[00:14:15] I'll stand and say, God is still good.
[00:15:01] My mistakes, but still I have found.
[00:15:04] I stumble and fall, but through it all, God is still good.
[00:15:11] still flows from the palm of his hand he will give grace and help me to stand although he knows how unworthy i am my god is still good come on let's stand together and worship god is still
[00:15:31] good when the waves roll high god is still good all through the night when i've done all i can and i don't understand god is still good may darken the way but showers of blessing will come
[00:15:54] any day he'll bring me through i'll stand and say god is still good god is still good god is still good when the waves grow high god is still good all through the night when i've done all i can
[00:16:15] and i don't understand god is still good clouds of doubt may darken the way but showers of blessing Come any day and he'll bring me through I'll stand and say God is still good He'll bring me through
[00:16:41] I'll stand and say my God is still good

[00:16:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[00:16:46] And to rest, well I can tell Amen

[00:20:31] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]
[00:20:31] Zion is calling to a higher place Praise

[00:20:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]
[00:20:44] And every nation that I love is calling

[00:21:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[00:21:42] to a higher place singing out worship the lord to stand and to magnify his name to tell

[00:22:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:22:09] every name yes zion is calling his name to tell the people

[00:24:37] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[00:24:37] in me responds to who you are just to know amen amen thank you jesus thank you lord

[00:25:15] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:25:15] here i am to worship thank you lord all together here i'm to say all together i'm to bow all together all together all together so here is shut here i am to bow i'm to say that
[00:28:53] You're my all together lovely and all together worthy, all together wonderful too.
[00:29:08] And I'll never know how much it costs to see my sin upon that cross.
[00:29:25] And I'll never know how much it costs to see my sin upon that cross.
[00:29:41] So here I am to worship.
[00:29:45] Here I am to bow down.
[00:29:49] Here I am to say that you're mine.
[00:29:53] you're all together lovely and all together worthy all together wonderful too amen we're

[00:30:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:30:18] gonna change it up we're gonna change it up and sing uh god is still good aren't you glad he's still good regardless god is good all the time all the time god is good hallelujah let's sing
[00:30:32] this i hadn't done it in a while let's sing this let's worship the lord hallelujah we can testify

[00:30:39] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]
[00:30:39] to this as i look back on all of my days so many times so many ways i have been blessed All I can say is God is still good.
[00:31:06] Sometimes the night brings sorrow and pain.
[00:31:11] Sometimes the tears flow like the rain.
[00:31:15] But through it all, He's never changed.
[00:31:20] God is still good.
[00:31:24] God is still good when the waves roll high.
[00:31:28] God is still good all through the night When I've done all I can, don't understand God is still good Clouds of doubt may darken the way Showers of blessing will come any day He'll bring me through, I'll stand and say
[00:31:53] God is still good well there have been times I've let him down made my mistakes till I have found I stumble and fall but through it all God is still good mercy still flows from
[00:32:16] the palm of his hand he will give grace and help me to stand although he knows How unworthy I am God is still good When the waves roll high God is still good All through the night
[00:32:38] And I don't understand God is still good Clouds of doubt may darken the way Showers of blessings will come any day He'll bring me through I'll stand and say God is still good Verse number two
[00:33:01] There have been times I've let Him down Made my mistakes Still I have found I stumble and fall Through it all God is still good Where mercy still flows From the palm of His hand
[00:33:22] He will give grace and help me to stand although he i am my god is still good we'll call and worship well god is still good when the waves roll high god is still good all through the night when i've done all i
[00:33:42] can't don't understand god is still good the doubt may darken the way the showers of blessing will come any day he'll bring me through i'll send and say god is still good well god is still good when the waves roll high
[00:34:09] God is still good all through the night.
[00:34:13] When I don't understand, don't understand.
[00:34:16] Well, God is still good.
[00:34:21] Hours of doubt may darken the way.
[00:34:25] Showers of blessing will come any day.
[00:34:29] He'll bring me through.
[00:34:32] Well, God is still good.
[00:34:34] Let's do verse number two.
[00:34:36] Well, there have been times I've let him down.
[00:34:40] i've made my mistakes but still i have found i stumble and fall but through it all god is still good well mercy still flows from the palm of his hand he will give grace and help me to stand
[00:35:00] although he knows how unworthy i am my god is still good yes god is still good when the waves roll high god is still good all through the night when i've done all i can and i don't understand god is still good
[00:35:23] clouds of doubt may darken the way but showers of blessing will come any day he'll bring me through I'll stand and say God is still good Come on and give the Lord some praise this morning.

[00:35:45] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]
[00:35:45] Aren't you glad God is still good?
[00:35:48] Hallelujah.
[00:35:49] God is always good.
[00:35:51] Hallelujah, hallelujah.
[00:35:54] Praise the name of the Lord.
[00:35:56] Hallelujah.
[00:35:57] They had another song picked out.
[00:35:58] I felt like that might encourage us this morning a little bit.
[00:36:02] Just to know that God is still good.
[00:36:04] When the waves roll high, Our God is still good all through the night.
[00:36:09] Hallelujah.
[00:36:10] So I speak that to you today, and I speak that to those who are watching by the internet, Pastor Tammy and several others, Sister Linda Taylor, Linda Crawford, and so many others that are watching us.
[00:36:22] I speak that over you today as well, that God is still good.
[00:36:26] Hallelujah.
[00:36:27] Through all the sickness and the infirmity the enemy is trying to attack you with, God is still good.
[00:36:32] Hallelujah.
[00:36:34] Praise the name of the Lord.
[00:36:36] God is good.
[00:36:38] I want to say I want to thank my brother-in-law Jeff for getting everything started up this morning and getting everything good.
[00:36:46] Kind of had to make some adjustments in getting here, but God worked everything out, and I appreciate that.
[00:36:53] Hallelujah.
[00:36:54] Good to be in the house of the Lord.
[00:36:56] Hallelujah.
[00:36:58] The scripture I want to use this morning is something we've preached from many a time, but this has been on my heart this week, and I just wanted to talk to you a little bit about it.
[00:37:07] If you'll turn with me to the book of Exodus, chapter 33.
[00:37:11] In the book of Exodus 33, the children of Israel are now in the wilderness.
[00:37:17] And they've come up out of Egypt, and they're in the wilderness.
[00:37:22] And if you go back a chapter, you'll find that they've done the ungodly deed of making an idol in the wilderness.
[00:37:35] and Moses has to declare something, and death has come to several that are in the wilderness.
[00:37:45] The Bible teaches us in the 32nd chapter that 3,000 men died by the hands of the Levites because they were disobedient to God.
[00:37:59] You know, sometimes we're persuadable.
[00:38:01] We're not strong in the Lord.
[00:38:04] We can be persuaded.
[00:38:06] Aaron became persuaded to do what the people wanted done while Moses was on the mountain talking with God.
[00:38:15] But we go on in the next chapter, and I want to talk about the glory of God.
[00:38:20] And Pastor Tammy's preached on the glory of God, and I've preached on it before.
[00:38:23] But there's some points that I feel like we need to hear this morning and need to talk about just a little bit.
[00:38:28] I want you to look at this talk and maybe go to verse number 13 of this chapter.
[00:38:33] Let's stay right there.
[00:38:33] Just hold that one verse right there.
[00:38:35] And the Lord, go back to verse number 1, I'm sorry.
[00:38:37] And the Lord said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people, which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I swear unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob,
[00:38:52] saying, Unto thy seed will I give it.
[00:38:55] And now let's go to verse number 13.
[00:38:58] Now, Moses is praying back to the Father.
[00:39:02] And I want you to grasp this verse.
[00:39:05] Now therefore I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight, and consider that this nation is thy people.
[00:39:25] Verse number 14 says this morning, God says back to him, My presence shall go with thee.
[00:39:36] And I will give thee rest.
[00:39:40] Now listen to what Moses says back again to God in verse 15.
[00:39:47] And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.
[00:39:56] I want to talk about this morning just a little bit about the presence and the glory of God.
[00:40:03] We know the story.
[00:40:04] We've heard the story many times of Israel being held captive in Egypt.
[00:40:09] They're there.
[00:40:10] They're going through the hardships 400 years.
[00:40:13] They've been bondaged.
[00:40:14] We understand the plagues.
[00:40:16] We understand the miracle of God bringing them out over approximately one and a half to two million, up to three million people came out of Egypt on that night.
[00:40:25] And we understand they've been wandering in the wilderness.
[00:40:28] Moses has been up.
[00:40:29] God's given him the word, the commandments in which they should follow.
[00:40:32] The people have been disobedient.
[00:40:34] They've made a golden calf.
[00:40:35] They're down there worshiping.
[00:40:37] Moses has come down, and again, as I said, and Moses has become angry.
[00:40:41] God was angry.
[00:40:43] Moses begged God to have mercy on him, but Moses came down and he became angry, broke the tablets, ground them up, put them in the water, and made those people drink the water because of their sin.
[00:40:56] And so they consumed the tablets of stones, what the Bible says in chapter 32.
[00:41:01] He drew a line and he says, Who's going to stand on the Lord's side?
[00:41:05] And the Levites, the tribe of Levi, came and joined him.
[00:41:09] The rest of them stood there.
[00:41:11] So the Levites, he told them to do what they needed to do.
[00:41:14] 3,000 lives were killed.
[00:41:17] But Moses goes back to talk to God once again.
[00:41:21] I'm going to let you know that even though things don't always go right, we need to go back to God and talk to Him.
[00:41:28] Just because we are going through situations and circumstances does not mean that we need to let go of God.
[00:41:35] We need to stay in continual conversation with Him.
[00:41:39] But let me just read this just a little bit to you.
[00:41:42] Moses says, God, if I have found grace in your sight, show me now your way, if you want to look at it that way, that I may know you and find grace in your sight.
[00:41:55] God says, my presence will go with you and I will give you rest or I will give you your desire, I will give you your expected end, if you want to call it that as well.
[00:42:10] But my point is, he, in verse number 15, says again back to God, if your presence does not go with us, don't take us no further.
[00:42:23] Now we have come a long journey in our lifetime and we have battled many things.
[00:42:29] Now, we've talked about this, and I just want to touch it just a moment.
[00:42:34] We've talked about they've dealt with manna every morning.
[00:42:37] They've dealt with quail every evening.
[00:42:40] And, you know, they've gotten frustrated, and they've gotten upset, and they've told Moses many times, Why did you bring us out here to die?
[00:42:48] How many has ever been through a spiritual battle, a valley?
[00:42:50] Let me say that.
[00:42:51] How many has ever gone through a dry place with God, and you didn't feel like God was anywhere near you?
[00:42:56] You didn't feel like your prayers were made.
[00:42:59] I feel like there's probably more than just the five that raised their hand.
[00:43:02] Is there anybody that's ever gone through a spiritual dry place with the Lord that you really didn't feel like God was hearing you?
[00:43:09] You didn't feel like your prayers were accomplishing anything and you began to wonder, Satan played in your mind and you began to question.
[00:43:16] I know I have.
[00:43:17] I've questioned the Lord before.
[00:43:19] I will admit to you, I've said, God, where are you in my time of need?
[00:43:23] God, where are you when I need to hear a voice from heaven or I need you to confirm that your presence is with me and me sit there and not feel anything.
[00:43:33] Moses said, Lord, I'm asking you and I'm telling you, if your presence does not go with us, if your presence does not lead us, don't take us no further.
[00:43:45] I would rather us stay right where we are in the middle of this wilderness and let every one of us die if we have to make the journey by ourselves.
[00:43:54] Hear me clearly this morning.
[00:43:55] I can't live without Jesus.
[00:43:58] I can't walk without Jesus.
[00:44:00] The old songwriter says, I can't talk without Jesus.
[00:44:04] I've got to have His presence.
[00:44:06] If I'm going anywhere, I've got to have the presence of God in my life.
[00:44:12] Moses went on to say to the Lord, For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight?
[00:44:21] Now God was angry at Israel.
[00:44:24] And God wanted to destroy them.
[00:44:26] And Moses said, God, I beg you to repent of your evil that you've fought against the people for their stupidity.
[00:44:35] We need to pray, God, help us in our nation's stupidity.
[00:44:42] And God, forgive us of any sin that we've committed.
[00:44:46] And God, we ask you that you would repent, if you want to look at it that way, of any evil fault that you've had against our country or even our world.
[00:44:56] because, God, we need your presence more than ever before.
[00:44:59] I need God in my life more than ever before.
[00:45:02] I need Jesus to be Lord of my life more than ever before.
[00:45:06] I need the Holy Ghost to direct my steps more than ever before.
[00:45:10] Somebody needs to shout amen right there.
[00:45:12] He says, God, if it is it not in that that thou goest with us, so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.
[00:45:24] And then Moses had that simple request.
[00:45:27] And the Lord said unto him, unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken.
[00:45:34] For you have found grace in my sight.
[00:45:37] And oh, what did he say?
[00:45:39] We're in verse number 17, the last part of verse 17.
[00:45:43] God said unto him, I know thee by name.
[00:45:48] Hallelujah.
[00:45:50] Let me say that one more time.
[00:45:52] Let me look at verse number 17 again.
[00:45:53] He says, And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken, for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.
[00:46:07] Psalm 103 and verse 7 tells us that God made known His ways to Moses, and He made known His acts to the children of Israel.
[00:46:19] Psalm 103 and verse 7.
[00:46:21] but Moses goes on and he says God please show me your glory I won't read the rest of the verses you can do that yourself he says I want to know I beg of you let me see you I want to talk to you
[00:46:37] face to face I want to see you for myself God tells him that no man in his flesh can behold me in all of my glory, His flesh cannot stand it because His ways are so much higher than mine.
[00:46:51] His thoughts are so much higher than mine.
[00:46:54] His glory cannot compare to anything in this earth.
[00:46:58] I feel God in this house this morning.
[00:47:00] His power is more than any power upon the face of the earth.
[00:47:04] His power is greater than any devil of hell that might try to come against any of us this morning.
[00:47:10] I'm telling you that God is God and there is no other.
[00:47:13] He is all-powerful.
[00:47:14] He is all-gloriful, and you ought to give Him a hand of praise in this house this morning.
[00:47:25] Hallelujah.
[00:47:26] For a quick sermon, this is pretty good this morning, ain't it?
[00:47:32] Say amen.
[00:47:33] Hallelujah.
[00:47:37] Moses said, God, I need to know who you are.
[00:47:41] God knew Moses.
[00:47:44] He says, I know you by name.
[00:47:50] I feel that.
[00:47:52] Hallelujah.
[00:47:53] God knows every time we all come together in prayer, God knows every one of us that's praying.
[00:48:00] If you've been bought by the blood of Jesus Christ, He says, man, I hear.
[00:48:06] I hear Him praying.
[00:48:09] I hear her.
[00:48:10] I know her by name.
[00:48:14] Moses wanted more than just...
[00:48:16] But Moses understood.
[00:48:17] God knew Moses by name.
[00:48:20] Why?
[00:48:20] Because Moses had a relationship with God.
[00:48:25] I'm glad I know him more than just some man that was hanging on a cross I know him more than just a baby that was laying in a manger I know him as Lord and Savior
[00:48:39] of my life I know that he is my Redeemer I know that he is my Healer I know that he is my Deliverer that I am free I am free I am free indeed why?
[00:48:52] because he knows me by name and I have a relationship with Him today.
[00:48:59] Man, I feel God.
[00:49:01] God was willing to reveal Himself to Moses.
[00:49:10] but Moses in his flesh could not deal with it.
[00:49:13] He could not handle it.
[00:49:15] God told Moses, He said, There is a place right by me.
[00:49:20] I mean, Moses is there in the presence.
[00:49:22] there is a cloud as we talked about this Wednesday night when Peter, James and John were on top of the mountain and there was a cloud engulfed that mountain and Jesus was transfigured and there appeared Moses and Elijah in front of them
[00:49:38] and the presence of God they saw Jesus in a split moment of His power and of His majesty God said there is a place right here beside me and you shall stand on the rock
[00:49:51] And he says, I will put you in the cleft of the rock.
[00:49:54] I want to tell you sometimes when I'm struggling climbing up the mountaintop, when I'm going through some of the darkest valleys of my life, I feel the Holy Ghost.
[00:50:04] When I'm going through some of the bad times of my life, let me tell you this morning, there is a place in the rock that God will hide me.
[00:50:12] There's a cleft in that rock that he will place me, that no hell can come against me, and he will pass by me.
[00:50:19] And when he passes by me, he will reveal himself that I know that I'm all right.
[00:50:27] Good night.
[00:50:34] Hallelujah.
[00:50:35] God told Moses, he said, I'll place you in the cleft of the rock.
[00:50:38] I'm going to cover you with my hand.
[00:50:41] Hallelujah.
[00:50:41] When I'm in the cleft of the rock, God's got his hand over me.
[00:50:44] There ain't no devil of hell can find me.
[00:50:49] Man.
[00:50:50] I said, when I'm in the cleft of the rock, ain't no devil of hell can find me.
[00:50:55] He says, but you know what?
[00:50:56] I'm going to come by and I'm going to pull my hand just back a little bit and I'm going to let you see me pass by.
[00:51:04] When he passes by, everything's all right.
[00:51:10] Hallelujah.
[00:51:11] Y'all just thank God for that this morning.
[00:51:15] In the glory of God or the presence of God, we need to become overwhelmed with that.
[00:51:23] We need to become overtaken by that.
[00:51:27] The Bible says in Isaiah chapter 6, and I want to just, I'm going to touch base here.
[00:51:30] I don't have a lot of time this morning to really get in depth of this.
[00:51:34] But the Bible says in Isaiah chapter 6, in the year that King Uzziah died, this may sound a little bit of what Dr. Wood, maybe I touched on a little bit last week, but I just wanted to continue some things that he may have said.
[00:51:46] Uzziah was 52 years old when he died unexpectedly.
[00:51:51] Isaiah was reclosed to him.
[00:51:53] And the Bible says when he died, he saw the Lord.
[00:51:56] He went into a vision and saw the Lord sitting upon his throne high and lifted up.
[00:52:03] And the train, meaning the glory of God, filled the temple.
[00:52:08] The Bible says the angels.
[00:52:09] He describes the angels.
[00:52:11] But what was going on?
[00:52:12] They were flying around the throne saying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.
[00:52:20] the whole earth is full of his glory how is the earth full of his glory look outside this morning you see the green trees you see the green grass you hear the birds singing you see the rain falling
[00:52:37] you see the snow coming you see in the summertime the grass grows up the flowers come in the fall the leaves are changing that's part of the glory of god but there's more glory because you and i
[00:52:52] are part of the glory of god because the bible says in genesis 1 and 26 that you and i are made in the very image of god he says holy holy holy isaiah said when he spoke the post of the temple
[00:53:09] shook because it was so powerful isaiah realized the glory of god and he says in the scripture of isaiah chapter 6 he says when he saw him he beheld this and realized the glory of god and he saw the
[00:53:27] angels flying around he realized that he was completely undone why because god is completely done. Let me say that one more time. Isaiah realized that he was completely undone because God is completely done. You and I are imperfect. You and I are unholy, but God is perfect and God
[00:54:02] is holy and in this flesh, in this sinful nature you and I cannot behold the glory of God but thank God every once in a while as I said, he puts me in the cliff of the rock and he passes
[00:54:16] by me and he lets me experience a little bit of his glory we understand Isaiah experienced a little bit that Isaiah saw in that moment in the vision that he saw In the moment that he was in the temple, he actually was seeing Christ.
[00:54:41] Some people don't agree with that, but you can look in John 12 and you'll understand that what he was actually seeing was Christ in His glory, the pre-incarnate Christ.
[00:54:53] He carefully describes the whole thing that he's seeing, but he wants us to understand the holiness and the glory of God.
[00:55:01] when He says that the angels are crying, Holy, Holy, Holy, when the angels are saying that the whole earth is full of His glory, glory in the Hebrew means weight.
[00:55:15] Weight.
[00:55:17] The earth is weighted with the glory of God.
[00:55:23] In other words, it's full.
[00:55:26] How many of you can tell me or be agreeing with me that when you are experiencing the presence of God, It's just like you were weighted because you're so full of it.
[00:55:40] It's just like there's a weight on you because you're so overcome.
[00:55:46] Isaiah couldn't handle it.
[00:55:48] He failed.
[00:55:50] He just failed because he realized how undone he was when he was looking at the throne and how done or complete our God is.
[00:55:59] Everyone who ever come into the presence or the glory of God first humbled themselves and then was equipped for the ministry.
[00:56:10] Moses came in counter with the burning bush.
[00:56:15] He came in counter with the glory of God.
[00:56:17] And what happened?
[00:56:17] Moses had to slip his shoes off because he realized he was on holy ground.
[00:56:22] And then he came in counter with the glory of God again when he was on top of Mount Sinai.
[00:56:28] Everyone again who has come in counter with the glory of God must first be humbled and then equipped.
[00:56:35] How many remembers the story about Jacob?
[00:56:37] Jacob wrestled with the angel of God.
[00:56:40] And if you want to get technical, he wrestled with the pre-incarnate Christ.
[00:56:46] Because any time in the Old Testament, the angel of the Lord, the captain of the Lord of hosts, was always a theophany, talking about it was a vision of Christ coming.
[00:57:00] he seen him face to face and he wrestled with him and said i won't let go until i feel your touch or you bless me and his name was changed from the bad that he was until the new that he became
[00:57:20] how many of us remember that we were how bad we were until we came encounter with jesus and we got a hold of him and said, I'm not going to let go until you bless me.
[00:57:33] Not that, oh, I need the riches of the world, but that you're going to change my life.
[00:57:39] Oh, yes.
[00:57:41] Habakkuk even said that he's in Habakkuk chapter 3, he had to be humbled first.
[00:57:50] He says, when I come into the presence of God, my lips quivered.
[00:57:56] Habakkuk 3 and 16, just write that down.
[00:58:00] He said, my belly trembled, my lips quivered, and my body would have trembled, and my bones would have rotted.
[00:58:12] In other words, I was so overwhelmed that I fainted.
[00:58:17] Job was frustrated with God.
[00:58:19] There was a point that he became frustrated, that he questioned God, but then he come to the point and said, I am vile, I'm vile.
[00:58:28] What shall I answer thee?
[00:58:30] I'm confused and I'm prideful.
[00:58:33] I need to be humbled.
[00:58:35] And then he repented.
[00:58:36] This is all scripture.
[00:58:38] We come into the presence of the glory of God.
[00:58:41] We must first come humble before him and then he will equip us to go forward.
[00:58:46] In the book of Revelation, John, even though he walked three and a half years with the Lord and he saw him, he was the beloved disciple when he called up in the spirit on the Lord's day.
[00:58:58] And he saw the one.
[00:59:02] The Bible says he fell at his feet like a dead man.
[00:59:06] Because of the glory of God.
[00:59:08] Because of the presence of God.
[00:59:10] How can somebody get in the presence of God and walk away more arrogant than they were before they walked in?
[00:59:21] Now that's a question.
[00:59:23] I got that wrote down in red.
[00:59:25] I wrote that down.
[00:59:28] People come into the presence of God.
[00:59:30] they experience the weight of His glory.
[00:59:34] They feel His presence.
[00:59:36] They feel the anointing as we call it in the New Testament.
[00:59:40] We feel His anointing and they will lift their head up and walk out and say, look at me.
[00:59:46] Look what I've done.
[00:59:47] Look what I am.
[00:59:49] You are a nobody.
[00:59:50] It is that God chose you as a vessel to anoint you and to place His glory upon you.
[00:59:56] Thank God that He chose me to be somebody for the kingdom of God.
[01:00:02] We need to not become arrogant because we feel His presence, but we need to be humbled.
[01:00:11] Oh, sinful man that I am.
[01:00:15] When I come into the presence of God, realize that I'm still in my flesh.
[01:00:21] Don't tell me you had some thought this week that the enemy put in your mind that wasn't of God.
[01:00:27] All right, that's good.
[01:00:30] Don't tell on yourself.
[01:00:32] I can tell you I've been frustrated this week.
[01:00:34] Enemies got me very agitated this week.
[01:00:37] And the devil's worked on my mind and got me upset.
[01:00:40] Don't tell me that God did that because God didn't.
[01:00:43] That was the work of the enemy to try to rob me of the blessing that God poured in my life.
[01:00:46] But you know what?
[01:00:47] The devil's defeated in the name of Jesus.
[01:00:49] And everything's all right because God is in control.
[01:00:53] Why?
[01:00:53] Because I want the glory of God.
[01:00:55] I want the anointing of God.
[01:00:57] I want to feel His presence.
[01:01:00] Hallelujah.
[01:01:03] I want you to understand that when Moses stood there in the cleft of the rock, God hid him.
[01:01:11] And as God hid him and walked by, he showed him just the hind part.
[01:01:16] I think it was just maybe the back of his leg.
[01:01:19] Moses in that moment was so consumed with the glory of God that his face had to be veiled when he came down.
[01:01:30] You and I need to be so consumed with the glory of God That people see the difference in our lives The holiness of God is He is in a class by himself He is in a class by himself in his perfection
[01:01:57] His greatness and his worth In other words, the scripture says There is none like you, O Lord I'm glad we sing that song there is none like you no one can touch my heart the way that you do
[01:02:17] I can search the whole world however the rest of it goes and find there is none like you God tells us He will glorify He will be glorified He will share His glory on the day of Pentecost
[01:02:37] the Bible says when they were gathered in the upper room and the presence of God came down, it flew into the room and the glory of God set upon them.
[01:02:49] You and I need that same glory to fall upon us.
[01:02:57] We need His beauty.
[01:02:59] We need His greatness.
[01:03:01] We need His anointing.
[01:03:04] The devil wants to destroy you.
[01:03:06] The devil wants to destroy me.
[01:03:08] The devil wants to destroy everybody that he can.
[01:03:11] But you know what?
[01:03:11] Those of us who have Jesus as Lord of our life today, He cannot destroy us.
[01:03:17] Why?
[01:03:17] Because we are hid in the glory of God.
[01:03:20] We are hid in the righteousness of Christ.
[01:03:23] And if He attacks us, the Bible says we have our weapons that we can use against Him.
[01:03:29] For our weapons are not carnal, but they are mighty through God to the pulling down of every stronghold.
[01:03:37] That's what God wants us to understand today.
[01:03:39] So Moses went on.
[01:03:41] Through the glory of God, Moses was able to complete the work.
[01:03:45] That's what God had told him.
[01:03:47] He said, I will give you rest, meaning I will give you what Jeremiah said when he said that God said, I know the plans that I have for you.
[01:03:57] Not to do you harm, but to do you good.
[01:03:59] And I know that I will give you an expected end.
[01:04:02] It's the very same thing what God was telling Moses, and I will give you rest.
[01:04:06] I know the plan.
[01:04:08] So Moses finished the work.
[01:04:11] He was able to continue on.
[01:04:14] The glory of God in times past rested upon God's people that it became so thick, so weighted that people were able to see it.
[01:04:25] The Bible says that the glory of God descended upon the tabernacle and the people saw it.
[01:04:30] Moses went in the tabernacle and he came out.
[01:04:33] After all of this, he went back in the tabernacle and the glory of God came down and every man stood in the front of his tent and worshipped.
[01:04:42] Why? Because he saw the glory of God over the temple or the tabernacle.
[01:04:47] We've been in services in times past and we have seen the weight of God's glory in the tabernacle or in the church that it has just overwhelmed.
[01:04:57] And you can see it's like a fog or a mist or even a cloud, if you will.
[01:05:02] Some people say, I don't understand all of that.
[01:05:04] God's Word tells us that His glory will be manifested in us and over us.
[01:05:14] That's the reason I said this morning, O Lord, You are a shield about us.
[01:05:20] Because You are over us.
[01:05:22] You are around us.
[01:05:24] And thank God He is in us.
[01:05:27] I tell you this morning that our worship becomes birthed within us.
[01:05:32] When we enter into the glory of God, when we enter into the presence of the Lord.
[01:05:37] You're not just here this morning because it's Sunday morning.
[01:05:40] You come ready to receive the Lord.
[01:05:42] You come hungry for something of God.
[01:05:44] And I'll tell you this morning, I feel His presence in here.
[01:05:47] I feel His anointing.
[01:05:48] And so when you come in this building and you say, I've come with an open heart, an open mind, ready to receive of the Lord, He is saying back to you, my glory will come into the tabernacle
[01:05:59] and you can worship me.
[01:06:01] And worship comes from out of your belly, not something that you do.
[01:06:04] It is something that is birthed within you.
[01:06:08] It comes, worship comes from beholding His glory.
[01:06:14] Worship comes from being in His presence.
[01:06:17] How wonderful, your presence is heaven to me.
[01:06:23] We sing that song every once in a while.
[01:06:25] Your presence is heaven to me.
[01:06:30] When we said Isaiah chapter 6 verse 3, the Bible says the whole earth is full of His glory.
[01:06:34] psalm 19 and 1 says the heavens declare the glory of god and the firmament shows his handiwork romans 1 20 says and for the invisible things of him from the creation of the world what are
[01:06:49] clearly seen his glory is revealed how many would say this morning i want the glory of god revealed in my life i want the presence i hunger for the presence of god i want him more than ever
[01:07:06] Psalm 8, you just write this down.
[01:07:09] Read Psalm 8, verse 1, verse 3 and 4.
[01:07:11] The Bible says, O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all of the earth, who have set Your glory above the heavens.
[01:07:23] Verse 3 says, When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him?
[01:07:36] and the Son of Man that you visit Him.
[01:07:40] When I look at God's glory, I can see the weight of who He is.
[01:07:46] I can see the weight of who He is.
[01:07:49] Humanity declares His glory.
[01:07:53] God told Isaiah, I'll give you a couple more scriptures and I'm going to be done.
[01:07:58] God told Isaiah in chapter 43, He says, even everyone that is called by my name for I have created him for my glory.
[01:08:09] He wants you to be ushered into his presence.
[01:08:12] This is not a ritual or a routine.
[01:08:15] You say we can only feel the presence of God when we're in church.
[01:08:18] No ma'am and no sir.
[01:08:19] I can feel God's presence when I'm at home.
[01:08:20] I can feel God's presence when I'm driving in my car.
[01:08:23] I have felt God's presence in my office at work.
[01:08:27] I've felt God's presence when I've been in the back doing preparation on a deceased individual. I have felt God's presence when I'm walking down the aisle of Walmart or Food Lion or anywhere else. I feel
[01:08:36] God's presence. Why? Because I hunger for His presence. And I know that I've been created for His glory. Do you know what? Listen to this.
[01:08:49] Let me give you these two scriptures.
[01:08:50] Or this one. Revelation 4 11 says, Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honor and power. For Thou has created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. For thy pleasure they were
[01:09:08] and they are created. That consumes me and you. Our sole purpose this morning is this.
[01:09:20] Man's chief end is to glory God and to enjoy Him forever.
[01:09:29] Our chief end, our purpose, our soul's purpose is man's chief end.
[01:09:36] Our final purpose in life is to glorify God and to enjoy Him or to enjoy God forever.
[01:09:45] so I'm going to tell you this morning you can get in the presence and the glory of God while you're here you don't have to wait until you get to heaven some of the most miserable people on the earth
[01:09:57] are Christians shouldn't be but they are I've seen Christian people just their face drag the ground I've got something to shout about I've got something to smile about I've got something to rejoice about why? because I am counted worthy
[01:10:16] to experience the glory of God I'm counted worthy to feel the presence of God.
[01:10:22] I'm counted worthy to be counted amongst the number of the redeemed.
[01:10:28] So I encourage you today to say, Lord, I hunger.
[01:10:35] I want more of you.
[01:10:38] I can't get no more of God.
[01:10:39] You can't get no more of God with that mentality and that attitude.
[01:10:43] But if you're hungry for Him, if you're thirsting for Him, God will fill you.
[01:10:49] Moses said, if your presence does not lead us, don't take us no further.
[01:10:54] You know why?
[01:10:55] Because if God didn't go before them, they would have died in the wilderness.
[01:10:59] And none of them would have ever seen the promised land.
[01:11:02] And the majority of them never did.
[01:11:03] They got to the part of it.
[01:11:05] Some of them got to the part of it.
[01:11:07] But the majority died in the wilderness because they didn't have enough faith to believe they were going.
[01:11:11] But anyhow, it's another story.
[01:11:12] But they were on their journey.

[01:11:16] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]
[01:11:16] But Moses simply...
[01:11:17] Thank you.