Exod 33:12-23 What A Difference His Presence Makes 14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. Introduction: I. THE SOURCE OF HIS PROMISE - DIRECTLY FROM GOD. 14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. A. Moses' Duty -3:10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. Moses was Divinely called to the task of leading the people of God to Canaan. B. Moses' Discouragement - 33:3 Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way. The people had rebelled against the Lord again in chapter 32, and as a result, the Lord wanted to destroy them at worse and remove his presence at best. C. Moses' Desire - 33:18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. TO KNOW GOD'S 1. PATH - 33:13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew 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. Psalms 27:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. 2. PERSON - 33:13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew 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. 3. PRESENCE - 33:15 And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. 4. POWER - 33:18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. II. THE SECURITY OF HIS PROMISE My presence shall go with thee Here Is :- (a) A Divine Promise "My Presence" (b) A Direct Promise "shall go" (c) A Definite Promise "with thee" Matt 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Matt 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. III. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HIS PROMISE and I will give thee rest Moses Recognised :- I. GOD'S PRESENCE IS AN ESSENTIAL PRESENCE 15 If thy presence go not with me carry us not up hence.
A. Essential to know success in the Christian Life. Phil. 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. B. Essential to know success in the Christian Church. Jesus said, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst" (Matt.18:20). C. Essential to know success in the Christian Battle. Ex. 17:11 And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
II. GOD'S PRESENCE IS AN EXHILARATING PRESENCE
1 Chr 16:31-33 says: 31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth. 32 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein. 33 Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth. Luke 19:37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. III. GOD'S PRESENCE IS AN EXULTING PRESENCE
Ps 16:11 "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." "Joy" is the Hebrew word that means: "to leap, spin with pleasure." A. The Source Of Joy. Joy is a product of the Holy Ghost (Gal.5:22). But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, B. The Substance Of Joy There is a moral joy. Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: C. The Spirituality Of Joy. It comes from God Himself, Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. 1 Pet. 1:8, Peter calls it "Joy unspeakable and full of glory." IV. GOD'S PRESENCE IS AN ENVIRONING PRESENCE Ps 31:20, "Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues." V. GOD'S PRESENCE IS AN EXPRESSIVE PRESENCE
Ps 97:5 "The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth." Isa 64:1 Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, When God’s presence is manifested, things melt before Him. A. God Melts Stubborn wills Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, Matthew 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. B. God Melts Stoney hearts Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! C. God Melts Sinful desires Luke 22:61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. VI. GOD'S PRESENCE IS AN ENCOMPASSING PRESENCE
Ps 139:7-10 declares: Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. VII. GOD'S PRESENCE IS AN EMANCIPATING PRESENCE Isa 63:9 "In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old." Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. John 8:32 ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. VIII. GOD'S PRESENCE IS AN ENABLING PRESENCE Genesis 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. IX. GOD'S PRESENCE IS AN ENRICHING PRESENCE and I will give thee rest
Acts 3:19 "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." "Refresh" lit. means to "recover your breath." IV. THE SUPREMECY OF HIS PROMISE Moses Response 15 And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. What It Takes: Three Key Ingredients
1) A Heart That Seeks
(Luke 11:9-10) And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Jeremiah 29:13) And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
(Matthew 5:6) Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
When a man has set out to find God, he must find Him or die. 2) A Will That Yields
Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. 3) A Mind That Rests
(Isaiah 30:15) For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. 18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
