The Presence in View

Jason M. Dickinson

Exodus: The Presence of the Savior • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

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Handout

Introduction

Cell Phone immanence vs personal presence

Facetime allows for a relationship to continue, and for it to seem like there is a real presence, but it does not compare to the real personal presence.

Some Christians today have a ‘Facetime’ presence of God in their lives when they could be having the real personal (and powerful) presence of God.

Be thinking about an answer to this question: “Where have you recently seen the presence of God in your life?”

Exodus 40:34–38 (ESV)

34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 36 Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.

We can very easily see the theme and main point of this passage based on the repeated words found in the passage.

Notice how the cloud is mentioned in each verse. The cloud is the visible representation of the presence of God.

The cloud (the presence of God) distinguishes the people of God, displays the glory of God, guides the followers of God, and remains with the faithful of God.

God’s presence displays his glory, distinguishes his people, guides his followers, and remains with his faithful.

Immanence vs transcendence

God wants you to experience his presence.

Notice how quickly verse 34 follows verse 33. Almost as if God was waiting with anticipation for the people to obey so he might be with them.

Notice too, how he met them in the wilderness. God is always about taking the steps to meet people where they are.

As soon as the people made the space for God to be in their midst, he made his presence known.

What would have happened if the Israelites were so-so about building the tabernacle?

If they waited until they felt like they had time for it?

Should they then expect God’s presence?

How then can you or I lament that we do not see God’s presence when we are too busy filling that space ourselves?

ILLUST - I was just this past week reminded of a need I have; I began to run through 10 ways I needed to take care of it - started to get anxious - then remembered I should invite God’s presence into the situation through prayer. (not as though he needs an invitation)

God’s presence displays his glory.

The word glory has, at it’s root, the idea of weightiness.

God’s glory is the weightiness of all that God is displayed.

Sometimes referred to as an unapproachable light.

Isaiah 6:1–4 (ESV)

1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.

When God’s glory is displayed:

focus shifts

priorities realign

importance changes

you are humbled

you are in awe

you are drawn in

How might you have reacted if you were Isaiah in Isaiah 6? (need a fresh pair of pants?)

We will not see all of God’s glory until we are in heaven, but it doesn’t mean we do not see his glory at all even now.

Don’t walk past the glory!

I remember taking my youngest son to one of the national art galleries in Washington, D.C. As we made our approach, I was so excited about what we were going to see. He was decidedly unexcited. But I just knew that, once inside, he would have his mind blown and would thank me for what I had done for him that day. As it turned out, his mind wasn't blown; it wasn't even activated. I saw things of such stunning beauty that brought me to the edge of tears. He yawned, moaned, and complained his way through gallery after gallery. With every new gallery, I was enthralled, but each time we walked into a new art space, he begged me to leave. He was surrounded by glory but saw none of it. He stood in the middle of wonders but was bored out of his mind. His eyes worked well, but his heart was stone blind. He saw everything, but he saw nothing.

Paul David Tripp, Awe: Why it Matters for Everything we Think, Say, and Do (Crossway, 2015), pp. 65-66

One of he saddest things we can do is to look right into God’s glory and call it usual.

“Oh that cloud - yeah, it’s always there”

How many times have you walked outside at night and kept your gaze downward instead of looking up and thinking about the size, distance, immensity, and number of the stars?

Psalm 19:1–2 (ESV)

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.

“I can see the stars everyday” But it’s still God’s glory!

The more the presence of God is at work in your life, the more his glory will be displayed in your life.

God’s presence distinguishes his people.

There is a bit of a surprise in verse 35 as Moses, the one who was in God’s presence on Mt. Sinai is not able to enter the tent of meeting because of the pervasive nature of God’s presence.

It reminds us that though God desires his presence to be with everyone, God’s presence is restrictive.

While God is ontologically everywhere, he is relationally only with his people.

Moses knew the importance of God’s presence going with him:

Exodus 33:14–18 (ESV)

14 And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. 16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?” 17 And the Lord said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” 18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.”

While there will be many tents in the wilderness, this one will have the presence of God.

This was the case with the tabernacle

This was the case with the Temple as it was divided into three parts

As the Jews would follow the prescribed order of worship to atone for their sin, they would be able to have the presence of God with them.

Sin separates us from the presence of God.

Through the shedding of blood there is forgiveness of sin and the presence of God remains.

But then, Jesus came. Jesus:

Colossians 2:9 (ESV)

9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,

The glory of God - the full presence of God came as a man - Jesus.

More than this, the one who is the presence of God, sheds his blood to finally and fully break down the barrier of our sin keeping the presence of God behind a veil in the Temple.

Now, the presence of God can be with each one of us.

Jesus makes a way for you to have the presence of God in your life.

When you do, it distinguishes you from the world. (or should)

Because you are guided (or should be) by the presence of God.

While there will be many temples and places of worship, this one will have a presence of God so thick that worship can’t even happen.

(What would it look like if our church had this happen?)

1 Corinthians 4:20 (ESV)

20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

There should be a notable, weighty presence among the people of God.

God’s presence guides his followers.

36 Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up.

God wants to do more than simply save and send you. After salvation he calls you to go but he also guides you.

He does this through the Holy Spirit.

While Jesus was the fullness of God’s glory on earth and now that he has ascended back to the Father, we have the Holy Spirit as the presence of God with us.

John 16:5 (ESV)

5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’

John 16:7 (ESV)

7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

John 16:13 (ESV)

13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

While the people needed to share the experience of God’s presence, you have the presence of the Holy Spirit in you to guide YOU

Would you follow the cloud if God gave you one? Oh yes, please!

The Holy Spirit within you can guide you better than any cloud outside of you. Let Him lead.

Don’t move if he doesn’t. Don’t stay if he’s moving. But most of all, let Him guide!!

How many places have you gone without the cloud? How well did that work?

God’s presence reminds the faithful.

38 For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.

Reminds them of what?

What he has done.

Every time they see the cloud they are reminded of the cloud that shielded them as they went through the Red Sea

The cloud that had the power to save is still with them.

Romans 8:11 (ESV)

11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

His supply in the past and provision for the future

His power in the past and ability for today.

We can go through our journeys looking at the problems of life (and there are many) or we can keep in sight the presence of God.

Why was the presence of God ‘in the sight of all the people?’ Because we are fickle and fearful people.

(“Begone, Unbelief”)

Not only was it a reminder for themselves, but the presence of God displayed in their midst also allowed them to share who God is

Deuteronomy 11:7 (ESV)

7 For your eyes have seen all the great work of the Lord that he did.

Deuteronomy 11:16–20 (ESV)

18 “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 19 You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 20 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates,

Where do you see the presence of God at work in your life?

For many of us, God has spoken during our time studying Exodus. The people were to tell the next generation how they saw God at work in their lives during this time. Now it is our turn.

**Testimonies**

God’s presence was in the sight of all the people, but if the people were not watching his presence, they would be lost and wandering.

The problems of their journey would seem huge.

But if they then see the presence of God, they are reminded of the power of God.

Watch for the presence of God (and see the glory of God). Long for the presence of God. Stay close to the presence of God. Follow the presence of God.

On all their journeys - The presence of God was not meant to be a unique one-time event. We have the Holy Spirit to guide us “through all our journeys”

Moses knew the importance of God’s presence going with him:

Exodus 33:14–18 (ESV)

For God’s presence in your life:

Become humble

Get hungry

God’s presence in your life will display his glory, it will distinguish you as his child. He will guide you through the Holy Spirit, as you remember He is faithful.