In Exodus 32 we see...

Exodus 33:1-2 ¹ Then the LORD said to Moses, "Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your descendants.' ² I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

God Requires...

1.      Submissive Not Stubborn Hearts.

Exodus 33:3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way."

·The people were stiff-necked – they were stubborn, obstinate, hardened, proud, cocky

·God requires a humble, surrendered heart... Being stiff-necked is offensive to a Holy God.

Psalms 25:9 He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

2.      Authentic Not False Repentance.

Exodus 33:4-6 ⁴ When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments. ⁵ For the LORD had said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites, 'You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.'" ⁶ So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb.

·The Israelites mourned, stripped off their jewelry – symbolic of repentance – a changed way of thinking

·Some people repent because of their circumstances, pressures, finances, job, marriage or addiction problems... then cry out, Oh God get me out of this fix I’m in... false repentance

·But authentic, Godly repentance is seeing your sin as God does... understanding Jesus paid the penalty at Calvary – hating sin so much you turn from it and place your faith in Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

3.      Passionate Not Passive Worship.

Exodus 33:7-11 ⁷ Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the "tent of meeting." Anyone inquiring of the LORD would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. ⁸ And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. ⁹ As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses. ¹⁰ Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to his tent. ¹¹ The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

·When we come to Christ our worship of God becomes so much greater – with passion.

·Some may have more passion when the Steelers win the Super Bowl than we do for our Savior

·I thank God for our Praise Team – it has NEVER been as good as it is now!  (Concert April 1^st)

·God inhabits the praise of His people... God’s manifest Presence comes when we worship/praise Him

Psalms 96:9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.

What happens when we come to Christ humbly, repentant, & in reverent awe of Him?

Exodus 33:12-13 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."

God Changes Us...

Ø      We are Graced by God – v12 you have found favor with me.'... v13 continue to find favor with you

·         GRACE – God’s riches at Christ’s expense.  God giving us what we don’t deserve

·         Lost in sin – God sent His Son to be a perfect sacrifice for sin... Oh the riches of God’s Grace!

John 1:16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

Ephesians 1:7-8 ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace ⁸ that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Ø      We are Known by God - v12 You have said, 'I know you by name

·         God spoke to Moses face to face – an expression that means with “openness” or “in friendship”

·         Some here may have never experienced the Presence of God because you’re still seeking Him

·         Struggling in difficulties, mentally being whipped by the world... defeated... Come to Christ.

1 Corinthians 8:3 But the man who loves God is known by God.

1 John 3:1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

Ø      We are Taught by God – v13 pleased with me, teach me your ways

·         His grace works in us, God changes us, His Spirit teaches us...

·         As we get into God’s Word, His Spirit teaches us Spiritual truth and we grow spiritually.

1 Corinthians 2:13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

John 15:26 "When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.

Exodus 33:14-17 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."

·         Why should we desire to have the Manifest Presence of God upon our lives? 

·         The book of Romans 8 is called the Spirit Filled chapter, or on page 800 in your pew bible

God’s Manifest Presence...

ü       Surrounds our Life with Peace v14 The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 

·     In the world you’ll have distress/trouble but God’s Presence affords peace in the storms

·     God says when His Presence goes with us... He grant us rest in every situation. 

·     As a believer, God promises us life & peace... could you use a little peace in your life?

Romans 8:6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;

ü       Is Essential for Godly Living v15 – ¹⁵ Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 

·     Moses told the Lord... if you don’t go with us, we can’t do it – don’t send us without your Presence

·     We need God for Godly living.  We tend to try and live by my own standards not God’s

·     God’s Manifest Presence is absolutely essential in victorious living.  We need Him in every area of our lives – school, jobsite, home, church, driving, shopping, traveling... He keeps our minds right.

·     We are prone to wander from Him... be practicing His Presence every moment of your life.

Romans 8:5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

ü       Sets us Apart & Assures us v16 – 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?” 

Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

·         Moses told the Lord that His Presence with them distinguished them from everyone else.

·         You cannot help but noticing when a person or a church has the Presence of God upon them.

·         God’s Presence sets people apart – Dave Earley, Jerry Falwell, Billy Graham, David Jeremiah

·         God’s Presence produces eternal fruit – the salvation of souls, changed lives, blessings of God

·         Over and over I see & hear what God is doing here at Cross Creek – it certainly is not our eloquence or intellectual achievements but God’s Presence secured by faithful prayer & surrender in obedience to His Word.  We need more & more of God in our lives!

ü       Assures us of Answered Prayer v17 – 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.” 

·         God told Moses because He was pleased with him... He would answer his prayer.

·         Often we don’t really know how to formulate our prayers... God’s Spirit intercedes for us!

Romans 8:26-27 ²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. ²⁷ And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

·         The Holy Spirit intercedes when we’re agonizing over something... without using words.

·         God’s Presence assures us of answered prayer because its in accordance to God’s will

·         He releases His Manifest Presence in response to our prayers!

·         God is really with me!  Producing His peace, righteousness, assurance, answered prayer!

God’s Presence Today is the “Spirit Filled” Life!

Ephesians 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

Ephesians 1:13-14 ¹³ And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory.

Acts 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 4:31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Romans 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

Many times I’ve personally become totally filled in God’s glorious Presence... Many times in my personal time or on Sunday mornings or Wednesday evenings or other occasions I just sense God wonderfully moving by speaking to our hearts.  Oh, God fill this place with Your very Presence!  God is Spirit and works in the realm of our innermost being... He moves in ways we don’t fully understand.  This past Wednesday night, we

 sensed God’s Presence very powerfully.  Some weeks when I think the message fell flat, God is actually all over this place working in awesome ways!

The most glorious way we sense His Manifest Presence – is when He speaks gently to our hearts... The infinite Lord of the universe speaking to us!  In a still small voice, in a gentle whisper He speaks - then we respond and say YES, and He changes our lives forever.  Righteousness

Righteousness imparted to an unsaved person or a believer getting things right is evidence that God is working around us.  He is exalted and He is glorified!  Stay passionately in love with Jesus!  A changed person is the greatest billboard for Christ.  His Manifest Presence produces awesome wonders!

Begin Living Victorious in Jesus Christ!

1 John 5:4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Chippie the parakeet never saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage. The next he was sucked in, washed up, and blown over.

The problems began when Chippie’s owner decided to clean Chippie’s cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the attachment from the end of the hose and stuck it in the cage. The phone rang, and she turned to pick it up. She’d barely said “hello” when “ssssopp!” Chippie got sucked in.

The bird owner gasped, put down the phone, turned off the vacuum, and opened the bag. There was Chippie—still alive, but stunned.

Since the bird was covered with dust and soot, she grabbed him and raced to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and held Chippie under the running water. Then, realizing that Chippie was soaked and shivering, she did what any compassionate bird owner would do . . . she reached for the hair dryer and blasted the pet with hot air.

Poor Chippie never knew what hit him.  A few days after the trauma, the reporter who’d initially written about the event contacted Chippie’s owner to see how the bird was recovering. “Well,” she replied, “Chippie doesn’t sing much anymore—he just sits and stares.”

It’s hard not to see why. Sucked in, washed up, and blown over . . . That’s enough to steal the song from the stoutest heart.                                                                                                In the Eye of the Storm by Max Lucado, Word Publishing, 1991, p. 11

There are three types of people here this morning –