1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:03,359 Well, good morning, Two Rivers. Good morning. It 2 00:00:03,359 --> 00:00:05,279 is great to be here with you right 3 00:00:05,279 --> 00:00:07,279 here in live. If you're joining us in 4 00:00:07,279 --> 00:00:09,439 Blend or Amped, good to be with you. 5 00:00:09,439 --> 00:00:12,000 If you're in Roane County or Bearden, awesome 6 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:13,859 to be with you as well. 7 00:00:14,544 --> 00:00:17,125 Today, we are starting a new series 8 00:00:17,505 --> 00:00:21,345 called Christmas presents, and and I gotta say, 9 00:00:21,345 --> 00:00:23,045 I can't believe I'm saying it. 10 00:00:23,345 --> 00:00:25,765 We're, like, officially in the Christmas season. 11 00:00:26,304 --> 00:00:28,225 So even for those of you some of 12 00:00:28,225 --> 00:00:31,030 you start Christmas season the day after Halloween 13 00:00:31,089 --> 00:00:33,329 now. Like, that's a thing. And some of 14 00:00:33,329 --> 00:00:35,649 you hold out, and you're like, Thanksgiving is 15 00:00:35,649 --> 00:00:37,890 its own day. If you're either one of 16 00:00:37,890 --> 00:00:39,750 those, we're officially in it now. 17 00:00:40,369 --> 00:00:42,895 So all the lights are coming out. The 18 00:00:42,895 --> 00:00:45,135 Christmas trees are coming out. And, 19 00:00:46,255 --> 00:00:48,815 let's be let's just be real. Right? It's 20 00:00:48,815 --> 00:00:50,354 just you and me right here, 21 00:00:50,734 --> 00:00:51,395 right now. 22 00:00:52,174 --> 00:00:52,674 We 23 00:00:53,615 --> 00:00:55,615 we all love to get a good present, 24 00:00:55,615 --> 00:00:56,435 don't we? 25 00:00:57,149 --> 00:00:58,829 I mean, if if you say no, I 26 00:00:58,829 --> 00:00:59,810 don't believe you. 27 00:01:00,590 --> 00:01:03,789 Because a present makes us actually feel seen 28 00:01:03,789 --> 00:01:05,950 and known. That's what a good present will 29 00:01:05,950 --> 00:01:08,109 do. It'll make you feel seen and known. 30 00:01:08,109 --> 00:01:09,490 And this year, 31 00:01:10,255 --> 00:01:12,835 my family gave me one of the best 32 00:01:12,895 --> 00:01:13,395 presents 33 00:01:13,855 --> 00:01:16,734 that I could ever get, ever, really. And 34 00:01:16,734 --> 00:01:17,234 so, 35 00:01:17,855 --> 00:01:19,695 I'm a I'm a dog guy. And if 36 00:01:19,695 --> 00:01:22,094 you're a cat person, like, that's, you know 37 00:01:22,255 --> 00:01:22,734 okay. 38 00:01:23,135 --> 00:01:23,635 Anyway, 39 00:01:24,209 --> 00:01:25,989 but I'm a dog guy. I've always had 40 00:01:26,049 --> 00:01:28,930 multiple dogs. And so growing up, couple dogs, 41 00:01:28,930 --> 00:01:30,530 even early in our marriage, we had two 42 00:01:30,530 --> 00:01:32,609 dogs. But for the last couple years, we've 43 00:01:32,609 --> 00:01:35,650 had one dog, and it's been good. And 44 00:01:35,650 --> 00:01:37,694 we have one in, like, those farragut dogs, 45 00:01:37,694 --> 00:01:39,775 a poodle doodle thing. You know what I'm 46 00:01:39,775 --> 00:01:42,655 talking about? And, she's a great dog. Love 47 00:01:42,655 --> 00:01:43,854 that dog. And, 48 00:01:44,655 --> 00:01:47,055 but we've always had one dog. Well, in 49 00:01:47,055 --> 00:01:48,334 May, 50 00:01:48,334 --> 00:01:50,015 something you need to know about me is 51 00:01:50,015 --> 00:01:51,875 I've always loved hound dogs, 52 00:01:52,409 --> 00:01:55,629 Like like blue tick hounds, which Smokey is, 53 00:01:56,409 --> 00:01:58,729 bloodhounds. Those kind I love the long ears. 54 00:01:58,729 --> 00:02:00,170 I love the howl. I love all of 55 00:02:00,170 --> 00:02:02,409 it, but just have never had access to 56 00:02:02,409 --> 00:02:03,390 one. And so, 57 00:02:04,250 --> 00:02:05,950 fast last May, 58 00:02:07,265 --> 00:02:08,864 a friend of mine that goes to 2 59 00:02:08,864 --> 00:02:10,564 Rivers, she posted on Facebook 60 00:02:11,185 --> 00:02:13,425 that a guy that goes to our Roane 61 00:02:13,425 --> 00:02:14,245 County campus 62 00:02:14,705 --> 00:02:16,944 bred his blue tick hound, and he had 63 00:02:16,944 --> 00:02:19,185 three puppies left that he was trying to 64 00:02:19,185 --> 00:02:20,324 find homes for. 65 00:02:20,849 --> 00:02:22,629 And I'm sitting there, and I'm like, 66 00:02:23,409 --> 00:02:24,710 this is my chance. 67 00:02:25,810 --> 00:02:28,129 Like, I mean, I moved from California six, 68 00:02:28,129 --> 00:02:29,810 seven years ago, and if you're from Tennessee, 69 00:02:29,810 --> 00:02:31,750 you're like, you're still not a native Tennessean. 70 00:02:31,810 --> 00:02:33,905 I'm like, if I get the state dog 71 00:02:33,905 --> 00:02:34,564 of Tennessee, 72 00:02:35,104 --> 00:02:36,645 maybe I can be a Tennessean. 73 00:02:37,985 --> 00:02:39,344 And so I go to my wife. I'm 74 00:02:39,344 --> 00:02:41,504 like, look at these puppies. She's like, oh, 75 00:02:41,504 --> 00:02:43,425 those are really cute. I'm like, I kinda 76 00:02:43,425 --> 00:02:45,659 know the guy that has them. Like, we 77 00:02:45,659 --> 00:02:47,439 should consider. And she's like, 78 00:02:47,819 --> 00:02:49,900 David, it's not the it's not the right 79 00:02:49,900 --> 00:02:51,979 time. It's not a good time. It's so 80 00:02:51,979 --> 00:02:53,919 easy to have one dog. And and, really, 81 00:02:53,979 --> 00:02:56,060 she was right. I mean, having one dog 82 00:02:56,060 --> 00:02:56,959 is easier. 83 00:02:57,340 --> 00:02:59,280 Well so that happened. 84 00:02:59,944 --> 00:03:01,724 The guy found a home for the puppies. 85 00:03:02,585 --> 00:03:04,365 Life is good in the world. Right? 86 00:03:04,985 --> 00:03:06,125 Then we get to July. 87 00:03:07,305 --> 00:03:09,645 So the guy that had the dogs 88 00:03:10,344 --> 00:03:12,525 reached out to me, and he's like, hey. 89 00:03:13,020 --> 00:03:14,000 One of the puppies 90 00:03:14,459 --> 00:03:16,459 was returned. I'm like, oh, so you got 91 00:03:16,459 --> 00:03:17,039 a reject. 92 00:03:17,659 --> 00:03:19,099 And and he's like, no. No. No. No. 93 00:03:19,099 --> 00:03:20,699 It's a it's a great dog. It just 94 00:03:20,699 --> 00:03:22,780 didn't it didn't fit with the family that 95 00:03:22,780 --> 00:03:25,020 it went to, and so they just couldn't 96 00:03:25,020 --> 00:03:26,060 take care of him. And so, 97 00:03:26,834 --> 00:03:28,435 we got him back. He's got all the 98 00:03:28,435 --> 00:03:30,294 markings you want, and he was about 99 00:03:30,594 --> 00:03:32,354 five months old at this point. And I'm 100 00:03:32,354 --> 00:03:34,294 like, how do I play this? 101 00:03:35,074 --> 00:03:36,674 And so I went to my wife. I'm 102 00:03:36,674 --> 00:03:38,435 like, oh, check out this dog. She's like, 103 00:03:38,435 --> 00:03:40,775 he's really cute. I'm like, he's available. 104 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:41,780 And, 105 00:03:42,719 --> 00:03:43,219 so, 106 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:46,639 so she I I and I'm thinking in 107 00:03:46,639 --> 00:03:49,060 my head, I gotta play this really cool. 108 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:52,020 Like, not no not pressure, just kinda 109 00:03:52,319 --> 00:03:54,400 feel this out. So I showed her a 110 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:56,334 picture of it, and she's like, he's, like, 111 00:03:56,334 --> 00:03:58,414 he's really cute. I'm like, he's available. You 112 00:03:58,414 --> 00:04:00,895 know, we should consider this. And and so 113 00:04:00,895 --> 00:04:02,495 then the next morning, she wakes up and 114 00:04:02,495 --> 00:04:05,294 she's like, are you are you serious about 115 00:04:05,294 --> 00:04:06,034 this dog? 116 00:04:07,294 --> 00:04:09,534 And in the moment, the Holy Spirit gave 117 00:04:09,534 --> 00:04:10,289 me a word. 118 00:04:13,889 --> 00:04:14,870 I think it was. 119 00:04:15,650 --> 00:04:17,250 I said, do you want me to be 120 00:04:17,250 --> 00:04:18,610 honest, or do you want me to be 121 00:04:18,610 --> 00:04:19,110 agreeable? 122 00:04:20,129 --> 00:04:21,410 And she said, well, I want it to 123 00:04:21,410 --> 00:04:23,410 be both. I want you to be honest 124 00:04:23,410 --> 00:04:25,345 and agreeable with what I want. And I 125 00:04:25,345 --> 00:04:27,024 said, well, I really want the dog. And 126 00:04:27,024 --> 00:04:28,944 so then later that day so that was 127 00:04:28,944 --> 00:04:31,105 that morning. She said, hey. Can you send 128 00:04:31,105 --> 00:04:32,545 me the pictures of it? And then she 129 00:04:32,705 --> 00:04:34,225 later that day, she goes, hey. I talked 130 00:04:34,225 --> 00:04:35,745 to my parents, and they would actually be 131 00:04:35,745 --> 00:04:37,585 willing to help with the dog. And and 132 00:04:37,585 --> 00:04:39,345 so I'm sitting there. I'm like, this is 133 00:04:39,345 --> 00:04:39,845 happening. 134 00:04:40,629 --> 00:04:42,389 This is I'm making progress. I'm like, I 135 00:04:42,389 --> 00:04:44,389 still gotta play it cool. Just play it 136 00:04:44,389 --> 00:04:44,889 cool. 137 00:04:45,830 --> 00:04:48,089 So then we get to the next day, 138 00:04:48,710 --> 00:04:50,089 and she says nothing. 139 00:04:51,029 --> 00:04:52,170 Zero nothing. 140 00:04:53,305 --> 00:04:55,464 So it's getting close to lunchtime, and I'm 141 00:04:55,464 --> 00:04:57,625 running home for my lunch break. And my 142 00:04:57,625 --> 00:04:59,464 wife I call her and I said, hey. 143 00:04:59,464 --> 00:05:01,464 We really kinda need to let David out 144 00:05:01,464 --> 00:05:03,544 in Roane County know whether we're gonna get 145 00:05:03,544 --> 00:05:05,544 this dog or not. And she goes, what 146 00:05:05,544 --> 00:05:06,044 dog? 147 00:05:10,610 --> 00:05:11,990 I was so mad. 148 00:05:12,850 --> 00:05:14,930 I was like, what dog? I'm like, the 149 00:05:14,930 --> 00:05:17,169 dog we've been talking about. She's like, we 150 00:05:17,169 --> 00:05:19,329 can't get that dog. I'm like, oh, and 151 00:05:19,329 --> 00:05:21,009 you get to make the decision now? And 152 00:05:21,009 --> 00:05:22,115 so I'm 153 00:05:22,654 --> 00:05:24,035 mad when I get home. 154 00:05:25,454 --> 00:05:26,435 But my family, 155 00:05:27,774 --> 00:05:28,995 they're little boogers. 156 00:05:30,254 --> 00:05:31,774 This is what they did to me. Check 157 00:05:31,774 --> 00:05:32,834 this video out. 158 00:05:40,769 --> 00:05:41,669 Meet Roscoe. 159 00:05:42,370 --> 00:05:42,870 Roscoe? 160 00:05:46,884 --> 00:05:49,705 What the world? He's ours. No. He's not. 161 00:05:50,245 --> 00:05:50,745 Roscoe. 162 00:05:51,685 --> 00:05:53,685 We went and pinned a daughter for you. 163 00:05:53,685 --> 00:05:56,985 Roscoe. Hey. He doesn't know his name yet. 164 00:05:59,045 --> 00:06:00,745 Are you surprised? Yes. 165 00:06:02,379 --> 00:06:03,599 So there's Roscoe. 166 00:06:04,220 --> 00:06:06,939 Meet the newest member. We're officially Tennessee. This 167 00:06:06,939 --> 00:06:08,539 is a smokey dog, and some people are 168 00:06:08,539 --> 00:06:10,379 like, that looks like Smokey. His name's not 169 00:06:10,379 --> 00:06:13,180 Smokey. His name's Roscoe from Dukes of Hazard, 170 00:06:13,180 --> 00:06:15,899 Roscoe p Coltrane. And, so that's where it 171 00:06:15,899 --> 00:06:16,545 comes from. 172 00:06:17,745 --> 00:06:20,145 He has been an amazing addition to the 173 00:06:20,145 --> 00:06:22,545 family. He slobbers, and he's a lot of 174 00:06:22,545 --> 00:06:24,305 work, but he is so fun and such 175 00:06:24,305 --> 00:06:24,965 a lover. 176 00:06:25,425 --> 00:06:26,805 That was a great 177 00:06:27,425 --> 00:06:27,925 present. 178 00:06:28,899 --> 00:06:31,560 I mean, you I mean, they I felt 179 00:06:31,699 --> 00:06:33,860 seen. I felt heard, all of it. He 180 00:06:33,860 --> 00:06:35,539 barfed in the car four times on the 181 00:06:35,539 --> 00:06:37,139 way home when my daughter went to go 182 00:06:37,139 --> 00:06:38,500 pick him up, so that was fun. So 183 00:06:38,500 --> 00:06:40,339 I got to be broken in right away 184 00:06:40,339 --> 00:06:43,095 of cleaning up after having two dogs. You 185 00:06:43,095 --> 00:06:45,514 get what you ask for. You know? And 186 00:06:45,974 --> 00:06:47,995 but he was a great 187 00:06:48,454 --> 00:06:48,954 present. 188 00:06:50,294 --> 00:06:51,914 And this Christmas season, 189 00:06:52,534 --> 00:06:53,914 we're talking about 190 00:06:54,294 --> 00:06:54,794 presents. 191 00:06:56,060 --> 00:06:58,060 We're not talking about the gifts that you're 192 00:06:58,060 --> 00:07:00,060 gonna find under the tree. We're not talking 193 00:07:00,060 --> 00:07:03,040 about a new dog. We're talking about God's 194 00:07:03,259 --> 00:07:04,879 presence with us. 195 00:07:05,660 --> 00:07:09,084 And God's presence with us is actually the 196 00:07:09,084 --> 00:07:11,425 greatest gift that we could ever receive. 197 00:07:12,925 --> 00:07:13,745 This weekend, 198 00:07:15,245 --> 00:07:17,725 here's what we're gonna see as we look 199 00:07:17,725 --> 00:07:20,225 at a passage that's not typically a Christmas 200 00:07:20,285 --> 00:07:22,865 passage, is that Jesus' presence 201 00:07:23,769 --> 00:07:26,889 is the ultimate gift that guides us and 202 00:07:26,889 --> 00:07:27,949 gives us rest. 203 00:07:29,449 --> 00:07:31,370 I look at that big idea, and those 204 00:07:31,370 --> 00:07:32,669 two things, guiding 205 00:07:33,050 --> 00:07:35,129 and rest, those are two things that I 206 00:07:35,129 --> 00:07:36,824 need in my life and my world. 207 00:07:37,465 --> 00:07:39,465 When I take over the steering wheel of 208 00:07:39,465 --> 00:07:40,845 my life and I try 209 00:07:41,305 --> 00:07:43,705 to control my own life and control my 210 00:07:43,705 --> 00:07:45,564 own destiny, I I fail. 211 00:07:46,745 --> 00:07:49,404 I need guidance. I need help 212 00:07:49,829 --> 00:07:51,669 with direction for my life, and I don't 213 00:07:51,669 --> 00:07:53,689 know about you. I need rest. 214 00:07:54,790 --> 00:07:57,350 When we enter a busy season, all you 215 00:07:57,350 --> 00:07:59,110 have to do is head down Turkey Creek 216 00:07:59,110 --> 00:08:01,350 and or any shopping center area, and you 217 00:08:01,350 --> 00:08:04,115 know the craziness that's out there. I need 218 00:08:04,115 --> 00:08:06,115 rest, and I'm not talking about just a 219 00:08:06,115 --> 00:08:08,194 good night's sleep. I need the kind of 220 00:08:08,194 --> 00:08:10,134 soul rest that only God can give. 221 00:08:11,314 --> 00:08:13,334 That's what my heart longs for. 222 00:08:13,949 --> 00:08:15,790 And so we're gonna look a little bit 223 00:08:15,790 --> 00:08:16,290 more 224 00:08:16,750 --> 00:08:20,610 at that as we jump into Exodus 33. 225 00:08:21,150 --> 00:08:22,910 So as you go there, as you turn 226 00:08:22,910 --> 00:08:23,410 there, 227 00:08:24,830 --> 00:08:27,310 this is not a normal Christmas passage. Hey. 228 00:08:27,310 --> 00:08:29,654 Merry Christmas. Exodus is where we're gonna be. 229 00:08:29,654 --> 00:08:30,314 It's kinda 230 00:08:30,774 --> 00:08:32,455 weird. But I gotta give you a little 231 00:08:32,455 --> 00:08:34,394 background to Exodus 33 232 00:08:35,014 --> 00:08:37,014 so that we understand where we're at in 233 00:08:37,014 --> 00:08:37,595 the story. 234 00:08:38,294 --> 00:08:40,955 Now in Exodus chapter three, 235 00:08:41,654 --> 00:08:42,154 God 236 00:08:42,610 --> 00:08:44,929 appears to a guy named Moses in a 237 00:08:44,929 --> 00:08:48,210 burning bush. Moses grew up in Egypt. The 238 00:08:48,210 --> 00:08:50,870 the Israelites, God's chosen people are enslaved 239 00:08:51,410 --> 00:08:53,250 in Egypt, and they've been there for almost 240 00:08:53,250 --> 00:08:55,009 four hundred years. And they're crying out to 241 00:08:55,009 --> 00:08:57,284 God of going, God, rescue us. If we're 242 00:08:57,284 --> 00:08:59,225 your people, get us out of here. 243 00:08:59,924 --> 00:09:00,825 Well, Moses 244 00:09:01,445 --> 00:09:03,764 grew up in Egypt. He knew all the 245 00:09:03,764 --> 00:09:05,544 land of Egypt. He was actually, 246 00:09:06,085 --> 00:09:08,585 like, one of Pharaoh's kinda people, 247 00:09:09,365 --> 00:09:11,144 family members, so to speak. 248 00:09:12,019 --> 00:09:13,720 Well, he killed a guy, 249 00:09:14,100 --> 00:09:15,559 and he went on the run. 250 00:09:15,940 --> 00:09:18,120 And he ended up settling as, 251 00:09:19,300 --> 00:09:20,360 he was a shepherd. 252 00:09:20,899 --> 00:09:23,059 And so he's out with his flock in 253 00:09:23,059 --> 00:09:25,460 the hillsides, and he sees this bush that's 254 00:09:25,460 --> 00:09:26,200 on fire. 255 00:09:26,705 --> 00:09:30,544 And God appears, Yahweh appears to Moses in 256 00:09:30,544 --> 00:09:31,605 this burning bush. 257 00:09:31,985 --> 00:09:34,465 And, and God tells Moses, I've heard the 258 00:09:34,465 --> 00:09:35,845 cries of my people, 259 00:09:36,945 --> 00:09:38,725 and I'm gonna send you, Moses, 260 00:09:39,529 --> 00:09:41,689 And you're gonna go back to Egypt, and 261 00:09:41,689 --> 00:09:43,449 you're gonna rescue them, and you're gonna lead 262 00:09:43,449 --> 00:09:45,209 them out. And Moses is like, woah. Woah. 263 00:09:45,209 --> 00:09:46,970 Woah. Woah. Woah. Woah. I think you got 264 00:09:46,970 --> 00:09:48,970 the wrong guy. You know, there was another 265 00:09:48,970 --> 00:09:50,809 shepherd about a mile or two back. I 266 00:09:50,809 --> 00:09:52,649 think that's probably the one you were looking 267 00:09:52,649 --> 00:09:55,225 for. And God goes, no. It's you, Moses. 268 00:09:55,445 --> 00:09:57,285 And and Moses goes, how how do I 269 00:09:57,285 --> 00:09:58,404 know you sent me? I don't even know 270 00:09:58,404 --> 00:09:59,764 your name. And he goes, my name is 271 00:09:59,764 --> 00:10:01,845 Yahweh. I am who I am. I'm sending 272 00:10:01,845 --> 00:10:04,245 you. And Moses goes, no. And God says, 273 00:10:04,245 --> 00:10:05,545 I'm gonna be with you. 274 00:10:06,590 --> 00:10:09,629 And Moses responds essentially by saying, that's not 275 00:10:09,629 --> 00:10:10,370 good enough. 276 00:10:11,790 --> 00:10:13,090 And Moses finally 277 00:10:13,629 --> 00:10:16,690 tells God in this burning bush, send somebody 278 00:10:16,750 --> 00:10:19,309 else. And God says, well, I'm gonna send 279 00:10:19,309 --> 00:10:21,230 Aaron. He's already on the way. He's gonna 280 00:10:21,230 --> 00:10:21,970 help you. 281 00:10:23,205 --> 00:10:25,784 Fast forward in the book of Exodus, 282 00:10:26,884 --> 00:10:27,464 and Moses 283 00:10:27,764 --> 00:10:30,565 leads the people out. He saw the mighty 284 00:10:30,565 --> 00:10:31,464 hand of God 285 00:10:31,764 --> 00:10:32,504 in these 286 00:10:33,125 --> 00:10:34,264 amazing plagues 287 00:10:34,725 --> 00:10:35,784 that God demonstrated, 288 00:10:36,085 --> 00:10:37,384 showing his power 289 00:10:37,690 --> 00:10:40,490 over all the gods of Egypt. And Moses 290 00:10:40,490 --> 00:10:42,250 had a front row seat to the whole 291 00:10:42,250 --> 00:10:44,570 thing. He he led the people out of 292 00:10:44,570 --> 00:10:46,590 Egypt, and they got to the Red Sea. 293 00:10:46,730 --> 00:10:48,490 And there, once again, it looked like they 294 00:10:48,490 --> 00:10:51,424 were trapped, but God shows up again, and 295 00:10:51,424 --> 00:10:54,324 he parts the Red Sea, and the people 296 00:10:54,384 --> 00:10:56,245 walk through on dry ground. 297 00:10:57,264 --> 00:10:59,745 Moses had a front row seat to all 298 00:10:59,745 --> 00:11:00,404 of this. 299 00:11:01,664 --> 00:11:02,565 Fast forward, 300 00:11:02,990 --> 00:11:06,029 God leads them through the wilderness, and he 301 00:11:06,029 --> 00:11:09,089 brings them to a mountain called Mount Sinai. 302 00:11:10,269 --> 00:11:13,070 And it was here that God made a 303 00:11:13,070 --> 00:11:15,870 covenant with the people. And he said, you 304 00:11:15,870 --> 00:11:18,289 are my people. I'm gonna be your God. 305 00:11:18,485 --> 00:11:20,825 And they said, we are in. 306 00:11:21,845 --> 00:11:23,865 Sign us up for that. 307 00:11:24,805 --> 00:11:25,945 And God said, 308 00:11:26,325 --> 00:11:26,825 hey. 309 00:11:27,524 --> 00:11:29,285 Now that we're in this covenant, I'm gonna 310 00:11:29,285 --> 00:11:30,024 move in. 311 00:11:30,500 --> 00:11:33,379 And in Exodus chapter 25 verse eight, God 312 00:11:33,379 --> 00:11:35,079 said, make me a tabernacle. 313 00:11:35,459 --> 00:11:37,459 Make me a tent that I'm going to 314 00:11:37,459 --> 00:11:39,240 move in. I'm gonna dwell 315 00:11:39,700 --> 00:11:42,339 right in your midst. And after they made 316 00:11:42,339 --> 00:11:43,079 this covenant, 317 00:11:43,455 --> 00:11:45,375 Moses went up on the mountainside where he 318 00:11:45,375 --> 00:11:46,195 was receiving 319 00:11:46,815 --> 00:11:49,055 the law. What does it look like for 320 00:11:49,055 --> 00:11:51,215 God to live in the midst of the 321 00:11:51,215 --> 00:11:51,715 people? 322 00:11:52,335 --> 00:11:54,095 And it was as he was on the 323 00:11:54,095 --> 00:11:54,595 mountainside, 324 00:11:55,215 --> 00:11:58,415 fire is descending on this mountain billowing, and 325 00:11:58,415 --> 00:12:00,070 the people would have seen it. And they're 326 00:12:00,070 --> 00:12:01,429 at the bottom of the mountain. And in 327 00:12:01,429 --> 00:12:04,710 Exodus chapter 32, the people are like, hey, 328 00:12:04,710 --> 00:12:05,210 Aaron. 329 00:12:07,830 --> 00:12:09,509 Do you see that up there? And Aaron's 330 00:12:09,509 --> 00:12:12,309 like, yeah. And we think Moses is probably 331 00:12:12,309 --> 00:12:12,809 dead. 332 00:12:13,184 --> 00:12:15,184 I mean, he's not making it through that. 333 00:12:15,184 --> 00:12:17,504 So here's what we want you to do. 334 00:12:17,504 --> 00:12:18,965 Can you make us a god? 335 00:12:19,745 --> 00:12:21,284 We need a we need a representation. 336 00:12:22,865 --> 00:12:24,325 So what does Aaron do? 337 00:12:24,705 --> 00:12:26,465 Gathers all the jewelry and he forms a 338 00:12:26,465 --> 00:12:27,365 golden calf. 339 00:12:28,070 --> 00:12:30,070 And that's where we pick up in Exodus 340 00:12:30,070 --> 00:12:32,629 chapter 33 starting in verse one. Look at 341 00:12:32,629 --> 00:12:34,950 look at what god says. Yahweh said to 342 00:12:34,950 --> 00:12:35,450 Moses, 343 00:12:35,990 --> 00:12:36,490 depart. 344 00:12:37,830 --> 00:12:40,389 Go up from here, you and the people 345 00:12:40,389 --> 00:12:41,909 whom you have brought up out of the 346 00:12:41,909 --> 00:12:44,084 land of Egypt, to the land of which 347 00:12:44,084 --> 00:12:46,644 I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob saying 348 00:12:46,644 --> 00:12:48,964 to your offspring, I will give it. I 349 00:12:48,964 --> 00:12:51,524 will send an angel before you. Now listen 350 00:12:51,524 --> 00:12:53,524 to that. Listen to that language. I will 351 00:12:53,524 --> 00:12:55,464 send an angel, a representative, 352 00:12:55,924 --> 00:12:56,584 a messenger 353 00:12:56,899 --> 00:12:58,519 who will go before 354 00:12:58,980 --> 00:12:59,480 you. 355 00:13:00,899 --> 00:13:03,139 And I will drive out the Canaanites, the 356 00:13:03,139 --> 00:13:05,779 Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and 357 00:13:05,779 --> 00:13:07,460 all the other ites that can be out 358 00:13:07,460 --> 00:13:07,960 there. 359 00:13:09,345 --> 00:13:11,664 Go up to a land flowing with milk 360 00:13:11,664 --> 00:13:15,105 and honey, but listen to this, but I 361 00:13:15,105 --> 00:13:18,784 will not go up among you, lest I 362 00:13:18,784 --> 00:13:21,264 consume you on the way for you are 363 00:13:21,264 --> 00:13:23,205 a stiff necked people. 364 00:13:25,129 --> 00:13:26,430 So God tells Moses, 365 00:13:27,690 --> 00:13:29,710 y'all pushed it too far this time. 366 00:13:30,730 --> 00:13:32,970 Yeah. I can't go with you because if 367 00:13:32,970 --> 00:13:34,490 I go with you, it's not gonna be 368 00:13:34,490 --> 00:13:34,990 good. 369 00:13:36,674 --> 00:13:38,615 I'll give you everything I promised, 370 00:13:38,995 --> 00:13:40,455 I'm just not gonna go. 371 00:13:41,955 --> 00:13:42,455 Then 372 00:13:43,315 --> 00:13:45,715 in Exodus chapter 33, we have this weird 373 00:13:45,715 --> 00:13:48,294 little interjection in verses seven through 11. 374 00:13:48,809 --> 00:13:50,990 It's almost like a flashback as Moses 375 00:13:51,370 --> 00:13:53,230 has been traveling with the Israelites. 376 00:13:54,169 --> 00:13:56,590 It it talks about this tent of meeting 377 00:13:57,450 --> 00:13:59,850 that Moses would set up this tent outside 378 00:13:59,850 --> 00:14:01,850 of camp, and he would go meet with 379 00:14:01,850 --> 00:14:02,350 god 380 00:14:02,785 --> 00:14:05,345 and talk with God as a friend talks 381 00:14:05,345 --> 00:14:06,245 to a friend. 382 00:14:07,424 --> 00:14:09,825 Kind of this weird interjection, but I need 383 00:14:09,825 --> 00:14:12,384 you to remember that piece as we head 384 00:14:12,384 --> 00:14:12,884 into 385 00:14:13,264 --> 00:14:15,184 the rest of the passage that we're gonna 386 00:14:15,184 --> 00:14:17,730 look at today starting in verse 12. So 387 00:14:17,730 --> 00:14:20,610 it almost, like, six and verse 12 almost 388 00:14:20,610 --> 00:14:22,230 connect with a little interjection 389 00:14:22,690 --> 00:14:23,990 of seven through 11. 390 00:14:24,769 --> 00:14:25,269 So 391 00:14:26,129 --> 00:14:28,309 Moses said to the lord in verse 12, 392 00:14:29,409 --> 00:14:31,570 see, you say to me, bring up this 393 00:14:31,570 --> 00:14:32,070 people, 394 00:14:32,644 --> 00:14:34,644 but you have not let me know whom 395 00:14:34,644 --> 00:14:36,024 you will send with me. 396 00:14:36,404 --> 00:14:38,884 So so Moses is referring back. He goes, 397 00:14:38,884 --> 00:14:40,825 God, you said you're gonna send a messenger 398 00:14:41,044 --> 00:14:43,924 that's gonna go before us, but but who 399 00:14:43,924 --> 00:14:45,784 is it and who's actually going 400 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:48,720 with us? You see the difference between before 401 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:49,460 and with? 402 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:52,160 One of them is going before and Moses 403 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:54,800 goes, no, we need somebody with us. We 404 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:56,180 need you with us. 405 00:14:57,840 --> 00:15:00,080 Who will you send with me? Yet you 406 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:02,355 have said, I know you by name, and 407 00:15:02,355 --> 00:15:04,855 you have also found favor in my sight. 408 00:15:05,554 --> 00:15:07,875 Now, therefore, if I found favor in your 409 00:15:07,875 --> 00:15:08,375 sight, 410 00:15:08,835 --> 00:15:10,754 show me now your ways that I may 411 00:15:10,754 --> 00:15:12,995 know you in order to find favor in 412 00:15:12,995 --> 00:15:14,934 your sight. Consider too 413 00:15:15,509 --> 00:15:16,570 that this nation 414 00:15:17,110 --> 00:15:18,330 is your people. 415 00:15:20,230 --> 00:15:21,370 And God said, 416 00:15:21,830 --> 00:15:23,690 my presence will go with you, 417 00:15:24,389 --> 00:15:25,929 and I will give you rest. 418 00:15:27,029 --> 00:15:29,129 And Moses said to him, if your presence 419 00:15:29,190 --> 00:15:31,404 will not go with me, do not bring 420 00:15:31,404 --> 00:15:32,465 us up from here. 421 00:15:32,925 --> 00:15:34,764 For how shall it be known that I 422 00:15:34,764 --> 00:15:36,845 have found favor in your sight, I and 423 00:15:36,845 --> 00:15:39,085 your people? Is it not in your going 424 00:15:39,085 --> 00:15:41,184 with us so that we are distinct, 425 00:15:41,884 --> 00:15:44,205 I and your people, from every other people 426 00:15:44,205 --> 00:15:45,425 on the face of the earth? 427 00:15:46,289 --> 00:15:48,450 And the Lord said to Moses, this very 428 00:15:48,450 --> 00:15:49,830 thing that you have spoken, 429 00:15:50,370 --> 00:15:51,269 I will do. 430 00:15:51,730 --> 00:15:53,750 For you have found favor in my sight, 431 00:15:53,970 --> 00:15:55,590 and I know you by name. 432 00:15:56,610 --> 00:15:57,990 Moses said, please 433 00:15:58,855 --> 00:15:59,915 show me your glory. 434 00:16:00,615 --> 00:16:02,134 And he said, I will make all my 435 00:16:02,134 --> 00:16:04,934 goodness pass before you and will proclaim before 436 00:16:04,934 --> 00:16:07,335 you my name, Yahweh, and I will be 437 00:16:07,335 --> 00:16:09,174 gracious to whom I will be gracious and 438 00:16:09,174 --> 00:16:10,855 I will show mercy on whom I will 439 00:16:10,855 --> 00:16:13,329 show mercy. But he said, you can't see 440 00:16:13,329 --> 00:16:15,329 my face for man shall not see me 441 00:16:15,329 --> 00:16:17,730 and live. And the Lord said, behold, there 442 00:16:17,730 --> 00:16:19,970 is a place by me where you shall 443 00:16:19,970 --> 00:16:22,449 stand on the rock. And while my glory 444 00:16:22,449 --> 00:16:24,209 passes by, I will put you in a 445 00:16:24,209 --> 00:16:25,809 cleft of the rock and I will cover 446 00:16:25,809 --> 00:16:28,024 you with my hand until I have passed 447 00:16:28,325 --> 00:16:30,184 by. Then I will take away my hand 448 00:16:30,325 --> 00:16:32,325 and you shall see my back, but my 449 00:16:32,325 --> 00:16:34,424 face shall not be seen. 450 00:16:37,205 --> 00:16:39,065 The story really picks up 451 00:16:39,370 --> 00:16:42,410 in verse this this kind of section picks 452 00:16:42,410 --> 00:16:42,910 up 453 00:16:43,290 --> 00:16:45,309 really where verse six left off. 454 00:16:46,009 --> 00:16:47,769 God has just said, I'm not gonna go 455 00:16:47,769 --> 00:16:50,350 with you. And Moses begins interceding 456 00:16:50,730 --> 00:16:53,929 and pleading with God to go, God, your 457 00:16:53,929 --> 00:16:54,429 presence 458 00:16:54,945 --> 00:16:58,804 is what matters most. God's presence was everything 459 00:16:59,264 --> 00:17:00,004 to Moses. 460 00:17:01,825 --> 00:17:03,985 And here's something we need to understand about 461 00:17:03,985 --> 00:17:06,464 the nature of God all throughout scripture is 462 00:17:06,464 --> 00:17:08,404 that God dwelling with his people 463 00:17:08,705 --> 00:17:10,244 has always been his plan. 464 00:17:11,330 --> 00:17:13,109 That's always been the plan. 465 00:17:13,890 --> 00:17:15,250 Let let's take a 466 00:17:15,730 --> 00:17:18,130 I would even argue that the overarching theme, 467 00:17:18,130 --> 00:17:21,090 the overarching story of scripture is god making 468 00:17:21,090 --> 00:17:22,710 a way to dwell with his people. 469 00:17:23,444 --> 00:17:25,605 Think back to the very beginning, Genesis. God 470 00:17:25,605 --> 00:17:27,524 created the heavens and the earth and he 471 00:17:27,524 --> 00:17:28,024 created 472 00:17:28,404 --> 00:17:30,804 human beings and he dwelt with them in 473 00:17:30,804 --> 00:17:33,765 a place called what? Eden. Eden was a 474 00:17:33,765 --> 00:17:37,144 mountain top, a place where heaven and earth 475 00:17:37,470 --> 00:17:37,970 collided. 476 00:17:38,269 --> 00:17:39,650 It was where god 477 00:17:40,190 --> 00:17:41,410 dwelt with humanity. 478 00:17:41,869 --> 00:17:44,529 That was the plan. But then what happened? 479 00:17:44,829 --> 00:17:47,470 Sin entered the world. We as people said, 480 00:17:47,470 --> 00:17:49,230 god, we think we can actually live our 481 00:17:49,230 --> 00:17:50,210 lives better 482 00:17:50,509 --> 00:17:51,650 apart from you. 483 00:17:52,505 --> 00:17:54,424 And so we went our own way. And 484 00:17:54,424 --> 00:17:57,065 now we have this chasm. We're no longer 485 00:17:57,065 --> 00:17:59,164 in Eden. And so God 486 00:17:59,464 --> 00:18:02,904 sends a rescue plan. He wants to dwell 487 00:18:02,904 --> 00:18:05,384 with his people. So what happens? He frees 488 00:18:05,384 --> 00:18:07,599 him from slavery, and he tells him in 489 00:18:07,599 --> 00:18:08,099 Exodus, 490 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:11,119 build me a tabernacle. Why? Because I wanna 491 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:12,740 dwell right in your midst. 492 00:18:13,679 --> 00:18:15,679 Right in your very midst of your camp, 493 00:18:15,679 --> 00:18:16,819 I wanna be there. 494 00:18:17,519 --> 00:18:19,279 And so he gives him instructions of how 495 00:18:19,279 --> 00:18:21,785 to build a tabernacle. Well, they they march 496 00:18:21,785 --> 00:18:23,625 through the wilderness. They go into the promised 497 00:18:23,625 --> 00:18:26,125 land. They conquer the promised land. The Israelites 498 00:18:26,265 --> 00:18:27,944 end up getting a king. And the second 499 00:18:27,944 --> 00:18:30,505 king they had, his name was David. And 500 00:18:30,505 --> 00:18:33,545 David begins collecting money because he's like, God 501 00:18:33,545 --> 00:18:35,865 should not be dwelling in a tent when 502 00:18:35,865 --> 00:18:38,240 we have permanent houses. And so he said, 503 00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:40,799 I wanna build God a temple, a house, 504 00:18:40,799 --> 00:18:43,140 a permanent place where he can dwell 505 00:18:43,599 --> 00:18:45,220 right in our midst. 506 00:18:45,519 --> 00:18:47,759 And God says, that's a good plan. But 507 00:18:47,759 --> 00:18:49,679 David, you have too much war and blood 508 00:18:49,679 --> 00:18:51,755 on your hands. You can get all the 509 00:18:51,755 --> 00:18:53,835 collections for it, but your son Solomon's gonna 510 00:18:53,835 --> 00:18:57,134 actually do it. So Solomon, his son, builds 511 00:18:57,275 --> 00:18:57,934 the temple 512 00:18:58,234 --> 00:18:59,694 for God to dwell 513 00:19:00,154 --> 00:19:01,454 amongst his people. 514 00:19:02,315 --> 00:19:04,174 Why? Because that's always been his plan. 515 00:19:05,279 --> 00:19:07,279 God dwelt with his people in the temple, 516 00:19:07,279 --> 00:19:09,039 but it's almost as if God was going, 517 00:19:09,039 --> 00:19:10,880 that's not close enough. That's not good enough. 518 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:13,119 And so we fast forward even more years, 519 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:14,580 and we get to the New Testament. 520 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:17,600 And we get to this season that we're 521 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:18,100 celebrating 522 00:19:19,674 --> 00:19:20,974 now, Christmas, 523 00:19:21,914 --> 00:19:22,734 the celebration 524 00:19:23,115 --> 00:19:26,234 that God took on flesh in the person 525 00:19:26,234 --> 00:19:26,894 of Jesus. 526 00:19:27,275 --> 00:19:30,095 The miracle of Christmas is that God has, 527 00:19:30,154 --> 00:19:30,894 for eternity, 528 00:19:31,195 --> 00:19:32,335 taken on flesh. 529 00:19:33,169 --> 00:19:36,210 Jesus is God with us. Matthew one twenty 530 00:19:36,210 --> 00:19:37,990 five quotes Isaiah seven, 531 00:19:38,529 --> 00:19:40,929 and he writes this about Jesus. Behold, the 532 00:19:40,929 --> 00:19:43,410 virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and 533 00:19:43,410 --> 00:19:45,029 they shall call his name 534 00:19:45,410 --> 00:19:45,910 Emmanuel. 535 00:19:46,694 --> 00:19:47,194 Jesus 536 00:19:47,494 --> 00:19:47,994 is 537 00:19:48,534 --> 00:19:49,034 God 538 00:19:49,414 --> 00:19:52,554 with us, to dwell with us. 539 00:19:52,855 --> 00:19:55,015 He lived a perfect life. He actually went 540 00:19:55,015 --> 00:19:55,835 to a cross 541 00:19:56,134 --> 00:19:57,115 to reconcile 542 00:19:57,494 --> 00:20:00,315 us to God. That that sin that separated 543 00:20:00,375 --> 00:20:02,679 us had to be dealt with and Jesus 544 00:20:02,679 --> 00:20:03,900 took that in himself. 545 00:20:05,159 --> 00:20:08,220 He was crucified. He was killed. And before 546 00:20:08,279 --> 00:20:09,019 he rose 547 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:11,960 again or before he ascended, he rose again. 548 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:14,119 Before he ascended back into heaven, he he 549 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:15,179 tells his disciples, 550 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:16,380 hey, guys. 551 00:20:17,134 --> 00:20:18,754 It's better that I leave. 552 00:20:19,534 --> 00:20:21,454 And I can imagine his disciples are like, 553 00:20:21,454 --> 00:20:21,954 uh-uh. 554 00:20:22,575 --> 00:20:23,474 It ain't better. 555 00:20:23,934 --> 00:20:25,375 And he goes, no. It is better. And 556 00:20:25,375 --> 00:20:27,054 here's why. Because if I leave, I'm gonna 557 00:20:27,054 --> 00:20:29,375 send my helper, my holy spirit, who's going 558 00:20:29,375 --> 00:20:31,929 to dwell in you. The holy spirit in 559 00:20:31,929 --> 00:20:34,669 us is better than actually Jesus with us. 560 00:20:35,609 --> 00:20:38,009 And that's a crazy fact. Why? Because God 561 00:20:38,009 --> 00:20:39,789 always wants to dwell with his people. 562 00:20:40,409 --> 00:20:43,130 And so right now, God is dwelling with 563 00:20:43,130 --> 00:20:45,549 us by the power of the holy spirit 564 00:20:46,065 --> 00:20:46,565 in 565 00:20:47,024 --> 00:20:50,384 us. God is in us. We are the 566 00:20:50,384 --> 00:20:53,264 dwelling place. Paul writes about that in Corinthians. 567 00:20:53,264 --> 00:20:55,345 I was reading that this morning. We are 568 00:20:55,345 --> 00:20:56,085 the temple 569 00:20:56,384 --> 00:20:58,464 of the Holy Spirit, the very place where 570 00:20:58,464 --> 00:21:00,724 God dwells, and God has a plan. 571 00:21:01,500 --> 00:21:03,019 This isn't the end of the plan of 572 00:21:03,019 --> 00:21:05,019 like, hey, the Holy Spirit's in you. He's 573 00:21:05,019 --> 00:21:07,579 going, no. There's gonna be one day where 574 00:21:07,579 --> 00:21:09,680 I'm gonna come back and I'm gonna reconcile 575 00:21:10,059 --> 00:21:12,140 heaven and earth again, and we are gonna 576 00:21:12,140 --> 00:21:14,960 dwell in a new Eden. And we will 577 00:21:15,065 --> 00:21:17,944 see Jesus face to face. We will be 578 00:21:17,944 --> 00:21:20,345 in his presence forever to the glory of 579 00:21:20,345 --> 00:21:20,845 God. 580 00:21:22,105 --> 00:21:23,244 That's good news. 581 00:21:23,944 --> 00:21:26,025 And you look at the overarching story of 582 00:21:26,025 --> 00:21:29,545 scripture, and God dwelling with his people is 583 00:21:29,545 --> 00:21:30,444 the story. 584 00:21:30,900 --> 00:21:32,200 And God's presence 585 00:21:32,660 --> 00:21:33,160 actually 586 00:21:33,539 --> 00:21:34,039 distinguishes 587 00:21:34,580 --> 00:21:36,279 us as his people. 588 00:21:37,940 --> 00:21:40,440 It distinguishes people then. It distinguishes 589 00:21:40,820 --> 00:21:42,119 us now. 590 00:21:42,865 --> 00:21:44,164 I love the interaction 591 00:21:44,865 --> 00:21:48,304 that that God and Moses had in there 592 00:21:48,304 --> 00:21:50,244 in verses 12 through 23. 593 00:21:51,744 --> 00:21:53,044 Moses tells God, 594 00:21:55,049 --> 00:21:57,130 God, you have told me that I found 595 00:21:57,130 --> 00:21:58,269 favor with you. 596 00:22:00,009 --> 00:22:02,330 You said you know me by name, and 597 00:22:02,330 --> 00:22:06,009 yet now you're saying that you aren't gonna 598 00:22:06,009 --> 00:22:08,250 go with me. And we see the heart 599 00:22:08,250 --> 00:22:09,470 of Moses here. 600 00:22:09,894 --> 00:22:13,095 Moses goes, God, I want to know you 601 00:22:13,095 --> 00:22:13,595 more. 602 00:22:14,855 --> 00:22:17,335 He doesn't begin with pleading. Oh, please, please, 603 00:22:17,335 --> 00:22:18,775 please go with us. He goes, God, no. 604 00:22:18,775 --> 00:22:20,535 No. No. You said I found favor with 605 00:22:20,535 --> 00:22:23,275 you. I wanna know you even more. 606 00:22:23,680 --> 00:22:26,160 And God sees the heart of Moses. And 607 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:27,619 what does God say to Moses? 608 00:22:29,440 --> 00:22:29,940 God 609 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:32,580 said, my presence will go with you 610 00:22:33,279 --> 00:22:35,680 and I'm gonna give you rest. You wanna 611 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:36,980 know the problem with this? 612 00:22:38,585 --> 00:22:39,724 The you there 613 00:22:40,505 --> 00:22:41,164 is singular. 614 00:22:42,664 --> 00:22:44,605 So God sees the heart of Moses 615 00:22:45,224 --> 00:22:47,625 that Moses is going, God, I wanna know 616 00:22:47,625 --> 00:22:49,785 you more. And God sees that. He honors 617 00:22:49,785 --> 00:22:51,464 that, and he's like, Moses, I'm gonna go 618 00:22:51,464 --> 00:22:54,000 with you. Individually, I'll go with you. 619 00:22:54,799 --> 00:22:56,960 The rest of them, stiff necked people. I'm 620 00:22:56,960 --> 00:22:58,019 not going with them. 621 00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:00,420 But what does Moses do? 622 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:04,160 Moses turns it and he goes, God, it's 623 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:06,740 not just about me. These are your 624 00:23:07,039 --> 00:23:07,539 people. 625 00:23:10,384 --> 00:23:12,944 He says in verse 30 in in chapter 626 00:23:12,944 --> 00:23:15,505 33 verse 16, he says, is it not 627 00:23:15,505 --> 00:23:17,345 in your going with us so that we 628 00:23:17,345 --> 00:23:18,085 are distinct? 629 00:23:18,625 --> 00:23:21,424 I he but he he flips it, and 630 00:23:21,424 --> 00:23:22,164 your people 631 00:23:23,429 --> 00:23:26,230 from every other people on the face of 632 00:23:26,230 --> 00:23:26,890 the earth. 633 00:23:29,109 --> 00:23:32,250 Moses, they just came from the most powerful 634 00:23:32,309 --> 00:23:32,809 nation 635 00:23:33,429 --> 00:23:34,890 in the world, Egypt. 636 00:23:35,704 --> 00:23:38,184 And Egypt had really tiny gods and really 637 00:23:38,184 --> 00:23:40,765 big gods, and they had idols everywhere, 638 00:23:41,545 --> 00:23:44,664 representations of these gods everywhere. And here comes 639 00:23:44,664 --> 00:23:47,464 the Israelites marching into the wilderness, and they 640 00:23:47,464 --> 00:23:49,565 are not supposed to have any idols. 641 00:23:50,840 --> 00:23:52,059 And Moses goes, 642 00:23:53,080 --> 00:23:54,140 we don't have 643 00:23:54,759 --> 00:23:56,460 what all the other nations have. 644 00:23:57,799 --> 00:23:59,580 But God, what we have is you. 645 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:03,580 And your presence is what distinguishes 646 00:24:04,119 --> 00:24:04,619 us 647 00:24:05,644 --> 00:24:06,784 as your people. 648 00:24:07,964 --> 00:24:10,845 And what distinguished the Israelites then is still 649 00:24:10,845 --> 00:24:14,284 what distinguishes us now. The very presence of 650 00:24:14,284 --> 00:24:14,784 God 651 00:24:15,085 --> 00:24:17,744 with us is what makes us his people. 652 00:24:17,964 --> 00:24:20,444 It's the dwelling of the Holy Spirit in 653 00:24:20,444 --> 00:24:24,029 us. And God's presence is what distinguishes us 654 00:24:24,029 --> 00:24:25,090 and that presence 655 00:24:26,750 --> 00:24:27,490 is better 656 00:24:28,349 --> 00:24:29,730 than anything else. 657 00:24:31,309 --> 00:24:33,309 I don't know. Maybe you need to be 658 00:24:33,309 --> 00:24:36,664 reminded of that. Maybe that truth needs to 659 00:24:36,664 --> 00:24:37,404 sink in. 660 00:24:39,225 --> 00:24:41,325 God's presence with us is better. 661 00:24:42,825 --> 00:24:46,025 It's better than anything else that this world 662 00:24:46,025 --> 00:24:46,924 can offer. 663 00:24:50,170 --> 00:24:52,109 Moses in Exodus 33 664 00:24:52,170 --> 00:24:55,070 tells God, if you don't go with us, 665 00:24:56,090 --> 00:24:57,150 I'm not going. 666 00:24:58,570 --> 00:25:00,970 God, why? Because your presence is better. How 667 00:25:00,970 --> 00:25:03,150 did how did Moses get to this point? 668 00:25:04,394 --> 00:25:06,394 If you look back in Exodus chapter three, 669 00:25:06,394 --> 00:25:07,934 just thirty chapters ago, 670 00:25:09,195 --> 00:25:11,755 Moses is seeing God in a burning bush, 671 00:25:11,755 --> 00:25:13,355 and God's like, I'm gonna be with you. 672 00:25:13,355 --> 00:25:14,715 I'm gonna be with you. I'm gonna be 673 00:25:14,715 --> 00:25:16,634 with you. And Moses is going, that's not 674 00:25:16,634 --> 00:25:17,375 good enough. 675 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:21,119 And now we get to chapter 33, and 676 00:25:21,119 --> 00:25:23,039 God said, hey. I'm gonna give you all 677 00:25:23,039 --> 00:25:24,819 the promises that I made, 678 00:25:25,599 --> 00:25:27,779 and I'm gonna even send my representative 679 00:25:28,159 --> 00:25:29,940 with you. I'm gonna send 680 00:25:30,319 --> 00:25:33,234 an angel with you. My messenger will go 681 00:25:33,234 --> 00:25:34,674 before you, and I'm gonna give you all 682 00:25:34,674 --> 00:25:36,434 the promises I made, but I'm just not 683 00:25:36,434 --> 00:25:38,055 gonna go. And Moses 684 00:25:38,515 --> 00:25:39,015 Moses 685 00:25:39,315 --> 00:25:41,875 came to this conclusion. Moses would rather be 686 00:25:41,875 --> 00:25:44,115 in the desert with God than in the 687 00:25:44,115 --> 00:25:45,815 promised land with God's representative. 688 00:25:48,019 --> 00:25:49,960 Moses would rather stay there. 689 00:25:50,819 --> 00:25:53,160 Alright. Then we're staying in the desert, God. 690 00:25:53,779 --> 00:25:56,599 That's what we're gonna do because you're here. 691 00:25:56,740 --> 00:25:59,480 And if you're here, I'm not going there. 692 00:26:04,325 --> 00:26:06,565 This truth about the presence of God and 693 00:26:06,565 --> 00:26:09,204 being in the way Moses was so blown 694 00:26:09,204 --> 00:26:09,704 away 695 00:26:10,005 --> 00:26:12,484 by God's presence and so in awe of 696 00:26:12,484 --> 00:26:12,984 it, 697 00:26:13,444 --> 00:26:15,044 it really struck me in the past few 698 00:26:15,044 --> 00:26:15,544 weeks. 699 00:26:17,380 --> 00:26:18,359 I don't think 700 00:26:18,820 --> 00:26:21,059 I'm that blown away with God's presence in 701 00:26:21,059 --> 00:26:22,039 my life anymore. 702 00:26:23,700 --> 00:26:25,460 I think you could say to me, yeah, 703 00:26:25,460 --> 00:26:28,180 hey, the Holy Spirit, God dwells in you. 704 00:26:28,180 --> 00:26:30,279 And I'm like, yeah. Isn't that cool? 705 00:26:31,484 --> 00:26:32,924 And then I go do my own thing 706 00:26:32,924 --> 00:26:34,684 and I look at what all the world 707 00:26:34,684 --> 00:26:36,444 has to offer and I think somehow that 708 00:26:36,444 --> 00:26:38,684 that's gonna be more fulfilling than God dwelling 709 00:26:38,684 --> 00:26:39,345 in me. 710 00:26:43,085 --> 00:26:45,105 If I'm really honest with you, 711 00:26:46,259 --> 00:26:48,099 I think if God came and made me 712 00:26:48,099 --> 00:26:49,700 a deal and he said, hey. I'm gonna 713 00:26:49,700 --> 00:26:51,240 get you to the promised land 714 00:26:51,619 --> 00:26:54,339 and my representative will go with you, but 715 00:26:54,339 --> 00:26:56,099 my presence isn't gonna go, but I'll have 716 00:26:56,099 --> 00:26:57,559 a representative with you. 717 00:26:58,115 --> 00:26:59,875 I think in order to get out of 718 00:26:59,875 --> 00:27:01,795 sometimes the pain I'm in, the hurt I'm 719 00:27:01,795 --> 00:27:03,394 in, I'm sitting there and I'm looking for 720 00:27:03,394 --> 00:27:05,555 the promised land. And even if God wasn't 721 00:27:05,555 --> 00:27:07,555 in it, I'm like, oh, your representative's there. 722 00:27:07,555 --> 00:27:08,775 I mean, think about it. 723 00:27:09,394 --> 00:27:11,715 Like, if an angel appeared in this room 724 00:27:11,715 --> 00:27:14,109 right now or whatever room you're in, an 725 00:27:14,109 --> 00:27:16,589 angel appears and God's like, that angel's gonna 726 00:27:16,589 --> 00:27:18,029 go with you and I'm gonna take you 727 00:27:18,029 --> 00:27:20,029 to the good land, the land flowing with 728 00:27:20,029 --> 00:27:21,970 milk and honey, the good place. 729 00:27:23,869 --> 00:27:25,630 You wanna go? And I and I'd be 730 00:27:25,630 --> 00:27:27,914 like, yeah. He's like, well, by the way, 731 00:27:27,914 --> 00:27:30,394 little caveat. I'm not going, but my I'd 732 00:27:30,394 --> 00:27:31,994 be like, yeah. That's fine. I mean, you're 733 00:27:31,994 --> 00:27:34,154 representative. I mean, look at that. That's really 734 00:27:34,154 --> 00:27:34,654 cool. 735 00:27:37,914 --> 00:27:39,755 But Moses got to a point, and I 736 00:27:39,755 --> 00:27:41,755 wanna be in that point in in my 737 00:27:41,755 --> 00:27:44,630 life where I long for the presence of 738 00:27:44,630 --> 00:27:46,570 God more than anything. 739 00:27:51,349 --> 00:27:53,509 And so I think I have to reflect 740 00:27:53,509 --> 00:27:55,109 on some questions in my own life, and 741 00:27:55,109 --> 00:27:56,869 I encourage you to reflect on them in 742 00:27:56,869 --> 00:27:58,744 your life. If you're a a student in 743 00:27:58,964 --> 00:27:59,464 here 744 00:28:00,085 --> 00:28:03,204 and you're gonna be entering into relationships, I 745 00:28:03,204 --> 00:28:06,164 know boyfriend, girlfriends are are are a big 746 00:28:06,164 --> 00:28:06,664 deal. 747 00:28:08,884 --> 00:28:10,884 But do we ever pause long enough? Do 748 00:28:10,884 --> 00:28:12,869 you ever pause long enough to ask god 749 00:28:12,869 --> 00:28:13,609 the question, 750 00:28:13,910 --> 00:28:16,549 god, are you in this relationship that I'm 751 00:28:16,549 --> 00:28:19,109 interested in? Because do we long for the 752 00:28:19,109 --> 00:28:21,430 presence of god so much that we say, 753 00:28:21,430 --> 00:28:23,589 god, I would rather not be in that 754 00:28:23,589 --> 00:28:24,089 relationship 755 00:28:24,470 --> 00:28:26,150 if you're not in it. I'd rather stay 756 00:28:26,150 --> 00:28:27,049 here with you. 757 00:28:29,234 --> 00:28:31,095 Do we pause long enough for that? 758 00:28:32,115 --> 00:28:34,934 Do we love the presence of god enough 759 00:28:35,555 --> 00:28:37,715 to say it's worth it for me to 760 00:28:37,715 --> 00:28:40,195 be single a little while longer even though 761 00:28:40,195 --> 00:28:42,434 all my friends are entering into boyfriend girlfriend 762 00:28:42,434 --> 00:28:42,934 relationships? 763 00:28:44,460 --> 00:28:46,539 Maybe you're even a little older and you're 764 00:28:46,539 --> 00:28:48,960 like, oh, I I long to get married. 765 00:28:49,099 --> 00:28:51,099 God, it's better for me to stay single 766 00:28:51,099 --> 00:28:53,259 longer and where you are than to be 767 00:28:53,259 --> 00:28:54,960 in a relationship where you aren't. 768 00:28:56,724 --> 00:28:57,464 It's better. 769 00:28:58,484 --> 00:29:01,365 God, I won't take that job if you're 770 00:29:01,365 --> 00:29:02,664 not going with me. 771 00:29:03,605 --> 00:29:05,444 The benefits are great. The pay is great. 772 00:29:05,444 --> 00:29:07,125 But, God, if you're not in it, your 773 00:29:07,125 --> 00:29:09,605 presence is better than any pay or benefit 774 00:29:09,605 --> 00:29:10,825 package there is. 775 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:14,980 God, are you more important to me 776 00:29:15,519 --> 00:29:17,059 than a college scholarship? 777 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:19,380 God, 778 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:23,619 your presence is better 779 00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:25,299 than a great place 780 00:29:26,265 --> 00:29:27,325 where you're not. 781 00:29:28,345 --> 00:29:30,105 Do we have that longing in our heart? 782 00:29:30,105 --> 00:29:32,184 Do we stop long enough to ask God 783 00:29:32,184 --> 00:29:34,605 the question, God, are you in this? 784 00:29:36,345 --> 00:29:38,345 Sometimes we think, oh, that looks good, and 785 00:29:38,345 --> 00:29:40,390 so we just go after things. But do 786 00:29:40,390 --> 00:29:42,390 we pause long enough to seek the guidance 787 00:29:42,390 --> 00:29:43,690 of God to go, god, 788 00:29:44,069 --> 00:29:46,150 are you in this? Are you are you 789 00:29:46,150 --> 00:29:48,230 going with me in it? Don't just go 790 00:29:48,230 --> 00:29:50,329 before me. Go with me in it. 791 00:29:52,549 --> 00:29:53,690 I know so often 792 00:29:54,554 --> 00:29:56,174 that I think I'm smart enough. 793 00:29:57,115 --> 00:29:58,494 I think I'm good enough 794 00:29:59,115 --> 00:30:00,954 that I don't pause long enough to go, 795 00:30:00,954 --> 00:30:02,095 god, are you in it? 796 00:30:03,595 --> 00:30:05,115 Do you want me to take that job? 797 00:30:05,115 --> 00:30:06,875 Do you want me in that relationship? Do 798 00:30:06,875 --> 00:30:07,774 you want me 799 00:30:08,690 --> 00:30:09,910 to get this dog? 800 00:30:14,130 --> 00:30:15,509 See, do I long 801 00:30:15,809 --> 00:30:16,630 for God 802 00:30:16,930 --> 00:30:18,930 more than I long for the stuff that 803 00:30:18,930 --> 00:30:19,910 he can give? 804 00:30:23,384 --> 00:30:25,884 Do I long for the healing of God 805 00:30:26,744 --> 00:30:28,744 more than I long for the presence of 806 00:30:28,744 --> 00:30:29,244 God? 807 00:30:31,065 --> 00:30:32,744 Do I long for God? Do I want 808 00:30:32,744 --> 00:30:34,585 him to fix my family? Do I do 809 00:30:34,585 --> 00:30:36,105 I just go to him for all the 810 00:30:36,105 --> 00:30:38,269 stuff, the hand stuff that he can give 811 00:30:38,269 --> 00:30:40,289 me? Or or do I just long 812 00:30:40,829 --> 00:30:41,329 for 813 00:30:41,869 --> 00:30:42,369 God? 814 00:30:45,789 --> 00:30:48,509 And I wonder how Moses got to this 815 00:30:48,509 --> 00:30:51,875 point. And remember I said, tuck away verses 816 00:30:51,875 --> 00:30:54,515 seven through 11 about the tent of meeting 817 00:30:54,515 --> 00:30:56,534 where God met with Moses. 818 00:30:58,755 --> 00:31:01,394 Moses had been meeting and being in the 819 00:31:01,394 --> 00:31:02,775 presence of God 820 00:31:03,154 --> 00:31:05,095 all along the journey. 821 00:31:06,070 --> 00:31:07,990 So how did Moses get to a point 822 00:31:07,990 --> 00:31:09,529 in chapter 33 823 00:31:09,910 --> 00:31:12,070 that he said, God, if you're not going, 824 00:31:12,070 --> 00:31:13,130 we're not going. 825 00:31:15,190 --> 00:31:19,049 It's because living intentionally in God's presence actually 826 00:31:19,750 --> 00:31:20,250 transforms 827 00:31:21,029 --> 00:31:21,529 us. 828 00:31:23,085 --> 00:31:25,724 How did Moses get about this transformation? How 829 00:31:25,724 --> 00:31:27,884 did he go from being in chapter three, 830 00:31:27,884 --> 00:31:29,964 god, that's not good enough, to chapter 33 831 00:31:29,964 --> 00:31:31,404 of going, god, I'd rather be in the 832 00:31:31,404 --> 00:31:33,565 desert alone with you than in the promised 833 00:31:33,565 --> 00:31:35,884 land with your representative. God, I need to 834 00:31:35,884 --> 00:31:38,170 be where you are. How did he get 835 00:31:38,170 --> 00:31:40,509 to that point? It took years 836 00:31:40,890 --> 00:31:41,710 of consistently 837 00:31:42,570 --> 00:31:43,869 walking with 838 00:31:44,170 --> 00:31:46,509 Jesus, of being with God 839 00:31:46,809 --> 00:31:49,529 in his presence, and being in the very 840 00:31:49,529 --> 00:31:50,670 presence of God 841 00:31:51,049 --> 00:31:52,590 changes our hearts. 842 00:31:54,194 --> 00:31:57,315 We begin to see things for actually as 843 00:31:57,315 --> 00:31:58,214 they are. 844 00:31:59,954 --> 00:32:00,934 It's stuff. 845 00:32:03,315 --> 00:32:06,355 The the disciples' experiences. The disciples, there was 846 00:32:06,355 --> 00:32:08,579 12 of them, and they were following with 847 00:32:08,579 --> 00:32:11,380 Jesus for years. And they saw the incredible 848 00:32:11,380 --> 00:32:13,240 teaching. They saw his miracles. 849 00:32:13,859 --> 00:32:16,180 But yet when Jesus was going to the 850 00:32:16,180 --> 00:32:19,694 cross, they all ran, including Peter who said, 851 00:32:19,855 --> 00:32:22,255 Jesus, even if I have to die, I'm 852 00:32:22,255 --> 00:32:24,434 going with you. And Jesus goes, well, 853 00:32:24,974 --> 00:32:26,414 are you sure you wanna say that? And 854 00:32:26,414 --> 00:32:28,434 Peter's like, yep. Double down. 855 00:32:29,214 --> 00:32:30,994 Let's go. And what happens? 856 00:32:31,789 --> 00:32:33,630 Jesus looks at him and goes, actually, here's 857 00:32:33,630 --> 00:32:35,549 what's gonna happen. Before the night's over, you're 858 00:32:35,549 --> 00:32:37,009 gonna deny me three times. 859 00:32:38,349 --> 00:32:39,329 And what happens? 860 00:32:39,869 --> 00:32:41,970 All the disciples fled. Peter 861 00:32:42,429 --> 00:32:42,929 left, 862 00:32:43,390 --> 00:32:44,690 denied him three times. 863 00:32:45,955 --> 00:32:46,775 But what happens? 864 00:32:47,234 --> 00:32:47,734 Jesus 865 00:32:48,195 --> 00:32:49,575 raises from the dead. 866 00:32:50,355 --> 00:32:52,835 He ascends back into heaven and we get 867 00:32:52,835 --> 00:32:53,975 to the book of Acts 868 00:32:54,355 --> 00:32:56,775 and the disciples have seen the resurrected 869 00:32:57,234 --> 00:32:57,734 Jesus. 870 00:32:58,059 --> 00:32:59,900 They had spent time with him. They've seen 871 00:32:59,900 --> 00:33:02,160 his truth, and they get to a point 872 00:33:02,220 --> 00:33:04,460 in in the beginning part of acts where 873 00:33:04,460 --> 00:33:06,380 Peter, the very one who denied him three 874 00:33:06,380 --> 00:33:08,859 times, is now going before the Sanhedrin who 875 00:33:08,859 --> 00:33:12,380 had Jesus crucified, and he goes, you killed 876 00:33:12,380 --> 00:33:12,880 him. 877 00:33:13,255 --> 00:33:14,554 That's a bold statement. 878 00:33:15,414 --> 00:33:17,734 It's probably not a good idea. The very 879 00:33:17,734 --> 00:33:19,034 ones that killed Jesus 880 00:33:19,575 --> 00:33:21,894 could have Peter killed. But guess what? He 881 00:33:21,894 --> 00:33:23,835 had peace in the midst of the circumstances, 882 00:33:24,134 --> 00:33:26,134 and he boldly proclaims the truth of who 883 00:33:26,134 --> 00:33:28,315 Jesus was because he didn't fear him. 884 00:33:28,829 --> 00:33:31,150 He knew Jesus rose from the dead, and 885 00:33:31,150 --> 00:33:33,009 he boldly proclaims that truth. 886 00:33:34,029 --> 00:33:36,289 And the Sanhedrin was a little bit confused. 887 00:33:36,429 --> 00:33:38,769 And in Acts chapter four verse 13, 888 00:33:39,309 --> 00:33:41,549 now when they, the Sanhedrin, saw the boldness 889 00:33:41,549 --> 00:33:43,744 of Peter and John and perceived that they 890 00:33:43,744 --> 00:33:44,484 were uneducated, 891 00:33:45,105 --> 00:33:47,125 common men, they were astonished 892 00:33:48,704 --> 00:33:51,765 and they recognized that they had been with 893 00:33:51,984 --> 00:33:52,484 Jesus. 894 00:33:55,380 --> 00:33:57,080 Being with Jesus 895 00:33:57,859 --> 00:33:58,920 transforms us. 896 00:34:00,820 --> 00:34:03,640 It changes us when we stop long enough 897 00:34:03,859 --> 00:34:06,259 to ask for his guidance, to spend time 898 00:34:06,259 --> 00:34:07,940 in his presence. So what does that look 899 00:34:07,940 --> 00:34:08,440 like? 900 00:34:09,525 --> 00:34:11,545 For me, I'm really good at compartmentalizing 901 00:34:12,005 --> 00:34:13,144 things in my life. 902 00:34:14,644 --> 00:34:16,164 I mean, that's just kind of the the 903 00:34:16,164 --> 00:34:18,804 way I function is, like, I'm focused on 904 00:34:18,804 --> 00:34:19,545 one thing 905 00:34:19,844 --> 00:34:21,764 at a time. And I I can focus 906 00:34:21,764 --> 00:34:23,529 there and then I'll focus there. And so 907 00:34:23,529 --> 00:34:24,809 I get up in the morning, and I 908 00:34:24,809 --> 00:34:26,889 do my bible reading, and I read my 909 00:34:26,889 --> 00:34:28,329 bible, and I do the live it out, 910 00:34:28,329 --> 00:34:30,009 and I'm there, and I'm focused, and I'm 911 00:34:30,009 --> 00:34:32,250 like, that was good. But then what happens 912 00:34:32,250 --> 00:34:34,269 is is that too often that stays compartmentalized, 913 00:34:34,409 --> 00:34:35,609 and then I go on with the rest 914 00:34:35,609 --> 00:34:37,369 of my day. And that doesn't touch the 915 00:34:37,369 --> 00:34:38,349 rest of my day. 916 00:34:40,494 --> 00:34:43,135 So how do I remind myself of God's 917 00:34:43,135 --> 00:34:45,554 presence with me throughout the day? 918 00:34:46,255 --> 00:34:48,494 And maybe it looks like this. Are morning 919 00:34:48,494 --> 00:34:48,994 devotionals 920 00:34:50,175 --> 00:34:52,015 a a a part of spending our presence 921 00:34:52,015 --> 00:34:53,315 in Jesus for transformation? 922 00:34:54,050 --> 00:34:56,550 Absolutely. Should we be doing that? Yes. 923 00:34:59,250 --> 00:35:01,090 But maybe it's talking with him throughout the 924 00:35:01,090 --> 00:35:01,590 day. 925 00:35:03,730 --> 00:35:06,609 What if we started thanking him for the 926 00:35:06,609 --> 00:35:07,510 small things? 927 00:35:08,655 --> 00:35:10,015 I know there are some people who are 928 00:35:10,015 --> 00:35:11,535 really good at this. They'll just say thank 929 00:35:11,535 --> 00:35:13,775 you, Jesus, for just random stuff throughout the 930 00:35:13,775 --> 00:35:15,695 day. What what if we became thank you, 931 00:35:15,695 --> 00:35:18,815 Jesus people to to remind ourselves that god 932 00:35:18,815 --> 00:35:21,215 is actually with us? His presence dwells within 933 00:35:21,215 --> 00:35:22,594 us, and it changes everything. 934 00:35:24,619 --> 00:35:26,059 I talked to a guy last night, and 935 00:35:26,059 --> 00:35:27,660 he was like, I sometimes I work on 936 00:35:27,660 --> 00:35:29,500 my car or I'm tinkering with something, and 937 00:35:29,500 --> 00:35:31,500 he's like, I can't find something. Next thing 938 00:35:31,500 --> 00:35:32,619 I know, I find it, and I just 939 00:35:32,619 --> 00:35:33,599 go, thank you, Jesus. 940 00:35:35,019 --> 00:35:37,200 What if we became thank you, Jesus people, 941 00:35:37,260 --> 00:35:38,940 just as a reminder to go God's with 942 00:35:38,940 --> 00:35:41,315 us? What if in the in the hard 943 00:35:41,315 --> 00:35:43,234 times because we all face hard times during 944 00:35:43,234 --> 00:35:44,835 the day. What if in those hard times 945 00:35:44,835 --> 00:35:46,835 we silently cry out to Jesus, Jesus, you're 946 00:35:46,835 --> 00:35:48,694 in this with me. Thank you for that. 947 00:35:48,835 --> 00:35:51,394 What if we rested in him as we 948 00:35:51,394 --> 00:35:52,775 fell asleep at night? 949 00:35:55,450 --> 00:35:56,190 You see, 950 00:35:58,170 --> 00:36:01,050 Jesus' presence is the ultimate gift that guides 951 00:36:01,050 --> 00:36:02,430 us and gives us rest. 952 00:36:04,170 --> 00:36:07,610 What causes anxiety? What causes stress especially this 953 00:36:07,610 --> 00:36:08,510 time of year? 954 00:36:10,644 --> 00:36:12,244 It's when we begin to look around and 955 00:36:12,244 --> 00:36:13,924 we take our eyes off Jesus and we 956 00:36:13,924 --> 00:36:15,924 take our eyes off of his presence with 957 00:36:15,924 --> 00:36:18,085 us and it and we start to get 958 00:36:18,085 --> 00:36:18,984 stressed out. 959 00:36:20,085 --> 00:36:22,744 And Jesus, when we spend time with him 960 00:36:22,804 --> 00:36:23,304 intentionally 961 00:36:23,605 --> 00:36:24,585 in his presence, 962 00:36:25,980 --> 00:36:26,880 we can breathe. 963 00:36:28,699 --> 00:36:30,000 We can slow down 964 00:36:31,179 --> 00:36:33,119 and we can know that we're not alone. 965 00:36:34,059 --> 00:36:35,820 So what are our next steps this week? 966 00:36:35,820 --> 00:36:37,260 What are what are some things that we 967 00:36:37,260 --> 00:36:39,659 can do as we enter this Christmas season, 968 00:36:39,659 --> 00:36:42,655 as we are gonna be shopping and trying 969 00:36:42,655 --> 00:36:44,974 to find the perfect gift and the right 970 00:36:44,974 --> 00:36:47,054 present for the people, should we do that? 971 00:36:47,054 --> 00:36:47,954 Yes. Absolutely 972 00:36:48,335 --> 00:36:49,085 do that. 973 00:36:53,619 --> 00:36:55,300 But we need to be reminded that we're 974 00:36:55,300 --> 00:36:57,079 not alone in the midst of this, 975 00:36:57,699 --> 00:36:59,000 that the greatest present 976 00:36:59,300 --> 00:37:01,780 we've ever received is the very presence of 977 00:37:01,780 --> 00:37:02,679 God with us. 978 00:37:02,980 --> 00:37:05,239 And we need to be reminded of that 979 00:37:05,380 --> 00:37:05,880 continually, 980 00:37:06,339 --> 00:37:09,965 that he is with us. He is with 981 00:37:09,965 --> 00:37:10,945 us. So, 982 00:37:11,324 --> 00:37:13,344 there was a time in my life when 983 00:37:13,644 --> 00:37:15,184 really, it was a college time. 984 00:37:16,204 --> 00:37:18,625 I used to carry ChapStick with me everywhere. 985 00:37:19,324 --> 00:37:19,644 And, 986 00:37:20,445 --> 00:37:22,445 the reason why I stopped carrying ChapStick with 987 00:37:22,445 --> 00:37:22,844 me is, 988 00:37:23,730 --> 00:37:25,110 dryers and ChapStick 989 00:37:25,489 --> 00:37:26,630 don't go well together. 990 00:37:27,250 --> 00:37:29,650 They put nice oil slicks on your clothes 991 00:37:29,650 --> 00:37:31,829 and your wife's clothes, so surprise. 992 00:37:34,210 --> 00:37:35,969 But there was a time where I always 993 00:37:35,969 --> 00:37:37,750 had a ChapStick in my pocket, 994 00:37:38,155 --> 00:37:40,315 and so I intentionally made a decision. Every 995 00:37:40,315 --> 00:37:41,835 time I reach into my pocket and I 996 00:37:41,835 --> 00:37:43,994 feel that chapstick, I wanna be reminded and 997 00:37:43,994 --> 00:37:44,815 I wanna pray. 998 00:37:45,755 --> 00:37:47,135 It it was a tangible 999 00:37:47,914 --> 00:37:48,414 reminder 1000 00:37:49,355 --> 00:37:51,215 to spend time with Jesus. 1001 00:37:52,250 --> 00:37:53,769 Even as I was just walking down the 1002 00:37:53,769 --> 00:37:56,170 street, even as I'm whatever it is, it 1003 00:37:56,170 --> 00:37:57,690 it was something that I went, oh, you're 1004 00:37:57,690 --> 00:37:59,849 with me, and I and to spend a 1005 00:37:59,849 --> 00:38:00,349 moment. 1006 00:38:02,250 --> 00:38:04,329 And so here's the first next step. I 1007 00:38:04,329 --> 00:38:06,434 I I want you to find something tangible 1008 00:38:06,515 --> 00:38:08,835 that will remind you of god's presence throughout 1009 00:38:08,835 --> 00:38:10,275 the day. I want you to find it. 1010 00:38:10,275 --> 00:38:11,635 If you can find if you already know 1011 00:38:11,635 --> 00:38:13,875 what it is somebody last night gave me 1012 00:38:13,875 --> 00:38:15,175 one of those little Jesus'. 1013 00:38:16,195 --> 00:38:17,954 Yeah. Have you seen those around? They're like 1014 00:38:17,954 --> 00:38:20,055 these little Jesus'. They're like, here. 1015 00:38:22,079 --> 00:38:25,199 What's something tangible that you see use every 1016 00:38:25,199 --> 00:38:28,159 day that you're gonna make an intentional choice 1017 00:38:28,159 --> 00:38:30,400 to go, every time I see that, I'm 1018 00:38:30,400 --> 00:38:31,460 gonna be reminded 1019 00:38:32,694 --> 00:38:33,755 I'm not alone. 1020 00:38:34,934 --> 00:38:36,635 God's presence is with me 1021 00:38:37,094 --> 00:38:37,835 in everything, 1022 00:38:38,135 --> 00:38:40,614 in the good, in the bad, the ugly, 1023 00:38:40,614 --> 00:38:41,275 the heart. 1024 00:38:41,974 --> 00:38:43,034 He's with me. 1025 00:38:43,655 --> 00:38:44,714 Thank you, Jesus. 1026 00:38:46,039 --> 00:38:47,480 The next thing we're gonna do is we're 1027 00:38:47,480 --> 00:38:48,619 gonna live it out together. 1028 00:38:49,800 --> 00:38:50,940 If we're gonna intentionally 1029 00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:54,199 wanna be transformed, if we wanna intentionally have 1030 00:38:54,199 --> 00:38:56,760 the guidance and the rest that God talks 1031 00:38:56,760 --> 00:38:58,644 about in this passage, If we're gonna have 1032 00:38:58,644 --> 00:39:00,244 that, we need to spend time with him. 1033 00:39:00,244 --> 00:39:01,924 We need to be spending time in his 1034 00:39:01,924 --> 00:39:04,085 word. And there's sometimes where it's like, this 1035 00:39:04,085 --> 00:39:05,684 is a pretty big book. Where do I 1036 00:39:05,684 --> 00:39:06,984 start? What do I do? 1037 00:39:08,085 --> 00:39:09,784 This is just a guide to help 1038 00:39:10,644 --> 00:39:13,119 with some questions along the way to be 1039 00:39:13,119 --> 00:39:15,760 able for you to interact and engage with 1040 00:39:15,760 --> 00:39:16,260 God. 1041 00:39:18,400 --> 00:39:19,619 So this is a tool 1042 00:39:20,239 --> 00:39:22,099 for us to be able to put ourselves 1043 00:39:22,239 --> 00:39:24,400 in a position to be transformed, to be 1044 00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:25,380 in his presence, 1045 00:39:26,079 --> 00:39:27,300 to begin our day. 1046 00:39:30,045 --> 00:39:31,804 The last thing that we're gonna do as 1047 00:39:31,804 --> 00:39:33,025 a tangible reminder 1048 00:39:33,484 --> 00:39:35,405 of god's presence with us is we're gonna 1049 00:39:35,405 --> 00:39:37,565 take communion. So I'm gonna invite all of 1050 00:39:37,565 --> 00:39:39,664 our venue host, our campus pastors 1051 00:39:40,125 --> 00:39:41,885 to start making their way to the front 1052 00:39:41,885 --> 00:39:44,000 of the room, and they're gonna lead each 1053 00:39:44,000 --> 00:39:46,420 of the venues and the campuses in communion. 1054 00:39:46,639 --> 00:39:48,420 And so make sure you have communion 1055 00:39:48,719 --> 00:39:49,699 elements. And 1056 00:39:50,400 --> 00:39:51,840 I'm gonna pray for us, and then I'm 1057 00:39:51,840 --> 00:39:52,340 gonna 1058 00:39:52,719 --> 00:39:54,559 throw it over to the campuses. And the 1059 00:39:54,559 --> 00:39:57,460 venue pastors, campus pastors will lead through communion 1060 00:39:57,519 --> 00:39:58,420 in your rooms. 1061 00:39:58,965 --> 00:40:00,345 So, Jesus, thank you 1062 00:40:01,125 --> 00:40:03,785 that your presence is with us. It's tangible. 1063 00:40:03,845 --> 00:40:05,704 You give us tangible reminders 1064 00:40:06,405 --> 00:40:07,704 of going you're with us. 1065 00:40:11,000 --> 00:40:13,239 God, thank you that your presence is better 1066 00:40:13,239 --> 00:40:15,260 than anything this world can offer. 1067 00:40:16,839 --> 00:40:18,619 Would you forgive us for the times 1068 00:40:19,559 --> 00:40:21,799 where we think that's the world will offer 1069 00:40:21,799 --> 00:40:23,960 us something better and we go after those 1070 00:40:23,960 --> 00:40:24,460 things? 1071 00:40:25,275 --> 00:40:26,795 God, would you forgive us? Help us to 1072 00:40:26,795 --> 00:40:29,135 repent, turn, and course correct, and 1073 00:40:29,675 --> 00:40:32,014 and realign our focus on you 1074 00:40:33,994 --> 00:40:36,074 so that you can go about the work 1075 00:40:36,074 --> 00:40:37,934 of transformation in our hearts. 1076 00:40:38,655 --> 00:40:40,355 It's in Jesus' name we pray. 1077 00:40:41,215 --> 00:40:41,715 Amen.