Dwell... | 8AM

mean we're going to to the title I'm going to use for our conversation is simply this word dwell somebody say dwell all right I have quite a lot to say and so um but let me let me do so as we talk about this idea of being closed on Sunday ones that I taught you all about is this idea of the Temple that when Christ came he came to disrupt the temple now I think for our purposes I need to make sure we're clear that the temple emerges as an iteration of what was instituted as a tabernacle part of what I'm gonna kind of just cut across the field and say even before I get into some of my points is that one of the things that I've seen as I looked at I'm going to show you in a moment as I look at the existence or implementation of the Tabernacle and the temple is that there is a habit in creation um to attempt to concretize to fix to to put into barriers the presence and the experience of the Divine it's like when things happen that are that are mystical or magical or that are Beyond kind of the scope of our natural existence like one of our Tendencies Nat is to always try to find a way to fix it and put it in and close it up and there are a couple of ways in which I think or reason that that emerges one and and I'm gonna be this might be a little a little hostile one is because we we don't say this out loud we really want to control God we really do we don't say those words because it sounds weird want God to kind of exist within the framework and to be limited by our understanding because it's when it's more manageable it it we are able to be more at peace when we can control a thing the other reason I think we tend um to try to put God in these spaces and is because we like to have what other people don't we like the uniqueness of having an experience or a thing that is rare that no one else has access to now I know you're getting offended right now I ain't talking about y'all you know it it manifests in our consumerism the the rarest thing the the newest thing we want to wear stuff that no one else is wearing we want to drive something no one else is driving we there's something about we like to be able to say yeah you know you know you don't know about this you know we like that we like that part of engaging with Humanity um and we and hear me and I don't think it's we don't say it out loud we just don't but deep down inside there's something that just emerges in us that we you know we and so we tend to do things that even when it comes to our experience with God we tend to do things that help to perpetuate that it's a falling condition and I want to show you so I'm going to go through a couple of things but let me show you some pictures so first I want to show you a picture of the Tabernacle um that God called for so so this this is in essence and this is obviously a replica it's not the real thing but this is in essence what it was and what you'll notice and I'm going much deeper this in a moment what you notice here is there's a there's What's called the the bronze altar of sacrifice on the outside then that little circle thing there in the middle is the Laver where they would wash and then inside there that's the actual place right so inside there and I'll show you these in in much more um a much more picturesque way inside there is uh uh the lamp stand and the table of show bread and there's a curtain there's an altar of incense and then behind there um what they call the Ark of the Covenant our covenant has a cherubim that are on top of their their wings pointing and then inside of there are three things tablets where the law was given Aaron's rot that is budding and also manna that they took and put into a jar to keep or into some casing all right so this is that that was okay so that's gone now all right so that that was a tabernacle and there is and I want you to understand this and when the Tabernacle was instituted it was because God had given very specific um and strict kind of rules for how it should be constructed what should be in it how it should be placed in Augustine right and in fact uh and you might see this in a moment and and the way in which they did this is that they brought in off they brought things he says to them let every man of his own conviction bring so funny God does not to build his his Tabernacle he does not take things from man he tells them to bring things and what they bring he tells them what to bring but when they bring what he says to bring the Bible says they fashion this tablet all right so that's right there now um from this David gets an idea to build a temple they had this Tabernacle as they were traversing through the Wilderness they get to a point where David has this thought he's looking at where he's arrived his place he wants to build it he wants to build a temple a fixed place in fact Nathan co-signs which is a prophet to David but then it's later checked by God because Nathan kind of spoke out of turn because while David could design it he couldn't build it because his hands have blood on it so Solomon his son actually builds the temple all right are we on the same page so far okay he actually builds the temple and when he builds the temple he builds the temple and I'm going to show you don't don't put it up yet I'm going to show you a picture it actually has two temples on it and I'm showing this for a reason this is this is how we we're so interested um the first and I'm explaining them first and I'm sorry so so he so Sodom builds the temple and the temple that Solomon builds is exponentially more Grand than the Tabernacle that God called for in fact the things that God said to put in the Tabernacle David even goes further in making something larger and putting more it's multiple lampstands inside of the temple okay all right but then there's another Temple now this Temple don't put up yet is a temple that Herod builds and this Temple is exponentially larger than Solomon's Temple every time something is built in an effort to honor God they just keep making it bigger I'll put the next picture up so this is the two temples I was talking about Solomon's Temple herod's Temple Heritage Temple is the one that Jesus would have seen it was constructed at the time Christ was alive now once you understand something all of this has been destroyed in 1870 it all comes down in fact Christ predicts that the temple would be destroyed he walks by and says not one rock will be laid upon the next he describes this idea of the destruction of the Temple what am I suggesting to you when Christ comes into the Earth he comes to help us recognize there is something wrong with the ways in which we have deified and put more emphasis and effort into building these structures because the truth is hear me child of God as the structures got bigger in the mind of the people God got smaller Herod does not build this ornate Temple because he was so enamored with his God he builds it because of his own ego he wants folk to come and see this Grand display because what the truth was is that it was never designed in his mind as something that would promote the grand nature of an amazing God it really had to do with the ways in which he saw himself oh Jesus and oftentimes the construction and existence and engagement with the temple unfortunately has too much to do with us and not enough to do with God oh it's gonna get bad and we like to build big buildings and build big structures and build big systems and if we're not careful we will build big things not as a testament to who God is but as a testament of our own capacity and power and prowess and how many seats do we have and how many folks do we see and how much can we do and how many programs and it's not because God's doing a great work in the earth we have built these great edifices as a way to Adorn ourselves oh God oh Jesus okay when Jesus comes to disrupt that and this is not about just church leaders because even though you might have church leaders and pastors and people who build great structure the truth is all of us build buildings we all build structures that reflect our own Humanity whether it's our title or our place or our seat in a sanctuary or the way in which we think the church ought to run or how we see and this is why I think that sometimes God has to shut down the building because he realized that we have fallen in love with the space and not the one we came to Worship in this space and we have deified the church preached Pastor Jeremy we have deified the systems we have deified those that have been given as gifts as opposed to recognizing that every single thing that was released into the Earth was to facilitate one single thing that I'll tell you about in a moment now let's go back for a second so when it comes to the Tabernacle that we see now replicated in both temples what we have in there past Rufus are some Furnishings now what I want to suggest to you is this is that every single Furnishing in the Tabernacle that God instructed is not simply for the use of those who would have engaged them at the time they were all testifying of the Christ who would come is that making sense to you I'm explaining it but let me just make sure the premise is understood that everything we see with the Tabernacle everything we see in the Tabernacle was always designed not for the Tabernacle but as an indication of the Christ who was being foreshadowed before he ever showed up on the earth and I'ma say it again when we see the Tabernacle in fact a true and honest understanding of the temple was never designed to cause us to be enamored with the place that was being made it was always designed to give us a picture or an image of the one it was pointing to everything before Jesus is pointing to him and everything behind Jesus is pointing back it's all about Christ even thousands of years before he gets here God is dropping little notes and winks about the Christ that is coming I want to show you something at the top you'll see what I describe the Ark of the Covenant you'll see here's the lamp you'll see here um the uh the uh the altar of incense you see the table of showbread you see the labor ain't she the bronze altar now let me give you some context for and I'm getting to my real point this is all introduction just bear with me when you look at these things let's start with the Ark of the Covenant the art of the Covenant hat within it the tablets Aaron's rod and Manna From Heaven now the the tablets represent Jesus in this the Bible says in Matthew 5 uh verse 17 it says very clearly do not think I have come to abolish the law of the prophets I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them the tablets were what came to Moses from God to give instruction on the morality that God had as an expectation for his people but before Christ comes the tablets serve as a guilty kind of of a motivator that there is no way that you all can keep this and so the tablets were more triggering than they were effective because it wasn't until Christ comes that he is the only one that has fulfilled the entirety of the law and so the tablets in the Ark of the Covenant were designed to give us a picture of a Christ who will live out of righteousness watch this and then give you the righteousness that he lived out the fact is on your best day you would never be able to keep the full measure of the law and so Christ had to come and fulfill the law that you and I would have access to a world of peace and reconciliation with God that we could not actuate on our own say Amen the second thing is Aaron's Rod Aaron's Rod is something that emerges and I have a there's a long story errors Rod but it was used as a signal of authority and miraculous power one of the defining moments is this the Bible says a great contention rose up where folk were upset that Aaron and most were set apart as authoritative leaders and they sought a rebellion and so God dealt with them first of all let me just say this open up the Earth and swallow them folk up I don't have time to talk about you not running the game on your pastor anyway but the Bible also says that God says all the leaders bring your rods into the tent and when all the rides were laid out God caused this dead Rod to butt and produce not only flowers but almonds in other words not something that was planted but a rod that had been disconnected from its root system was still producing fruit God I have I had time I could really teach that producing fruit it was an indication of the significance the specificity the anointing that was on Aaron and most that was distinct from everybody body else and the Bible says in Luke chapter 4 verse 18 that Christ shows up and says the spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me I ain't trying to say nothing about you but I know what God has set me apart to do he has given me Authority and has given me miraculous power to do things that can't nobody else do preach Pastor Jeremy and so it was the rod that was pointing to Christ that was coming but number three was Manna From Heaven and in John 6 32 and 33 we see that the Manna is pointing to Jesus because the Bible says he says very truly I tell you it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven but it is my father who gives you the true bread from Heaven 33 says this for the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world now watch this the manner that they find in this Ark of the Covenant is manner that came down in the wilderness reflective of God providing provision life and sustenance as they walk through a weary land this manner came not because they did something they didn't do anything to bring the Manna down it was a gift from God and it was what sustained them in the wilderness experience and Christ says this you think that Moses did that but my father is the one that let that Manna fall down and in the same way that Manna fell from them it was a sign and a signal that the true bread of life was on his way that as you Traverse this desolate and weary land I come that you might have life and have it more abundantly are you tracking with me but the next thing I want to show you in the text that's not seen in the pictures is the fact that in this Tabernacle and Temple there was a curtain somebody shout curtains there was a curtain and the way the curtain worked it separated the holies of holy from the holy place you got to get this what you saw in all the pictures there was an outside to the outer Court then there was a holy place then there was the holy of holies where the Ark of the Covenant SAT but between the holy place and the holies of holy there was a curtain and you could not go through the curtain because only the high priest was allowed to go in there one time a year and when he went he went first to take care of his own sin and then secondly to take care of the sins of the nation watch this family but the curtain you understand this was not a curtain that had an opening there was no slit y'all didn't have pipe and Drake you know how that slits in the pipe and drape you can walk through the middle or you can go on the side not with this curtain the priests had to crawl under the curtain to get inside the holies of holies to be in the presence of God because on the top of the Ark of the Covenant was something called The Mercy Seat and in the middle was where God's presence was supposed to have dwelt and so the pre the priests will go under the curtain that he might get into the holies of holy that he might make intercession for those that needed to find Redemption for all of their sins somebody say Amen but I love what the Bible tells me in Hebrews 10 verse 19 scripture says this therefore brothers and sisters since we have confidence to enter the most holy place by the what the blood of Jesus by a New and Living Way open for us through the curtain that is his body that's why I get excited when he was wounded for my transgressions and bruised for my iniquities when they pierce his side they were opening up a portal but I don't have to send somebody to God on my behalf but I can step in the presence of God oh bye I got a long way to go but next is the altar of incense the altar of incense set just outside of the holies of holies on the other side of the curtain and they would keep this instant burning and the incense would come up and the smoke would fill the temple that's why we got Haze in the sanctuary now we're trying to replicate what happened I'm just playing anyway the ultimate incense that there would be incense the cold that came from the outer altar we brought in and it would Kindle and there will be a smoke that began to permeate and it wasn't just a smoke it was also a scent it wasn't just smoke it was also a scent you didn't just see it but you could smell it and the Bible says that the scent of the incense just begin to permeate everywhere and it's an indication my goodness thank you holy spirit that the altar of incense sat right on the outside of the curtain and and the smoke begin to fill in and go into the holies of holies you have the Smoke on the outside you've got the presence on the inside but the smoke from the incense got to the presence it was an indication of what Christ has come to do for you and I found in Romans chapter 8 starting at verse 31 the Bible says What then shall we say in response to these things if God is for us who can be against us he who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all how would he not also along with him graciously give us all things 33 says this who will bring any charge against Those whom God has chosen my God thank the Holy Spirit it is God who justifies when who then is the one who condemns no one Christ Jesus who died more than that who was raised to life is that the right hand of God and is also interceding the smoke represents prayer and I don't listen I'm not trying to hate on you thank God that Barbara Dixon prays for me thank God that Kathy give praise to me and Adrian and joynell and Rufus praise for me thank God that Michelle loved prays for me but I got a high priest just sitting at the right just outside you ain't gonna help me preach and he's interceding on my behalf because the innocent represented Christ who's talking to God for you and Jesus oh God help me keep but the next thing I want to show you is the lap stand the lamp stand in the temple and the Tabernacle is the only thing that produce light the innocent didn't produce light the art didn't produce light show bread didn't produce life nothing produced life except for the lampstand the lampstand was lit in fact you've heard the old folks say keep your lamp trimmed and burning you remember how we were taught as children in Sunday school some of y'all went Sunday school some of y'all did but anyway we were taught that you had to keep that fire burning because that lamp provided light in that territory and hear me child of God though the lamp was in the Tabernacle and the temple it was actually a theophany it was actually a foreshadowing of who Christ would be and he said it of himself in John chapter 8 verse 12. he said when Jesus spoke again to the people he said somebody shot with me I am the light of the world whoever follows me will never have a will never walk in darkness but we'll have the light of life this is why you can get excited because there is a light that comes from Glory the world is dark but Jesus shining and when you step into the light and walk in the light the Bible says that the light shines in darkness and the Darkness comprehends it not lampstand was trying to point Jesus but the Bible also says there's a table of show bread the table of show bread in fact the way the witch table operated uh there were those of the Levi's who were who were designed keep this bread fresh it would be prepared probably every Friday for presentation on Saturday and Aaron and his sons would feast in the Tabernacle um of the bread it was 12 loaves of bread and there was wine there so there was a cup of wine a a a sister in the wine Center and then on each side there were six Loaves on the left and six lows on the right that were always there for them to eat now this table of showbread I believe contextually represents three things represents provision represents salvation and represents Fellowship this table of show bread was a place where they sat and slept together it was Fellowship but it also was a recognition of the power of the most high God in his capacity to bring about salvation is that making sense to you it is after they come out when God brings them out and heals and delivers them scripture says that they come out and now that this this bread this bread is a bread that's not made with yeast it is a bread because there's not time my God because God does quick Works he got she ain't gonna help me Teach God is saying your bread can't rise because you ain't got time to wait for the bread to be finished the way I'm about to bless you I need about 35 people to give I don't know who needs to hear this but you've been concerned about what God is going to do and God told me to tell you what he's about to do in your life is going to happen so fast it's gonna have your heads get your situation together now because God is more ready than you are and while you're pining and complaining God is saying get ready because I'm about to shift you faster than you can get bread to rise scripture says uh the Bible shows us uh Jesus in that Luke 22. It's kind of length to hear the scripture says when the hour had came Jesus recline at the table um and he said to them I have equal desire to eat this Passover with you before I suffer for I tell you I will not eat again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God after taking the cup he gave thanks and said take this and divide it among you for I for I tell you I will not drink again for the fruit of the vine unto the kingdom of God comes and he took bread gave thanks and broke it and gave it to them saying this is my body given for you do this in remembrance of me in the same way after the supper he took the cup saying this cup is a New Covenant in my blood which is poured out for you got to get this in this what we see are three things we see this supper we see this provision of God but we see this salvific work let me tell you something you and I are not saved because you and I figured anything out we got to get this right because sometimes in our own little small minds we think that somehow we solve the puzzle that we found out the riddle that somehow we worked out a detail account no no you are saved because Christ on his own decided to offer you the cup of Salvation because he paid the penalty and I love this part and he didn't just save you he saved us somebody say amen he didn't just save you he saved us we got to stop thinking that we're the only ones say okay I don't have time to get into this there is something very damaging about a disposition that views salvation singularly as if God ain't saved other people okay I'm saying this way just because I ain't saved like you want them to be saved don't mean I say preach Pastor Jeremy but there is a fellowship in Salvation of diverse people all call to the foot of the cross I don't have time the next one is the labor the labor as I showed you in the picture sits outside of the temple um I'm outside of the Tabernacle between the actual um holy place and the uh the bronze altar it is after they have killed and sacrificed the animal at the bronze altar of sacrifice that then the priests go to the labor which is next and begin to cleanse themselves for the entrance of the Holy place we got to get this and so is the place of cleansing is a place of purification there are two types of cleansing the first type of cleansing is the cleansing hear me family that cleanses us from sin to righteousness hear me it's a positional shift it is the is the way in which we go from being unsaved to being saved you are washed and you become clean you are saved watch this but that don't stop right there because even saved folk need to keep watching oh Jesus you not being saved from Damnation and hell but you being saved from your stake attitude preach Pastor you ain't you ain't being saved from going to a fiery grave and pit you're being saved from stinking thinking and bad habits God is perfecting you and sanctifying you but it's a picture of Jesus because the Bible says in Matthew chapter 3 verse 13 the Bible says that Jesus Came From Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John but John tried to deter him saying I need to be baptized by you and do you come to me the Bible just reply let it be so now it is proper for us to do this to fulfill our right to fulfill all righteousness to fulfill all righteousness then John consented it was a picture of the Christ that is going through a purification process in fact another image of this is just before he gets to the place where he is sacrifice fights The Bobs that come and she washes his feet with her hair also emblematic of this purification process before he goes to his Ultimate Death and Resurrection but then there is altar of burnt offerings the Bible says there was an altar just outside they got to get this family are you still attracted with me am I going too fast okay I'm just trying to teach a little bit is that okay but I got to my sermon yet but I'm getting there uh um here it is in the altar of sacrifice what would happen is this it was an altar outside in the outer court that was designed for people to bring their animals to be sacrificed in their stead you got that it was that you and I would sin pre-christ and we would have to bring a ram a dove a a lamb something to The Altar for it to be slaughtered and it will be slaughtered in our place watch this so sin was never necessarily just taken away it had to be transferred do I have time to say this see this is why you know when I say stuff just because something was free to you don't mean it didn't cost somebody sin didn't disappear the penalty did not disappear it just was taken off of you and put on the animal and when the animal was killed that animal died in your place preach but this thanks be you know where I'm going this thanks be to God was not just something to showcase the prominence of God in times past it was a picture of what Christ was about to do to read in the Bible says in First Peter 2 to this you were called because Christ suffered for you leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps he committed listen he committed listen he this animal in the Old Testament had done no wrong had committed no sin had no capacity for Injustice and yet in committing no sin took the full penalty for what you and I had done the Bible said he committed no sin and no deceit Christ was found in his mouth when they hurled their insults at him he did not retaliate like a sheep my God to the Shearer is dumb my God he opened not his mouth that's Isaiah when he suffered he made no threats instead he entrusted himself to him who judges justly he himself bore our sins in his body on the cross so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness by his wounds you have been if you can't shout for nothing else you want to lift your voice because what you deserve was snatched off of you and placed on him and he died in your place I need everybody that's Blood Washed to lift your voice and give Jesus the highest praise foreign [Applause] [Music] now here's my sermon have a seat here's my sermon here's what's so amazing the two texts I want to show you both may feel familiar but hopefully help you to conceptualize what I'm trying to suggest to you about why the temple had become problematic go in your Bibles to Exodus 25. I'm going to read verse 8 one verse that's actually on the back end of the invitation that God gives to them to prepare this sanctuary what we call the Tabernacle verse 8 says something listen very this if when we get this I am convinced that this is a single most important revelation in the history of civilization the simple this simple thought is the single most important Revelation all of scriptures for this purpose everything you've heard from the holy spirit is for this single person the Bible says God is speaking he says then have them make me a sanctuary and I will dwell among them that's all it's about everything we understand theologically all of our Doctrine and dogma and practices and religious understandings are sanctuaries our choirs our preachers everything is for this simple being in the presence listen but this is why I went through that lengthy display of why the Tabernacle was so important and was a foreshadowing of Jesus because of what we find in John 1. 14. and the Bible says and the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us and we have seen him the glory of the one and only son who came from the father full of grace and truth what the Tabernacle in the temple we're all trying to do has now been found in the person of every single detail of instruction and process and logistical analysis all of the working and the doings and the buildings and the constructions and all of the acacia with all of this was simply to a point that Christ would dwell Among Us John 1 18. now on the screen says no man has seen God at any time yet the only begotten the one who is most like him Bible says has some translation say has revealed him the word is exagayo my what simply means to uncover The God Who has always been we saw him in types and Shadow Moses sees the trimmings of his fading Glory all of us saw him finally this God has been revealed is God has been uncovered Pagan Nations have sought him in trees people have tried to see him through astrology individuals have tried to look at it from a pantheistic standpoint everyone has been clamoring to see this God this designer of Heaven and Earth this orchestrator of all the things that we see everyone is trying to get a sense and no man has seen him and yet Christ comes the Bible says and the fullness of the godhead dwells in him bodily he is called listen you got to get this because I'm going to say something it's going to seem problematic that might leave you with questions but if if you can get it in your spirit it's going to free you this Emmanuel has made it his his mission to be with us I don't have time to unpack this but I imagine when we look at the Stations from the single gate that leads the Tabernacle to The Mercy Seat that's in the holies of holies we see people trying to ascend to him they have to come to the single gate although Christ says he is the only gay they have to sacrifice they have to be cleansed they have to go and there's fellowship and there's light and there's incense of prayer and intercession and then there's a curtain they got to get through to get to the mercy see but my sense is in all of our activity to get to him the Bible says that when he died the veil was torn because he was coming from the presence of God to get in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the word the Bible says was to God giving an image of them being face to face and he takes off all of Glory's clothing and he steps into the Earth because he came to seek and save that which he he just wants to be with us because here here it is here's my sermon pay attention because he knows what comes from his presence you got to get this the problem with this is why he came from the problem is that they started to believe that the temple existed for the Temple's sake but the this is why the temple Jesus it's called the temple no longer had the same essential function as it did once Christ came because he was no longer in the temple when the vowel was torn he came out of the building [Applause] now he dwells with us I don't have to send the priest to go talk to God for me I don't need no Emissary or intercessor to get In God's Presence I mean he came out to dwell with me I'm on this store he's with me I'm at school he's with me I'm in darkness he's with me I'm in pain he's with me I'm on the mountain he's with me Emmanuel God with all right watch this so what comes from the presence of God I can't read it to you ain't got no time I'ma tell you to text and I want you to write it down grab it for yourself number two in the presence of God there is Liberty this that's why he's trying to get to you Mike because he wanted you to be free he knew that his presence in your life would bring freedom that's found in second Corinthians 3 17 second Corinthians 3 17 you got homework write it down number two in his presence is joy some of you are trying to figure out oh God help me you're trying to figure out why you feel so frustrated and so confused and there's such a heaviness and you're like I keep coming to church I keep hearing this because this is not about coming to church it's his presence it's his presence you got to get in his presence it's his PR now hagging his presence just be that's that's let's mess your brain up he's like no no what are the five steps what to say it's not about steps he came to be with you just be and become aware of his presence there are two people can be sitting in the same place one gets it wonder why because someone noticed that he they were in his presence we're working too hard to be in something that is freely given to us you got to travel again why would I have to travail to get a hit why would he do all that work on the cross to get into my presence that I got to work to get into his presence it's we have too much stuff on us it's not about how much more you can do it's about how much you can take off to be in the prayer you got too much stuff you are trying too hard to do things to be in God's presence but in his presence there is joy Jesus that's Psalm 16 verse 11 number number three in his presence there is transformation that's in Isaiah 6 1-7 Isaiah sees the Lord high and lifted up his train fills the temple and he hears them crying holy holy and the Bible says he sees himself maybe for the first time he says I'm I'm unclean spirit instructs terrible to take the tongues from the fire and to place him on his lips to purify him why because in the presence of God we are purified we are transformed in his presence there is refreshing that's found in Acts 3 17-19 the word therefore refreshing is actually also known as where we love to call Revival when you're in the presence of God there is Revival dead things live dead dreams come back to life dead relationships are restored and renewed dead hopes are brought back to the before you lost your faith and lost your hope and have lost cited where God is to God is saying just get in my in his presence I got three more is comfort found in Psalms 23 verse 4 I don't fear because your rod and your staff are comforting me you know what that pic the word picture we look at it etymologically is this idea this word um it means to take a deep breath you ever notice when you're going through a hard place in life you start to hold your breath you ever caught yourself doing that like and you get tense and you're tight and your brows further your shoulders are high and the Bible says this word this word Comfort simply means that even when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death you can just sigh relief because you're not walking by yourself what in his next thing we find in his presence is guidance found in Psalm 73 23 and 24. we know what the presence of God and some of you right now you've got questions you need answers all of the things you've tried in life all the ways in which you've attempted to organize your future have come up short and you're saying God I just don't have the answer and God said that's all right in my presence is guidance another word is advice that God gives you a clue from the other world God I'm telling you family and I mean it's no disrespect but but you you just oh no not you I say Brandon I'm just not as smart as I think I am and I have the tendency of thinking I can think my way out of a situation if I just plan and stuff and know what happens with that your thinking turns into worrying and your worry turns to anxiety and anxiety becomes debilitating and now you're worse off now than you were before and what God is saying is just get because in his presence there is there's guidance here's here's the last one and this one I saved for last because this is is the intangible I love this one yeah give me some spooky music for this I need some spooky cards give me some what is what a drummer give me some spooky cards for this one in his presence can I can I say this to you everybody is trying to explain Glory it is inexplicable Glory look man it was in the sermon he was already doubting he over there weeping before the Lord I need symbols and he's over there praising God I get Glory's in its Glory listen glory is is the amalgamation of all the attributes of God because here's where the one of the words in in the study when the words is is weight it's as if everything all at one time begins to converge and this is why when Glory comes you can have a multitude of experiences and they're things that begin to manifest and miracles happen and signs happen and manifest State why because the glory is there and somebody who needed Joy got happy and started laughing and someone needed peace gotta said why because the glory this is all income it just rests in a place it's it's the fullness of God just permeating everything and the Bible says when Solomon had built the temple scripture says they begin to sacrifice and the glory of the Lord begin to fall and it fell so hard that the ministers couldn't Minister and everyone sailed to their faces because of the weight of the glory god is saying in his presence is Glory it's healing and Glory deliverance and Glory help it Glory strength Glory fullness and Glory vision and glory with the glory comes from his presence it's a weight it's always been about his presence the Tabernacle the temple these are not things that I am trying to diminish but they weren't the point they were just vessels for his presence and God is saying if you built great cathedrals but don't host my presence you have labored in vain because everything he's designed in the Earth has been for this specific purpose we might bask in the glory of his presence the psalmist says one thing I desire and that well I see God that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of [Music] to behold is beauty and to inquire in his Temple him he built the stuff because he wanted to be with his people Jesus came to say everything before now was trying to get you to recognize when I got here I I am the full measure of the presence of the Unseen God and when you get Jesus that's why God sometimes has to close us on Sunday because we think it's in the preacher or in the organ or in the sanctuary or in the time of day and God said closed on Sunday get in my presence get in my presence stand to your feet only only you were holy Only You Are Holy [Music] lift your hands [Music] buildings are holy [Music] for there's no [Music] who is faithful every truth [Music] foreign [Music] part of the complexity of this type of teaching is that it can be misunderstood as attempting to do away with the Gathering of the Saints in moments like these that is not the intention sometimes God has to disrupt a thing to remind you what it's for covet disrupted the ways in which we worshiped I believe and God used it to remind us it was never by the time or a day or a building or a place it was always about his presence says I'm asking you in this moment to learn how to be in the presence of God they're not seven steps to it and five movements to it it is simply Your Capacity to to sense to be aware to know that he is for you and he is with you to listen seek him God's gonna show up in church all over the world he gonna show up in Bible he's gonna audit but God don't show up in the grocery store too it's gonna show up in your bedroom I'll start showing up in nightclubs and lounges and showing up in places that don't seem like they're God but if people will just fix their eyes on Jesus we are teleported into his presence so got our praise we have taught this word we've encouraged your people to to sense that your intention for Humanity was always to be among us you've done all this work all of the pre-work in the Old Testament all of the work Lord God in the new all of this is one simple purpose that we might perceive that you are Emmanuel the god that is with us I pray that you Lord God have made clear and specific what has been spoken in this moment and there are people whose hearts are far from you that need to come to the saving knowledge of your son I pray right now that you would prick their hearts that they would turn Lord God from their Wicked Ways and pursue you Lord that they might be in fellowship with you I pray those in need Lord got a fresh in feeling of the Holy Spirit we'll receive it Lord God as they open up their lives Lord to receive I pray this word has transformed their thinking they might perceive that all you've ever wanted was to be with us so God seal this word as only you can we give you praise I'm gonna have just a few minutes to go to that sidewall maybe seven or ten maybe not even that many just a few to go to that sidewall and if you've heard this word today and you know you need to come into the saving knowledge of his son and give your life to Jesus Jesus you need to confess him with your mouth and believe in your heart if you know that shoe would you go to that wall let them pray for you walk them walk you through it you need pressure any other faith we should go get prayer today don't run from this work but also I want to encourage you this morning to give we are a generous house how can we love a god this much and not underwrite Outpost of his kingdom every single heart Lisa so generously into what God is doing in your life doing in this place lift your hands now May the grace of God and the sweet communion of the Holy Spirit restful in the Bible does now henceforth and forevermore and every glad heart said amen God bless y'all we'll catch you next week [Music] [Music] all my love [Music] [Applause]

Channel: Center of Hope

Views: 654

Keywords: CENTER, OF, HOPE, center of hope, geremy dixon, inglewood church, la churches, cohla, cohso, center of hope la, los angeles churches, GD minstries

Id: kge7WmcEkAY

Length: 56min 28sec (3388 seconds)

Published: Mon Jun 05 2023