“PRESENCE DRIVEN”
INTRODUCTION:
Most of us, if not all of us, have read the book “ The Purpose Driven Church” by Rick Warren. It is a wonderful book. If you haven’t read it I suggest you get a copy of it & read it. Recently I heard a friend of mine say the other day say something I had never thought about before. I was intrigued by his statement. I began to research the word in my Bible & found 108 references in the King James Bible to the word “PRESENCE” & not all of them referred to God. During my study I’ve began to realize that altho being “PURPOSE DRIVEN” has it’s place being “PRESENCE DRIVEN” would seem even more important in the life of any & every Christian.
What does it mean to be “PRESENCE DRIVEN”? If the President of the United States were in our congregation this morning there would be a protocol in his “PRESENCE”. There would be things done & said that would be “DRIVEN” by his “PRESENCE”. I’ve been around people who had & needed body guards & there is a protocol or a “PRESENCE DRIVEN” agenda because of that person’s presence.
I was at the Republican National Convention when it was held in Houston in the 90’s & I saw all the Secret Service personnel there because of Vice President Dan Quayle. In his presence there was certain things done & not done. That is in essence “PRESENCE DRIVEN PROTOCOLS”!
As good as “PURPOSE DRIVEN” is without the “PRESENCE” then the “PURPOSE” loses it’s point! Folk, as much as we need to be “PURPOSE DRIVEN” we must even more be “PRESENCE DRIVEN”! That would be what happens IN “HIS PRESENCE!” We need “HIS PRESENCE!” More than we need our next breath! We need “HIS PRESENCE!” More than we need anything in Life! For in “HIS PRESENCE!” We find all we need in Life & More So!
Exodus 33:14 we find a “PRESENCE DRIVEN MAN”! He was so “PRESENCE DRIVEN” that he would not move without the “PRESENCE” of the Almighty with Him. Moses said...
“If Your (PRESENCE) does not go with us do not send us up
from this place. How will anyone know that you are pleased with
your people...unless you go with us. What else will distinguish
your people from all the other people...?”
P.2
Now understand; Moses had already been told by God that “HIS PRESENCE” would go with him. For in the preceding verse God told Moses “HIS PRESENCE” would go with them. But I perceive Moses was a Man who left nothing to question so he wanted to make sure God understood how important it was to “him” that he re-iterated his need through this statement he made.
Remember what I said about being “PURPOSE DRIVEN”? Moses was “PURPOSE DRIVEN” but that was not enough for Moses! Moses knew that anybody with a “PURPOSE” could be “DRIVEN BY THE PURPOSE”!
But folk, a “PURPOSE IN LIFE” alone is not enough in the Spirit realm. John McCain & Barak Obama were both “PURPOSE DRIVEN” for the last 24 months but only (ONE FULFILLED HIS PURPOSE)!
Moses didn’t want to be “PURPOSE DRIVEN” alone. He wanted more than just a “PURPOSE”! He knew what his “PURPOSE” was but he wanted something far greater than a “PURPOSE” he wanted a “PRESENCE”! Again, anybody can have a “PURPOSE” but not everybody has a “PRESENCE”!
A “PRESENCE” goes even farther than a “PURPOSE”! John McCain proved that earlier this month! He had a “PURPOSE” but he didn’t have a “PRESENCE”! It’s all we’ve heard in the news about the person & presence of Barak Obama!
Folk, I’ve known Christians who knew the “PURPOSE” but they didn’t know the “PRESENCE”! The “PRESENCE” of God outweighs the “PURPOSE OF GOD!” For without the “PRESENCE” the “PURPOSE” serves little. There are Christians sitting in churches across the world right this minute who know the Bible, they know the “PURPOSE” of God but they (DON’T KNOW) the “PRESENCE OF GOD”!
I’ve known alcoholics who knew the Word of God, they could quote it chapter & verse but they had no understanding of the “PRESENCE OF GOD”! If they did they wouldn’t be in the place they were! I am “PURPOSING” in my heart to seek “HIS PRESENCE” more than His “PURPOSE”! When I have “HIS PRESENCE” the “PURPOSE” will follow in place!
Again, “HIS PURPOSE” is important but not without “HIS PRESENCE!”
“HIS PURPOSE” WILL FIND PLACE
WHEN I HAVE “HIS PRESENCE!”
P.3
So what did Moses know about the “PRESENCE OF GOD” that maybe we DON’T KNOW OR HAVE FORGOTTEN?
Moses understood #2 things of importance! He said...
“If Your (PRESENCE) does not go with us do not send us up
from this place. How will anyone know that you are pleased with
your people...unless you go with us. What else will distinguish
your people from all the other people...?”
#1. HOW WILL ANYONE KNOW THAT YOU ARE PLEASED WITH US UNLESS “YOU” GO WITH US?
#2. WHAT ELSE WILL DISTINGUISH YOUR PEOPLE FROM ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE?
Folk, in this passage I think the key to revival & church growth are found. But, those two things are “SECONDARY” to the “PRIMARY” issue in this passage, the “PRESENCE OF GOD!”
Moses knew it was the “PRESENCE OF GOD” that separated them from all the others on the face of the planet! He knew it was the “PRESENCE OF GOD” that made all the difference and nothing else would matter!
HE SAID...
“...WHAT (ELSE) WILL DISTINGUISH YOUR
PEOPLE FROM ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE...”
Moses knew the “PRESENCE OF GOD” would “GUIDE” them better than the just a “PURPOSE!” Here is what happens with a “PURPOSE” only!
WE GET IN THE FLESH!
We get the cart before the horse and wonder why it’s so “HARD TO PUSH!” The “PURPOSE” was never meant to be “PUSHED!” it is to be “PULLED ALONG” by the “PRESENCE OF GOD!” without the “PRESENCE OF GOD” we try to do it by “SHEER FORCE & FLESH” and it won’t work without the “PRESENCE OF GOD” the way it’s supposed to work!
Moses couldn’t “DRIVE” those people! These were the hardest bunch of hard-heads on the planet. They had to be “LEAD” & they had to be “LEAD” by the “PRESENCE OF GOD!”
What was it that “GUIDED” the people of God! It was a “CLOUD” by day & a “PILLAR OF FIRE” by night! That wasn’t anything that Moses could conjure up on his own! IT WAS GOD!
What did that “CLOUD & PILLAR OF FIRE” represent! It represented the “PRESENCE OF GOD!” The “PRESENCE OF GOD” of day in & day out!
What was it that “GOVERNED” the people of God? It was the “COMMANDMENTS” given IN the “PRESENCE OF GOD!”
What was it that “FED” the people of God! It was “MANNA” from heaven. It had to be “FRESH” & was only provided by the “MANIFEST PRESENCE OF GOD!”
Who was it that “CLOTHED” them? It was the “PRESENCE OF GOD!” Their clothes or shoes never wore out! All the while they were being led by the “PRESENCE OF GOD”, it all worked out for their benefit!
Folk, “PURPOSE” is good, “PURPOSE” is needed but without the “PRESENCE” then “PURPOSE IS ALL YOU HAVE!” When has “PURPOSE” ever LED YOU, FED YOU, & CLOTHED YOU? NEVER! But God always has (IN) “HIS PRESENCE!”
Remember, “PURPOSE FAILED” the Children of Israel at the brink of the Promised Land! They knew their “PURPOSE” was to have the Promised Land, but they didn’t realize the “PRESENCE” was the “PRIORITY” in taking what was “PURPOSED” to them! It was “HIS PRESENCE” that would make all the difference!
Moses knew that if the “PRESENCE OF GOD” went with them then people wold know God was “PLEASED” with them!
If people know that God is “PLEASED” with us then they have to know that God will take care of us!
Moses knew that if the “PRESENCE OF GOD” went with them then they would be “DISTINGUISHED” among the people of the world! Not in a haughty manner, not in an arrogant way but that they would be a SEPARATE, DIFFERENT PEOPLE UNTO GOD!
It is the “PRESENCE OF GOD!” that will “DRAW” people!
It is the “PRESENCE OF GOD!” that will bring “REVIVAL!”
It is the “PRESENCE OF GOD!” that will “PROVIDE” for us!
It is the “PRESENCE OF GOD!” that will “FILL” Altars & SS Classes!
It is the “PRESENCE OF GOD!” that will “BUILD” a Youth Group!
Moses wanted the world to know that God was “PLEASED” with them & without His “PRESENCE” that would never happen! Moses wanted the Children of Israel to be “DISTINGUISHED” in the world & without His “PRESENCE” that would not happen! He knew that without the “PRESENCE OF GOD” it could & it would get in the flesh! But with “HIS PRESENCE” it won’t get in the flesh!
I Corinthians 1:29 Paul states...
“THAT NO FLESH SHOULD GLORY IN HIS PRESENCE!”
Folk, we need “HIS PRESENCE” for in that “PRESENCE” we find “HIS PLEASURE” & “NOT OURS”!
Folk, we need “HIS PRESENCE” for in that “PRESENCE” others will see and know that we are a “DISTINGUISHED” people!
I Peter 2:9, Peter says...
“...a CHOSEN generation, a ROYAL priesthood, a HOLY nation, HIS
OWN SPECIAL (DISTINGUISHED) PEOPLE...”
Let me ask you this question!
“WHAT DO YOU SEEK?
DO YOU SEEK HIS (PURPOSE) OR HIS (PRESENCE)?”
If you seek His “PURPOSE”, it sounds good and all but without His “PRESENCE” his “PURPOSE” isn’t fulfilled and means little! For it is with “HIS PRESENCE” His Purpose is accomplished!
Is it all for “OUR PLEASURE& CONVENIENCE” or for “HIS PLEASURE!”
Moses said in verse #16...
“IF YOUR PRESENCE DOES NOT GO WITH US...HOW
WILL ANYONE KNOW THAT YOU ARE PLEASED...?”
Moses didn’t just stumble onto something profound! He knew the importance of “GOD’S PRESENCE” & being “PRESENCE DRIVEN” versus “PURPOSE DRIVEN”!
I believe with all my heart that “PRESENCE DRIVEN” is where God wants us to be! He wants us in “HIS PRESENCE” even more than about “HIS PURPOSE”
Being “PRESENCE DRIVEN” in synch with Him!
To be “PRESENCE DRIVEN” is to understand His “PURPOSE” in greater detail!
To be “PRESENCE DRIVEN” is to move with Him and to be moved by Him!
“PRESENCE DRIVEN” is the greater paradigm in the Christian Life!
CONCLUSION:Here’s the question this morning!
ARE YOU “PURPOSE DRIVEN” OR
ARE YOU “PRESENCE DRIVEN”?
What is it that changes the dynamics & paradigm of “ANY” service?
IT IS THE PRESENCE OF GOD!
God’s purpose is that no one go to hell, but it’s not the “PURPOSE” that saves it is the “PRESENCE OF GOD” that saves!
God’s purpose is to “HEAL” but it’s not the “PURPOSE” that heals it is the “PRESENCE OF GOD” that heals!
God’s purpose is to “DELIVER MANKIND” but it’s not the “PURPOSE” that delivers mankind it is the “PRESENCE OF GOD” that delivers mankind.
LET’S BECOME “PRESENCE DRIVEN!”
Rearrange your “PARADIGM” and your “PRIORITIES” this morning around these altars! Seek Him and seek “HIS PRESENCE!” Tell Him you require “HIS PRESENCE” more than breath and life itself! “HIS PRESENCE” will drive you to new horizons in a greater magnitude than ever before!
