In the message, "God is always with us. Will I be with Him?", we explore the omnipresence of God and the significance of our choice to walk with Him every day. We will dive into how we can recognize God's presence in our lives and the steps we can take to ensure we are aligning our path with His. Whether you're facing challenges, seeking comfort, or looking for guidance, this message will remind you that you are never alone. Join us as we uncover the beauty of God's unwavering presence and how we can commit to being with Him in the day-to-day of our everyday.
Trevor H Lund is the founder of Live LIGHT Academy at https://livelight.ca and the Chief Storyteller at https://revtrev.com Subscribe and set notifications on https://revtrev.com/tv for past videos and live casts and https://revtrev.com/radio to subscribe to his podcast wherever you listen.
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God is always with us. Will you be with Him?
When was the last time you read through Exodus?
You’ll come to a point where Moses is on the mountain and people make an idol and worship it. Tablets the finger of God wrote on were smashed. Levites went through the camp killing any worshipping the idol.
Exodus 32:30 - 34:6 30 The next day Moses said to the people, ‘You have committed a great sin. But now I will go up to the Lord; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.’ 31 So Moses went back to the Lord and said, ‘Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. 32 But now, please forgive their sin – but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.’ 33 The Lord replied to Moses, ‘Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. 34 Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin.’ 35 And the Lord struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made. 33:1 Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, “I will give it to your descendants.” 2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.’ 4 When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments. 5 For the Lord had said to Moses, ‘Tell the Israelites, “You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.”’ 6 So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb. 7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the ‘tent of meeting’. Anyone enquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshipped, each at the entrance to their tent. 11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. 12 Moses said to the Lord, ‘You have been telling me, “Lead these people,” but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, “I know you by name and you have found favour with me.” 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favour with you. Remember that this nation is your people.’ 14 The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’ 15 Then Moses said to him, ‘If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?’ 17 And the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.’ 18 Then Moses said, ‘Now show me your glory.’ 19 And the Lord said, ‘I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,’ he said, ‘you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.’ 21 Then the Lord said, ‘There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.’ 34 The Lord said to Moses, ‘Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. 2 Be ready in the morning, and then come up on Mount Sinai. Present yourself to me there on top of the mountain. 3 No one is to come with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain; not even the flocks and herds may graze in front of the mountain.’ 4 So Moses chiselled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the Lord had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. 5 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. 6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,
Can we pray?
There is so much to unpack with what we just read, but to keep with what I want to focus on today, I’ll pull three keys from this package that teach us about the presence of God.
3 Truths Moses Teaches us about the presence of God
1. The presence of God is tangible.
Exodus 33:9 -11 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshipped, each at the entrance to their tent. 11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young assistant Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.
2. The presence of God is identifying and transforming.
Exodus 33:15 -16 15 Then Moses said to him, ‘If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?’
”When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.“ Acts 4:13 NIVUK
3. The presence of God can be sought.
Exodus 33:18 18 Then Moses said, ‘Now show me your glory.’
”My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face, Lord, I will seek.“ Psalms 27:8 NIVUK
How often would you say that you’re in His presence?
I’ve got news for you. Jesus said:
"I am with you always, to the very end of the age," - Jesus (Matthew 28:20)
God is always with us. Will you be with Him?
The presence of God
In Biblical Hebrew, the word often translated as the "presence" of God is פָּנִים (panim), which literally means "face."
In Koine Greek, the term commonly used for the "presence" of God is παρουσία (parousia). It means presence or coming. It’s used for the 2nd coming of Jesus.
The Bible tells us there are things that happen when we’re in the presence of God. I think it’s why Joshua stayed in the tent, even when Moses was done talking face-to-face with God.
14 Benefits of His Presence
- Peace: Philippians 4:6-7
- Rest: Exodus 33:14
- Strength and Courage: Joshua 1:9
- Guidance: Psalm 31:20
- Protection: Psalm 91:1-2
- Fullness of Joy: Psalm 16:11
- Love: Romans 8:38-39
- Freedom: 2 Corinthians 3:17
- Healing: James 5:14-15
- Wisdom: James 1:5
- Provision: Philippians 4:19
- Hope: Romans 15:13
- Refreshment: Acts 3:19-20
- Holiness: 1 Peter 1:15-16
“We can ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God. The world is crowded with Him. He walks everywhere incognito.” —C. S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer
Imagine…
What would it be like to company with Jesus all day long? It could mean letting go of your need to manipulate, compete, and control. Maybe it would mean living as though the present moment has no competition and receiving each moment as sacred. You’d be abiding in Christ so that you see what he loves in those who would drain, irritate, and anger you. You would see yourself through God’s eyes rather than the eyes of others. Christ would be in your joy, sorrow, emptiness, and fullness. You’d remaining open and teachable all moments. You would growing in awareness of your constant need for God.
God is always with us. Will you be with Him?
Brother Lawrence was a lay brother in a Carmelite monastery in Paris in the 17th century, known for his profound spirituality and simplicity. His book was put together by Father Joseph de Beaufort in 1692, the year after Brother Lawerence’s death in 1691. “The Practice of the Presence of God” This work consists of his letters, along with records of his conversations and spiritual maxims.
“I make it my business to rest in His [Christ’s] holy presence which I keep myself in by a habitual, silent, and secret conversation with God. This often causes in me joy and raptures inwardly, and sometimes also outwardly, so great that I am forced to use means to moderate them, and prevent their appearance to others.”- Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God
He got too happy around monks who wanted more proper proprietary. But he found a secret that all of need to live from.
How do we practically practice the presence of God?
That’s a great question, here’s a tool to help you do that.
The Rhythm of Presence Tool
WORSHIP
Biblical Hebrew, the word commonly translated as "worship" is שָׁחָה (shachah) It means "to bow down," "to prostrate oneself," or "to pay homage."
In Koine Greek, the word often translated as "worship" is προσκυνέω (proskuneō). This term literally means "to kiss towards" or "to bow down,"
It’s a position of my heart, even though it can also be the position of my body.
It’s a bowing down on my plans and agenda, my wants and desires, my offendability and propriety. Worship is recognizing He is God. It can the the slow part of our song service. It should be in the day-to-day of our everyday.
It can be moments, but it shouldn’t just be moments. You were created to walk with God in the garden in the cool of the day. This tool will help you create a rhythm to that in the day-to-day of everyday.
What does WORSHIP help us remember?
WORSHIP
W - Work as unto the Lord
O - Orientate to His thoughts
R - Respond to Holy Spirit’s leading
S - Stop throughout the day and listen to God
H - Help those who need help
I - Insist on seeing others as God sees them
P - Pray always with thanksgiving
W - Work as unto the Lord
Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
We can work for the show, or the dough, or the worry or the hurry. Jesus told us in the sermon of the mount we shouldn’t be living that way. Instead, we’re to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto us as well.
When we work as unto the Lord, we feel his pleasure on us in the day-to-day of everyday. The mundane becomes holy because He is there. Strife ceases and peace comes because He is there. In His presence is fullness of joy.
Does your work need some joy?
Whatever you do, work as if you’re working for Jesus and that it’s him you’re trying to please.
Do this knowing He rejoices over you with singing and he quiets you with His love.
The question you can ask Holy Spirit:
Do I feel His pleasure on me?
O - Orientate to His Thoughts
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8 NLT
How do we get His thoughts? The best place is in His Word.
It’s more important I have God’s thoughts than I have my own thoughts.
His opinion is the only one that matters.
It’s not just the written word, it’s the spoken word. It’s His spoken word that brings life.
1. God’s thoughts are deep
Psalm 92:5 (NLT) "O LORD, what great works you do! And how deep are your thoughts."
2. God’s thoughts are higher
Isaiah 55:9 (NLT) "For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."
3. God’s thoughts for me are precious
Psalm 139:17 (NLT) "How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!"
4. God’s thoughts for me are too numerous to count
Psalm 40:5 (NLT) "O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them."
5. God’s thoughts for me are good and merciful
Psalm 144:3 (NLT) "O LORD, what are human beings that you should notice them, mere mortals that you should think about them?"
6. God’s thoughts for me speak life.
John 10:10 (NLT) "The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life."
7. God’s thoughts are to all generations
Psalm 33:11 (NLT) "But the LORD’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken."
8. God’s thoughts are personal
Matthew 10:29-30 (NLT) "What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered."
9. God’s thoughts are to prospers me and give me hope
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT) "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."
The question you can ask Holy Spirit:
How do I think about Your thoughts in the day-to-day of everyday?
R - Respond to Holy Spirit’s leading
Galatians 5:22- 25 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
His word is a lamp to your feet and light for your path. Seek His will in all you do. Respond to Holy Spirit’s leading in your life.
Do you go when he says go? Do you stay when He says “stay”.
You know when you’re keeping in step with the Spirit and when you’re doing your own thing. You can tell right?
In the day-to-day of your everyday do you feel His presence? Do you have his peace and hope and joy?
Follow those little nudges. Follow those connections that occur. Sometimes He will shout. Often he leads through the path of peace. Follow the path of peace. That’s not the same as the path of least resistance. It’s trusting Holy Spirit when He leads to do the difficult or counter-intuitive.
Have you been avoiding his leading?
In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, Isaiah 30:15 Will you have any of it?
The question you can ask Holy Spirit:
How can I regularly ask You what You want me to do?
S - Stop throughout the day to listen to God
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. John 10:27-29
Jesus had enough minutes every day. He wasn’t rushed (John 11:6) or influenced by other people’s schedules (John 7:3-6). He was never in a hurry and showed compassion with people’s intrusions (Mark 10:49). He took time with the Father (Mark 1:35) and time to recreate (John 2:2). He took time for meals, even after He died and rose again (John 21:13). He accomplished the work He was given to do (John 17:4).
Do you feel have enough time every day?
You can create rhythms that give you the confidence to know you’ve done everything He’s given you to do in a given day. Here’s three to get you started.
Abiding
It’s recognizing the rhythm of time spent and time sent.
It’s repenting from the thought of God’s time and my time.
All time is holy because I’m in His tangible presence and His presence is always with me. Do I spend time in His tangible presence?
Statio
It is recognizing God is everywhere present.
It’s repenting from the feeling of busyness as a lifestyle.
The best advice I’ve gotten as a pastor is to “walk slow”. Walking slow is a rhythm we should all embrace.
Statio is often meant to denote the moment between moments, or the pause between those times when you are doing things. You can think of it as a mini-transition. You already experience this several times a day, for example, when you are figuring out what to do next or when you take a momentary break to regroup. With statio you make the pause intentional. Rest in the now moment. Take a single mindful, desire-free breath and recognize that God is present HERE NOW.
When you’re waiting for your spouse or child, do you pull out TikTok, or do be still…and know…He is God?
Selah
71 times in the Psalms and 3 times in Habakkuk the word Selah occurs. We’re not quite sure what it means, but it probably means, “Pause to reflect and respond.”
Selah is different from Statio. Statio we recognize God is present. Selah we respond to His presence.
That could be praising Him 7 times a day. I might be… something we’re going to try today.
The question you can ask Holy Spirit:
What rhythms do You want me to follow?
H - Help those who need help
Matthew 25:34-40 ‘Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was ill and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” ‘Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison and go to visit you?” The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
When we help those who need help we are helping Jesus. It’s Him in us that empowers us to accomplish every good work prompted by faith.
Do you want to feel His presence? Help someone who needs it in His name.
As you refresh others, you are refreshed. As you bless others you are blessed.
Why is that? Maybe it’s because we get bless and we get refreshed in His presence and when we give a cold cup of water to someone we’re giving it to Jesus.
Galatians 6:7 -10 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.
The question you can ask Holy Spirit:
Am I aware and attentive to those who need help?
I - Insist on seeing others as God sees them
1 Samuel 16:7 NLT "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'"
Did you know you can ask God what he loves about people? His answer gives you his perspective on others who can be giving you problems. Speaking His life into them changes the moment and can change their life, but will change yours.
The question you can ask Holy Spirit:
What do You love about them?
P - Pray always with thanksgiving
Philippians 4:6-7 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Prayer is the place where we bring our problems and exchange them for His peace. We decide to trust our worries to Him because He cares for us. Trust in Him brings us peace.
Romans 15:13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Peace and joy comes from trusting the God of all hope.
Jesus’ peace he gives us and leaves with us. (John 14:27).
We’re told by the Psalmist we’re to seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm 34:14)
Peace is proof of your trust in God and your authority in Christ. It’s the one thing we as followers of Christ can never be without. If we are ever without it, we know something is not right.
The question you can ask Holy Spirit:
Do I exchange my problems for His peace?
God is always with us. Will you be with Him?
WORSHIP
W - Work as unto the Lord
Do I feel His pleasure on me?
O - Orientate to His thoughts
How do I think about Your thoughts in the day-to-day of everyday?
R - Respond to Holy Spirit’s leading
How can I regularly ask You what You want me to do?
S - Stop throughout the day and listen to God
What rhythms do You want me to follow?
H - Help those who need help
Am I aware and attentive to those who need help?
I - Insist on seeing others as God sees them
What do You love about them?
P - Pray always with thanksgiving
Do I exchange my problems for His peace?
Challenge
Worship is bowing down to God. It recognizing He is God and I am not. It’s being aware of His presence and being changed in His presence so we can be more like the One we worship by His presence.
Will you WORSHIP Him in the day-to-day of your everyday?
God is always with us. Will you be with Him?
Psalm 27 a psalm of David
”The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple. For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music. Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” Do not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation! Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close. Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me. Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I’ve never done; with every breath they threaten me with violence. Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.“ Psalms 27:1-14 NLT
Reflect and Respond… Selah
Play music… allow people to respond…