Our Greatest Need...God

We gather like this in the months that have 5 Sundays believing that discipleship happens at the speed of relationships. In a midsized gathering like this we can facilitate relationship building that cannot happen in rows in a regular Sunday service. We can better follow what the Bible calls the “one another” commands. We look forward to how God will speak to you and through you today.

In Exodus 25:1 we read: “The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from everyone whose heart prompts them to give.” Over 3500 years ago, the people of God gave as God moved them to do so.

You are invited today to give financially to Gracepoint Church using the Church App, e-transfer, the website, etc. Give not out of obligation or duty but rather in response to God’s provision in your own life. God is good and He has been generous towards you.

Opening Prayer

Worship Song - Holy Forever

Verse 1

A thousand generations falling down in worship To sing the song of ages to the Lamb

And all who've gone before us And all who will believe

Will sing the song of ages to the Lamb

Pre-Chorus

Your Name is the highest

Your Name is the greatest

Your Name stands above them all

All thrones and dominions All powers and positions

Your Name stands above them all

Chorus 1

And the angels cry Holy All creation cries Holy
You are lifted high Holy Holy forever

Verse 2

If you've been forgiven and if you've been redeemed Sing the song forever to the Lamb

If you walk in freedom and if you bear His Name Sing the song forever to the Lamb

We'll sing the song forever and amen

Chorus 2

Hear Your people sing Holy To the King of kings Holy You will always be Holy Holy forever

Tag You will always be Holy Holy forever

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What do you consider your greatest need in life? Certainly, we need and want many good things: stable family relationships, supportive friendships, sufficient income to pay the bills, good health, etc. But what at our core is our greatest need?

Two weeks ago, at Gracepoint, we read the devastating account of the golden calf incident in Exodus 32. We saw how the way of sin results in self-destruction. This was no mere set-back for the people but was one of spectacular failure. We sense God’s broken heart as he responds to the people in Exodus 33.

Exodus 33:1-6 (NIV)

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. Exodus 33:1-6 (NIV)

It feels like a good news/bad news situation. The good news: the people are still going to the Promised Land, even after the great sin of the golden calf. The bad news: God said He wasn’t going with them.

The people remove their ornaments in a sign of contrition and repentance.

In response Moses prays three prayers to God that reflect three core desires of the human heart.

Three core desires of the human heart

Desire #1: Friendship with God – Exodus 33:10-14

Exodus 33:10-14 (NIV)

10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to 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 aide 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 favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” 14 The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:10-14 (NIV)

There is a world of difference between knowing about God and knowing God.

Jesus said, “You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:4-15).

Moses met with God in a tent and spoke with him “face to face”. Describe your practice of where and when you regularly meet with God.
The Lord spoke with Moses “as one speaks to a friend” (v. 11). Would you also describe your meetings with God, like that of meeting with a friend? Why or why not?

As a church we are relationally based and practice-driven in our approach to spiritual formation. Our valuing of relationships is demonstrated in our type of gathering today. We are using “Practicing The Way” as a primary curriculum to assist us in being practice-driven. We had 185 adults take the introductory course this past fall and winter. Another 64 people have taken the Sabbath module. And we are doing a series through the book of Exodus entitled “Entering God’s Sabbath Rest.” We see this theme frequently in the book in verses such as v. 14 “The LORD replied…I will give you rest.”

Three core desires of the human heart

Desire #2: God’s Presence – Exodus 33:15-17

Exodus 33:15-17 (NIV)

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.” Exodus 33:15-17 (NIV)

John Piper asks this haunting question: The critical question for our generation—and for every generation— is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ were not there?

Three core desires of the human heart

Desire #3: God’s Glory – Exodus 33:18-23

Exodus 33:18-23 (NIV)

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.” Exodus 33:18-23 (NIV)

Moses makes a very audacious request to God: “show me your glory”. Charles Spurgeon calls this the greatest petition that any person has ever asked of God. Does God answer Moses’ request? Well yes and no. God’s response is a bit unexpected. He seems to imply a re-establishing of the covenant. He says that all his “goodness” will pass in front of Moses. What exactly that means is rather mysterious. Why don’t you talk about this cryptic scene in your small groups again.

After Moses prays, “show me your glory”, what do you think he senses or feels?
Moses and the people of God were desperate for God’s presence. When have you ever gone to God in a time of distress longing for Him to show up? How did He reply to your longing?
Would you consider praying a daring prayer like v. 18 “show me your glory”?
What would it take for you to go to that level of intimacy with God?

We read these words from Luke’s gospel:

30 Suddenly, two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared and began talking with Jesus. 31 They were glorious to see. And they were speaking about his exodus from this world, which was about to be fulfilled in Jerusalem. 32 Peter and the others had fallen asleep. When they woke up, they saw Jesus’ glory… Luke 9:30-32 (NLT)

Worship Song - A Thousand Hallelujahs

Verse 1

Who else would rocks cry out to worship

Whose glory taught the stars to shine

Perhaps creation longs to have the words to sing

But this joy is mine

Chorus

With a thousand hallelujahs We magnify Your Name

You alone deserve the glory The honor and the praise

Lord Jesus this song is forever Yours

A thousand hallelujahs And a thousand more

Verse 2

Who else would die for our redemption

Whose resurrection means I'll rise

There isn't time enough to sing of all You've done

But I have eternity to try

Bridge

Praise to the Lord

To the Lamb

To the King of heaven

Praise for He rose

Now He reigns

We will sing forever

Holy Week Services

Seder Experience: Wed. 6:30 pm

Good Friday Service 3:00 pm

Our Greatest Need...God

Church on the 5th