A Desperate Heart

This week, on Wednesday night. The Lord jolted my heart awake. I awoke to find myself looking down a long black tunnel with a light at the end. There was this sense of urgency that came over my heart and all I could do in that moment was pray, “Lord, I am but a sinful man… I’m sorry, forgive me of my sins… and before he lifted from me I asked, Lord, If we’re going to move forward as a church we need to be desperate for you.

help us as a church be desperate for you” As soon as I prayed the Lord lifted His presence and I went back to sleep. As soon as I woke up early in the morning I came out into the living room and I began writing in my journal. All I could think about this week was, are we desperate for God’s presence. Our culture today doesn't seek the Holy Spirit anymore.

The church no longer needs the Holy Spirit anymore. I wager it is safe to say, that in our culture today, and in the churches of today, we’re a part of a religious system that has created a whole host of means and methods for doing church that, in the end, requires little, if any help at all from the Holy Spirit of God. We’ve created a church atmosphere where we no longer fall to our faces and fast for the church to grow.

We have marketing to do that. We don’t have to bring the crowds in through prayer anymore. We pay others to do those things for us. We talk of revival but we’re not willing to show up to a prayer meeting to seek revival. Have we grasped why prayer must become our native language of our heart if we are to be set apart and from the kingdom of God? Has prayer increased in my life.

J.I. Packer. Once said, "Revival is the visitation of God which brings to life Christians who have been sleeping and restores a deep sense of God's near presence and holiness." This is what packer is saying, “if we desire holiness and God’s presence We cant expect God to visit if God’s people aren’t asking Him to Come and expecting Him to come. This might be a bold statement but I do not believe it is an understatement.

“the greatest hindrance to the advancement of the glory of God in the world today is the attempt of the church of God to do the work of God apart from the power of the Spirit of God.” And so I ask, are we dependent on ourselves or are we desperate for His Spirit? Are we desperate for the Holy Spirit in our lives? Are we desperate to gather to pray?

Are we desperate to see People who we love come to Christ and for them to find a passion serving God and expanding His kingdom? Are we desperate for the Holy Presence in our life to consume our hearts with the Love of Jesus and the love for Jesus? Let’s turn our bibles to Exodus 33. As your finding that chapter in the front of your Bible, let’s stand together as we read together from the word of God.

Exodus 32. 3 All the people took the gold rings from their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!” 5 Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf.

Then he announced, “Tomorrow will be a festival to the Lord!” 6 The people got up early the next morning to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. After this, they celebrated with feasting and drinking, and they indulged in pagan revelry. 7 The Lord told Moses, “Quick! Go down the mountain! Your people whom you brought from the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. Now turn with me to Exodus 33: 1-3 “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.’ I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

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.” Now, go down to verses 15 with me… Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 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?” 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.” Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory In chapter 32, Moses goes up the mountain to receive the tablets and while he is gone, the people who have walked with God and Moses are now talking Aaron, Moses’s brother, into creating an idol.

Most of us know this story as the story of the golden calf. The word says in chapter 32 verse 5, 5 Aaron saw how excited the people were, so he built an altar in front of the calf. Now, why is this important. It’s important because it shows us Aarons focus. Did you notice where Aaron was looking. He was wasn’t looking for God’s presence, but he was focused on what the people wanted.

He was being a people pleaser not a God pleaser. And When he saw how happy the people responded to what he approved to be done, he was excited to please the people by giving them what they wanted. I can assure you, this is and will always be a terrible idea. Lao Tzu an ancient chinease philosopher and founder of Taoism once said, “Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.” Larcrae a modern Christian wrapper once said, “If you live for peoples acceptance, you will die from their rejection.” What we learn from Aarons decision is that Living for the approval of others is never a worthy goal.

He’s living for the dependence on what others want him to do. And before we get mad at him… and say wow, Aaron you blew it. Let’s just be reminded that there isn’t much difference in todays churches. In todays world, there’s a lot of Aarons who I believe mean well, and may even say that they are Christian and they even come to church and perhaps even serve, They know a lot about God.

but there is a difference between being a Christian by name and being a Spirit filled Christian who is in desperate pursuit of God’s Presence. The danger is, a christian that does not seek God’s presence is liable to seek the approval from others. Of course, God knows what is going on at the base of the mountains and He sends Moses back to them. Moses comes down the mountain and the people of God are worshipping this golden calf and indulging in all kinds a revelry.

Which Basically means, they are having this big huge party. It’s a big celebration. And guess what.. God was never invited. And in this moment, Moses begins to intercede for the peoples great sin against God and by the grace of God only 3,000 people die that day. So there Moses is. Standing before the people, interceding for the people. Pleading with God. God tells Moses, Listen, I made a promise.

I promised to give you this land. A land flowing with milk and Honey. It’s yours, go, leave here and go take it. But, and it’s a huge but… i’m not going with you into that land. And it’s an amazing offer… right? God is essentially saying. You can have it. You can have the blessing you want apart from the presence of God. How would you respond this morning if God came to you and said, you can have the blessing.

You can have what it is you desire, Peace, comfort, a church setting where it requires no sacrifice from you. You can have this promise, but my presence wont be with you. How would you respond? Be careful as you answer that question. Isn’t that exactly the kind of Christianity we have pursued today? Pray this prayer, go to heaven. Come and experience the great atmosphere and blessings of God. You don’t even need to live with Him as your savior and your God.

You don't have to experience HIs authority over your life on a moment by moment basis. We can set up a church where we live in perfect peace and comfort and there is no need for the desperate prayer of, Oh God, we cant move without you. Isn’t that the kind of religion the world is setting up? Moses pleads with God, God, I cannot even move one step forward without the fullness of your presence.

Keep in mind we’re asking the questions, are we dependent on ourselves or are we desperate for His Spirit? Why should we be desperate for the presence of God? We’re desperate for the presence of God because we have a god that we cant even fathom. We can’t Fathom HIm. Moses in verse 18 says: Now show me your glory! What a bold statement. Can you imagine standing before God and saying, Lord, show me your glory?

Think about this, Moses seen His glory in the burning bush, he was front row to the plagues in Egypt. He just went up the mountain and seen the glory of God. If there was anybody who had witnessed the glory of God it was him. But how can he ask such a question? Can I see your glory? He asks because once you taste the glory of God, you have this insatiable desire for more, and more, and more and more, and more.

When a Christian comes to Christ and we realize we have be saved by the grace given to us by God. My sins are forgiven because of Jesus Christ. All throughout that christians life, don’t we yearn and want and desire to be faithful christians. There is one saying I am guilty of and it’s this, Lord, I want to pray more, I want to read more, I want to be involved more.

I want to know the depths of your love, and understand you word more. I’ve heard it all almost be very church I’ve attended, pastor., I have this huge desire to know the Lord more than I do now, but I just struggle with actually do it… Do you know why we yearn and struggle for those things… We struggle because we’ve never been sanctified. God calls us to become holy.

But honestly, do you want to know why we’re not where we want to be and it’s only a desire within us? Because for the most part i am convinced that the church has failed at it’s mission to teach and lead others to ask God to sanctify them. The church of Christ has failed at being the church led by Christ. And if were not a church led by Christ then we will never be a church sanctified to Christ.

because we wont pursue him in desperation. Aaron’s issue wasn’t just not knowing, His issue included the act of looking to the people for their approval. QKListen church, we’re not sanctified by what others think we should do. We’re sanctified because we’re desperate for God’s presence to control all areas of our life. Moses had spent time praying and being in God’s presence. Perhaps I am wrong, but I haven found anything where it says, Aaron was taught any better.

He was a Jew, he knew of His god but he never really been taught how to intimately know God. Learning to be in constant prayer and teaching others to walk with God is the best way for the anyone to begin to see that they are lacking a real relationship and commitment. Prayer is what redirects our hearts off of ourselves and back onto Jesus. Prayer is the native language in the kingdom of God.

Prayer is what looks upon the throne of the Lamb and says to the king of kings, I am yours, Save me Lord. It’s intentional.. intentional relationship that develops through prayer. Just keep reminding yourself, relationship happens when we intentionally show up to be relational. When we realize who we have in us and we pursue a relationship to the Holy Spirt in our lives, it changes what comes out of us.

Visible Fruit can only be produced when we’ve had the Holy Spirit planted in our hearts and we water our relationship with him through daily prayer and reading out bibles. Listen church, if all we ever want see the Spirit of God as a force and an it and not as a person. We will always try to wield it rather than yield to Him. Secondly, We have a family we cannot forget.

Moses is doing what in verse 15 and 16.. he’s praying. And Not just for Gods amazing blessings for himself but for God’s blessings on the people. For 12+ weeks we gathered on Sunday night to pray, and on those nights we prayed for you. Our family. We are a family. We have a family here. We should be an earless church because your ears should have been burning so badly because of all the prayers for you that they should have fell of in a dusty crisp.

I don’t know who said it, but It’s in my heart.. “The greatest gifts we can give to each other, is to pray for one another.” Why would we pray for one another. Well, Galatians 6:2 tells us, “Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Prayer unites us in community under the lordship of Jesus Christ. And it lightens the burdens of each believer.

Did you know that It is a loving act to pray for someone and join them in taking the pain of their heart to God. My heart is to see the Spirit of God move among His people here at Twin Hills. No one will see the Spirit move if we never tell of how the Spirit moved us. But let us remember this… ultimately, God’s work is individually, but it’s also about a people being conformed into the image of Christ.

We are together in this. Lastly, You probably knew it was coming. We are to be desperate for God because we have an mission we can’t fulfill. Moses looks at what God is calling him to do and he examines the task that God has put before him. He’s called by God to lead these people into the promise land, and guess what he says, ……I can’t do it God. I cant do it.

God, there is obviously an issue, there’s a conflict in what you’re calling me into vs the resources that i have to do it. He sees the depth, and the magnitude of the task that he has and that drives him to desperation. Perhaps one of the reasons we lose the sense of desperation for the Spirit is because we lose sight of the magnitude of the mission to which we have been called.

Think, just this week this world has seen countless innocent lives killed by war and murder. We watch the news and see the divide over politics and masks and vaccines and race. This week we’ve seen the anger and fighting over abortion. People are dying all across the world with little to no knowledge of the gospel. There’s a world crisis over hunger and people needing homes and security for their children.

As long as we think we can program our way out of this in the church, then we are hopeless. When we can say, “God, this task is too great for us to do, we’ve got to have your Spirit,” then we will understand. We have an assignment that we cannot fulfill. This is why we have to be desperate for His Spirit. Church, on this road to Pentecost. Ask ourself.

How desperate are we for the Holy Spirit to come and be a very intimate part of our life. Jonathan Edwards said, in the middle of the Great Awakening, “When God has something very great to accomplish for His church, it is His will that there should precede it, the extraordinary prayers of His people.” As we stand together, and prepare for our benediction. Let me give you four prayers.. May God’s presence come down.

Psalm 44:23, “Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself!...” Psalm 80:14, “Return to us, God Almighty! Look down from heaven and see!” Awaken us. May God’s presence come down in our hearts in a powerful way this week. May God’s Word come home. In Nehemiah chapter 8, Ezra opens up the book and everybody stands. They lift their hands and start shouting, “Amen! Amen!” They bow down with their faces to the ground in response to His Word.

In 2 Chronicles 34, “We found the book, the book we’ve neglected, the book we’ve ignored. We found it!” It sparks revival among the people of Israel. May God’s Word come home. May we receive His Word. May we receive the Word like they did when Ezra opened the book in Nehemiah 8 and people responded and worshipped. May we reproduce His word. Im not up here talking to entertain us.

I am up here giving eeryoje the word of GOd so that it can equip us to be ready and willing to walk into what God calls us into. lastly, May God’s holiness come through. I am praying that apathy be struck down in this room right now in the name of Jesus. I am praying that complacency be struck down and a fresh eagerness and desire to know the glory of God through the power of the Holy Spirit overwhelms our hearts.

I pray you walk out of here asking the very important question, how desperate are we for the presence of God in this church and in this community? Let’s pray Father, we come before you and express the depth of our need for your grace in this room. We know that not one of us sits where we find ourselves now by our own merit or work. We are saved by your grace.

We have your Word by your grace. We are dependent on your grace for the next breath that we breathe. We need you in every way. We pray that you would give us the sense that Moses had of the danger in trying to move one step forward, in our lives or as your church, apart from the power of the fullness of your presence. That you would give us hearts that cry out, “Show us your glory.

We want your glory. We are desperate for your glory” We pray that the power of your presence would be manifest in this room this morning—be clear, unmistakable. That your Word would ring in our ears and our minds and our hearts as treasure. We pray, God, that you would purify us and, by your grace, transform us this week. Awaken us. God, we pray that you would awaken us to your glory and to the reality of the things you say in your Word.

God, awaken our hearts and our minds to see you for who you are and to enjoy you and delight in you and worship you, to stand in adoration of you and to proclaim you—along with our persecuted brothers and sisters—to the nations. Father, we pray that your Spirit would permeate our time together in a supernatural, extraordinary, indescribable way. We pray, knowing that we can do nothing to manufacture that or make it happen, knowing that it is all according to your sovereign grace.

We plead God, show the fullness of your presence to us in your Word tonight. Help us experience your presence in our lives and in your church tonight. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.*