Go After the Presence of God

Joshua 3:1-5
[1] And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.
[2] And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host;
[3] And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.
[4] Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.
[5] And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.

There can be no doubt that we are living in the last days. This surely is the midnight hour. The times we live in are posing some big questions. As a nation and as individuals we are less certain about the times and it seems that there are so many unknowns that are just around the corner.

I proclaim, just as Joshua did, that “we have not passed this way before”.

The Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred object in the Tabernacle in the wilderness and a focal point for Jewish worship. The ark, to the Israelites represented “God with us” and the dwelling place of God among men. The ark represented God’s presence.

Joshua 3:3
[3] And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.

We need to go after the presence of God. We need to be in the presence of God whenever we can, “for we have not passed this way before”. Prayer, worship, personal devotion, being in church and fellowship are so important. We need to be in the presence of God as much as we possibly can. We have not been this way before! So, go after the presence of God! Spend some time in praise and worship, get along to church at every opportunity…..for God inhabits the praises of His people.

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 7:25)

That's my five minutes!

All things are become new! A SKIT

Four students stand on the stage with their backs to the audience. A student in a black shirt turns each student to face the audience one at a time. They say their lines, and the black-shirt student turns them back around. After the four say heir lines, a student in a white shirt repeats the act for the identity reclaimed.

(WHITE SHIRT WITH DISABILITY LOGO)
Disability: I can’t do anything. I hate my life. All of my friends are perfect. They can wear whatever they want. I’m fat and nothing looks right on me. I have one leg shorter so I have to wear these stupid shoes. I look like a freak.


(RED SHIRT)
Rage: I could kill her. I would like nothing better than to take her head in my hands and squeeze it until…..Who does she think she is telling everyone what I said about her? Did she think it wouldn’t get back to me? Did she think I’d let it go?

(YELLOW)
Guilt: I don’t know why I even try. I’m always messing up. I try to live right. I want to, but every time I’m on the right track, something pops up and I fall for it: the wrong girl, the wrong friend, the wrong job. If there’s a chance of going wrong, I’m gonna take it. I give up.

(GREEN) Boredom: There is nothing to do in this town. I’m sick of living here. My youth group never does anything fun. All I do is sit at home and do homework, even more boring. MySpace is boring. I mean, how many pictures can I put up when I never do anything?

Disability: My body and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart. He is mine forever (Psalm 73:26).

Rage: A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger (Proverbs 15:1).

Guilt: I do not condemn you. Go and sin no more (John 8:11).

Boredom: I have come that you might have life in all its fullness (John 10:10).

Key Text: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (II Corinthians 5:17).

That's not my five minutes - it someone elses.....but i like it anyway.

That I may know you more!

A man named Dennis Wise was a fan of Elvis Presley. Not long after Presley died in 1977, Wise had a plastic surgeon reshape his face and his hairline so that he looked like Elvis. He went around impersonating the singer, picking up a few dollars here and there on the club circuit.

When he was asked what motivated him to shape his life around that of Elvis Presley, he said that Elvis had been his idol since he was five years old..

Here are Dennis Wise's own words about pursuing being like Elvis, as reported in the Boston Globe:
" I have every record he ever made, twice over and thousands of pictures. I have books, magazines, pillows, even a couple of books in Chinese and Japanese about him. I even have tree leaves from the front of his house. While I never met Elvis personally, I saw him on stage in the movies four times.

Once I stood up on the wall of the Presley mansion and tried to see him. For twelve hours I waited, trying to get a glimpse of him, but he had so many people around him that you would never get close".

In reading this account, it is tragic to realise that Dennis Wise spent his whole life following Elvis, wanting to be like him, wanting to know him – in fact I would say Dennis Wise worshipped Elvis! But, there was just one thing lacking, he never met the object of his worship!

Dennis Wise knew a lot about Elvis, but he didn't know the singer himself.
Knowing all the hit songs, all the movie titles, all the concert appearances, his preferences for food clothes, cars...none of that is the same as knowing the singer himself.

Jeremiah 9:23-24
[23] Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:
[24] But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

God says that the source of our joy and sense of importance ought to come not from our own wisdom or abilities or possessions, but from the fact that we know Him.

At what level do I know God? Do I just know a lot about Him?

Jeremiah 29:13-14
[13] And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

WE HAVE TO PURPOSE IN OUR HEARTS – WE HAVE TO KNOW HIM MORE!

That's my five minutes!