* The greatest thing we can have in our lives is the presence of God.
* Moses knew this well in Exodus 33 - “If your presence doesn’t go with us…”
* Moses wanted the presence more than the promise.
* EX: Would rather have $1M or the ability and wisdom to earn $1M?
* God’s presence gives us:
* Peace - in the midst of life’s storms (security).
* Power - to do the thing God has called us to do.
* Provision - He’ll take care of our every need.
* Protection - He won’t allow harm to come our way.
* Backstory - Satan was given permission to attack Job.
* But Satan couldn’t do it until something happened:
* vs 7-8 - “So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes.”
* You would think that when someone was in God's presence they would naturally want to stay there.
* When people experience God’s presence they will have one of two reactions:
* They want to stay there.
* They want to leave as fast as possible!
* EX: the same boiling water that softens the carrot hardens the egg.
* EX: Jesus - some loved Him and others hated Him (but nobody ignored him).
* KEY - Having God’s presence in our life is a gift & a choice.
* God gives it to us freely as we submit to Him.
* But if our thoughts about someone don’t line up wtih His, we lose His presence.
* EX: Make fun of my kids while at my house for dinner and see what happens.
* Purity & Presence are linked.
* Our motives must be pure if we want God’s presence.
* The reverse is true as well - if we want our motives and attitudes toward others to be pure we must be in God's presence.
* This is why Jesus summed up the Law so simply:
* Love God & Love others.
* You need both to experience His presence.
* When you get His presence, you have His peace, power, provision, and protection.