Waking Up The Sun (Part 1) –
Joy in God’s Presence
Pastor Jerry Gillis – February 7, 2016
Soacoupleyearsagoin2014,therewasaglutofstoriesthatwereabout
um,somesolaractivity.Hereisthelongandtheshortofit.Abunchof
scientistsweretalkingabouttheideaofthesunuh,inaboutmaybe
fourteen,fifteenyearswouldactuallybealittledormantorwouldbegoing
tosleep.SoIreadsomeofthosewithwithsomeinterestandifyoudidn't
know,I'manexpertonsolarphenomena.Um,ifyoudidn'thaveyour
radar,uh,ifyoudidn'thaveyoursarcasmdetectoron,it'sprobablytimeto
turnthatonrealquick.Um,soI'mnot,butIdidreadastudybyaprofessor
namedValentinaZharkova,she'saPHDinAstroPhysicsandit'sfrom
NorthumbriaUniversityintheU.K.andshewaskindofrepresentativeof
whatIsawinthescientificcommunity,IamnoexpertinthesethingsbutI
wasreadingalongthelinesofwhattheyweretalkingabout,causeitwas
interestingtome.Anditwasactuallythesestorieswereallover,Imean,
youmayhavereadthemacoupleofyearsago,theywereallover
everywhereandeverything,everynewscycle,publications,allofthatstuff.
So,Iendedupreadingandsheexplaineditthisway.Shesaidthesun
basicallyhasaboutanelevenyearheartbeat.That'showsheexplainedit,
andshesaidheresoonwe'vebeenabletoseethatwithintwodifferent
layersofthesunthereisacontradictorydynamoeffect.Don'taskmeto
explainthatforyoupeoplewhodon'tunderstandallthethingsthatI
understandaboutsolarphenomena.Sothere'sthisconflictingdynamo
effectthat'sgoingtohappenandasaresultit'suh,potentiallygoingto
causelikeaminiiceagefromabout2030to2040,accordingtothe
scientificcommunity,alright?Andwe'llseealotofthings.Itdoesn'tmean
thesun'sgoingaway,itjustmeansthingsaregoingtogetalotcolder,um,
potentially.Andthiswillbesomethingthathasn'tbeenseenactuallyin
kindofuh,youknow,solaractivitysinceabout1700inwhattheycalled
theMaunderminimum,forthoseofyouwhoarewhoarenerdsandknow
thosekindsofthings,alright?Um,causeIdon't,Ijustreadit.
So,inmymindIkindofreadthatandIwasthinkingtomyselfokay,wow,
that'sinterestingstuff,that'sprettycool,andhere'swhatifiguredout.Um,
Idon'tactuallywantthesuntogotosleep.I'mnotreallyinterestedinthat
andifthesundoesgotosleep,thenIwouldlikesomewaytowakeitup.
BecauseIliveinBuffalo,manandIjustwantsomesunshinesometimes,
right?
Well,itwasfunnybecausethinkingaboutwakingup,theideaofwakingup
thesun,there'sthischildren'sbookandit'scalled"WakeUpSun".Someof
youmayhavereaditwhenyouwerekidsorreadittoyourkids
potentially.It'skindofjustalittlesilly,youknow,sweetuh,bookthat'sset
onafarm.Andsoyou'vegotalltheseanimalsonthefarmandbytheway
thenamesoftheanimalsthataretherearereallyreallycool,really
creative.Dog,pig,cowandchicken.Thosearethestarsofthebook,right?
Whichit'salittlekid'sbook,soIgetit.Wellthey'reall,theyallwentto
sleeponthefarm,allofthem,okay?Andthey'reusedtogoingtosleepand
wakingup,anditbeingbrightandallthosekindsofthings.Buttheywent
tosleeponetime,andinthemiddleofthenightdogwasbittenbyaflea
andwokeup.Dogwasconfusedbecausehe'sthinkingtohimself,where's
thesun?ThesunmustbelostbecauseeverytimeIwakeupthesunhas
alreadywokenup.So,doggoeslookingforthesun,can'tfindit,starts
wakinguptheotheranimals.Heyouknow,checksinwithpigandthen
andthentheystartmakingnoise,pigmakesoink,oinknoisesaskingfor
whereitisandit'sfunforkids,right?Causeyou'reroof,roof,roof,you
know,whatever.Idon'tknowwhattheysoundlike.Um,thatwasthe
worstdogimpersonationI'veeverdone.Youknow,I'vegotsomegood
onesI'mjustnotgonna'sharethemall,alright?
So,theywakeupdogandpigandchick.Dog'sawakeandhewakesuppig
andhewakesupcowandhewakesupchicken,andthey'realllooking
aroundandthey'reallmakinganimalnoisestryingtofindthesun.They
endupgoingandexploring,theylookdownawelltoseeifthesun'sthere,
theygoandseeifhe'sinalake,they'relookingallovertheplace.And
they'remakingsomuchnoiseintermsofcallingouttotryandwakeup
thesun,thatthefarmeractuallywakesupandshortlyafterthefarmer
wakesup,thefarmer'schildstartscryingandwhenthechildstartscrying
thesunactuallycomesup.Soalltheanimalsactuallythoughtthatthebaby
cryingwaswhatwokeupthesun.
Ijusttoldyouachildren'sstoryonSundaymorningtothousandsof
people,right,andyou'regoingandyourpointiswhat?It'sthis.Whatever
elseyoudowiththatchildren'sstoryandthere'sprobablyalotthatyou
coulddoandparticularlyinmakingsoundeffectsthatwouldbeawesome.
Nobodywantstoliveinaworldwherethesun'sasleep.Nobodywantsto
liveinthatworld,right?Inmymind,theworldthatweliveiniscold
enoughanddarkenoughalready.Iwantthesun.Iwanttomakesurethe
sunisawakenedinourownlives.
Andhere'sthething.Intheworldthatweliveinsometimes,not
environmentally,butsometimesinourhearts,haveyoueverhadthose
momentswhereyou'rethinkingtoyourself,Iwishthesunwouldrise
insideofme?Like,IwishthatthesunwouldcomeupbecauseIfeellike
I'minalittlebitofaspotthat'salittlecoldandalittlebitdarkandI'm
kinda'wanderingaroundaworldthat'salittlebitcoldandalittlebitdark
andyou'rejustthinkingtoyourself,IwishIwouldwakeupthesun,man.I
wishIcouldwakeupthesun.
Well,there'sawaytodothatandthat'swhatIwanttotalktoyouabout
today.Thewaythatyouendupwakingupthesuninyourownheartisjoy.
That'showit'sdone.Joy.I'mgonna'tryandshowyoufromthepassageof
ScripturethatI'mgonnadealwith,I'mgonnatryandshowyouonebig
ideathatIwantyoutogetthewholetime.I'mgonnatellyoufromthe
outsetwhatIwantyoutoknow,andthenI'mgonna'unpackitandI'm
gonna'tellyouagainattheendexactlythesamethingItoldyouatthe
beginningandit'sthis:TruejoyonlycomesinGod'spresence.That's
whereyoufindit.Truejoyonlycomes,isonlyfoundinGod'spresence.So
ifyou'regonna'golookingforsomethingtowakeupthesuninyourlife,
youmighttryamilliondifferentthingsthatarenotgoingtowork,butIcan
tellyouthis,ifyoufindyourselfinGod'spresenceyouwillbeginto
understandwhattruejoylookslike.
Now,whereIwanttotakeyouisinPsalm84.Thoseofyouwhohavea
Bible,youcanopenuptoitorifyouhaveaphoneoratabletorwhatever
youhave,youcancheckthatoutifyoudidn'thappentocomewithone
that'snoproblem.Uh,we'llputthosepassagesuponthescreensothat
youcanseethemwhenI'mtalkingaboutthemsoyoucanseewhatI'm
talkingabout.
NowPsalm84isaninterestingPsalmjustasakindofaquickbackground,
writtenbysomefolkscalledthesonsofKorah.NowthesonsofKorahare
agroupofpeoplewhoaredescendantsofKorahwhowasarebelnota
verygoodguy,youcanreadabouthim,kindofinthetimeofMosesifyou
want,hekinda'startedarebellion.Buttheydecidedtochangekinda;the
historyandthelineageofwhotheyareanditendsup,thesonsofKorah
areactuallykindofabothamusicalandaservicekindofgroupthat
servedwithKingDavidintheTabernacle,andthenwithKingSolomonin
theTemple.Thisiswhattheydid.Theynotonlywerekindofpeoplewho
werearoundthefacilitybuttheyalsoledinsomeofthemusicaroundthe
facility.That'swhothesonsofKorahare.
AndthesonsofKorahmakethecaseforusthatreallytruejoyisonly
foundinGod'spresenceandwhenyoustarttoreadthePsalmyoufigure
outexactlythattheyaretalkingaboutthatverythingandIwantto
convinceyouofthattoday.Iwantyoutounderstandthattodayaswelook
atwhatthepsalmistshareswithus.Sowhenyoustartstartunpacking
whatGod'spresenceislike,you'llstartfiguringoutwhyyouonlyfindjoy
inGod'spresence.BecauseGod'spresenceissomanythingsthatthe
psalmistshowsus.
Letmeshowyouthefirstthing.God'spresenceissafe.Letmeexplain
whatImeanbythat.Versenumber1ofPsalm84saysthis:Howlovelyis
yourdwellingplace,LordAlmighty.Nowifthere'sonethingthatIknow
it'sthis,wehavebeentryingtokindof,communicatetoourchurchovera
lotofyearsthattherearesomethingsthatwebelieveshouldbeseenin
thelifeofabeliever.Wecallthemoutcomeshere,buttherearethingsthat
shouldbeseeninthelifeofabeliever,andoneofthoseisthatthereshould
beagrowingkindofintimacyorcommunionorconnectionwithGod.That
thisisfundamentaltowhoweareasfollowersofChrist.Wecan'tjustkind
ofdolifeonourown,weneedtounderstandwhatitmeanstotopractice
thepresenceofGodandtoexperienceHispresenceinourlives.
Andso,indoingthathere'swhatIunderstand.Withintimacy,whichit
feelsthatway,right?Kindofthisthisrelationshipthat'spreciousand
sacredandintimate,withintimacythere'saneedforsafety.Youwantto
feelsafeinthemidstofintimacy.That'sjustkindofanaturalthing.
Infact,whenyou'rereadingaboutlikemarriagerelationshipsinthe
Scripture,there'soneplacethat'sreallycooltoreadaboutakindof
romanticmarriagerelationshipsandthat'sintheSongofSongs.Likeif
you'remarried,youcanjustreadthattogetherandit'sliketadatadayou
know,imeanthat'sjustkinda'howitis,right?You'regoing,seriously,
don'ttalklikethatabouttheBible.It'stheBible,manandit'sthereforus,
right?Soyou'vegotSolomongettingallkindsoffrisky.Didyouknow
that'stheHebrewtranslationofwhat'sSolomonwas?FriskyinSongof
Songs,becausehe'swithhistruelove,right?Andinthatconversationit's
reallyinterestingbecausehistrueloveistryingtoseeandsensewhat
Solomon'sgoingtobeaboutandwhatSolomon'sgoingtodoandthere's
thisneedinSolomon'struelove'slifetoknowtherewillbesafetyinthe
contextofintimacy.
Infact,whenshe'slookingforhimashe'smakinghiswayintotown,
rememberhe'stheking,right?Ashe'smakinghiswayin,listentowhat's
saidinSongofSongschapter3:"Whoisthiscomingupfromthe
wildernessshesays,likeacolumnofsmoke,perfumedwithmyrrhand
incensemadefromallthespicesofthemerchant?Look!It'sSolomon's
carriage,escortedbysixtywarriors,thenoblestofIsrael,allofthem
wearingthesword,allexperiencedinbattle,eachwithhisswordathis
side,preparedfortheterrorsofthenight."
Youknowwhat'sinterestingaboutthat?Solomon'scomingasifon
weddingday,andhe'sgoingtobewiththiswomanwho'shisgreatlove
andsheseeshimcoming,andshe'sthinkingaboutspendingtimewithhim
intheirparticularchambersortent,anddoyouknowwhat'sencouraging
andcomforting?Isthattherearesixtywarriorsthatarestandingguardso
thatinthemidstoftheirintimacytheycanfeelsafety.Nowthereasonthat
IbringuptheideaofbeingsafeinthepresenceofGodisbecausewhenit
says"howlovelyisyourdwellingplace,LordAlmighty,"whichisthe
translationintheNIV,whichisactuallythetermJehovahSabaoth,which
meansGodofAngelArmies,LordofHosts,theGodwhoisoverandabove
andcommanderofeverything,that'stheidea.Thereminderisisthatwhen
wefindourselvesinHispresence,wecanbeinnosaferplaceforoursoul
thanwiththeGodwhocommandseverything.Nowwhythat'ssoincredible
forus,isbecauseifwecouldonlyseeandsensethenatureofhowsafeand
secureoursoulisinthepresenceofGod,whywouldwenotwanttohave
oursoulinthepresenceofGod?Sometimeswejustcan'tsee,right?
Youmaynotrememberthestory,butintheOldTestament,Elishawasa
prophetandhehadaservantwithhim.AndtherewasthekingofAram
whodidn'treallylikewhatwasgoingoninIsraelandhekepthavinghis
plansthwarted,thekingdid,andhe'slikewho'stellingonme?Who's
messingwithme?Who'sthemoleinsideofmyarmywho'sgivingallthis
away,andtheysaidwell,it'snotamole,it'sthisprophetinIsrael,his
name'sElishaandhelikehehearsthingsfromGodandkinda'letsthem
knowwhat'shappening.Andtheking'slikewell,Idon'tlikethatatall.Go
capturehim.Sohesendssomeguys,atonofsoldiersandhorsesand
chariotsinthemiddleofthenighttogosurroundElishaandcapturehim.
Listentohowthestoryisrelayedtousin2Kings6:Itsays"Whenthe
servantofthemanofGod(inotherwordsElisha'sservant)whenhegot
whenhegotupandwentoutearlythenextmorninganarmywithhorses
andchariotshadsurroundedthecity."Ohno,mylord,whatshallwedo?"
theservantasked."Don'tbeafraid,"theprophetanswered."Thosewho
arewithusaremorethanthosewhoarewiththem."Nowyouknow,
what'sfunnyaboutthatiscausethatservant'sgoingyeah,manI'mnotreal
goodatmath,butthere'stwoofusandthere'salotofthem,andIdidn't
youknow,Idon'thaveanadvanceddegree,butIcandothemath,right?
AndsoElishasaid,Elishasays,don'tworryaboutthatandhere'swhathe
prayed."Openhiseyes,Lord,sothathemaysee."AndthentheLord
openedtheservant'seyesandhelookedandhesawthehillsfullofhorses
andchariotsoffireallaroundElisha.Andastheenemycametowardhim
ElishaprayedtotheLord"Strikethisarmywithblindness"SoHestruck
themwithblindnessasElishahadasked.
Isn'titinterestingthattheoneswhoactuallycouldseeendedupnot
seeingandtheonesthatyoucouldn'tseeyouendedupseeing?Yousee,
sometimeswejustneedeyestounderstandthatthisistheGodofAngel
Armies.ThisistheGodwhoisovereverythingandwhocommands
everythingandwhenoursoulisfoundinHispresenceitissafe.
ButyouknowwhatwealsoknowaboutGod'spresencefromthepsalmist?
ThatHispresenceisbeautiful.Becausehesaysinthatversehowlovelyis
yourdwellingplace,JehovahSabaoth.Howlovelyisyourdwellingplace,
GodofAngelArmies.NowIknowthatyou'reprobablythinkingwellisn't
hejustdescribingtheTempleatthatpoint?Well,probablynot,actually.
Wedon'tevenknowexactlywhenthedateofthispsalmis,sowedon't
knowifit'sduringthetimeoftheTabernacleorifit'sthetimeofthe
Temple.We'renotsure.WhatIwouldtellyouisthatwhenyoubeginto
readthefullnessofthepsalm,youfigureoutthatactuallythepsalmists,
thesonsofKoraharetalkingaboutkindoftheessenceandthenatureof
whoGodisandhowbeautifulexactlyGodHimselfis.
Youknow,whenyoustartthinkingabouttheideaofGod,yourealizehow
muchbeautybringsjoy.Ifyoulikeart,someofyoudo,andyousee
somethingthat'sjustreally,reallybeautiful?There'sjoyinthat,isn't
there?Ifyoulikeliterature,maybeaagreatstorythatyou'vereadandthe
waythatthestoryunpacksandistold,andyoureaditandjustthewords
areputtogether,andit'ssobeautiful.Anditbringsjoy.Oryouseea
landscape,right?Youseeallthethingsthathavebeenmadeeverywhere
thathavebeencreatedandyoujustgaspwhenyoulookatthem,andyou
seesuchgreatincrediblebeauty,andthatbeautybringsyougreatjoy.
Man,thenwhyintheworldwouldn'twewanttopeelbackthelayersa
littlebitandnotjustabsorbjustalittlebitofrefractedbeautybutgetto
theheartofit.
C.S.Lewissaiditthiswayinthebook'TilWeHaveFaces'hesaid"The
sweetestthinginallmylifehasbeenthelonging...tofindtheplacewhere
allthebeautycamefrom."Yousee,ladiesandgentlemen,thisiswhat
bringsgreatjoy,becauseultimatelyeverythingthatweseethatisactually
beautifulhasasource.AnditisinGodHimself,becauseGodisthemost
beautifulbeinginalloftheworld.Sothatwhenwefindourselvesinthe
presenceofthatkindofbeauty,itbringsusincredibleexceedingjoy.This
ishowyouwakeupthesuninyourlifeisbypressingintothepresenceof
God.Becauseit'ssafeandit'sbeautiful.
Thirdly,itissatisfying.NoticewhattheScripturesaysinversenumber2.
Thepsalmistsays"Mysoulyearns,evenfaintsforthecourtsoftheLord;
myheartandmymyfleshcryoutforthelivingGod."Youalmost,youhear
thisideaofthirstandhungerforthepresenceofGod.Nowifyouhavea
thirstorahungerforthepresenceofGod,that'sbecauseyoursoulis
thirstyinone,becauseit'sinoneofthreestates.Listencarefully.Eithera.),
yoursoulisemptyandyou'vebeentryingtofillyoursoulwithallkindsof
stuff,right?Itmightberelationshipsthatyouhavethatyou'retryingto
pourintoyoursoulthinkingthisisgonna'solveitandyouknowwhat?
Temporarilyyouforgetabouttheholethat'sinyourheartandyoustart
pouringdownsomeoftheserelationshipsandgoingthisisreallywhatit's
gonna'be,thisiswhatit'sgonna'be,andyoufindoutthat'snotfully
satisfying.
Ormaybeyoukindof,youknow,youtriedsomekindofsubstancebecause
youthink,youknowwhat,I'mkindofboredinthislifeeverything'sgray
formeeverything'skinda'darkandcold,andIdon'tknowhowtowakeup
thesunsoI'mgonna'tryandfillmyheartwithsomeotherstuff,andyou
pourinsubstancesasaresultofthat,orwhatever.Orjustdistractionthat
youpourintoyourlifesoyoudon'thavetothinkabouttheemptinessof
yoursoul.Butyoufailtoremember,ladiesandgentlemen,thatthereisa
God-sizedholeinyoursoulthatonlyGodcanfill.Everythingelsethat's
beingpouredinthere,it'slikeasieveandit'sjustfindingit'swayoutand
yourealizeyoucan'tsatisfythedeepestplaceinyou,becauseit'sGodshapedandonlyGodcanfillit.Somaybeyouhaveanemptysouland
that'swhyyoufindyourselfthirstingandyougolookingforsatisfactionin
allthewrongplaces.
Ormaybeit'sbecauseyouhaveadrysoul.Youeverbeenthroughoneof
thoseseasons?Wheremaybejustinsideofyou,youjustkindoffeelalittle
bitdry.Likeyou'rethinkingtoyourselfIfeellikeI'mkindofwalking
throughadesertinmyownheartrightnow.Andsoasaresult,Ifind
myselfbeingthirstyforthepresenceofGodbecauseIknowthatmysoul
canonlyfindrefreshmentinHispresence.
Ormaybe,maybe,thereasonyou'rethirstyisbecauseyou'reactually
satisfied.Thisisaninterestingthinglikethepsalmist.Thepsalmistis
actuallysatisfiedinthepresenceofGod,butsayshethirstsallthemore.
Doyouknowthekindofcounter-intuitivethingthatthisis,isthatthe
moreyoufindyourselfsatisfiedinGod,thethirstierforHimyoubecome.
Thisisjustwhathappens.Themoreyou'resatisfiedinGod,thethirstier
youactuallybecome.YouactuallybegintowantGodmorebecauseofthe
satisfactionthatGodbrings.
ListentotheprayerofoneoftheGodlysaintsofoldnamedA.W.Tozer.He
saiditthisway:Hesaid"Oh,God,IhavetastedThygoodness,andithas
bothsatisfiedmeandmademethirstyformore.Iampainfullyconscious
ofmyneedforfurthergrace.Iamashamedofmylackofdesire.OhGod,
theTriuneGod,IwanttowantThee;Ilongtobefilledwithlonging;Ithirst
tobemadethirstystill."eYousee,ultimatelythegreatsatisfactionthatwe
haveinourheartswithGodmeansthatwewillbecomemoreandmore
thirstyandmoreandmorehungryforHim.SoHeissatisfyingthe
Scripturetellsus,Hispresenceis.
ButthescripturealsotellsusthatHispresenceiswelcoming.Thisisa
beautifulpicturethatwestarttoseeinverse3.Noticewhatitsays.Itsays
"Eventhesparrowhasfoundahome,andtheswallowanestforherself,
whereshemayhaveheryoung,aplacenearyouraltar,LordAlmighty,my
KingandmyGodblessedarethosewhodwellinyourhouse;theyareever
praisingyou".
It'sfunnybecausethepsalmistisalsotalkinghehe'she'salmosttalking
likehe'senviousofthebirds.Soinotherwords,here'sthepicture.The
birdshavenestedintheplaceofGod,inthesanctuaryofGodandasa
resultthepsalmistissayingman,IwishIwaslikeyou,becauseyouhave
foundyouryourhomeandyouhavefoundyourplaceinthepresenceof
GodandIwishIwaslikeyou.He'salmostenviousthattheycanrestinthe
presenceofGod.Butdoyouknowwhat'salsointerestingaboutthistext,is
thathenamestwospecificbirds,asparrowandaswallow.That'swhathe
names.Isn'titinterestingthatwhatwefindout?
Youknowalittlebitaboutsparrowsifyou'vereadtheNewTestament.
Jesusactuallytalkedaboutthem.RememberwhatJesussaidinLuke
chapternumber12.Hesaid:"Arenotfivesparrowssoldfortwopennies?
YetnotoneofthemisforgottenbyGod."Youknowwhatwe'rereminded
of?Thesparrowdidn'thavealotofworth.Notmuchatall.Fiveoftheem
soldfortwopennies.Yeah,man,they'relike,whatever,right?Thesparrow
doesn'thavealotofworth.Yet,findsahomeinGod'spresence.Iwonder
howmanyofyouhaveeverfeltworthless.Youfeltlikeyou'renotworth
verymuchandthatyoudon'tdeservetobeinthepresenceofGod.Doyou
knowhowwelcomingGodistopeoplewhofeelundeserved?It'slike
sparrows,man.Comeandbuildanest,haveyouryoung.
Healsotalksaboutswallowsinthistext,andifyou'rereadthroughthe
proverbs,you'veheardsomethingaboutaswallowaswell.Listentowhat
thescripturesays,Proverbschapter26:"Likeaflutteringsparrowora
dartingswallow,anundeservedcursedoesnotcometorest."Youknow
whataswallowdoes?Hereitis,righthere.Everything'sfine,I'mnot
having,nothingnothing'sgoingon,right?Thisiswhataswallowdoes,
[whistles],right?Nevercomingtorestanywhere,alwaysrestless.Except
thepsalmistsays,foundahomeinthepresenceofGod.
So,whetheryoufeelworthlessorwhetheryoufeelrestlessandyoujust
can'tfindaplaceforyoursoultoland,here'stheidea.ThepresenceofGod
iswhereyou'llfindtruejoy.Thisiswhereyou'llfindit.Someofyouhave
heartsthatarereallyrestless.Someofyouhaveheartsthatfeelworthless.
Iwanttoremindyouthebestplaceyoucantakethoseheartsisintothe
safe,beautiful,secure,welcomingpresenceofGod.
Letmetellyou,letmetellyouanadditionalthingthatyouseeinthis
passageofScripture.You'llfindthatthepresenceofGodisworththe
journey.Listentoversenumber5and6and7.Itsays:"Blessedarethose
whosestrengthisinyou,whoseheartsaresetonpilgrimage.Astheypass
throughtheValleyofBaka,theymakeitaplaceofsprings;andtheautumn
rainsalsocoveritwithpools.Theygofromstrengthtostrength,'tileach
appearsbeforeGodinZion."
Sohere'sthedeal.Listen,here'sthedeal.Ifeverybodycanjustbeseated
andnotgetupanymorethatwouldbeawesome.It'slikeamillionofyou
doandthat's,thatwouldbecool.It'sreallydistracting.Thanks.Idon't
wanttohavetobustanybodyup.That'swhatIdo.I'mpartninja,andIwill
showit.That'showIroll,alright?Ijustdon'twantyoutodistractthe
peoplearoundyou.So,theValleyof,theValleyofBakameanstheValleyof
Weeping.,okay?Here'stheidea.TheValleyofWeepingiswhenpeople
livedoutsideofJerusalem,theywouldalwayshavetotakeapilgrimageto
gettoJerusalemwheretheTemplewas,alright?Andwhenyouaregoing
totheTemple,somepeopleweretakinglonglongjourneystobeableto
getthere.Itwasalonghaulforthemtogetthere.Theywerehavingto
right,packuptheirstuff,makealongtripandtheyweresometimesgoing
throughwhatwascalledtheValleyofWeepingortheValleyofBaka.And
asthey'remakingtheirway,it'skindofadeserteddeserttypeofplace,
typeofatmosphere.Sowhattheywoulddoontheirjourneyisinthat
desertplacetheywoulddigholes,justlikethis.Why?Becausetheyknew
thatthelatterrains,theautumnrainswouldcomedownandwouldfill
themuplikepoolsinthedesertsothattheywouldhavesomethingto
drink.Somethingtorefreshthemselveswith.Yousee,sometimesonthe
journeyyou'regoingtowalkthroughplacesofdifficulty,you'regoingto
walkthroughplacesthataregoingtopressyoubuttherearestill
opportunitiestoberefreshedwhenyouareonyourwaytothepresenceof
God.It'sagreatpicturethatI'llcomebacktoinjustasecond.Butknow
this,thatitisworththejourney.Whateverpilgrimageyou'recalledtoto
gettotheheartofGodit'sworththejourney.
Letmegiveyouasixththing.ThepresenceofGodisbetter.Here'swhatI
meanbythat.Verse8says"Hearmyprayer,LordGodAlmighty;listento
me,GodofJacob.Lookonourshield,OhGod;lookwithfavoronyour
anointedone.Betterisonedayinyourcourtsthanathousandelsewhere;I
wouldratherbeadoorkeeperinthehouseofmyGodthandwellinthe
tentsofthewicked.FortheLordGodisasunandshield;theLordbestows
favorandhonor;nogoodthingdoeshewithholdfromthosewhosewalkis
blameless."Soafterthepsalmistactuallyintercedesforthekingwhenhe's
talkingaboutlookonourshieldhe'sreferringatthatpointtotheking,the
anointedone.Afterhedoesthathere'swhathappens.Hesaysthis,one
day,onedayinyourpresenceisbetterthanathousandanywhereelse.
Oneday.OnedayinyourpresenceisbetterthanattendanceattheSuper
Bowl.Onedayinyourpresenceisbetterthananythinganywhere.
Infact,whenhestartstalkinghe'sremindinghimselfthatIwouldrather
beadoorkeeperinthehouseofmyGodthantobedistantfromGod.
BecauseIknowthatevenifI'mnotinthemostholyplacewhereGod's
presencedwells,talkingabouttheideaoftheTabernacleortheTemple,at
leastifI'madoorkeeperIknowthatI'mnearertothepresenceofGod
thanifI'mfaraway.AndIwouldratherjustbeholdingdoorsforpeople
whoareusheredintothepresenceofGodthantobedistantfromGod.
That'showseriousthepsalmistisaboutknowingthattruejoycanonlybe
foundinthepresenceofGod,theonlywayyoucanwakeupthesunin
yourheartisinthepresenceofGod.He'sthatserious.Heunderstandsthat
whenheisinornearthepresenceofGodthatitchangeseverythingabout
him.Thatisactuallychangeswhoheisandwhathedoes.
Yousee,whatweneedtounderstandisthis:ifwewillpracticeGod's
presence,Hispresencewillchangeourpractice.Wewillendupinaplace
wherewewillnowasthedisciplineoflife,wewillbeforeveraltered
becausewelearnwhatitmeanstospendtimeinthepresenceofGod.And
HechangeseverythingbecauseHefillsourheartswithjoyandwithlove
andwithpeaceandwiththefruitofHisownSpiritinourlives.Someofus
havereallyneverpressedintounderstandthat.
Yousee,David,whenhewaswritingsomeofthepsalms,heunderstood
thisideaofjoyinthepresenceofGod.InPsalm16verse11Davidsaidthis:
"Youmakeknowntomethepathoflife;youwillfillmewithjoyinyour
presence,andwitheternalpleasuresatyourrighthand."
Yousee,we'retryingbe,we'retryingtobetoldhereGod'spresenceis
betterthananything.Someofus,someofusdon'trealizethat.Wejust
don'tgetit.Andthat'swhywedon'tspendtimeinHispresence.Because
wedon'tgetthatHispresenceisbetterthananything.Anything.Anything.
Yousee,weforgetwhoHeis,howbeautiful.Weforgetthatoursoulissafe.
WeforgethowwelcomingHeis.Wehaveallkindsofstuffgoingoninour
heartsthatweforgetthatthepresenceofGodisbetterthananything.
Butyouknowwhathesayshere?Hesays"TheLordGodisasunanda
shield"inverse11.TheLordGodisasunandashield.Doyouknowwhat
bringsmesuchjoyhereinkindofNewCovenant,NewTestamenttimes?
ThiswasobviouslyinintheOldTestament.Ilikereadingsometimes
thingsfromtheOldTestamentthatjusthavegospelbombs.Thatarelike
thepinispulledandyou'rejustwaitingandit'sjustlikeyoureaditandit
justdetonatesandyougoWHAT?Yeah,thisisthegospelman,thisisthe
gospel.Thepsalmistwrites"TheLordisasunandashield".
Ithinkwecanmaybeunderstandalittlebitaboutwhatitmeanstosay
thattheLordGodisasun.There'salotthatwecanunderstandbutletme
takeyoumaybeinadifferentplaceforyourmind.Youknow,ifyou,ifyou
gettooclosetothesunyouknowwhathappens,right?Youdie.Right,I'm
hereallday,I'mhereforyou,answerallyourquestions.Yougettooclose
tothesun,youdie,that'sjustwhathappens.Thesunscorches.Doyou
realizethatwhentheBibletalksaboutGodasthesun,there'spositive
aspectstothat,whatwarmsus,whatmakesusgrow.Butthere'salsothe
reminderofHisholiness,thatyouandIinourbrokennessandyouandIin
oursinfulness,andyouandIinallofourmess,wecouldneverinamillion
yearsgetclosetothepresenceoftheHolyOnewhowouldscorchuswith
Hisholiness.Scorchus.
Infact,intheNewTestamentevenwhenPauliswritingtoTimothy,listen
tohowhedescribesthisgreatGod.In1Timothychapter6:"God,the
blessedandonlyRuler,theKingofkingsandLordoflords,whoaloneis
immortalandwholivesinunapproachablelight,Heislikethesun".He
dwellsinapproachablelight.SohowintheworldareyouandI,whoarein
ourbrokenness,inoursinfulness,howareyouandIevergoingtogetinto
thepresenceofthatkindofawesomeness?Wewillneverbeabletodoit
onourownanymorethanwecouldwalkonthesun.Wecouldneverdoit.
It'sbadnewsandthethingis,wetryabunchofdifferentthingstotryand
thinkthatwecoulddothat,butit'scrazytothinkthatway.Well,ifIjustdo
acoupleofgoodthingsthenI'llbeabletowalkonthesun.Noamountof
goodthingsyoudowillenableyoutowalkonthesun.Well,I'mgonna'
practiceinFloridacauseIknowit'sreallyhotinFlorida,andI'mjust
gonna'practicethereandthenonceI'mdoneinFloridaI'llbereadytogo
walkonthesun.Youcanprepareanywhereyouwanttoprepare,youwill
neverbeabletowalkonthesunnomatterwhatyoudo.Andnomatter
whatyoudo,youwillneverbeabletomakeyourwayintoGod'spresence
onyourown.YouwillneverbeabletodoitbecauseGodisthesun.
Here'sthegoodnews.Heisalsotheshield.Whenwecouldnevermakeour
wayintothepresenceofGod,here'swhatGodhasdoneonourbehalf,God
hasputskinoninthepersonofJesuswhohaslivedsinlesslyamongusand
whowenttoacrosstodieforoursinstotakeuponHimselftheheatofthe
wrathofthejusticeofGod.AndHehasdonethatforusasourshield.Only
Godcanbebothsunandshieldatthesametime.ThisiswhyIam
remindedladiesandgentlemen,thatthepsalmistkeepssayingtousthatit
isimperativeforustomakesurethatweunderstandthattruejoyisonly
goingtobefoundinGod'spresence,theOnewhodwellsin
unapproachablelight,whoislikethesun,wecannowwalkinthesun
becauseofwhattheSonofGodhasdoneonourbehalf,wenowcanenter
intothemostHolyplace,thecurtainhasbeentornintwointheTemple
andwecanenterinbywayofthebloodofJesusChrist,byfaithinHimwe
candwellwithGodwhodwellsinunapproachablelight.Thisisstaggering.
Thisisstaggering.
ThisiswhyI'mtryingtosaytoyouwhatIsaidtoyoufromtheveryoutset.
Andthat'swhythispassageendsbysayinginverse12:LordAlmighty,
blessed,happy,joyfulistheonewhotrustsinyou.WhatdidItellyouIwas
gonna'tellyou?TruejoyisfoundinGod'spresence.ItoldyouwhatIwas
gonna'tellyoufromthebeginning,I'mtellingyouwhatI'mtellingyouat
theend.It'swhatthispassageistryingtocommunicatetous.
So,let'saskthisquestion:Howdowethenwakeupthesuninourlives?
Howdowemakethispractical,howdowewakeupthesuninourhearts?
Well,forthoseofuswhoarethinkingaboutit,here'swhatit'sgonna'
require.It'sgonna'requireapilgrimage,ajourneytotheheartofGod.This
iswhat'sgonna'havetohappen.You'regonna'havetosetoutonajourney
totheheartofGodtobeinGod'spresence.Anddoyouknowwhatit's
gonna'requireonthatjourney?Listenverycarefully.You'regoingtohave
todig.You'regonna'havetopickuptheshoveloftheWordandyou're
gonna'havetostartdigginginyourownheartinthepresenceofGodas
youarejourneyingtotheheartofGodyou'regonna'havetostartdigging
andsomeofthatisgoingtobeweedsthatyou'rediggingintotogetout.
Sinthatyou'rehavingtosayI'mlettinggoofthatandyou'regettingout.
AndletmetellyouwhatGodwilldowhenyouarewillingtosurrender
yourselfinHispresenceandletHisSpiritbegintosearchyourheartand
changeyouasyouarediggingdoyouknowwhatHe'sgonna'do?He's
gonna'sendraintorefreshyoursoulandtofillyourheartwithpoolsof
waterthatwillrefreshyouinHispresence.ThisiswhatGodisgoingtodo
whenyoubegintojourneyintoHisheart.
Butsomeofus,we'retooafraidtostartthejourneybecausewe'reafraidof
God'spresence.NowGodisHoly,butwhenwecomebywayof
relationshipwithJesusChrist,Jesushasdoneallofthisonourbehalfand
here'sthegreatnews.Youdon'thavetobeafraidanymorebecausethe
safestplaceyoursoulcouldeverbeisinthepresenceofGod,theGodof
AngelArmies,theGodwhocommandseverything.Yoursoulwasmadefor
Him.ItwasmadeforrelationshipwithHim.
IrememberwhenIwasa19year-old,whenIreallycametothatplaceof
faithandtrustinmylifeandJesusjustradicallychangedmylife.Itwas
betweenmysophomoreandjunioryearattheUniversityofGeorgia.I
camebacktothesameroommatesthatIwaslivingwithbefore,andthey
werestilldoingthesamethings,um,thatyouknow,peopledo.AndI
walkedinandIremembersayingtothemwhenIgotinthere,Ijusthad
gottenbackfromschoolandtheywereraginganddoingallthestuffthat
theyweredoingandIsaid,heyman,Isaidum,theywerelikecomeon,
let'sgetafteritandIwaslikewell,here'swhatIsaid.Isaidman,guys,I,I
reallygotserious,gavemylifetoChristthissummer,andIdon'twantto
breaktheheartoftheOnewhosetmefree.Ihavenoideahowthatcame
outofmymouth,Iwasbymyself.Iwasout-numbered,Iwasbymyselfin
myownapartment.IgenuinelybelievetheSpiritofGodgavemeutterance,
andIjustsaidwhatIsaid,anditwaslikedrawingalineinthesandwhere
youjustkinda'go--whew,man,likewhoa,whatjustgotsaid,whatjust
happened,Ijustdrewalineinthesand.
Well,sureenough,theseguyswerekinda'likeokay,cool,whatever,you
know,Imeanthatwasoh,yeah,Jerry'safreak,um,youknow,itwaskinda'
oneofthosedeals,right?He'sturnedintoafreak,I'mscaredofhim.Andso
theystillweregoingabouttheirbusinessandIstillrememberveryearly
inthatyearaloudragingpartygoingoninourapartment.Allkindsof
mayhem.Whateverelsewashappening.I'minmyroom,bymyself,eating
mylittlepizzathatIordered,listeningtoacassettetapeofChristianmusic
thatwasn'tevenanygood,butit'slikeallIhad.AndIrememberasIwas
readingwhatGoddidinmyownheartandHekinda,Hekinda'reallyput
twoverses,twopassagesofScriptureonmymindandonmyheartandI
hadanopportunitytoreadthemandtheymeantsomuchtomethatI
actuallytookoutapieceofpaperanditwasmyDadusedtoworkforCocaColayearsandyearsagoandIhadtheselittle,youknow,kindof,you
knowalittlenotepad,Coca-ColanotepadandIjustwrotethesepassages
onthatnotepadandItapedthemtomyceilingabovemybed.
OneofthemwasinPsalm63anditsaidthis:"OnmybedIrememberyou;
Ithinkofyouthroughthewatchesofthenight.Becauseyouaremyhelp,I
willsingintheshadowofyourwings.Iclingtoyou;yourrighthand
upholdsme."YouknowwhyIputthatupthere?CauseIwasalittlescared.
Myheartwasalittlescared.IwasscaredcauseIfeltlikeIwasjustoneguy
andIhadnooneonthisentirecampuswhowouldwalkwithJesusand
followafterJesusandI'mlikesomeweirddude,youknow,withahorn
growingoutofmyheadandpeoplethinkI'mnuts.AndIwasalittlebit
nervousandIwasnervousaboutbeinginGod'spresencebecausethiswas
kinda'newforme.ButIremindedmyselfeverynight,everynightIwould
lookandstareatthatandremindmyselfthatGod,Iam,Iamsleepinghere
safelyinyourpresencebecauseofwhatyouhavedoneinandthrough
JesusChristandyouwillupholdme.
SomeofusneedtorepentofourfearofbeinginGod'spresenceand
realizethat'sthesafestplacewecouldeverputoursoul.Someofusmaybe
maybehavefeltworthless,ormaybeyou'vebeenrestless,ormaybeyou've
feltlikeyoursoulisemptyordry,ormaybeit'sbeensatisfiedbutyoufind
yourselfhungeringformore.Idon'tknowwhatitisforyou,butIcantell
youthis,truejoyisfoundonlyinGod'spresence,itistheonlywaytowake
upthesuninyourheart.
Sohere'swhatI'dlikeforustodo.Iwantustobowourheadstogetherfor
prayerandIwantustotakekindoftheremainingfewmomentstokinda'
layourselvesbeforeGodinHispresence.Here'swhatIwanttogiveyou
theopportunitytodo.JustfortheselastfewmomentsI'mgonna'giveyou
theopportunitytojustspendsometimeinGod'spresence.Thealtararea
uphereisopenifyouwanttocomeandkneelandpray.Ifyouwanttostay
rightwhereyouaregreat,butifsomebodywantstoslipoutandtheysay
excuseme,justbepreparedtomovesothattheycancomeout.Ifyouwant
tocomeintotheaislesthat'sfineyoucandothataswell.ButIwantyouto
justkindofsurrenderyourself,surrenderyourheartinthepresenceof
Godintheselastfewminutes.Sowhereveryouareinthisroomorinthe
EastWorshipCenter,rightnowwhereveryouare,ifyouwanttogetup
andyouwanttocome,pleasedo.Justcomeandkneelrightdownhere.
Takesometimetoprayrightwhereyouare.Iwanttogiveyouafew
momentsandifthat'srightinyourseat,fine.Thatcanberightinyourseat,
notaproblem.Youjusttakesometimetokneeldownwhereveryouare.
Think,trust,listen,surrenderyourselfintothepresenceofGod.Aswe're
spendingtimeinthepresenceofGodjustseekingHimNick'sgonna'lead
us,singoverusforamomentandthenwe'llbeabletojoinhimina
moment,sokinda'justlayourheartsbeforeGodandunderstandthejoy
thatwecanfindinHispresence.
Ladiesandgentlemen,truejoyisonlyfoundinGod'spresence.Ifwewill
practiceHispresence,Hispresencewillchangeourpractice.Sowhether
yoursoulfeelsworthlessorrestlessoremptyordryorsatisfied,thebest
placeyoursoulcanbe,thesafest,mostbeautiful,mostwelcoming,most
satisfyingplacethatyoursoulcanbeisinHispresence.Soyes,youcanget
thatonaSundaymorningwhenwegathertogetherinHispresence,butI
wasinHispresencethismorning,early.JustspendingtimewithHim,
spendingtimeinHisWord,spendingtimelisteningtoHisvoiceinmy
heart,spendingtimepraisingHimforwhoHeis.Itwillchangeusandif
youwanttounderstandwhatwakingupthesunlookslikeinyourheart
youhavetofindjoy,andtheonlyplacetofinditisthepresenceofthe
King.Ifyou'rehere,andyou'veneverenteredintogenuinerelationship
withGodthroughHisSon,Jesus,I'mnottalkingaboutyoujustknowwho
Heis,oryou'vebeenthroughsomekindofreligiousritualsthatdidn'tdo
anythingtochangeanythingaboutyou,I'mtalkingaboutyouknowwhatit
meanstosurrenderyourselftotheLordshipofwhoHeisandenterinby
faithtoarelationshipwithHim.Ifyou'veneverdonethat,whenwe
dismissinjustamoment,Iwishyou'dcomebytheFiresideRoomoutin
theatrium.Somepastors,somefriendsthatareintherewho'dlovetotalk
toyouforafewminutesaboutthemostimportantthingyou'lleverdoin
yourlifeandthatistobebornfromabove.Tobetransformedbythegrace
thatweseeinJesusChrist.
SoFather,Ipraythatwewouldrealizewhatitmeanstoliveandtodwell
inyourpresencebecausetruejoyisonlyfoundinyourpresence.Youare
theOnethattakesoffthegarmentofheavinessbecauseofthespiritof
praisethatisfoundwhenweenterintoyourpresence.SoGod,Ipraythat
Youwouldspeakthatworddeeplyintoourheartssothatwewouldbe
willingtodigaswemakeapilgrimagetoyourheart,thatYoumight
refreshuswiththewaterfromheavenwithYourownWord.WetrustYou
todothisbythepowerofYourownSpiritinJesus'name.Amen.
Loveyoufolks,haveagreatday.