Matthew 5:5b
A Heart for God
Series: The Beatitudes - Jan 8th, 2006

Imagine…God came and talked with you today
• Finds you alone…all else fades–offers this a deal
• Offers you Guidance….what He has for you
• Offers you Protection…from enemies
• Offers you Blessing …abundance

Would you take such an offer?
• In one sense, could use such a list as one of the foolish things about rejecting God….is foolish
• Yet, not where going – some know, used before

I know someone who had exactly this offer - honestly
• He turned it down…can you believe it?
• Well, actually – was one more part to offer…
• Offer came – without God’s presence
o Moses…Ex 33 – won’t go with you
• Look at that passage more in a moment

I. First - Background

1. Turn in Bibles to Matt 5 –Series on Beatitudes
a. Have been out of it for two weeks
b. Want to pull you back in, refresh, remind

2. Jesus – beginning His ministry
a. Sermon on the Mount – declaration of purpose
b. Telling us what came to accomplish – in people
3. Key section – Beatitudes – Jesus work in the hearts
a. Rest of Sermon on mount works it out
b. Not just what “don’t do” – but heart
c. Not just what “you do” – but heart
4. As look at these 8 Beatitudes – composite whole
a. Not just 8 random statements – pick and choose
b. But there is a flow…process…a building
c. As you learn–will see God’s work– always through
1. Poor in Spirit  –Begins with our need for Him-total
a. Discovering our complete inadequacy
2. Mourning  – conviction over our sin
3. Meekness  – surrender, to His will
a. These 3 – brokenness – God’s tearing down process
4. Hunger  – for what is right – outside self
a. Longing for His power…Christ in us, Spirit
5. Merciful  – God’s heart, compassion…fruit
6. Pure in heart  – single, undivided heart for God
a. Longing for Him, His presence – seeing Him
b. That is where we left off in series
c. Yet…still here – stuck, not going past today
7. Will see – Peacemakers – Persecuted
8. Today – want to see Pure in heart again
a. Not restating all said…get, listen to CD
b. My aim…is I want you to want this…

II. Exodus 33

1. Notice the offer in v.1-3
a. Think about it

2. First – note the context
a. Exodus – story of God delivering His people
i) True historically, picture of salvation
b. 4 months into it – been a rough road
i) Tried, tested, rebelled against God, complained
ii) Moses has just finished going up Sinai to get the law…gone 40 days
iii) While gone – people give up, build golden calf
iv) Moses comes down and deals with it
c. In a sense – God is here offering them, what they already sought…blessing without Him

3. First response – Mourning – humbling
a. Not having God’s presence grieves them
i) Strip ornaments, sign of humbling, grief
b. Find myself liking this….O that it is, would be so
c. See – find self wondering – if many today, who name Christ, already seeking offer of v.1-3
i) All they really want is bless, lead, protect
ii) God – knowing Him, is no real part of their life
d. Could it be true with you today?
i) If so – my aim today, stir you up

4. Second response – separation
a. Kind of a sad picture. Looked at 3 wks ago
b. Moses sets tabernacle outside camp
c. Those who want God – will come out
d. Many…most content to watch, worship in tent
e. Not rejecting God…bug not seeking Him either
f. Have a sense that it is so today
i) Which are you?

5. Third response – intersession
a. Note the basis of the intercession
i) God knows and grace
ii) True then of Moses
iii) True now of us
A. Do you know it?
B. Right that it be what you base your prayer on
b. If grace–show me thy way–follow you, be with You
i) Cry through whole Bible – walk with God
c. That – purpose – may know You
i) Notice – not know about you – but know you
ii) Different – know about food, know food
A. Know about president, know president
d. God answers – responds – agrees
i) In a sense – Moses says, not presence, no blessing…love it…want it, seek it
e. Stop here…cry out for intercession
i) This is the great need today
ii) Some of you are….few
iii) Some of you play with it, in and out
iv) Need it – real success is only here

III. For Moses – more

1. Notice – cries out – show me Your glory
a. Moses wants more…wonderful, amazing
b. With all that Moses has known
c. With all that Moses just got
d. He wants more…heart of scripture
i) Nothing else satisfies
ii) It was for this that you were created

2. Cannot see full…it would kill you…but can more

3. Stand on the rock- stand on Christ
a. Then hide in rock – hidden in Christ
b. Wonderful picture – true
c. Paul calls it the excellence of knowledge of Christ

4. Come up…be ready
a. It is an upward call…Paul pressing after

5. Come up alone
a. Always alone, always personal…must be
b. Can bless you with my prayers, but can’t bring you into God’s presence…nor you me

6. Moses sees
a. Hears, sees, understands more of God
b. Rich passage, for Moses is real – knowing God
c. Simply want you to see – this is real
d. This is experiential knowledge of God

7. Moses worships

8. Further prays for his people

9. Time would fail – does fail to tell you of all
a. David…Paul


Conclusion

Would you take the offer?
• Guidance, protection, blessing w/o God?

Are you taking it already…in practice
• Here today, and in all that concerns God
• You time, seeking, prayers – all about blessings
• But God – seeing Him, knowing Him – no part
• If so – you are missing out – best, purpose more

Do you want this…I do
• Not again, is the 6th beatitude – can’t have w/o others
• Poor, mourning, Meek – broken, surrendered
• Hunger – for Him to do in You
• Merciful – His heart in you
• Pure…His…with Him…all the time – holy

Maybe here today, unsaved – new news
• Know need help…but did you know need Him
• Created for relationship – sin cut off
• Not satisfied, till satisfied in Him
• To love Him, with all heart…..