16 Dec Drawing Near To God Part 2

https://youtu.be/OrgHdH3ZCMc

Drawing Near God Overview

In ‘Drawing Near To God Part 2,’ Pastor Paul explores the vital difference between experiencing God’s omnipresence versus His manifest presence in our daily lives. Using the historical context of Rome’s expansion strategy and Jesus as the ultimate apostle negotiating peace between God and mankind, the sermon reveals how true spiritual transformation occurs through intimate communion with God. The pastor shares a powerful vision of mountains springing up across Wisconsin, symbolizing believers’ growing desire to draw near to God in these chaotic times. Through Moses’ burning bush encounter and other biblical examples, we learn that God responds when we take the initiative to seek His presence. The message challenges believers to move beyond performance-based Christianity to relationship-based faith, emphasizing that when we humble ourselves and draw close to God, He draws close to us, bringing His kingdom benefits into our lives.

Drawing Near God Outline

• 0:00 – Introduction: Teaching Line Upon Line: Opening remarks about series teaching method and celebrating Christ’s birth in the fullness of time
• 3:00 – Rome’s Strategy and Church Building: Explaining how Rome’s expansion methods parallel God’s kingdom and the first mention of ‘church’ in Scripture
• 8:00 – Jesus: The Apostle Negotiating Peace: Understanding Jesus as the ultimate negotiator bringing grace and truth to reveal the Father’s true nature
• 12:00 – Vision of Mountains in Wisconsin: Sharing the prophetic vision of mountains representing believers’ desire to draw near to God
• 15:00 – Presence vs. Performance Christianity: Distinguishing between seeking God’s performance versus longing for His presence in relationship
• 18:00 – Moses and the Burning Bush: How God waited for Moses to draw near before speaking, demonstrating the principle of divine response
• 22:00 – James 4: Drawing Close to God: Practical steps for humbling ourselves and experiencing God’s manifest presence in our lives

Scripture References

Isaiah 28:10, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Galatians 4:4, Matthew 16:18, Ezekiel 36, John 14:6, Psalm 121:1-2, James 4:7-10, Exodus 3:1-6

Key Takeaways

• God teaches us progressively through repetition and review, building our understanding line upon line as He reveals His kingdom.
• Jesus came as the ultimate apostle to negotiate peace between God and mankind, revealing the Father’s true loving nature.
• There’s a crucial difference between God’s omnipresence (He’s everywhere) and His manifest presence (tangibly felt and experienced).
• We must take the initiative to draw near to God; when we do, He promises to draw near to us in return.
• Performance-based Christianity focuses on what God does for us, while relationship-based faith treasures God’s presence above all.
• Mountains in Scripture represent our desire and effort to commune with God in higher places of spiritual intimacy.
• Humility and purified hearts are essential for experiencing the fullness of God’s presence in our daily lives.

Drawing Near God Notes

Pastor Paul continues his powerful series on drawing near to God by establishing the biblical foundation for progressive revelation, quoting Isaiah’s principle of teaching ‘line upon line, here a little, there a little.’ This methodical approach mirrors how God gradually opens our eyes to His kingdom’s brilliant design and operation. The sermon takes a fascinating historical turn, examining how Jesus came ‘in the fullness of time’ when Rome had stripped Jewish religious leaders of their authority to enforce capital punishment, leaving them bound to legalism without mercy or compassion. The pastor brilliantly connects Rome’s expansion strategy with God’s kingdom principles, explaining how Roman apostles would negotiate truces with conquered territories, offering benefits and protection to those who aligned with Roman culture. This provides profound insight into Jesus as ‘the apostle and high priest of our confession,’ coming to negotiate the ultimate truce between holy God and sinful humanity. Unlike the harsh, merciless religious system of that era, Jesus came ‘full of grace and truth,’ healing all who came to Him and revealing the Father’s true compassionate nature. The pastor addresses how God’s name had been profaned through misrepresentation, with people attributing natural disasters and tragedies to God’s will, when Scripture clearly states He came to heal all who are oppressed of the devil. A pivotal moment in the sermon comes through the pastor’s vision of mountains spontaneously appearing across Wisconsin, symbolizing believers’ growing hunger to draw near to God in these chaotic times. Mountains throughout Scripture represent places of divine encounter—Moses on Sinai, Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, and the psalmist lifting his eyes to the hills for help. This vision speaks to our desperate need for God’s presence in an increasingly lawless world where even judges rule against established law. The sermon powerfully distinguishes between performance-based and presence-based Christianity through a relatable marriage analogy. Just as a spouse would be heartbroken by their partner’s absence for the relationship itself rather than missing performed duties, believers should crave God’s presence above His performance. Many Christians only approach God when they need something done, missing the intimate communion He desires. Using Moses’ burning bush encounter, Pastor Paul demonstrates how God waited for Moses to ‘turn aside’ and draw near before speaking. This principle reveals that while God never leaves or forsakes us, there’s a significant difference between His omnipresence and manifest presence. We must take initiative in seeking Him, and when we do, He responds by drawing close to us. The sermon concludes with practical application from James 4:7-10, emphasizing that drawing near to God requires humility, cleansed hands, purified hearts, and undivided loyalty. When our hearts are truly broken over lacking God’s presence rather than frustrated over unmet expectations, we position ourselves for the breakthrough that comes through genuine spiritual intimacy.

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