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EXODUS 33:14-15b

"THY PRESENCE NEEDED"

Intro: Moses had ascended into the cloud & fire on the Mt. after a period of time people
       came & Aaron, "Make us Gods."  "These are the Gods."  Moses came into the camp & 
       saw the people dancing naked before this Golden calf. He cast down the tables of 
       stone, ground the calf into powder & mixed it with water & made the people drink.

I. MOSES' GREAT PRAYER OF INTERCESSION.
        A. Confessed to God their sin.
                1. "He who seeks to cover his sin shall not prosper." 
                2. As long as you are rationalizing.
        B. He asked for their forgiveness, "Yet now if You will forgive their sin."
                1. Here Moses halted - how long?
        C. Me offered an alternative "and if not blot me, I tray Thee out of Thy book which
           Thou hast written."
        D. God's answer to Moses' prayer.
                "Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of Thy book."

II. GOD'S COMMAND TO CONTINUE ONWARD.
        A. Go on into the land, I will send an angel before thee. 
        B. God's presence to be removed from this stiff-necked people lest He destroy them
           in the way.
        C. The people's mourning.
        D. Moses removing his tent (outside the camp).
        E. Moses' prayer,  You said You would send an angel. I know You, I don't know the
           angel. I don't want a substitute - show me Thy way.
        F. "My presence will go with thee."

III. THE IMPORTANCE OF HIS PRESENCE.
        A. Progress impossible without it.
                1. The power of God had brought them this far.
                        a. He had parted the sea.
                        b. He had given them water from the rock.
                        c. He had provided the manna & quail.
                        d. Without His presence they would have perished long before now.
                2. God had revealed Himself to them as:
                        a. A God of power & provision.
                        b. A God of Law.
                        c. A God of order "see that you make it according to the pattern."
                        d. A God of love - the reason for withdrawing Himself "lest
                           I consume."
        B. Having come this far by His help, the thought of now going on without
           Him impossible.
                1. Vs 15 "If Thy presence go not with me..."

IV. JESUS WARNING TO CHURCH OF EPHESUS, "I WILL REMOVE THE CANDLESTICK OUT OF THIS PLACE."
        A. We see the tragedy of the church trying to go on without the presence & power of
           the Holy Spirit.
                1. Having been in the Spirit, seeking perfection in the flesh.
                2. Substituting programs for the power of God.
        B. Warning to us here.
                1. God's presence, His holy Spirit has been working with us here and we see
                   the progress.