HUNGER FOR GOD
Quick Recap: We’ve learned so far that we are made for God’s presence. We are meant and are capable of having fellowship with God. Right now, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we have the presence of God in and with us. We learned from Moses last week about the necessity of God’s presence in his life and how he refused to move forward to the promised land without God. Moses’ example reminds us that God’s presence is more important than God’s blessings; God himself is the blessing. So I challenged us not to seek an experience but to seek God. I challenged us to prioritize the presence of God over the gifts He can give us. And we were challenged to make sure the distinguishable presence of God is in our everyday lives, ambitions, family and the people we seek to be close to. We’re not done with Exodus 33. Let’s look at the example of Moses and what we can apply to our lives today.
Have you ever felt a hunger for God and to be in His presence? It can feel like a noticeable pull. There are reasons for it. And if you don’t feel a hunger for God, there could be many reasons. But don’t be discouraged or condemn yourself. I want to share with you four ways to grow a hunger or appetite for God…
Exodus 33:1-18
Moses doesn’t just show us how much He values God and His presence; Moses has an appetite, a hunger for more of God.
Vs 13: “If it is true that you look favorably on me, let me know your ways so I may understand you more fully and continue to enjoy your favor. And remember that this nation is your very own people.”
Vs 17-18: The Lord replied to Moses, “I will indeed do what you have asked, for I look favorably on you, and I know you by name.” 18 Moses responded, “Then show me your glorious presence.”
Moses wasn’t satisfied. Notice his progression: “Teach me your ways…” (NIV) “…so I may understand you more fully” (NLT). Then: “Show me your glory.” (33:18)
But was this all because of the drama that had taken place in the context of this moment?
There’s no doubt, God was a necessity to Moses, especially to help Him fulfill His call to lead the people of God into the promised land. And God’s message that He wouldn’t travel with Moses or the people was definitely a wake-up call.
But Moses’ need and hunger for God isn’t circumstantial or just because things went bad.
Moses holds a high regard for God’s presence and has a hunger to know and understand God more because he had experiences and encounters with God that made Him long for more.
Moses was dramatically called by God in the burning bush. Moses saw firsthand the power of God in the 10 plagues, the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt through the Red Sea. God has revealed His faithful provision of manna and quail from the sky in the desert, water from a rock, and protection and victory over the Amalekites. Moses met with God and received His Word on Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights. Moses is hungry for more of God because he has experienced God.
Moses also just experienced the Word of God, the law, and instructions, and he was hungry to learn more of God's ways.
Just a quick note that will come up again in this series. There is an inextricable connection between knowing more of God and knowing His Word.
Application: How do we grow an appetite for God’s presence?
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
Moses had spent 40 days and nights with God; he was just coming down from a powerful mountain-top experience, and he wanted to know God even more. The closer Moses got to God, the more he wanted God. That’s the wonder of God’s presence.
You don’t become satisfied with God and move on. You become satisfied in God and want more of Him.
Experiencing God’s presence gives you an appetite for more.
Salvation brings a desire for more of God
This is how you can tell someone has been changed from the inside out: they have a desire to know God, His Word, and follow His ways just as Moses did.
1 Peter 2:2-3 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
A hunger for growth
Psalm 119:131 I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands.
If you don’t have a habit of spending time with God, talking, praying, and reading His Word, then this is the first place to start. Quality time with God is like oxygen, bread, water, and protein in everyday life. The fundamental starting point for our souls to be fed is through the living word, the bread of life, fellowship with God.
But a taste of God isn’t enough. We must remove the things that ruin our appetite.
Keep your heart pure
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Spiritual intimacy with God isn’t merely about access but about alignment.
Purity of heart stirs a deeper hunger for God.
Moses wanted to know God and His ways more. Moses wanted to please God.
On the flip side: A hunger for God is hindered by a diet of sin.
The golden calf wasn’t merely a mistake; it represented a heart turning away from God. We don’t recognize in the moment how dangerous spiritual drift can be because it rarely happens all at once. It happens one neglected alone time with God, one sinful compromise at a time. One missed gathering with God’s people at a time.
We crave what we feed ourselves. Feed your heart sin, and you’ll continue to crave what the sinful flesh craves. Feed your heart God and do His will, and you’ll crave more of God. If we fill our hearts and minds with this world, we won’t seek and hunger for God.
Sin Creates Distance, but Repentance Restores Fellowship
Exodus 33:3-6 When God said he would not go with them or they would be destroyed, the people were disturbed. God instructed the people to remove their ornaments and mourn for what they had done.
Pure hearts that long for and desire God have undivided loyalty, the same wholehearted devotion Moses demonstrated. The book of James offers very similar instruction in the New Testament.
James 4:4-10 4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. 5 Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him. 6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
Consecrate your life to the Lord
Moses's consecration shaped his desires and prayers to seek more of God; this pleased God! Notice Moses’s position in this story versus the people in trouble. Moses was away with God and away from the sinful revelry of the people. Moses was consecrated, set apart for God. This teaches us the importance of living set apart from worldly ways and being close to God. God set Moses apart for His purposes, and Moses kept himself set apart.
The Psalms called Moses holy and consecrated (Ps 106:16), a man who keeps God’s statutes (Ps 99:6-7), and a man of God (Ps 90).
Hebrews 11:24-26 It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.
Believers in God are set apart; we are made holy through the righteousness of Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit. This is a spiritual reality that we are called to keep and maintain in our lives. We are called to a consecrated life in private and public.
Consecrate your everyday life to the Lord
1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Have a consecrated time of the day to be with God.
Consecrate yourself to love and serve God every day.
Regular or periodic fasting is recommended to nurture the consecrated life. Consider fasting from food and fasting from things that are cravings or compete for your heart and time.
Plan a spiritual retreat for a few days with God, fasting from TV, movies, games, and social media, to give yourself more quality time with God.
Multiple moments with God build momentum for God to move in your life.
A result of keeping ourselves consecrated in a world void of God is that we will long, hunger, and desire more of God.
Psalm 63:1 O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.
Psalm 42:1-2 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
Ascend the Mountain with God: Psalm 24:3-6 Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. 5 They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, God of Jacob.
Discussion
Why do you think Moses continued to hunger for more of God even after experiencing so many miracles and encounters?
What stands out to you about Moses valuing God's presence more than God's promises and blessings?
Pastor Ryan said, "You don't become satisfied with God and move on. You become satisfied in God and want more of Him." What does this look like in your life?
Why is there such a strong connection between knowing God and knowing His Word?
Why is spiritual drift often difficult to recognize when it is happening?
What does it mean to live a consecrated or "set apart" life in today's world?
Why does consecration to God bring a move of God in you?
What additional notes did you make during the sermon?
How can we pray together for you today?
The most important decision you will ever make!
If you’re ready to trust in Jesus for salvation and eternal life, we encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and, when you’re ready, say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways, and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!
We would love to know if you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!