Desperate for God’s Presence — Shane Idleman

I don't know about you, but you could have continued worshiping. Incredible worship. Let me just open in prayer and then we can be seated or you can be seated. Lord I pray that something special happens tonight.

That your fire would penetrate deep into our hearts. Lives would be changed. Marriages restored. Prodigals come home. Holy Spirit have your way in this place. In Jesus name. Amen. Thank you guys, you can be seated.

Well as he said, my name is Shane Eidelman. I'm a pastor in California. And there is hope for California. Many, many believers are contending And standing up for the truth. So don't believe the media.

God is working deeply. And in our church, West Side Christian Fellowship We too share your heart for revival, prayer and fasting. And so I want to talk to you tonight about the presence of God. The fire of God.

Desperation for God’s Presence

Now God's presence is frightening in regard to judgment. Isaiah says that the idols of Egypt will totter at his presence. But his fire, his presence is very good in the life of a believer. Matthew said that he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

It's a very good thing. When a church is on fire The demonic realm is crushed and countless lives are changed. And America's only hope Our only answer right now Is a mighty move of God's Spirit, a spiritual awakening.

To awaken his church. To be desperate for more of God. Desperate for more of his presence. And that's a question I want you to consider tonight. Are you desperate for more of God? We must pray that God would fill us with his holy fire.

And we must cry out like the prophet Isaiah. Oh God would you rend the heavens. And come down. Let the mountains shake at your presence And visit your people. We need the presence of God like never before.

Oh that the nations would tremble. Oh that Washington D .C. would tremble. Oh that the churches would once again tremble. The fear of God is a very good thing. It's the beginning of wisdom and knowledge.

It draws us back to God. And when God rips open the heavens It's imagery of his presence coming down among his people. The Bible comes alive. We can't stop worshiping. Our hearts are set ablaze for more of God.

My point is this. It all begins with Desperation, desperation, desperation. There's a hunger. There's a hunger for more of God. A desperation. A desperation. And God rends the heavens when his people seek him.

Jeremiah reminds us That if we seek him You will find him. Some of you need to hear that again. If you seek him You will find him. When you search for him with all your heart God promises that you will find him.

So again, are you desperate for more of God? Are you hungry for righteousness and holiness? Is God your all-consuming fire? There must be desperation. Desperate people do desperate things. They might have all-night prayer meetings.

They might fast and starve the flesh. They might take off a day and just worship God. Because they are desperate. But over time If we're not diligent and disciplined The fire of God can fade. And I truly believe that's why your pastor asked me To come here tonight.

Maybe that describes some of you here tonight. You've lost your passion for God. You've left your first love. God seems distant. And that's why Jeremiah 29 was the solution. If you seek him, you will find him.

Seeking God with Wholehearted Diligence

But this word seek Is not half-hearted. It's not apathetic. It's not passive. Seeking God. In the Hebrew language It's an all-consuming passion to find something. If you lost your child here tonight Would you eat dinner before searching for them?

Would you look for them when your schedule permits? No! No! There's a hunger, there's a desperation. I've got to find that child. Now parallel that with seeking God. See there's a hunger, there's a desperation.

I've got to find God no matter the cost. I've got to find God no matter the cost. That word seek is bakash in the Hebrew. It's I will not stop until I find him. Oh God help us tonight. Give us that desperation.

Again, desperate people do desperate things. They fully surrender their lives to Christ. They stop playing games with God. They pray fervently that God would rend the heavens. Obeying God's word is a delight, not a drudgery.

God is not many things on their agenda. He is the agenda. He is the priority. We've got to foster that hunger and that desire. Are you hungry for more of him? I mean hungry for more of God. Because when the prodigal son was hungry He stayed with the pigs.

But when he was starving, when he was desperate He ran home to the father. That desperation, that hunger. I must return to the father. And the father met him and embraced his son. There was a desperation.

Revival, Perseverance, and the Fading Fire

I love to study about revivals. For 20 years now. Praying for revival. That God would awaken his church. And I came across the revivals of 1904, 1905. They interviewed a man much later on. Who had experienced that powerful move of God.

And they asked him Why did the fire fade from that revival. And he said with tears in his eyes When you lay hold of God. Never, never, never let go. When you lay hold of God there's a hunger. There's a passion.

There's a desire to hold on to God. So is your fire fading tonight? Maybe you've grown cold or callous. Then I want to encourage you to cry out to God tonight. Oh God would you rend my heart. Oh God not just the heavens.

God come down and rend my heart, break my heart. Humble me tonight. God hears the desperate cries of his children. There's a brokenness, there's a humility. Desperately needed today Is brokenness and humility.

Diligence in Faith and Prayer

But with desperation we also must have diligence. Many of you know of Hebrews 11 .6 That he is a rewarder of those who Diligently seek him. The American church knows nothing of discipline And diligence.

You visit the underground church in China. Or Iraq or Iran. There's a diligence despite the circumstances. And diligence is pressing in. Despite the temptation to quit. And I believe that God is looking for those Who will diligently pursue him.

There's a heart of diligence. I will seek you even when I don't feel like it. I will pray when I don't see the results. I will contend for my marriage when all hell is breaking loose. I will pray for my prodigal sons and daughters.

Even though I see no results. Because my faith trusts God despite the circumstances. Faith, faith believes God. Lord I trust you despite what I'm going through. With desperation and diligence. There also must be a desire For holiness and humility.

Holiness and Separation from the World

The prophet Isaiah said For thus says the high and lofty one Who inhabits eternity. Think about that for a minute. The God of the universe. He says listen to me. I am high and lifted up. Our God is an awesome God.

What army can defeat him. What country can control him. What kingdom can contain him. What leader can conquer him. What plan can stop him. What problem can confuse him. What devil can destroy him. What weapon can harm him.

What setback can hinder him. What obstacle can delay him. Oh I can keep going. Let me tell you about the God I serve. The God who will raise up one king. He will pull another king down. Our God is an awesome God.

Focus on him. Nothing can stop God almighty. Oh I feel like preaching tonight. Isaiah goes on to say That God's name is holy. And in the American church We talk a lot about God's love. And thank God for God's love.

It's grace that's brought me here thus far. And it'll be grace that takes me home. But of all the attributes of God throughout the Bible Holiness is elevated Above them all The holiness of God. The holy presence of God.

We need to get back to the fear of God in this place. The holy standard of God. The angels cry holy, holy, holy is our God. And I think the church needs to start crying Holy, holy, holy is our God. Where is the brokenness at the altar.

Where is the holiness that we desire. Paul said come out from among them, be separate. You will not know the power of God Unless you come out from among them. And be separate. You will look different from the world, get over it.

You will look different from the world and stop worrying. We try to teach our youth this. You will look different. You will act different. Your movie choices The music you listen to Will be different.

You are holy and set apart for God. You are desperate for more of sin. You are desperate for your Savior. So there is a difference in you. God says come out from among them, be separate. Be holy, holy, holy like God.

Others love the world, you love worship. He who loves the world Does not have the love of the Father in him. There is a breaking away that must take place. You want to be filled with the fire of God The Spirit of God.

Then there is a separation from the world. Not legalism But a love for God. And then finally we must embrace humility. We must embrace humility To keep the fire going. And you are seeing how all of this works.

Desperation Meets diligence Meets holiness. But there must be humility. Going back to Isaiah God reminds us that he dwells In the high and holy place. This verse has wrecked And rocked my world. This verse has changed my life.

I wrote a book on it recently. Oh God would you rend the heavens. And here is what got me. He says I dwell in the high and holy place. And at first glance You might think that's impossible. You'll never experience the presence of God If that's where he lives.

But then he says I dwell in the high and holy place With him With him, her. Who has a contrite And humble spirit. The very God of the universe Will dwell and his presence will be revealed in your life.

Humility, Brokenness, and the Defeat of Pride

If you have a contrite and humble spirit Listen. The blessing of brokenness Is incredible. There is so much pride in the church. Jockeying for position. I want center stage attention. God says humble yourself.

In due time I will exalt you. Of all the pain and problems I have seen pastoring. Of all the addictions and lusts That have taken people down. Of all the angry homes and broken families. There is always one culprit.

One criminal. Pride. A proud pastor is an ugly thing. A proud Christian Will not know the fullness of God's spirit. It's hard to be used of God when you're full of yourself. Pride is deadly. It is damning It is fatal It is disastrous.

I don't have any of this in my notes. But I want to share something with you. First you need to know That I am a prideful man. Working on humility everyday. God knows we struggle with it. But you're supposed to bring your struggle to the altar And repent.

I gave my life to the Lord Jesus Christ when I was 12. Had my first drink around that same age. Fell in love with alcohol by age 16. The prodigal son Crystal meth. Of course marijuana, alcohol, the party scene.

I was on a highway to hell. You guys know the ACDC song? That was it, that was my life. And at the heart of all that was pride I thought I was Mr. Tough Guy. Listen men. Machismo no bueno. You are hurting your family.

You are hurting your relationship with the Lord. I thought a tough guy was When I could bench press 400 pounds and beat people up. But I was prideful and arrogant. And God humbled me. Very painful. But I wouldn't change a thing.

Because through that pain That brokenness There comes a strong anointing from God's Spirit. The more humble you become The more God will promote you. God will use you. Because you don't worry about status.

Recognition Promotion. You begin to understand what John the Baptist said He must increase And I must decrease. And when pride comes into your heart You rip it out. And you find yourself on the altar Crying out to God.

Like David. Creating me a clean heart And renewing me a right spirit. Oh God I have drifted from you. I have left my first love. Oh God break me again And use me again. I'm desperate. I told you desperate people do desperate things.

We've got to break this pride out of our arrogant hearts. Pride is your downfall. Humble yourself tonight. If God is breaking you And humbling you. Although it may be challenging. Rejoice in the refining process.

One of my favorite authors A .W. Tozer He said It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly. Until he has hurt him deeply. Hurt us deeply. Remove that pride. God knows how to humble us. We must submit to the humbling process.

But you know what prevents mainly men. I've spoken in a lot of men's conferences. That's what I used to do before pastoring. And excuses keep so many men from experiencing God. A three letter word gets in the way.

But You don't know my spouse. You don't know what I'm going through. But, but, but, but. And I say shut your mouth, get on this altar And cry out to God. How bad do you want it? Are you desperate for more of God?

The Crushing Process and God’s Revival

In the same way that olives are crushed for their oil Or grapes for their juice. We must be crushed In order for the pride to come out. It's in that crushing process. You see what happens. Is when, for example I come up here, I come with a limp now From the humbling process.

And God says, He's no respecter of persons. He's a respecter of principles. He says, that's a person I can use. They've humbled themselves. And we too must be humbled Before we can be mightily used by God.

Humility and brokenness. Keep the flames of God burning in your heart. Then, and only then Do we have an incredible promise. Let's look at this briefly. Isaiah. I dwell in a high and holy place With him who has a contrite And humble spirit.

This is exciting. God says I will revive the spirit of the humble. So you come in dead. Church seems boring. God is distant. He says, humble yourself. And I will revive you. I will awaken you. I will restore you.

Oh, remember your first love. When Christ was at all consuming passion. I don't care what people think. I'm going to raise up holy hands And seek God with all of my heart. Because when God moves It crosses denominational lines.

It crosses ethnicities. For example I didn't understand one word of worship. But I felt the Spirit of God.

Crying, Abba, Father Abba, Father.

I felt the Spirit of God Moving among his people Breaking, restoring Renewing, reviving That is revival. But again, you must be humble And desperate for his presence. The choice is yours. Here's how pride works.

Hypocrisy, Conviction, and Absolute Truth

Many sitting in the audience Or listening to this later Will be saying to themselves That's good for him. But I'm still a tough guy. Machismo. I don't need that. That's too extreme. That's for women. Pride is deadly.

It is ugly. It keeps many men From the kingdom of God. I'm amazed How many men Have one persona at church. And one persona In the workplace or on social media. The Bible has a word for that. Hypocrites.

And I often say If you don't like what I'm saying It's because you need to hear what I'm saying. God's word convicts. God's word does not apologize. His word is active and living. Sharper Than any sword.

It discerns the thoughts and the intents of the heart. Real, Bible believing. Truth elevating, preaching. Will cut to the heart. We are not motivational speakers. We are preachers of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.

And I don't know about you. But I want to elevate the truth again. I want to bring back the holiness of God And the righteousness of God And the blood of Christ And the judgment of God. And a precious word called repentance.

We don't want to talk about those words anymore. Because they offend people. But have we ever stopped to consider That we might be offending God. I could go off on another sermon now. But I'm going to get back.

The desperate need to get back to absolute truth. We are not motivational speakers again. We are to rightly divide the word of truth. Because the time will come, and it is here now. When they will not endure sound doctrine.

But they will look for teachers Who will tell them what their ears want to hear. But God says, I'm not going to tell you what you want to hear. I'm going to tell you what you need to hear. And it cuts to the heart.

The Living Water of Christ and the Call to Revival

Oh God, help us tonight. God, we need your Holy Spirit's fire. God, would you visit your people again. We're tired of playing church. We want to experience God. What a travesty. It will be at the end of your journey.

To find that pride robbed you of the presence of God. 50, 60, 70, 80 years. Never knowing the power of God. Never being transformed by the glorious gospel. Never being mightily filled with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said, if you believe on me. As the scriptures say Out of your belly Will flow rivers Of dead, stagnant water. No Living, vibrant, abundant water. Jesus said At the woman at the well. If you drink of this water You will never thirst again.

Come and drink. Come and drink deeply in the well of Christ. So for some here tonight. You need to bring your dead dreams. You need to bring your broken children. You need to bring your failed marriages.

And you need to bring your shattered hopes to this altar. For others, you need to humble yourself tonight. Listen, it's a wonderful thing to experience God. But we've got to break out of that bubble of being comfortable.

I want to experience the presence of God. Or I don't want to have anything to do with religion. Quoting Tozer again, I believe. The presence of God. When you enter God's presence with praise I want you to think about this for a minute.

When you enter God's presence with praise He enters your situation with power. Can you imagine getting a church broken and humble again? On fire for God. So instead of an altar call I propose an altar fall.

I got that from Michael. You remember that? No, okay. Maybe it wasn't you. But there has to be a desperation. We can't just come in, sing a few songs. Hear a message. And then go feed King's stomach. There's got to be that desperation.

So I want to encourage you. Come to Christ and drink deeply from the fountain of living water. And also I don't know who's here tonight. Or listening later. But I always want to remind you And challenge you.

Genuine Conversion, Repentance, and Final Judgment

Do you have a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ? Or are you playing games with God? The Bible says that you must confess Christ As Lord and Savior. Humility. Humbling ourselves. Listen, this is not a game.

All of eternity Rests on that decision. And on that final day of judgment I'll never forget reading this scripture. I was 29 years old Hungover Far from God. I opened the word. And I realized. You'll hear either.

Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Or depart from me. I don't even know you. I said, wait a minute, how does Jesus not know me? You can know about someone But not genuinely know them. If there's no relationship.

And I cried out to God. And God filled me with His Spirit. The Bible came alive. I turned off my country music And put on Christian music. I began to have a desire for God. A passion for God. Boldness for God.

Because of that beautiful word. Repentance. And I don't want to leave here tonight Without letting you know That there is a God. And He takes His word seriously. Matthew 7. You said you did many things in my name.

But depart from me. You who practice lawlessness. So there's two groups I'm really speaking to tonight. The first group is many of you. Maybe you've lost that first love. And it's a sad thing when you lose that first love.

You lose that passion. That zeal. That desire. You want more of God. But you're lost. You've drifted. And so we're going to open the altar tonight. Also if you've been playing games with God We're going to ask you to come up as well.

Surrender your life Completely. I finally realize That the Lord Jesus Christ Is not an option. He's Savior and Lord. And we can have the worship team go ahead and come up. And I'm going to actually. Even though I don't speak Spanish I'm going to be up front and I would love to pray for you.

The Holy Spirit’s Fire and the Final Call

God knows, the Holy Spirit knows. And I want to pray that the fire of God Would fall upon your life again. Listen. Regardless of what you see on TV The power of the Holy Spirit is not something to fear.

The fruit of the Spirit Is not weirdness. It's boldness. There's a fire for God. He will baptize you With the Holy Spirit. And with fire. Oh if we could get the fire of God back in our lives. I don't know about you.

But the only hope for America The only hope for our families Is the powerful move of God's Spirit. Oh cry out like the prophets. His word is in my heart. Like a burning fire. Shut up in my bones. I'm weary of holding it back.

And if that's you tonight, cry out to God. Say God.

Fill me with that fire.

Fill me with that Holy Spirit. Oh God I need you, I'm desperate for you I'm hungry for you. Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness Shall, not might Shall be filled. There's a hunger for God. And we need that tonight.

So I don't know what protocol is. I'll leave that up to Pastor Chris and Pastor Michael. And I'd love to pray with you over here. Maybe the prayer team will be available as well. Thank you, let me just close in prayer.

God I admit that I need you. God I need to be broken and humbled On a daily basis Lord. I know many here tonight. And listening later. They've left their first love Lord. Abundance has led to apathy. You've blessed our nation And we've drifted from you.

God would you fill us afresh again with your fire. Create in us a clean heart Lord. Renew that right spirit within us. God do a deep work in our families Our children, our marriages. And I pray for those who are single God fill them mightily with your spirit.