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Strong & Courageous Message 01 of 11
God is with Us
Pastor Anthony King· January 11, 2026
Exodus 33:1-17
This sermon from Exodus 33:1–17 reminds believers that God’s presence—not success, comfort, or direction alone—is the true source of courage, rest, and security. Through Moses’ example, we learn that honest prayer and a desire to truly know God deepen our faith and guide our steps. When we choose God’s presence over personal control, we are strengthened to live distinctly, wait faithfully, and move forward only where the Lord leads.
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it:”
Exodus 33:1
God is present everywhere at all times, but He sometimes chooses to reveal that presence in a special, experienced way that strengthens, convicts and encourages His people.
God’s omnipresence means He is always everywhere, fully aware and active in all places, whether people recognize Him or not.
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.Psalm 139:7-10
God’s manifest presence is when He makes His nearness unusually clear and tangible so that people consciously experience His glory, power, and grace.
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.Acts 4:31-33
God’s presence gives courage when the future is unclear.
Honest prayer is the starting place for courageous faith.
And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.Exodus 3:11-12
We’re not looking just for God’s answers, but seeking to really know God. Knowing God strengthens our faith.
Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.Psalm 25:4-5
God’s promise, “My presence shall go with you,” is the foundation of courage and rest.
Rest is not found in easier circumstances but in trusting the God who walks with us in every circumstance.
A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.Psalm 23:1-4
The same God who promised His presence to Moses and Israel promises His presence to us today in Jesus.
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.Matthew 28:20
Without God’s presence, no mission is worth taking and no step is truly safe.
Moses would rather stay in the wilderness with God than enter the promised land without Him. God Himself is the greatest gift and safeguard.
Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.Psalm 73:25-26
True courage is refusing to move ahead in our own strength and choosing instead to wait on the Lord until He leads.
I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.Psalm 27:13-14
God’s presence sets His people apart and makes us boldly different.
What makes us different from everyone else is not our strength, but our God who dwells with us.
For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?Deuteronomy 4:7
God’s personal grace and knowledge of us by name gives us boldness to live for Him in a fearful world.
Choose God’s presence over personal control.
Let God’s promises, not your feelings, set your courage level.
Refuse to “go up” without God.
Live distinctly and courageously because God is with you.
1And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it: 2And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: 3Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way. 4And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments. 5For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee. 6And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb. 7And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp. 8And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle. 9And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses. 10And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door. 11And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle. 12And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. 13Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. 14And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. 15And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. 16For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. 17And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. Exodus 33:1-17
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