The document discusses God's desire to dwell with humanity, be their God, and have them as his people. This desire was expressed in the Old Testament through places like the tabernacle, tent, and temple, as well as through the nation of Israel. In the New Testament, God's desire is expressed through Jesus, believers, and the church. Ultimately, Revelation 21:3 promises that a place and people will be brought together to fulfill God's desire. The document urges responding to God's desire by not being too easily pleased with earthly things but embracing his offer of infinite joy. It suggests seeking God's presence by not being confined by preconceptions and committing to move with him.

1. Neil Bester

3. Divine desire
What is God’s desire?

4. Leviticus 26:11-12 NIV
I will put my dwelling place among
you, and I will not abhor you. I will
walk among you and be your God,
and you will be my people.

5. Ezekiel 37:27 NIV
My dwelling place will be with them; I
will be their God, and they will be my
people.

6. Revelation 21:3 NIV
And I heard a loud voice from the
throne saying, “Now the dwelling of
God is with men, and he will live with
them. They will be his people, and
God himself will be with them and be
their God.”

7. Three main ideas merge
God desires to:
1. Dwell with us
2. Be our God
3. Have a people

8. How has God’s desire
found expression?
Old Testament – places:
Tabernacle
Tent
Temple
Ark of the Covenant
The nation of Israel

9. How has God’s desire
found expression?
New Testament – persons:
• The person of Christ
• The person of the believer
• The persons of the Church

10. How has God’s desire
found expression?
A future promise:
Revelation 21:3 – A place and person
are finally brought together.

11. Desire for the Divine
How do we respond to God’s desire?

18. It would seem that our Lord finds our
desire not too strong, but too weak. We
are half-hearted creatures, fooling about
with drink and sex and ambition when
infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant
child who wants to go on making mud
pies in a slum because he cannot
imagine what is meant by the offer of a
holiday at the sea. We are far too easily
pleased.
CS Lewis

19. Divine desire has direction
What does it mean to be a people of
God’s presence?

20. Divine desire has direction
• What does it mean to be a people
of God’s presence?
• Let’s not be confused about who
God is.
• Let’s lay aside preconceptions.
• Let’s commit to move with God.

21. Psalm 24 NIV
1 The earth is the LORD’s,
and everything in it, the world,
and all who live in it;
2 for he founded it on the seas
and established it on the waters.

22. Psalm 24 NIV
3 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.

23. Psalm 24 NIV
5 They will receive blessing from the
LORD and vindication from God their
Saviour.
6 Such is the generation of those who
seek him, who seek your face, God of
Jacob.

24. Psalm 24 NIV
7 Lift up your heads, you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
the LORD mighty in battle.

25. Psalm 24 NIV
9 Lift up your heads, you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is he, this King of glory?
The LORD Almighty –
he is the King of glory.