Part 03: Aslan is On The Move
Longing for God's Manifest Presence
Sermon Summary
In this message, Pastor Carl Gulley teaches on Psalm 85, a prayer of longing for the arrival of a King. Written by the sons of Korah, whose father rebelled against Moses and died when the ground opened up, this psalm carries profound weight. These are people who had no right to write Scripture, yet God's grace allowed them to pen 12 chapters of our Bible. Their cry, "Will you not revive us again?" isn't about making churches bigger or solving problems. It's about God's people finding spiritual strength and joy in Him again.
Key Scriptures
Psalm 85:6-7 (NIV) "Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation."
2 Corinthians 2:2 (NASB1995) "For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified."
Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
Genesis 2:7 (NIV) "Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."
John 20:22 (NIV) "And with that he breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.'"
Instructions for Groups
Choose a few of these questions from the various categories to go deeper in the sermon and put the truths of Scripture into practice. You don't need to answer every question. Select the ones that will best help your group engage with God's Word and apply it to your lives.
Discussion Questions
Scripture Study & Deeper Understanding
1. What is the historical context of Psalm 85? Who were the sons of Korah, and why is it significant that they wrote this psalm asking God to "revive us again"? What happened to their father Korah according to the book of Numbers?
2. In Psalm 85:6-7, the sons of Korah ask "Will you not revive us again?" but they've already mentioned God's forgiveness and restoration in earlier verses. What does this progression tell us about the relationship between forgiveness, renewal, and revival? What are they building toward in their prayer?
3. When Cody Carnes quoted 2 Corinthians 2:2 ("I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified"), what is the context of Paul's statement in 2 Corinthians? Who was Paul writing to, and what problem was he addressing in that church?
Encouragement, Challenge & Personal Testimony
4. Carl distinguished between God's omnipresence (He is always with us) and God's manifest presence (when He shows up in a room in a tangible way). Have you ever experienced what you would describe as God's manifest presence? What was that like for you, and how did it impact you?
5. The sons of Korah prayed "Revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you," not "so our church gets big" or "so my problems go away." What does this reveal about the true purpose of revival? How does this challenge our typical motivations for wanting God to move in our lives?
6. Carl's wife Blair told him, "The last four years you've been experiencing spiritual renewal, but since this crisis kicked in, it's like an engine has cranked inside of you that is exhausting you." When have you experienced the difference between operating in spiritual renewal versus operating in your own strength and striving? What were the warning signs that told you something had shifted?
Putting it into Practice
7. Carl had to begin "subtracting things" from his life and renewing practices of Sabbath and solitude. What is one specific thing you sense God asking you to subtract from your life in this season? What is one spiritual practice (like Sabbath or solitude) you need to renew or start?
8. At the end of the message, Carl invited people to pray either "God, I want You to come" or "God, I want to want You to come." Which prayer is more honest for you right now? What specific next step could you take this week to cultivate that deeper longing for God's presence?
Prayer
9. Listening to the Holy Spirit We're going to take focused time to listen to the Holy Spirit and what He wants to speak to us personally based on our time in Scripture and discussion tonight. Let's sit in silence for 60 seconds and ask the Spirit to speak to each one of us.
[After the minute of silence] What do you sense the Holy Spirit highlighting or speaking to you as we prayed?
10. Prayer Requests from Tonight's Study What prayer requests come up for you based on our Scripture study and discussion tonight? How can we pray for you as you seek to apply what God has shown you?