In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of being desperate for God's presence and blessings. He mentions various biblical figures who were desperate and received God's favor, such as Jacob, Moses, Gideon, and David. The preacher contrasts these examples with the rich young ruler who was not desperate and missed out on God's blessing. He reminds the audience that Jesus is present with them now and challenges them to truly believe in his presence. The preacher also criticizes the common phrase "Lord, be with us" and encourages a deeper understanding of God's constant presence.

Now, I know what you're saying tonight. You're saying, I wish I could have lived in those days when Jesus came. In fact, we have a dear song in our songbooks, and it's all right far as it goes. I think when I read that sweet story of old, when Jesus was here among men, how he called little children his lambs to his fold. I should like to have been with him then. Well, that's all right, but, may I remind you tonight, if you're sitting back there saying, wouldn't it have been wonderful to be somewhere when Jesus was there, may I remind you that he's here now? Do you believe that? If I could get one church full of folks that actually believed that verse, where two or three have gathered in my name, I am there. I don't know when we'd get out of here tonight. But we don't believe it. We've heard it too much. Now, some fellow across the ocean that hasn't heard it, why, that'll keep him awake, puts us to sleep. We've heard it too much. Evan Roberts of the Welsh Revival, my, how God used him, but it got so the people waited for him to come, they didn't think you could have a revival until Evan Roberts was there. So one night he came, and a great crowd was there, and he walked out on the platform and said, How many of you believe that where two or three are gathered, the Lord is there? Amen! Well, he said, Do you believe he's here tonight? Amen! Well, he said, Then you don't need me. And he put on his hat and coat and left. That was a dramatic way of driving this truth home. I've quit a long time ago saying, Lord, be with us in the meeting. I hear somebody nearly every time say, Lord, be with us. Now, I think I know what they mean. I think they mean make us aware of thy presence and conscious of thy presence. But he's here. He's right here tonight. And the thing that I hope you noticed about these folks I've mentioned is that nearly every one of them was desperate. Now, we don't have many people today in holy desperation to get through to God. They get desperate and get drunk and take drugs and kill themselves and everything else. All the way through the Bible, Jacob at Jabbok, Moses at the Red Sea, Gideon, David and Goliath, the lepers in the gates of Samaria, Balaam, Eustace, Araphanes, and the woman and the judge in the parable, and the man that had no bread at midnight for his guests. Every one of them desperate. But there was one chap who stood head and shoulders above all those folks who missed his blessing while they got theirs. He was the rich young ruler. Now, the trouble with that boy was he was not desperate. He could take it or leave it. And as long as you can take it or leave it, you of old folks can leave it every time. He looked like he meant business, but he didn't.