The Presence of God - Part 1

Intro

I’m going to start by asking some questions to get your mind going...

Your theology on this topic may also be in need of some adjusting as well…

Is God’s presence something I can feel?

If so, what kind of feeling is it?

We tend to equate no peace to no presence of God, is that true?

Or we equate good feelings to the presence of God, is that true?

Why don’t I sense the presence of God?

Is the presence of God on my life something that I see, touch or “experience”?

We assume that because we meet for church that God is with us… is that true?

What leads a person to believe another person is Holy Spirit lead in their decisions? (That’s what you are required to do when selecting deacons… “Seek ye out among you...full of the Holy Ghost...”

Does that mean just saved men because they have the permanent indwelling Holy Spirit?

Or is there an indication of a lifestyle and something more?

Ground rules for our study:

1. God’s Presence is Everywhere (omnipresent)

Proverbs 15:3 KJV 1900

3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Beholding the evil and the good.

Psalm 139:7–10 KJV 1900

7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, And thy right hand shall hold me.

Question: Does God’s omnipresence equate to His manifested presence?

Even though God is not restrained to a specific location… that is NOT the presence of God I’m speaking about

2. God’s Presence is in Every Born Again Christian through the Holy Spirit (Permanent Indwelling Holy Spirit)

John 14:16–17 KJV 1900

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Ephesians 4:30 KJV 1900

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Matthew 28:20 KJV 1900

20 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.

Question: if we are saved and have the permanent indwelling Holy Spirit inside of us, than why don’t I always “feel Him”?

Corrie Ten Boom who admittedly did not always “feel” the presence of God through her trial said, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

Even though God is permanently resides in every born again believer… that is NOT the presence of God I’m speaking about

3. God’s Presence as Represented throughout the dispensations (divisions of scripture)

a.) The Dispensation of law

They went to God’s presence (found in the Tabernacle, the Ark of the Covenant, etc.)

We spoke about the place of worship being called God’s house in the different dispensations on Sunday.

They waited for God’s presence (for Him to manifest Himself in a physical manner; cloud, voice of trumpet)

Exodus 19:16–20 KJV 1900

16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. 18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. 19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. 20 And the Lord came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up.

They received God’s presence (temporary indwelling of the Holy Spirit) - He came on people and came off people

aa.) Samson

Judges 14:6 KJV 1900

6 And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.

Judges 16:20 KJV 1900

20 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him.

It’s sobering to think that someone can be accustomed to operating without the power and presence of God...

bb.) Saul

1 Samuel 10:10 KJV 1900

10 And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

1 Samuel 16:14 KJV 1900

14 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.

cc.) Gideon

Judges 6:34 KJV 1900

34 But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abi-ezer was gathered after him.

b.) The Dispensation of Grace

as mentioned above, permanent, indwelling Holy Spirit

We have the permanent presence of God and we neglect it...

Someone - “I want the presence of God Himself or I don’t want anything else to do with religion.”

Do you long for the presence of God in your life?

Are you just NOT okay if you do not have the presence of God in your life?

You should long for the presence of God in your life at church, at home, at work...

and you should long for the presence of God in your own life, your spouse’s life, your kid’s lives...

**** IF you can say, “I don’t really mind how things are going and not having the presence of God in my life.”

Than might there be something about God than you realize??

Imagine church without God in it...

What’s the point?

The lost won’t get saved unless Jesus saves them

The hurting won’t get help unless Jesus helps them

The saved won’t get fed spiritually and discipled unless Jesus feeds and disciples them through His Word

The Lord has been encouraging me lately through you...

I’ve watched so many lately respond to truth preached and make outward decisions because of it...

Jason get haircut and suit

Aaron get suit and bring family

Ms. Shari get baptized Sunday