Gods Presence

Perhaps the central theme of the Bible is God’s Presence with Humanity, but What Does that Mean for Us?

The Story of God’s Presence

—God made a temple to be with his people.

—The God who Is is present Redeems

Leviticus through Deuteronomy—God Made A Way for Humans to Be with Him

Psalms—Worship the God Who Develops Relationships with Us

Prophets—God is Coming and Life Will Get Better

Gospels—Jesus is God With Us

Acts—Jesus Came! Everyone Should Know Before He Comes Back

Letters—How Then Shall We Live with God?

Revelation—Jesus is Coming Back Again to Take Us Home

What Does God’s Presence Mean To Me?

God desires a personal relationship with his people and so makes his presence known to establish and cultivate this relationship (Duvall and Hayes God’s Relational Presence 325).

God graciously wants to be with us so we can see the purpose of creation, the sadness of the Fall, the glory of Christ’s work, and the Heavenly expectation of future glory.

We can't avoid God’s presence because this is why God created us. Like the sun, God’s presence will either give us life or destroy us depending on how we choose to relate to him.

We should choose to live holy lives in his presence since we are more aware that we are always “before his face.”

We should look forward to being with God fully in Heaven. This is where we are created to be.

Come Lord Jesus

Sermons and Discourses, 1739–1742 Doctrine

The way for those that have the presence of God not to lose it, is to take heed to themselves as to these two things, viz. that they don’t forsake him, and they still seek him

Sermons and Discourses, 1739–1742 Doctrine

They that have the presence of God ought to continue to seek him.

Not only take heed not to go from him that they have found, but still seek him as though they had not found him. Those that have most of the presence of God should continue earnestly to seek God still as much as if they had not found him. So the Apostle, who had found God probably in as high a degree as ever: “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:12).

They have found him but in part. [So they should] seek him as much as when they had not found him at all, as before conversion, or when under desertion.

[They should seek him] earnestly and laboriously and constantly, every day. In the following things:

(1) In earnest desires, not resting in past attainments, though never so high.

(2) Humble and earnest prayers.

(3) By renewedly relinquishing all other things for the blessings that are sought, and doing it more and more.

(4) All manner of duties should be performed in such a manner as that therein they should seek God.

Thus God should still be sought by those that have most of the presence of God, and the greatest degree of the manifestations of his favor and smiles.

So David commanded that it should be in Israel. 1 Chron. 22:19, “Now therefore set your heart and soul [to seek the Lord your God].” The following reasons may be given why:

(1) Because those that have obtained most are vastly short of the perfection that is to be sought after.

(2) Those that have obtained most of that which is of the right kind, they see most how they fall short.

(3) They have more than others to excite their desires and appetites after perfection.

(4) They are under greater obligations than others to aim at perfection.

(5) They have more light to see their obligation.

(6) God has given ’em more strength and more talents. The more talents [they have] to improve, the more business and the greater work they have, the more to take care of, [and the] more strength [to do so].

(7) We are commanded to “seek the Lord while he may be found,” and “to call [upon him while he is near” (Is. 55:6)]. He is near in the highest sense.