Untitled Sermon (3)

Glory in the Presence of God

(Psa 139:9-10 NAU) If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,

10 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me.

INTRODUCTION:

One of the things that I enjoy especially; during the heat of the summer is a large glass of ice with some soft drinks like lemonade or tea. And from time to time; my wife Angela will ask;

“Why do you like so much ice with your soft drinks?”

And I will reply; “We don’t have an abundant of a lot of things; but we do have an of ice, and I abundant like experiencing as much ice as I do my soft drinks.”

But ice was not always in abundant.

Before refrigerators, people used icehouses to preserve their food. Icehouses had thick walls, no windows and a tightly fitted door. In winter, when streams and lakes were frozen, large blocks of ice were cut, hauled to the icehouses and covered with sawdust. Often the ice would last well into the summer. One man lost a valuable watch while working in an icehouse. He searched diligently for it, carefully raking through the sawdust, but didn't find it. His fellow workers also looked, but their efforts, too, proved futile. A small boy who heard about the fruitless search slipped into the icehouse during the noon hour and soon emerged with the watch. Amazed, the men asked him how he found it.

"I closed the door," the boy replied, "lay down in the sawdust, and kept very still. Soon I heard the watch ticking."

Often the question is not whether God is speaking, but whether we are still enough and quiet enough to hear. Yes, Jesus assures us that our heavenly Father always listens to us, but do we really listen to Him? Do we follow the instructions of Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God?" But often we ask questions like:

Where is God when I really need Him? Why is God so far away? May I tell you, God has never been far away from you. You may have been far away from Him, but God is never far away from you. I want to speak to you today on this subject: “THE GLORY OF GOD’S PRESENCE.”

God Is Everywhere

Has it ever dawned on you that God never has to go anywhere? He never has to go anywhere. God is everywhere.

It’s impossible for us to be in two places at one time. But not God—God fills heaven and earth.

Sometimes we compartmentalize GOD. HE is in HIS Holy temple; but not so much with us everywhere and at ALL times. When I was little boy, we used to go to church, and right over the front door of the church it said, “The Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before Him.” (Habakkuk 2:20) And I had the idea that that was where God dwelt—inside there: I came out here where He was not; I went inside where He was. But what did Paul say in Acts chapter 17? “

(Act 17:24 NAU) God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;

He went on to say in Acts 17:28, “

(Act 17:28 NAU) for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children.'

That is, God is everywhere.

Now surely He’s here. But He’s not just here; He’s out there also, isn’t He? There’s nowhere where God is not. Sometimes you hear a man when he comes into church and he gets that stained-glass voice; he talks like he’s got a steeple stuck in his throat. And we get so holy, you know, and I hear these fellows, one moment they’re very natural, and then they stand up and they begin to pray, and they say, “O Lord, we come into thy presence.” I say, “I wonder where He’s been.” I mean, now we’re suddenly entering into the presence of God.

Now, there is a truth that if we can get riveted into your soul, embedded into your mind, and blended into your spirit, it will change your life.

So, this morning, I want to speak to you about four things you need to know about THE GLORY OF GOD’S PRESENCE ;

When You’re Discouraged, GOD’s Presence Will See You Through

When You’re Lonely, GOD’s Presence Will Cheer You Up

When You’re Worried About Your Enemies, GOD’s Presence Will Calm You Down

When You’re Tempted, GOD’s Presence Will Help You Out

First of all …

uWHEN YOU’RE DISCOURAGED; GOD’S PRESENCE WILL SEE YOU THROUGH

Do you ever get discouraged? Nod your head. I mean, do you ever just find yourself in a dark night of the soul? Look in verses 11 and 12:

(Psa 139:11-12 NAU) 1 If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,"

12 Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.

Darkness is a symbol of doom as well as a symbol of evil. In the darkest times of our lives—the most painful trials and the most difficult challenges— and we can feel discouraged; but; God is with us. ILLUSTRATION

The dictionary defines a shadow as "a dark area or shape produced by a body or object coming between rays of light and a surface." Is there some "dark area" in your life--a shadow of discouragement or despair? Ask yourself what thing it is that's coming between you and the rays of light that emanate from the throne of God. Is it; social media? Work? addiction? Infidelity? Dishonesty? Anger? Desiring a blessing from God, more than God Himself?

APPLICATION

So often we find ourselves under the shadow of discouragement and despair, not because God's light no longer shines in our lives, but because we've allowed things, people, our own sins to block it.

Step out from behind whatever casts the shadow in your life and feel the light of His love and grace.

"Behold, the LORD'S hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear" (Isaiah 59:1-2).

But if it’s not some sin or iniquity that made a separate between you and GOD …

Too many times we based our lives on what we have or have not achieved. But GOD can see through the shadow or darkness in our lives.

ILLUSTRATION

If I take a one-hundred-dollar bill and ask a roomful of people who would like to have it, virtually every hand would go up. If I were to take that same bill and ball it up, crumpling it up badly, and then ask who would want it, most people would raise their hands yet again. If I then took that hundred-dollar bill and stepped on it, those same people would still be interested in getting it. Why? Even though that bill had been through a lot, it still would not have lost its value.

The same applies to us when we go through difficult trials. Even when you’ve been through a lot, stepped on, and abused, you haven’t lost your value to God. Even if you’ve gotten dirty, when God looks at you, He does not consider you chump change.

When it looks like your whole world is caving in on you and none of your prayers are being answered, there is good news: you are still worth something to God and He still wants you!!

Why?

But GOD can see through the shadow or darkness in our lives.

So …

When You’re Discouraged, GOD’s Presence Will See You Through

Also,

uWHEN YOU’RE LONELY, GOD’S PRESENCE WILL CHEER YOU UP

(Psa 139:17-18 NAU) How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.

Have you ever felt lonely in the midst of a crowd... feeling separate from people while in the midst of people! It's as if a great, invisible wall is keeping you isolated... allowing you to observe but not belong?

Have you ever felt so alone and burdened by sorrows that it was painful to watch others smile, chat, laugh, and go on with their lives with apparent contentment?

In this condition, it can feel like no one else walks in your shoes, understands your pain, or senses your struggles. This is loneliness, the state of sadness that comes from feeling alone, isolated, or "cut off from others." This sense of "disconnection" can be experienced at any time—when you don't have friends and loved ones nearby... or even when you do....

There are many things that bring loneliness. Death brings loneliness. When your partner or loved ones go, it brings loneliness. Divorce brings loneliness. Division brings loneliness. Disease brings loneliness, when sometimes we are there in that hospital room, and everybody else is gone, and everybody else is going about their business. Sometimes even success can bring loneliness. We’ve often heard it said, “It’s lonely at the top.” Old age can bring loneliness, when everybody is going about their way, and they just seem to leave you out. There are many things that cause people to be lonely.

But you can be alone or not, and that is when you’ll practice the presence of the Lord. Let me tell you, what His presence does for us. It just simply cheers us when we’re so down.

Loneliness.... Even the word sounds painful, bringing up unhappy memories from the past.

Were you the one teased about your looks in childhood or the shy, quiet one everyone overlooked? Maybe your best friend moved to a different city or your dad moved out of the house when you were young. Everyone struggles with feelings of loneliness, for no one escapes separation, loss, grief, isolation, and the human need for relationships.

You were created to live in partnership with others and with God

Job seemingly has lost it all—his property and livestock, children, health, and friends, except for a trio of friends who further traumatize poor Job with misguided and even malicious counsel.

Job languishes in loneliness, longing for the relationships that once so richly blessed his life.

" (Job 19:13-15 NAU) He has removed my brothers far from me, And my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.

14 "My relatives have failed, And my intimate friends have forgotten me.

15 "Those who live in my house and my maids consider me a stranger. I am a foreigner in their sight.

(Job 19:19 NAU) "All my associates abhor me, And those I love have turned against me.”

Loneliness is an emotion that can strike anyone, young or old, outgoing or introverted, confident or uncertain. Because you have been created to have a relationship with God and with others, you become especially vulnerable to loneliness when you experience rejection or another significant loss.

No one escapes feelings of loneliness. It may help you to remember that God allows these feelings to enter our lives so that we may turn our hearts toward Him for comfort and assurance and toward others who are also lonely....

All people feel lonely at times, but the differences between men and women cause us to experience loneliness in different ways and for different reasons. Unmarried individuals and married couples whose relationships are crippled by loneliness are caught in the current cultural whirlwind of changing roles and misplaced expectations.

Relationship rules have changed, and men and women are floundering from no longer having a solid biblical foundation on which to build a stable, secure relationship... to build a bridge to one another that is able to withstand the pressures of a changing society.

What worked for our parents and grandparents does not easily work for couples in today's culture. Many societal supports necessary for forming close family relationships... for building strong emotional bridges... have been discarded, and couples are finding it next to impossible to build something on nothing. Those who try often end up emotionally battered and bruised.

Your longing to belong is natural because God has placed within each of us a basic need for relationship with Him and with others. Don't seek to dull the pain of loneliness by finding substitutes to fill the void.

Seeking comfort in food, shopping, alcohol, illegal drugs, or sexual encounters may offer momentary pleasure... but these will cause you emotional or physical harm in the long run.

Instead of focusing on your personal need, refocus on your relationship with Christ, leaning on His understanding and drawing from His strength....

Oh, praise God for that!

(Psa 16:11-1 NAU) You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

It is not so much the joy of the Lord we are seeking as the Lord of joy Himself.

ILLUSTRATION

Have you ever needed to pray and you felt that you’re all alone in you struggle; your trial … know one understand what you’ve been through.

You go down on your knees, weary, tired, teary eyed: then you pray;

And the tear of SORROW turn to tears of JOY; and you say; “Thank you Lord.”

When You’re Discouraged, GOD’s Presence Will See You Through

When You’re Lonely, GOD’s Presence Will Cheer You Up

And …

uWHEN YOU YOU’RE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR ENEMIES, GOD PRESENCE WILL CALM YOU DOWN

Do you ever get worried ABOUT YOUR ENEMIES? Sure you do; instead getting even or getting revenge or enjoying thoughts of beating them up. Listen to what David did. I want you to see what happens here. In Psalm 139:19, he says

(Psa 139:19 NAU) O that You would slay the wicked, O God; Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed.

Listen. There were some people who hated David and did not fear God. He called them bloody men. That is, they wanted to kill him. He had something to worry about. He says in verses 20-21;

(Psa 139:20-21 NAU) For they speak against You wickedly, And Your enemies take Your name in vain.

21 Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?

Now when he says, “I hate them,” it doesn’t use the emotional language that we use by hate. What the word “hate” means here is “to choose against.” That is, I take a position against these men. And who was David against? David said, “I’m against those who are against God.” But David went on to say, “Thank God, God is against those who are against me.”

You see, when God’s enemies become my enemies, my enemies become God’s enemies.

ILLUSTRATION

When you were a kid going to school, was there was always their a kid that was willing to pick on you? When I was going to school, I used to have this kid who always picked on me, this mean kid. And one day I just turned around and told her, “You leave me alone.”

Now, if you go to school when somebody is picking on you, but your dad goes to school with you, or your big brother walks you, you’re not afraid anymore.

See, that’s what David is saying. David is saying, “Look! GOD is with me. His presence calms me down. His enemies are my enemies. But my enemies are His enemies. And I don’t have to worry if God is with me in this trouble. And just thank God that He just calms me down.”

(Rom 8:31 NAU) What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

ILLUSTRATION

When I was a little boy, my father bought me a punching bag. It was basically a painted balloon. I would hit the punching bag every which way, but nothing I did kept that punching bag from popping right back up. I could slam it to the ground and BOOM! it came right back up. I could kick it and BOOM! it would come right back up. The only way I could keep the punching bag from coming back up was to destroy it. The reason it would come back up is because at its base, there was a weight, and the weight forced whatever external pressure you put on it to bring it right back up.

That’s biblical happiness to calm you down; when you’re enemies may have you worries. No matter what your circumstance is, Bang! Bing! Back up! No matter what your situation is, Bang! Bing! Back up! Your ability to recover is because there is weightiness on the inside. Whatever external pressure you experience only brings you right back up. This is the power of the blessed life. This is the power of overcoming

WHEN YOU YOU’RE WORRIED, HIS PRESENCE WILL CALM YOU DOWN

Lastly …

uWHEN YOU’RE TEMPTED, GOD’S PRESENCE WILL HELP YOU OUT

Psalm 139:23–24:

(Psa 139:23-24 NAU) Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts;

24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.

David knew that God already knew his heart, but he’s saying, “God, you show me my heart; you show me my thoughts; search me and try me. You see, I want to be led in the right way.” David knew temptation just like you do and I do. But he’s saying, “O God, you look into me.”

Have you ever noticed how difficult it is to do wrong when you know somebody’s watching?

You’re a whole lot more apt to eat all the banana pudding if you’re there by yourself, isn’t that right? But when somebody is watching, it just has a restraint.

And this is what David is saying: “God, you search me. You know my heart. You look into me. Lord, you’re right here, not only on the outside, but on the inside.” You see, the Bible says, in 1 Corinthians 10:13;

(1Co 10:13 NAU) No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

GOD says that all temptation is COMMON. It’s been common since Adam and Eve. Satan strategy is old and Common. HE has only three way to temped you; (1Jo 2:16 NAU) the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life.

But is many give in. But GOD doesn’t take the temptation away; the Scripture says; “with the temptation GOD will provide the way of escape.

ILLUSTRATION

So, let me tell you what happens by using myself as an example. Many of you that know me; know I’m not a big cake eater. People can have birthday cake, wedding cakes, typically, I’ll pass.

But there one can that I’m tempted by, even though; I not a big cake eater, and that’s homemade German Chocolate cake. Now, if it’s homemade German Chocolate cake, and even though I’m on a diet and I’m NOT suppose to be eating any sweets; the homemade German Chocolate cake will tempt me.

So, GOD will allow Satan to put a homemade German Chocolate cake right where I can see, where I’m tempted.

No as long as I focus on that cake and keep saying; “I NOT GOING EAT A PIECE OF THAT GERMAN CHOCALATE CAKE, guess what I’m going to do; eat a piece of the cake.

And then, I’m going to tell myself, well Rick; you’ve already had one; just you might as well have another.

But it all about focusing on the presence of GOD. GOD says there a door over there if you focus on ME; I’ll give you a way of escape.

WHEN YOU’RE TEMPTED, GOD’S PRESENCE WILL HELP YOU OUT

But a lot of Christians try to spiritualize their temptation.

ILLUSTRATION

For example; a businessman was on a diet and experienced a craving for donuts. He drove to the donut shop and just kept circling the block. Then he prayed, “Lord, I know You don’t want me to eat donuts. I know that that’s not Your will, but I need You to confirm it. There are no parking spaces at this donut shop, so I’m going to drive around the block and if no parking space comes open, that will be confirmation.” After going around eight more times, a spot became available. His spiritualizing his desire gave birth to a behavior and the behavior to a sin

But have you ever noticed that when people want to commit some vile sin, they slip off somewhere to a motel and lock the door? Hey, you can’t lock God out. Every act, God sees. Just that one fact: When you say, “God is here; whatever I do, He’s going to see it.” If you commit adultery, God is watching.

But the good news is GOD always offer us a way of escape from our temptation.

WHEN YOU’RE TEMPTED, GOD’S PRESENCE WILL HELP YOU OUT

The Practice of GOD Presence Develop a Spirit of Praise

Psalm 139:14 says,

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” (Psalms 139:14)

Just praise God. Just learn to praise Him.

ILLUSTRATION

When our favorite football team enters the football field we stand on feet and cheer for them. They haven’t score one touched down or field goal; but cheer them on; because of who they are.

God is glorious because that’s who HE is. Just as the grass is green and the sky is blue and water is wet. GOD is glorious because that’s who HE is.

The Bible says that God inhabits the praises of His people. So when you praise Him, God reveals Himself to you. Now He’s always present, but He manifests Himself when we praise. If you’re praying and having difficulty praying, begin to praise. You’ll have an ocean to swim in. Just praise the Lord.

Conclusion

I’m telling you, When You’re Discouraged, GOD’s Presence Will See You Through.

When You’re Lonely, GOD’s Presence Will Cheer You Up.

When You’re Worried About Your Enemies, GOD’s Presence Will Calm You Down.

And When You’re Tempted, GOD’s Presence Will Help You Out. Because that’s THE GLORY OF GOD’S PRESENCE.