Peace in the Presence

Intro

*Start with the story of the disciples on the day of Jesus’ ascension*

Matthew 28:20 “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””

When it comes to overcoming fear, there is peace in the presence of God

We have learned a lot:

Look fear in the eye (don’t ignore it!)

Peace is found in between the pillars of God’s goodness and control

You will have grace for today, so don’t worry about tomorrow

Fear reveals our allegiances, so pledge allegiance to the kingdom of God

The fear (awe, reverance) of God casts out our own fears

Jesus came to deliver us from the sting and fear of death itself

The last lesson is crucial: You are NEVER alone. God is present with you.

This lesson is so important it is oft-repeated by God in Scripture

It is important to re-tell stories and important truths

Why you shouldn’t only tell someone you love them once a year

Jesus’ last words to the disciples would have been intimate and familiar

Let us explore together the immense story of God with His people; of God with us

The Story of God With Us

Adam and Eve in the garden

Cf. Genesis 3:8 “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.”

Creation was perfectly designed for God to be present with His people (walking in the garden together)

Sin broke this relationship of presence

Adam and Eve hid in fear and were driven from the garden

The covenant and the presence

God made a covenant with Abram that he would become a great nation; God’s chosen people

They would be His people and He would be their God (implies presence)

Direct promise of God’s presence found in Isaac’s story as he and his family wandered as nomads, facing famine and other people who wished him harm:

Cf. Genesis 26:24 “And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham’s sake.””

God’s presence not only drives out fear but was the proof of His promises; He would provide and keep His covenant

Moses and the Exodus

God’s presence led the people out of Egypt to where they should go (pillar of cloud and pillar of fire)

Later, God would command Moses and the people to build the Tabernacle, which would be His throne room on earth

Cf. Exodus 40:34-38 “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.”

God was present in the midst of His people

Joshua and the Conquest

When it came time for the Israelites to conquer the promised land, God again gave them the promise of His presence

Cf. Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.””

Once again, the reason to not be frightened is because the Lord was with them wherever they went

God’s presence empowered the Israelites - not only to overcome fear - but to conquer the land He had given them

The psalmists

As Israel flourished as a kingdom, David and the other psalmists continually sang of the connection between God’s presence and the absence of fear

Cf. Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Cf. Psalm 118:6-7 “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.”

Both Psalms understand that hardships arise (valley of death; people who hate), but that God walks beside them during those dark times

To comfort and to help

King Solomon and the Temple

Eventually, King Solomon made a permanent “home” for the presence of God with His people: The Temple

Cf. 1 Kings 8:10-11 “And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.”

Sound familiar? Cloud = Presence, just like the tabernacle

The presence of God led to the fear (awe, reverence) of God

Jesus and the Spirit

In John’s Gospel, we see at the outset how Jesus changes everything about how we experience the presence of God

Cf. John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Dwelt = tabernacled = presence

Jesus was the Tabernacle, was the Temple, was Immanuel; God with us

Connection made more clear when Jesus breathed His last and the veil in the Temple was torn

Jesus paved the way for us to enter directly into the throne room (presence) of God

Removed the obstacle of sin that separated us

Back to the beginning of the sermon: Jesus is ascending into heaven yet promising to be present. How is this possible?

Through the abiding of the Holy Spirit

Cf. John 14:16-18 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

You are not orphans; you are NEVER alone.

“The Spirit is the presence of Jesus to us.” (Welch, p. 254)

Paul reveals the relationship between the presence of Jesus and fear in a new covenant world

Cf. Philippians 4:5-7 “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Same sentence! The Lord is at hand = do not be anxious

Comes from the grand story of God being present with His people, and hammers home the point: As God’s presence increases, fear decreases; God’s presence > our fear

Remind of all the biblical connections (Isaac, Joshua, David, Paul, etc.)

How can we lean on God’s presence to overcome fear in our lives today?

When we are afraid, we can run into the comforting arms of our Heavenly Father

*Share about kids running into our bed*

Before we are afraid, we can cultivate a relationship with God that increases our awareness of His presence

Not based on feelings (too easily swayed)

Not a magic trick to make God come closer (He has already promised to be present)

Cultivate your relationship with God

*Cultivate like a garden; relationships need to be close (use Karen and I during restrictions as an example)*

Pray honestly and often

As your relationship with God is strengthened, you will trust His promise to be with you always; especially when you are afraid

The promise of the good news is NOT that we avoid troubles or sorrow, receive health and wealth, enjoy political rights and freedoms, never fear again

The promise of the good news is that no matter what comes our way, GOD IS WITH US

“I am with you always” (Matt. 28:20b)

Back in the garden

There is one final chapter to the story of God’s presence with His people that we still anticipate

Cf. Revelation 21:22 “And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.”

No more tabernacle, or temple or even the absence/presence of Jesus

Just God, truly with His people in fullness and glory

In God’s presence you will find peace, today and forever

Pray