KNOWING
THE PRESENCE OF GOD
(Psalms 139:7-10) "Whither
shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I
ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou
art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts
of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold
me."
Introduction:
a. While God is everywhere, His presence is not found in
places that cannot glorify His name, such as disco houses, gambling dens, or
leisure places.
b. God is present where two or three are gathered in His
name.
Matthew 18:20: "For where two or three are gathered together
in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
c. The presence of God refers to the divine attribute that
He is everywhere.
Six
Great Truths About the Presence of God
I. THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS PERSONAL
a.
Adam and Eve heard God
walking in the garden; though they hid due to sin, God called out to Adam
personally.
Genesis
3:8-9 "And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the
garden... and the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art
thou?"
b.
God’s presence remains
personal whenever believers gather together in His name.
Matthew
18:20: "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there
am I in the midst of them."
c.
King David sought a
personal connection by desiring to dwell in the house of the Lord to behold His
beauty.
Psalms 27:4: "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that
will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my
life..."
II. THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS PRACTICAL
a. To practically experience God, Christians should practice
abiding in Christ as a branch abides in the vine.
John 15:4: "Abide
in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide
in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me."
b. Christ
promises to abide in us if we show the initiative to come to Him.
John 15:5: "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that
abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit..."
c. The practice of prayer allows Christians to experience
God with the promise of answered requests.
John 15:7: "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in
you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."
III. THE
PRESENCE OF GOD IS PEACEFUL
a. God’s presence provides comfort during trials and
tribulations, offering a peace the world cannot give.
John 14:27: "Peace
I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I
unto you."
2 Corinthians 1:4: "Who
comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which
are in any trouble..."
b. By keeping His commandments, believers abide in His love
and experience His joy.
John 15:10: "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide
in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his
love."
c. His presence brings great blessings, filling the mouth
with laughter and singing.
Psalms 126:2-3: "Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and
our tongue with singing... The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we
are glad."
IV. THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS POWERFUL
a. Encountering His presence leads believers to humble
themselves and bow before Him.
Ephesians 3:14: "For
this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
b. God strengthens the "inner man" through His
Spirit and the riches of His glory.
Ephesians 3:16: "That he would grant you... to be
strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man."
c. His presence strengthens a faith that is rooted and
grounded in the love of Christ.
Ephesians 3:17: "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by
faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love."
V. THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS PROTECTIVE
a. God’s presence serves to protect His people; no one is
able to pluck them out of His hand.
John 10:29: "My
Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck
them out of my Father's hand."
b. As the Good Shepherd, Christ ensures His sheep hear His
voice and shall never perish.
John 10:28: "And I give unto them eternal life; and they
shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand."
c. King David sought God's presence as protection against
his enemies.
Psalms 91:1: "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the
most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."
VI. KNOWING
THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS PRODUCTIVE
a. When the presence of God is felt through the preaching of
Christ, it leads to repentance and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:37-38: "Now
when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart... Then Peter said unto
them, Repent, and be baptized... and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost."
b. The productivity of His presence results in many people
believing and being added to the church.
Acts 2:41: "...and the same day there were added unto
them about three thousand souls."
Acts 4:4: "Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the
number of the men was about five thousand."
c. Continuing in one accord and praising God results in
favor with the people and constant growth.
Acts 2:47: "Praising God, and having favour with all the
people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."
Conclusion
It is
a great blessing to remain in the presence of God because it is Personal, Practical,
Peaceful, Powerful, Protective, and Productive.
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