The Presence of God
Reach One • Sermon • Submitted
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· 61 viewsWe cannot control the presence of God, but we can prepare ourselves and seek it.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Reach One Series
Theme for 2020
Who has God placed within your reach for the gospel?
Pray and look for opportunity to invite to church in the next three months - Take the three months to build relationship.
We are reaching one for Jesus not the church.
In order to do this we need three things:
1) The Presence of God
2) The Power of God
3) The Purpose of God
"In times of revival God's people experience His presence and power to degrees never thought possible. A revived church is the greatest means of making God's great redemptive plan known throughout our world (purpose)."
— Seeking Him: Guide to Personal Revival
. . . Continue the story of revival at BCS
There was only one way to explain it — we had been in the presence of God.
*If you could ask God for one thing what would it be?
More money
Better job
Better health
Better kids :)
(For me, like the genie I would ask for the ability to ask for whatever I want whenever I want.)
During 1943 and into 1944, there were usually as many as seven people illegally living in the ten Boom home–Jews and members of the Dutch underground.
Through these activities, the ten Boom family and their many friends saved the lives of an estimated 800 Jews, and protected many Dutch underground workers.
On February 28, 1944, Casper’s family was betrayed, and the Gestapo (the Nazi secret police) raided their home.
Casper (84 years old) died after only 10 days in Scheveningen Prison. Corrie and Betsie spent 10 months in three different prisons, the last being the infamous Ravensbruck concentration camp located near Berlin, Germany. Betsie (59) died in Ravensbruck, but Corrie survived.
“I’ve experienced His Presence in the deepest darkest hell that men can create … I have tested the promises of the Bible, and believe me, you can count on them.”
- Corrie ten Boom
(ESV)
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers assail me
to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
it is they who stumble and fall.
3 Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.
*Ever feel like this describes you? — Evidoers “assailing” you, eating your flesh, you have adversaries and foes, an army is encamping around you, a war arises against you — this is a BAD day.
David knows the feeling — perhaps even more than you:
He was king (I would NEVER want to be president), and so by default, people are out to get him
Before he even becomes king — Saul, with an army, keeps chasing him to kill him
Sinned — committed adultery — had a child — child died
Son, Amnon, rapes his own sister, then is murdered by his other son. (no good family reunion here!)
Then that son, Absalom, leads a rebellion to try to kick dad off the throne
Absalom is murdered (third child to die)
He takes a census and is then responsible for a deadly plague which kills many of his people
You think you have it bad? You can’t have it that bad! In the midst of of all this, what is the one thing David asks of God.
4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire in his temple.
His Presence
5 For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.
6 And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
8 You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
9 Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
O God of my salvation!
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
but the Lord will take me in.
11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they breathe out violence.
13 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the Lord; be strong,
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
wait for the Lord!
The one thing that David asks for is what?
4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
Not saying he wants to spend all his time in the temple, a physical structure. He is saying he seeks after God’s presence.
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
Temple in OT was the physical place where God would reveal His presence
and to inquire in his temple.
Speaking of Tabernacle (before the Temple):
(ESV)
42 It shall be a regular burnt offering throughout your generations at the entrance of the tent of meeting before the Lord, where I will meet with you, to speak to you there. 43 There I will meet with the people of Israel, and it shall be sanctified by my glory. 44 I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar. Aaron also and his sons I will consecrate to serve me as priests. 45 I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God.
Confirmed in second half of Psalm which functions as a prayer:
8 You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
“Seek my face” = God’s presence
In speaking to Moses:
(ESV)
14 And he said, “My presence (face) will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 And he said to him, “If your presence (face) will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.
To seek God’s face is to desire His presence.
We trust in God’s presence everywhere as we long for His presence HERE.
We trust in God’s presence everywhere as we long for His presence HERE.
Two ways in which we speak of the ‘presence of God:’
God as spirit, is present, in His fullness, everywhere all the time — Omnipresence
(not “is God in this room and that room — Better to say, there is no place or space that is not always before God’s face.)
(ESV)
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
(ESV)
24 Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.
- Solomon acknowledges that event he great Temple he has built for God cannot contain Him.
God’s omnipresence is not just abstract theology, it is a comforting reality.
**It means that whatever you face is also before the face of God.**
It is what gives Dave the confidence of the first 3 verses.
If it is the case t
The Presence of God: Discovering God's Ways Through Intimacy With Him Chapter 1 the Unconscious Presence of God
The truth is that God may be at work during the times of His unconscious presence the same as when He clearly shows up!
You don’t need to seek God’s omnipresence.
So, David is not simply recognizing God’s omnipresence. He speaking about the second way we understand God’s presence:
God’s universal presence is experienced in a very real way — Manifest Presence
1st is not dependent on humans the 2nd is dependent.
Moses at the burning bush
- Seeing the LORD high and lifted up
Jacob - “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know (experience) it.
Ark of the Lord brought to the Temple
(ESV)
14 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.
When the manifest presence of God shows up we see things differently, we feel things differently.
It’s a place we never want to leave
(ESV)
4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire in his temple.
Mount of Transfiguration -
(ESV)
4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
Results of the manifest presence of God:
Things happen in the presence of God:
(ESV)
5 For he will hide me in his shelter (refuge) in the day of trouble;
in the day of trouble;
The things that seemed so important a moment ago mean nothing and we can see the things that are truly important.
Presence of God is a safe place.
Still have trouble, but now there is a shelter.
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
During 1943 and into 1944, there were usually as many as seven people illegally living in the ten Boom home–Jews and members of the Dutch underground.
Through these activities, the ten Boom family and their many friends saved the lives of an estimated 800 Jews, and protected many Dutch underground workers.
On February 28, 1944, Casper’s family was betrayed, and the Gestapo (the Nazi secret police) raided their home.
Casper (84 years old) died after only 10 days in Scheveningen Prison. Corrie and Betsie spent 10 months in three different prisons, the last being the infamous Ravensbruck concentration camp located near Berlin, Germany. Betsie (59) died in Ravensbruck, but Corrie survived.
“I’ve experienced His Presence in the deepest darkest hell that men can create … I have tested the promises of the Bible, and believe me, you can count on them.”
- Corrie ten Boom
E. E. Hewitt’s hymn “When We All Get to Heaven”: “Just one glimpse of Him in glory will the toils of life repay.” One glimpse will do it then. One glimpse will do it now.
he will lift me high upon a rock.
Solid footing
(ESV)
6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me,
Encouragement
The biggest issues among teens today is loneliness
disconnected though “connected”
above my enemies all around me,
suicide rate high
10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
but the Lord will take me in.
and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
We were made for it.
Gene
We are separated from it (by sin).
E. E. Hewitt’s hymn “When We All Get to Heaven”: “Just one glimpse of Him in glory will the toils of life repay.” One glimpse will do it then. One glimpse will do it now.
Joy that leads to worship
(ESV)
11 You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
No where in the Psalm does David say things get better before he offers worship with joy.
We can’t control the presence of God, but we can prepare for it.
We can’t control the presence of God, but we can prepare for it.
ILLUST - You can’t control the rain, but you can put yourself in a place to get wet.
1. Preparation
1. Preparation
(ESV)
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 (face) of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
(ESV)
16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
Pride
— C. S. Lewis
Unbelief
1. Preparation
1. Preparation
Humility
“If anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step. The first step is to realize that one is proud . . . If you think you’re not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.”
— C. S. Lewis
Holiness
Sin distances us from God:
Sin
(ESV)
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 (face) of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
(ESV)
16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
Hunger
Parable of the virgins
(ESV)
1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
2. Anticipation / Expectation (battles complacency)
What are we expecting when we come to church?
Do we expect sinners to be saved?
Do we expect people to be healed?
Do we expect marriages to be reconciled?
What if we refused to leave until God’s presence was made manifest here today?
We immediately think “NO” because of the list of things that we need or want to do following our time as the gathered church. Is there anything really more important? Yes, if we are just in a church service, but NO if we are in the presence of God.
I don’t want to hear stories of people who know people who have experienced the presence of God, I long to experience His presence myself. This is not a selfish prayer:
8 You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
ILLUST - Incredibles - what are you waiting for . . . I don’t know, something amazing, I guess.
The presence of God leads us to the gospel plan of God.
The presence of God leads us to the gospel plan of God.
The Presence of God: Discovering God's Ways Through Intimacy With Him Chapter 1 the Unconscious Presence of God
The truth is that God may be at work during the times of His unconscious presence the same as when He clearly shows up!
I
The Presence of God: Discovering God's Ways Through Intimacy With Him Chapter 1 the Unconscious Presence of God
The truth is that God may be at work during the times of His unconscious presence the same as when He clearly shows up!
Experiencing God’s presence naturally leads to telling about His goodness.
ILLUST - when you meet someone famous do you keep it a secret? NO, you name drop it everywhere!
(ESV)
1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
2 that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
The presence of God is the goal of missions — reconciliation of people far from God back into His presence through Jesus.
Because
Jesus is the ultimate expression of God’s presence to us.
- His name shall be called Immanuel = God with us.
An experience of God’s presence is the single greatest tool for evangelism.
Jesus is God’s presence to us so that we might be able to experience His presence even now.
Conclusion
Conclusion
So What / Live it out:
1. Preparation
Know Christ
Confess sin
PRAY
2. Anticipation / Expectation (battles complacency)
Do we expect sinners to be saved?
Do we expect people to be healed?
Do we expect marriages to be reconciled?
I don’t want to hear stories of people who know people who have experienced the presence of God, I long to experience His presence myself. This is not a selfish prayer:
8 You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
ILLUST - Incredibles - what are you waiting for . . . I don’t know, something amazing, I guess.
**3. Celebration **
Celebration
In OT Tabernacle — Shewbread — Bread of the Presence:
(ESV)
5 “You shall take fine flour and bake twelve loaves from it; two tenths of an ephah shall be in each loaf. 6 And you shall set them in two piles, six in a pile, on the table of pure gold before the Lord. 7 And you shall put pure frankincense on each pile, that it may go with the bread as a memorial portion as a food offering to the Lord. 8 Every Sabbath day Aaron shall arrange it before the Lord regularly; it is from the people of Israel as a covenant forever.
(ESV)
4 Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually!