KNOWING GOD’S PRESENCE

Knowing God #4

 

   Karl Barth, the famous theologian, was on a streetcar one day in Basel, Switzerland, where he lectured.  A tourist to the city climbed on and sat down next to Barth.  The two men started chatting with each other. 

"Are you new to the city?"  Barth inquired. 

"Yes," said the tourist. 

"Is there anything you would particularly like to see in this city?" asked Barth. 

"Yes," he said, "I'd love to meet the famous theologian Karl Barth.  Do you know him?" 

Barth replied, "Well as a matter of fact, I do.  I give him a shave every morning." 

The tourist got off the streetcar quite delighted.  He went back to his hotel saying to himself, "I met Karl Barth's barber today."  -- John Ross, Surrey, England, Leadership, Vol. 8, no. 4. Bible Illustrator 3.0

 

It never dawned on the man that he was in the very presence of the man whom he wanted to meet, Karl Barth.

 

How many people go through life never aware that they are in the very presence of God, but God is present! 

 

I’m sure that there are many hymns that speak of God’s presence.  An all time favorite is In The Garden

 

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

 

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

 

I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.

 

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known. C Austin Miles, 1913

 

This morning we continue our series on Knowing God.

We have already talked about Knowing God’s Sovereignty and Knowing God’s Holiness.

This week as we honor our high school graduates, I think it very fitting that we speak of Knowing God’s Presence. Josh, Kristin, and Amanda, this is an attribute of God that you should never forget.  This is an attribute of God that will affect your behavior.  This is an attribute of God that will make you different, if you let it.

 

This morning, I’d like to share with you some of the characteristics of the presence of God.

 

GOD’S PRESENCE IS PERVASIVE

 

Now for those of you who are not graduating from high school this year and may have forgotten some of your English vocabulary words, according to the American Heritage dictionary, the word “pervade” means “To be present throughout; permeate.”

So when we say, “God’s presence is pervasive”, we are saying that “God’s presence is everywhere”, or that “God is present everywhere.”

 

Psalm 139:7 - Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

 

God’s Word tells us in this verse that there is nowhere that we can go without God being present.

   

Psalm 139:8 - If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

 

If I go as high as I could go, which would be heaven, God is there.

If I go as low as I could go, which would be hell, God is there.

 

Psalm 139:9-10 - If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; [10] Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

 

For the wings of the morning or dawn David would have to go east.  To dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, David would have headed west. Going in either direction, he would have still been in God’s presence.  

   

It is a comfort for us to know that whether we head east or west, north or south, God is present to guide us and to hold on to us.

 

“Visualizing God's presence not only bestows comfort, but it restrains sinful tendencies.” One day a pastor was visiting a new Christian who told him he was studying his Bible, praying each day, and sharing his faith with others. But he was having one problem. Every so often, a noxious word would fly from his mouth like a sudden burp.

 

"Well,"  said the pastor, "give me an example. Go ahead and curse right now."

 

"Oh, no," he said with embarrassment. "I can't do that."

 

"Sure you can," said the pastor replied. "Let 'er fly."

 

"No!"

 

When the pastor asked why, he replied, "You're my pastor. I can't cuss in front of you."

 

"Well," the pastor said, "if you're ashamed to cuss in my presence, why aren't you ashamed to do it in the Lord's presence? He's always with you."

 

The young man got the pastor’s point. The reality of God's presence both comforts our hearts and restrains our behavior. Robert J. Morgan, The Red Sea Rules. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001, p. 75-76. http://www.sermonillustrator.org/illustrator/sermon5/visualizing_god.htm

 

GOD’S PRESENCE IS PERVASIVE

GOD’S PRESENCE IS PERSONAL

 

Although, God by nature is everywhere, it is hard to imagine that God would have the time or the interest to have a personal relationship with me.  After all each one of us, in relation to the universe, aren’t even blips on the radar screen.

 

And yet, God from the beginning had time for a personal relationship with man.

 

Genesis 3:8 talks of God walking in the Garden in the cool of the day. Although on that particular day, Adam and Eve had sinned, I believe that it was God’s habit to spend time with them on a regular basis.  They would have spent times with God until they sinned.  After their sin, they were removed from that Garden and the intimate fellowship.

Sin broke off the sense of the personal presence of God.

It does the same thing today.

 

Isaiah 59:2 - But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

 

Psalm 66:18 - If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

 

Each one of us was born a sinner by nature.

Psalm 51:5 - Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

 

Each one of us has a sinful heart.

Jeremiah 17:9 - The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

 

Each one of us is a sinner by choice.   

Isaiah 53:6 - All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

 

How can we have a personal relationship with the presence of God when we have sinned against this holy God?

Isaiah 53:6 which just read gives the answer, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.   

   

God placed the punishment of our sins unto His Son’s shoulders.

The Lord Jesus died for us to pay for our sins.

2 Corinthians 5:21 - For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

 

When we place our faith in Christ as the one who died for us, not only are we declared “righteous” in God’s eyes, but we also become God’s children.  Thus a personal relationship with God is established, making His presence in my life personal.   

 

John 1:12  - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

 

Again, it is mind boggling to think that the God who runs the universe has time or the desire to have a personal relationship with me.   

   

Besides the Scriptures, how do I know that I have a personal relationship with God?  The moment you trusted Jesus Christ as Savior, His Holy Spirit took up residence in your life.  It is the witness of the Holy Spirit that tells you that you are a child of God.

 

Romans 8:15-16 - For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. [16] The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

 

GOD’S PRESENCE IS PERVASIVE

GOD’S PRESENCE IS PERSONAL

GOD’S PRESENCE IS PRACTICAL

   

God’s presence is something that is to be practiced in our lives.

God’s presence is beneficial and useful.

God’s presence is something to be enjoyed.

 

Practicing God’s presence is called “abiding”.

 

John 15:4-5 - 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. [5] I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

 

Abiding is practiced when we trust God in all situations.   

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

 

Abiding is practiced when we worship God.

Psalm 138:2 - I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

 

Hebrews 13:15 - By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

 

A. W. Tozer said, “Worship is to feel in your heart and express in some appropriate manner a humbling but delightful sense of admiring awe and astonished wonder and overpowering love in the presence of that most ancient Mystery, that Majesty which philosophers call the First Cause, but which we call Our Father Which Are in Heaven.” A. W. Tozer, quoted in D. J. Fant, A. W. Tozer, Christian Publications, 1964, p. 90 http://www.bible.org/illus/w/w-55.htm#TopOfPage

 

Warren Wiersbe – “True biblical worship so satisfies our total personality that we don’t have to shop around for man-made substitutes. William Temple made this clear in his masterful definition of worship:

‘For worship is the submission of all our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness; the nourishment of mind with His truth; the purifying of imagination by His beauty; the opening of the heart to His love; the surrender of will to His purpose—and all of this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable and therefore the chief remedy for that self-centeredness which is our original sin and the source of all actual sin.’ The Integrity Crisis by Warren W. Wiersbe, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991, p. 119.  http://www.bible.org/illus/w/w-55.htm#TopOfPage

 

And of course, following worship is prayer.

This is certainly a way of abiding in Christ.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Pray without ceasing.

 

1 Peter 5:7 - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

 

Matthew 7:7-11 - Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: [8] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. [9] Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?  [10] Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? [11] If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

 

You and I know we are sinners, and yet we know how to treat our children and give them good answers to their requests. How much more does our Heavenly Father do that for us! Why do we fail to ask Him?   

   

There’s another way that we practice abiding. It will help us pray.

 

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.

 

We are to let God’s Word abide in us.

I believe that this includes memorization and meditation upon the Word of God.

 

Psalm 119:97 - O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

 

Joshua 1:8 - This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

 

I challenge you to memorize Scripture and then to reflect on it. Talk to God about the meaning of the Scriptures in prayer.

   

One more thing about Scripture memorization: you must review!  I personally place my verses on 3x5 cards and review some of them every day.  

   

GOD’S PRESENCE IS PERVASIVE

GOD’S PRESENCE IS PERSONAL

GOD’S PRESENCE IS PRACTICAL

GOD’S PRESENCE IS PEACEFUL

 

God’s Holy Spirit dwells in your life if you are saved.

He produces “fruit” in your life.

Part of that fruit is “peace”.

Most of us know and love the 23^rd Psalm.

It is a conversation between a sheep and his shepherd.

And I think one of the reasons this Psalm is so loved is because it is so peaceful!

 

Please say this Psalm with me, reflecting on the peacefulness of the verses.

 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. [2] He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. [3] He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. [4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will

 

fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. [5] Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. [6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

 

And think of the peace that Jesus has promised in

John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

 

J. Oswald Sanders – “Peace is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of God.” -- J. Oswald Sanders.  Today's Christian Woman, "Heart to Heart."     

   

GOD’S PRESENCE IS PEACEFUL

GOD’S PRESENCE IS POWERFUL

 

One of the prayers that I pray for you as a congregation says in part in Ephesians 3:14-17a, For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, [15] Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, [16] That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; [17] That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

 

How rich is God?  He owns everything on earth.

Imagine what His riches in glory are!

According to those riches, He wants to strengthen us in the inner man by his Spirit. 

As a result, as we strengthened, Christ will dwell in our hearts.

He’ll be at home there!

He’ll rule there!

He’ll be in control there!

That’s the power of God’s presence.   

   

GOD’S PRESENCE IS POWERFUL

GOD’S PRESENCE IS PROTECTIVE

   

John 10:27-30 - My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: [28] And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. [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. [30] I and my Father are one.

 

Nothing can happen to me today unless God permits it.

The Lord Jesus securely holds me in His Almighty hand.

I can not be more protected than that!

   

More secure is no one ever than the loved ones of the Savior; Not yon star on high abiding, nor the bird in home nest hiding.

 

God His own doth tend and nourish – in His holy courts they flourish; Like a Father kind He spares them; in His loving arms He bears them.

 

Neither life nor death can ever, from the Lord His children sever; For His love and deep compassion, comforts them in tribulation.

 

Little flock, to joy then yield thee; Jacob’s God will ever shield thee; Rest secure with this Defender, at His will all foes surrender.

 

What He takes or what He gives us, shows the Father’s love so precious; We may trust His purpose wholly, ‘tis His children’s welfare solely! Lina Sandell Berg

 

KNOWING GOD’S PRESENCE:

GOD’S PRESENCE IS PERVASIVE

GOD’S PRESENCE IS PERSONAL

GOD’S PRESENCE IS PRACTICAL

GOD’S PRESENCE IS PEACEFUL

GOD’S PRESENCE IS POWERFUL

GOD’S PRESENCE IS PROTECTIVE