4 - KNOWING GOD'S PRESENCE

KNOWING GOD

Psalm 139:7-10

KNOWING GOD’S PRESENCE

Knowing God Series, #4

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

We continue our series on Knowing God.

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

I think it very fitting that we speak of Knowing God’s Presence. 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

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

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

Psalm 139:8-10

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, Psalm 66:18

Each one of us was born a sinner by nature. Psalm 51:5

Each one of us has a sinful heart. Jeremiah 17:9

Each one of us is a sinner by choice. Isaiah 53:6

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

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, Romans 8:15-16

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

Abiding is practiced when we trust God in all situations. Proverbs 3:5-6

Abiding is practiced when we worship God. Psalm 138:2, Hebrews 13:15

And of course, following worship is prayer.
This is certainly a way of abiding in Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 1 Peter 5:7, Matthew 7:7-11

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,

Joshua 1:8

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!

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.

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 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!

KNOWING GOD’S PRESENCE: