“his Presence—our Only Hope” Part 1 Series

Manifest Presence Series

“His Presence—Our Only Hope” Part 1

(Inspired by Don Nori Sr.’s Manifest Presence: You Can Live Within The Veil)

January 11, 2015 CFBC Chester, IL Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker

A I remember spending countless weekends at my grandparents house nearly every weekend when I was growing up.

1 I remember always hoping I would get a popsicle before bedtime.

a Sometimes I did, sometimes I did not. If I didn’t get one . . . I didn’t die.

b His presence is not connected to that kind of “hope”, rather if His presence doesn’t invade us, enter our lives . . . we’re sunk.

2 God has always wanted to abide permanently with His people, not just visit.

a He wants a place to stay . . . permanently, perpetually.

2 Chronicles 7:16 (NASB) 16 "For now I have chosen and consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.

b If you’ve ever had guests in your home who stay a few days/weeks, every bodies schedule must adjust for a minute.

aa Meal times altered, kids leave their bedrooms and sleep on the couch while the guests are there in your home.

bb When the guests leave . . . it’s back to normal and everything continues as it was before.

c If someone moves in your house to stay, the arrangements are different . . . routines change permanently: alters your lifestyle.

aa God wants to come and live in our hearts, rule/reign through us.

bb He doesn’t save us just to fill us with the HS, but that His Lordship may be manifested in and through us.

cc If we don’t have Him, His Presence, it’s devastating to us.

B The Children of Israel had that kind of dependancy on the Manifest Presence of God.

1 If the cloud moved during the day/fire by night . . . they moved with it.

a His Presence offered them shelter from the sun, protection from wild beasts at night.

aa His Presence lead them, guided them, spoke to them, showed them the way.

bb Through His Manifest Presence they could see what God was doing.

b They couldn’t have survived with His Presence.

2 We serve that same God who wants to lead, guide, speak, and show us what He’s up to.

a John 15:15 (NASB) 15 "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

aa He wants us in a place of intimacy where He can speak to us/share His innermost desires with us.

bb Ephesians 3:8-11 (NASB) 8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; 10 so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,

b God wants to tell us His secrets!! (He desires to have intimate friendship & fellowship with us.)

C His Presence would often lead the ancient Israelites . . . progressive.

1 Our pursuit of His Presence is not a destination, it is a journey. . . a forward leading, progressive journey.

a Too many Christians try to categorize God & His Word into neat little compartments.

aa Does the Bible have theology/Doctrine, Yes. But it’s not a theology book/doctrinal statement.

bb In essence it’s a window for us to see Jesus seated at the right hand of the Father.

cc By gazing upon Jesus through the Word we begin to understand the fullness of His desire for us.

b If I’m going to go forward with God, I’ve got to learn to be flexible to gain new insight, fresh revelation.

2 When we chose to be more adamant about being in His Manifest Presence than we are about doctrinal/denominational distinctives we will understand more the deeper things of God.

a Psalm 73:16-17 (NASB) 16 When I pondered to understand this, It was troublesome in my sight 17 Until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end.

aa In His Presence we learn fresh, deeper, higher thoughts, mysteries of God.

bb Micah 4:2 (NASB) 2 Many nations will come and say, "Come and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD And to the house of the God of Jacob, That He may teach us about His ways And that we may walk in His paths." For from Zion will go forth the law, Even the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.