Perceptions About God's Presence

PERCEPTIONS ABOUT

GOD’S PRESENCE

Text: Ps.140: 13

Intro: The presence of God is something that should never be taken lightly. The idea that a holy, pure, altogether perfect God would ever choose to associate Himself with sinful men seems to be an irreconcilable contradiction. And were it not for the redeeming work of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, man could never hope to experience God’s presence and fellowship. The apostle Paul was speaking of this very thing when he said, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Eph.2: 13). Paul then went on to say, “For through him (Jesus) we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father” (Eph.2: 18). The bottom line here is simply that if the child of God is not enjoying the presence of God, it is not because God does not desire it. He has made every provision in His Son, Jesus that men might come into His presence.

However, it is not man’s capacity to enjoy God’s presence that I want to speak of today, but the characteristics of God’s presence. It has been my privilege to experience some extraordinary moves of God, where His presence was so obvious to all present. It was during these times that I became aware of the characteristics of God’s presence that I wish to share with you today.

Theme: God’s presence is:

I. POWERFUL

A. God’s Presence Is Imposing In Its Form.

I Chron.16: 27a “Glory and honor are in his presence…”

NOTE: [1] Perhaps images of the Shekinah glory of God were fresh in the mind of the writer as he penned these words. The word “glory,” as used here, means, “grandeur (i.e. an imposing form and appearance): beauty…excellency, glorious…majesty.”1

[2] The word “honour” carries much the same idea as that found in the word “glory” above. This word means, “manificense, i.e. ornament or splendor…”2

[3] I have been in worship services where the presence of God was awesome and imposing. I have seen times when the presence of God brought a solemn hush upon the people to the extent that one almost felt that the act of breathing was an insult to the holiness of the moment. At other times the presence of God resulted in such conviction and power that tears began to flow in torrents of confession and soul-searching. The presence of God is imposing in its form.

[4] The real question is, “Are we really hungry for the presence of God among us?” Tenney accurately notes:

It’s time that we punch a hole in the heavens and break through in hungry travail so the glory of God can begin to shine down on our city. But we can’t even get a trickle to flow down the aisle, much less see His glory flow through the streets, because we’re not really hungry.3

B. God’s Presence Is Imposing In Its Fearfulness.

Ex.19: 16 “And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightenings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.”

NOTE: [1] One can only imagine how awesome and fearful this sight must have been to the Israelites. However, this sight impressed upon their minds the need for reverential awe toward Jehovah God. So much so, that later, they requested that God speak verbally only to Moses (Ex.20: 19). Some may fault the Israelites for their response to God’s presence, but at least they did not take it lightly. In our day, we tend to be much too flippant about the presence of God. The majority of Christians these days never seem to consider the need to search their hearts while in God’s house.

[2] Would to God that Christians of our day would regain some reverential awe of God. The psalmist said, “O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth” (Ps.96: 9).

[3] I suggest to you that many churches have experienced very little of the manifest presence of God. This is mainly due to the fact that we Christians often come to God’s house with selfish motives in mind: (1) We come looking for a blessing rather than the Blesser; (2) We come looking for a gift rather than God; (3) We come looking for help rather than Him. There’s nothing particularly wrong with seeking God for those things. But I have a sneaking suspicion that we’d be better off if we’d stop merely seeking goodies from God’s hand, and start seeking His face. We don’t merely need what God can provide; we need His presence and power. But as Tommy Tenney says,

Intimacy [with God] will bring about “blessing,” but the pursuit of “blessing” won’t always bring about intimacy…God is not coming to people who merely seek His benefits. He’s coming to people who seek His face.4