Supernatural Stream of God’s Presence
If i am honest, even as a Pentecostal Minister, who loves and serves Jesus with my whole heart, sometimes I can question whether or not God is near.
It’s usually struggles or chaos that seem to hide His presence in my life.
But just because i can’t clearly sense His presence in those times, it doesn’t mean the Lord isn’t present.
In fact, God is always much closer than we could ever imagine.
In Acts 17:28, the Apostle Paul declares to the Greek philosophers of the time and to us today that ‘in God we live and move and exist.’
God is closer than we could imagine.
For those of us who have accepted Jesus as Saviour, become the dwelling place for The Holy Spirit.
God dwells within us.
If you have ever felt like you are alone in this world,
if you ever struggle to sense God’s presence,
my prayer is that you will be encouraged by God’s Word this morning.
Deuteronomy 31:6 tells us: “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic. For the Lord your God will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
God is with you. He is always with you, for there is no place that we can go to escape His loving presence!
The Bible tells us there is no place we could go to escape His presence.
So, the title of my sermon this morning is
We cannot escape God’s presence and I want us to consider together four key points from Psalm 139.
1. God knows your thoughts and actions.
2. God is continually present in your life.
3. God knows your past, present & future
4. God will continue to lead & to guide.
Bible Scholars will tell you that of the 150 Psalms we have in the Bible, Psalm 139 is the one that is the best at describing God’s personal relationship with us.
The key theme of Psalm 139 is that God is not far off,
He is always near to each of us.
We cannot escape God’s presence.
In this Psalm, King David declares there is absolutely no place he could go to escape the presence of God.
If David goes to heaven, God is there.
If David descended into the earth, God is there.
David goes on to say that wherever he goes, the hand of the Lord will lead him and hold him.
What an amazing promise!
Wherever we go, God goes with us.
The universe does not contain the Lord.
The Lord contains the universe!
The first point from Psalm 139 is:
GOD KNOWS YOUR THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS.
Psalm 139:1-4
1 O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
3 You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
4 You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
These verses describe an attribute of God theologians call Omniscience.
Omniscience simply means all knowing.
God knows everything.
Hebrews 4:13 says “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
Let me remind you, there is no question God cannot answer, there is no problem that can confuses God. God is never surprised. He’s never shocked.
He never says, “I didn’t expect that to happen”
These verses tell us the truth that God does know everything about us, we can not hide our heart, our motivation or our motives from Him.
When people say “God knows my heart” it is usually an excuse for not doing something. I wonder how many people believe their own words.
God knows everything and He sees deep into our hearts.
God is familiar with all our ways.
He knows where we are, He knows what we are doing, He knows why we choose to do what we do.
He knows all our habits, both the good habits and the bad.
He knows our areas of strength and our areas of weakness better than we know them ourselves.
He knows when we want to be in church worshipping Him, and He knows when and why we choose to allow other things a priority over Him in our lives.
He knows when we are willingly and joyfully serving Him and others, and He also knows when we just can’t be bothered to do anything at all.
God knows everything He sees deep into our hearts and He knows our thoughts.
God knows what I am going to say before I say it!
He doesn’t just know it after I say it, He knows it before I say it.
Have you ever said something you really regretted later?
God, already knew you were going to say it...
and He knew you were going to regret it...
Wouldn’t life be a little simpler if God warned us in advance to keep quiet on certain occasions?
Maybe if he sent a text message or email once in a while...
Dean on Sunday afternoon at 1:14pm
do not say anything.
Keep your mouth shut.
Use Sellotape if necessary,
with love,
God.
Actually God has told us to control our speach:
Proverbs 12:18 says “Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.”
Proverbs 18:21 “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”
1 Peter 3:9-12 “Don’t repay evil for evil.
Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing.
That is what God has called you to do, and He will grant you His blessing. For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and His ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns His face against those who do evil.”
God knows your thoughts and Actions
God knows everything inside and out.
God knows everything you’ve ever thought about.
Think about that for a moment.
God knows that you just thought about that.
Thats amazing isn’t it.
Here is something even more amazing:
God knows every thought you’ve ever had, and He knows the thoughts of all the billions of other people in the world.
Its hard to take in isn’t it.
God sees and knows everything, God is omnicient.
Now I don’t know about you, but the fact that God is watching me influences my thoughts and actions.
Think about it this way, if a person is driving a car and they know there is a speed camera on the road they will probably stick to the speed limit.
Or if a person is at work and they know the boss is watching they probably would not be updating Facebook or playing games on the computer at work.
The fact that God is always present should influence our choices, our actions, even our thoughts.
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Lets go on to the next part of Psalm 139
the focus shifts a little bit.
2nd point GOD IS CONTINUALLY PRESENT IN YOUR LIFE.
5 You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!
7 I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!
8 If I go up to heaven, you are there;
if I go down to the grave, you are there.
9 If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.
11 I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.
King David is talking about what theologians call God’s omnipresence.
It means, God is present everywhere in the universe at the same time.
That is difficult to grasp isn’t it.
The nearest star is 4.5 light years from the earth.
To reach it by plane would take fifty-three billion years!
Its pretty far away. But the Hubble Space Telescope has sent back pictures of galaxies that are 2,000 times that far away!
The light from those galaxies left there 7,000 years ago, and is only now reaching this part of the universe.
But God is present in that farthest galaxy,
just like he is fully present in this room.
Colossians 1:16-17
God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
Everything was created through Him and for Him. He existed before anything else, and He holds all creation together.
Because God is Spirit. He can be everywhere at once.
God is the creator of all we see, and can’t see.
God is present with us, God is watching us,
but not from a distance, He’s right here and He’s everywhere.
We can’t hide from God, God is always with us,
we can depend on Him.
No matter what circumstances or situations we face, God is always with us.
Psalm 34:18 says “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”
If you’re discouraged this morning, God is with you.
Is your heart breaking this morning?
The Lord is near you.
Are you feeling lonely?
You’re not alone. God is with you.
In verse 10 David says, your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me
Maybe if we understood the reality of God being with us we would worry less.
He will guide us, He will strengthen us, we can trust Him no matter what may come our way.
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3rd point: GOD KNOWS YOUR PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE
The next section of Psalm 139 Verses 13-16
are perhaps one of the best known parts of the Bible.
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
In the modern world, there is an incredible emphasis on the way people look.
It’s amazing what people do to make themselves look better.
Liposuction. Implants. Facial scrubs.
Facelifts, nose jobs, tanning beds, body piercing.
Because of what TV tells them,
because the World tells them they need to improve themselves,
there is millions of pounds spent every year on designer labels, expensive make-up and cosmetic surgery.
Even when in the worlds eyes people “look the part” they can still be self-critical, putting themselves down, trying to be the best the world says they should be.
Maybe they don’t say it out loud.
Maybe they walk around with a smile on their faces
but inside they tell themselves.
I’m still fat.
I’m still ugly.
My clothes are not expensive enough.
My make-up is so last season....
Proverbs 31:30 reminds us “Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.”
No matter how hard some people try, outward beauty doesn’t last for ever.
1 Samuel 17:7 says “People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
While people may place a big emphasis on how they look. God places no emphasis on outward apperance.
In effect God says “I don’t judge a book by its cover”
God created you the way you are.
It was part of his perfect plan for you.
He wanted you to look like you look,
He wanted you to have exactly the skills, abilities and talents you have.
You are his perfect design.
David says, God made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank God for making me so wonderfully complex!
Gods workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
Would you say the same thing David did?
Do you look at the way you’re made, and say, wow, God did a great job on me, I am wonderfully made?
Sadly, many people are not really excited about the way God made them.
God says,
I created you just the way I wanted you,
but you just haven’t figured out how much I love you,
and what my purpose for you is.
When you understand those things, you won’t put yourself down.
God doesn’t care about your outward appearance,
He doesn’t care if you look like George Clooney or Dave Redbond.
God Lord looks at your heart.”
You should praise God for His wonderful creation of you.
You are a marvelous creation,
and you are designed exactly the way He wanted you.
Not only did God make you a wonderful creation,
But God has a plan for your life.
Your past, your present and your future,
all the days ordained for you were written in your book before you came into existance.
Ephesians 2:10 “we are God’s masterpiece.
He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.”
God has a purpose for you.
God has a plan for you.
You are God’s masterpiece!
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Final point: Verses 17-24
4. GOD WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD & TO GUIDE.
17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up, you are still with me!
19 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked!
Get out of my life, you murderers!
20 They blaspheme you; your enemies misuse your name.
21 O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you?
Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you?
22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred, for your enemies are my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
God’s thoughts about YOU outnumber the grains of sand. So, what is he thinking?
Verse 23 says he’s searching your heart,
God is searching your motives, and your anxious thoughts, your worries, and God is leading you in the right direction.
God is constantly thinking about you and me,
so that he can constantly lead us,
so we can follow Him and be blessed.
Every thing we do, God is watching.
Every thing we think, God knows our thoughts.
Everywhere we go, God is present with us.
God sees everytime you choose to sin,
He knows everytime you give into temptation,
He hears everytime you stay quiet when you should speak out.
But remember, Every time, you choose not to sin,
every time you resist a temptation,
every time you stand up for the right thing no matter how small or insignificant,
God knows it, and sees your faithfulness to Him.
God knows, every encouragement you give to other people,
every kind word or compliment you give to another, every time you do a thoughtful act.
God sees everytime you are involved in the activities of this church, God sees every time you share the truth of who Jesus is with someone.
God sees it all!
It doesn’t matter how we appear to anyone else,
it doesn’t matter what the people of the world may think of you,
What matters most is what God thinks of you.
God knows the reality of your life.
He knows what you are really like outside these four walls,
He knoes what you really think, He knows what your motives really are.
We can not fool God He knows what is in our heart, He knows what is occuping our time.
God knows the integrity that really exists in your life, when you think nobody else is looking - God is still present.
Let me close with this:
We cannot escape God’s presence
God’s presence is always with us, whether we are aware of it or not.
He wants us to know Him.
He wants us to feel His love.
He wants us to be the people He has called us and saved us to be.
Maybe this morning, verse 23 and 24 should be the prayer from each of our hearts to our loving heavenly father: 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
God is always with us,
God know us better then we know ourselves.
God is constantly thinking about each of us,
God wants to help us and to guide us.
We can have confidence in The Supernatural Stream of His presence now and forever.
Amen.
