Monday 24 February 2014 - with Rachel!
Ps 119:18 Open my eyes that I may see
wonderful things in your law.
What is David’s hope and satisfaction in Psalm 17:15?
Psalm 17:15 David’s hope is that the righteous will see God’s face and find satisfaction there.
Who will see God’s face according to Psalm 11:7?
• Psalm 11:7 - only the upright will see God’s face.
What is our expectation in 1 John 3:2
• 1 John 3: 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
JESUS IS THE VERY IMAGE OF GOD.
Jesus is the very image of the Father, of the invisible God - anyone who has seen Jesus has seen God.
• Jesus is the very image of the Father. John 10:30: I and the Father are one.”
• 2 Corinthians 4:4, 6 ….to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
• Colossians 1:15 “…. The Son is the image of the invisible God”.
• John 14:9 Jesus replied, “Don’t you even yet know who I am, Philip, even after all this time I have been with you? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking to see him?
• 2 Corinthians 4:6: ‘….. the brightness of his glory that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 1:1-3 1 In the past God spoketo our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways,
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
How do these verses tie up with John 6:46
“Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father.
and 1 Timothy 1:17; Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 John 4:12 No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.
SEEING BY FAITH: Seeing God by faith and endurance in suffering
Moses refused the riches of Egypt as the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter because “he endured as seeing him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27).
Job 42:5; My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.
WHO ELSE HAS SEEN THE LORD
1a) Eye-witnesses - 1 John 1 and John 1 and many many others
1) Saul/Paul
2) Isaiah 6:1 In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. -
3) Stephen Acts 7: 55,56 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said,
“Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” -
4) John
WHAT DOES JESUS LOOK LIKE
Revelation 1: John’s Vision of Christ 9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus,
was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,
11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches…..
12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,
13 and among the lampstandswas someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.
14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.
15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.
16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.17 When I saw him,
I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on meand said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.
18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
GOD’S TABLE AND GOD’S HOUSE
Psalm 23:5,6
TO SIT AT GOD’S TABLE IN GOD’S HOUSE
Question: what is wonderful about sitting around a table with friends or family?
Communion, fellowship, enjoying their hospitality, to be in God’s presence to have access to Him. to share our hearts with Him.
WHAT IS IT LIKE AROUND GOD’S TABLE AND IN GOD’S HOUSE?
The temple is a place of feasting on God’s abundance. liberal hospitality (Psalm 36:7-8)
God’s table is where God’s people are treated with great honour and care (Psalm 23;5,6)
At God’s table, in Psalm 23:5,6 a spread or set table, anointed heads, overflowing cups, a divine welcoming host.
Psalm 23 -our Host lavishes on his guests honour, lovingkindness , abundant goodness and protective care.
Is dwelling in God’s House a short-lived joy? Last verses of Psalm 23
Psalm 27:4: “One thing I ask of the lORD this is what I seek that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in His temple.”
Where Yahweh dwells there His light shines. and illuminates everything (Psalm 26:8)
In God’s house we can ask guidance of Him (Psalm 27:4)
Honor and majesty are [found] in His presence; strength and joy are [found] in His sanctuary. ~ 1 Chronicles 16: 27(AMP)
You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16: 11
God shows Himself to be a fortress in Zion (Psalm 48:1-3)
Great is the Lord,and most worthy of praise,
in the city of our God, his holy mountain.
2 Beautiful in its loftiness,
the joy of the whole earth,
like the heights of Zaphon is Mount Zion,
the city of the Great King.
3 God is in her citadels;
he has shown himself to be her fortress.
Psalm 89:15 Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you.
They walk in the light of your presence o LORD.
WHAT DOES THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT MEAN?
2 Corinthians 13:14
FALSE TEACHING ABOUT GOD’S PRESENCE
1) God’s presence in the Eucharist
2) The Practice of Centering Prayer
1a) Choose a sacred word of one or two syllables which symbolizes your intention to open and to surrender to the presence of God within. (The word could be Jesus, Yahweh, Abba, Spirit, Peace, Silence, etc.).
b). Sit comfortably, with eyes closed. Silently introduce the sacred word as the symbol of your consent to the presence and action of God within. (You need not repeat it continually; it may fade out, become vague or disappear).
c) If you are caught up in any thought, feeling or perception, very gently release it, and return to the sacred word.
d) At the end of the prayer time, remain in silence with eyes closed for a couple of minutes, before resuming activity.You will probably be aware of a continual stream of thoughts and images.
This is not an obstacle to centering prayer. Make no attempt to repress them. Just keep letting them go, and rest in the presence of God, by returning ever so gently to the sacred word.
Before you decide if centering prayer is working for you, commit yourself to do it for at least twenty minutes, twice a day, for a month. Contemplative grace is very subtle,
and you may not perceive what is happening during the time of prayer.
OTHER FALSE TEACHINGS ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF GOD
1)Sometimes His Presence is like waves of warm electrical pulses moving up and down one’s body. These can sweep over in gentle waves like soft tender kisses.
Or they can strongly move in one strong download. I have felt them most often during corporate worship where many people and angels are gathered together singing.
My heart becomes so melted and open when He ministers to me with His waves.
2) I have also experienced strong downloads of His Presence in prayer rooms where many are gathered and all praying in tongues at the same time. It is an awesome experience, almost like walking into pure, raw power.
3)RADIANT HEAT Sometimes His Presence is felt in heat. It is like having a hot flash over a particular part of one’s body, or whole body.
know of a fellow who whenever he worships, he feels heat against his face, as though he is standing in front of a radiant heater.
Gifts of healing often manifest in heat waves or on the body part that is being healed.
4}TREMBLING I have often experienced the Presence of the Lord through trembling. A sudden weakness hits my body and I begin to quiver. If His Presence is stronger, I tremble.
If it is strongest, I radically shake. I can remember one time after a wonderful worship service, I saw a vision of a huge tuning fork.
I felt my body gently pulsating in vibrations deep inside. Immediately the pastor came to the pulpit and said he was feeling gentle vibrations inside of him. Many experienced this.
In our worship, we can become tuned, aligned and one with His beautiful Presence.
http://www.thequickenedword.info/classes/WhereGodSpeaks/Touch/LessonTouchPresence.htm
GOD WANTS TO DWELL WITH HIS PEOPLE
Exodus 25 and 29 -
God could live amongst the galaxies but He chooses to live with His people in a tent - the best tent on the campsite. (Tabernacle)
Here is God’s good news to us: God wants to draw near to us and live amongst us.
• Exodus 25: 8 “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.
• Exodus 29:44,45 “So I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar …..45 Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God.
• Exodus 29:46 They will know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.”
3) GOD’S PRESENCE IN CHRISTIANS INDIVIDUALLY AND IN THE CHURCH:
1 Corinthians 3:16 “16 Don’t you (plural) know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” • Do we think of our church as a place where we all are the dwelling place of God?
• When we go to church do we expect to find God present among us all in a way we cannot experience by ourselves?
• Where two or three gather together in Christ’s Name there is God with them!
• Do I long to experience God’s presence with His people?
HOW PRIZED IS GOD’S PRESENCE BY US?
Ponder…
Do we draw near to God as if it’s no big deal? Is Christ a yawn?
Do we realise God’s presence is indispensable?
Is His indwelling presence my heart’s biggest desire?
Do I reckon I can make it without God and do I feel okay about being estranged from Him?
Is my sin hiding God’s face from me and do I miss His presence?
Do I love spending time with my God?
Maybe I don’t want to lose touch with God all together but at the same time, I don’t want Him too close.
WHAT COULD BE OUR LOT IF WE KEEP OUR DISTANCE FROM GOD?
Who knows what may happen. He may surprise us by His mercy and pursue us by His grace, giving His life to us while we are still ungodly.
"Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord." (1:3).
But…. let us not be too at ease - He has the freedom to decide not to go any further with us.
The day God decided enough’s enough and He hands us over to the things we run after, that is a day of His judgment on earth. (Romans 1)
WAS GOD’S PRESENCE A YAWN TO MOSES
What strikes you in these verses?
Exodus 33:1-3 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ 2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey.
But..... I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”
The most devastating words God’s child can hear God say: “I will not go with you”. Will see Moses’ plea for God’s presence a bit later.
TO BE ABANDONED BY GOD IS THE WORST THING THAT CAN HAPPEN TO US.
To be thrust out of His presence - go away from me I never knew you.
This reminds us of Jesus on His cross.
Could we ever start to grasp what Jesus endured when He cried out “My God, my God why have you abandoned me?”
What is hell going to be like without God?
To be God-forsaken has to be the worst position in which to find ourselves.
WHY CAN GOD’S PRESENCE BE DANGEROUS - See Exodus 33:3 - and discuss
Revelation 6:16 “……and cried to the mountains to crush them. “Fall on us,” they pleaded, “and hide us from the face of the one sitting on the throne, and from the anger of the Lamb….”
DO WE FEAR GOD/ RESPECT/REVERE/STAND IN AWE OF GOD AND HIS PRESENCE? WHY SHOULD WE?
The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. ~ Psalm 97: 5
The earth shook; the heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel. ~ Psalm 68: 8 (Poetic and historical)
Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob.
"And all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground." (Ezekiel 38:20).~
The Lord God asked them, "Why will you not fear Me? Why will you not tremble in My presence?” (Jeremiah 5:22)
Psalm 114: 7
GOD CANNOT DWELL WITH SIN - THE GOSPEL! Exodus 33:3
Therefore brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way,
opened to us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God
with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:19-22 (NIV).
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE IN CHRIST?
HOW NEAR CAN WE GET TO GOD?
LET’S LOOK AT JESUS’ PRAYER IN THE UPPER ROOM
John 17: 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.
May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—
23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
Question: How does God’s presence in us and our unity as His children hang together?
Question; What level of unity in the church is Jesus praying for here?
Let’s read Verse 24 again and just marvel at such grace and welcome and desire.
HOW SERIOUS WAS MOSES ABOUT DESIRING GOD’S PRESENCE?
Exodus 33:15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.
Outside of my God’s presence, I have no hope - in His presence I leap like a calf!
And I have strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow!
ASSURANCE ABOUT GOD’S PRESENCE
Romans 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
IN HEAVEN
• Revelation 22:3,4 “No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.”
HOW DO WE ENTER GOD’S PRESENCE IN PRAYER
1) Therefore brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way,
opened to us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God
with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.”
Hebrews 10:19-22 (NIV).Psalm 100:4 and 5
2) Psalm 100 4,5 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
2) Ps 95:2-7
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! 3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. 5 The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.
6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! 7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand
WHAT ARE THE EVIDENCES OF GOD’S PRESENCE WITH US
1) 1 John - ABIDE AND LOVE
2) How we worship in church. 1 Corinthians 14:23 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in,
will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying,
they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare.
So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LIVE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD
CORAM DEO - This phrase literally refers to something that takes place in the presence of, or before the face of, God. To live coram Deo is to live one’s entire life in the presence of God,
under the authority of God, to the glory of God.
To live in the presence of God is to understand that whatever we are doing and wherever we are doing it, we are acting under the gaze of God. God is omnipresent.
There is no place so remote that we can escape His gaze. To live all of life coram Deo is to live a life of integrity. Not compartmentalizied life. Coram Deo, It is a life that is open before God.
It is a life in which all that is done is done as to the Lord. It is a life lived by principle, not expediency; by humility before God, not defiance.
It is a life lived under the tutelage of conscience that is held captive by the Word of God.
Coram Deo … before the face of God.
Psalm 89:15 Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you.
They walk in the light of your presence o LORD.
WHAT IS THE PROMISE OF ISAIAH 41:10?
Isaiah 41:10
10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
I hope Rachel will sing Isaiah 41:10 for us?
• How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said—
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
• “Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.
• “When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee thy trouble to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
• “When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not harm thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
• “The soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose,
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
~ Jude 1: 24-25
