The Bible Emphasizes Gods Manifest Presence Not Only His Omnipresence
There is a difference between saying God is everywhere, and saying God is here. The former is the default category for most Christians. We talk about Gods presence being inescapable and that he is everywhere present .
But it seems Scripture is more concerned with his presence manifest in relationship and redemption. And though these divine realities are certainly not at odds, the biblical story does turn on Gods being manifest with his people in Eden, the tabernacle/temple, the incarnation of Christ, and the new heaven and new earth.
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Bible Verses About God Presence Of
For thus says the high and exalted OneWho lives forever, whose name is Holy,I dwell on a high and holy place,And also with the contrite and lowly of spiritIn order to revive the spirit of the lowlyAnd to revive the heart of the contrite.
Where can I go from Your Spirit?Or where can I flee from Your presence?
You will make known to me the path of life In Your presence is fullness of joy In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.
If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.When I awake, I am still with You.
And David arose and went with all the people who were with him to Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God which is called by the Name, the very name of the Lord of hosts who is enthroned above the cherubim.
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Would You Like To Cultivate An Eternal Perspective
Ive found scripture writing to be a sweet and effective way to focus myself in on Gods word. Thats why I created this 30 Scripture Writing Plan. Its themed around the sections of scripture that have helped me set my heart on heaven more than any others.
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The Story Of Scripture Begins And Ends With The Presence Of God
In the book of Genesis, Eden is the first couples home but, more importantly, it is Gods sanctuarythe garden temple where the Creator and his image-bearers relate .
Fast forward to the end of our Bibles and we see a very similar picture but on a much larger scale. All of heaven has collided with the whole earth to make a perfect sanctuary for God to dwell with man . In the book of Revelation, Eden has returned and expanded into new heaven and new earth where all of Gods people enjoy his presence eternally.
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Sin Undermines Humanitys Mission And The Experience Of Gods Presence
But there is a problem, isnt there? Adam and Eve replace blessings for curses when they eat the forbidden fruit. These curses cut right to the heart of who they are and what they were made to do. For Eve, pain overwhelms the promise of a people. For Adam, perspiration and thorns will impede the promise of place.
Sin hinders everything now, especially mans experience of Gods presence. Because of their disobedience, Adam and Eve are now exiles their mission is in shambles as they stand outside of Eden. The presence of God they once knew freely is no longer free.
Sin hinders everything now, especially mans experience of Gods presence.
Verses About God With Us
Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD your God, he it is that does go with you he will not fail you, nor forsake you.
Psalm 23:4
Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for you are with me your rod and your staff they comfort me.
John 14:16
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.
Isaiah 41:10
Fear you not for I am with you: be not dismayed for I am your God: I will strengthen you yes, I will help you yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.
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Prayer For Gods Presence
Lord, I thank you for you are the God who dwells within me. You are worthy of all the praise and worship. You are the Almighty God who promises that Hell always be with us. Im humbled by your love for me.
Today I choose by faith to believe, hold on and trust in your constant presence in my life. May I never doubt or forget this truth no matter what I go through in life. I hold on to each of your promises which are yes and amen in Christ Jesus.
In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.
The Presence Of God Finds Its Greatest Expression In Immanuel God With Us
God himself comes to save. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, entered human history to give his life as a ransom for many . In his grace, God buys us back in the most unimaginable way possible: God in Christ became a man, walked among humanity, and died for his people.
In this merciful act, Christ reconciles us to himself and re-opens access to the Father so that those who were once exiled from his presence might again draw near to God .
This book explores the importance of Gods presence in the Bible and how it relates to his plan for the world, helping readers understand what we really mean when we say God is with us.
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Scriptures About Having Access To God
What Did Jesus Mean When He Said, I Am The Way And The Truth And The Life ?
I am the Way and the Truth and the Life is one of the seven I Am statements of Jesus Christ. Made/uttered on the last night before His betrayal, death, and resurrection, this statement is of great importance in Christianity. We are made to understand from the Bible that for three years, Jesus disciples followed and learned from Him. They had placed their hopes in Him as the Messiah, Promised Deliverer, although they still didnt understand how He was going to accomplish the deliverance. After the Last Supper, Jesus Christ began speaking about His departure, which led to questions from his disciples.
Jesus Christ Continues Teaching His Disciples
Jesus Christ said to them, You know the way to the place where I am going . Speaking on the behalf of all the disciples, Thomas said that they did not know where He was going, and as a result could not know the way to take in order to follow Him. It was in answer to this question that Jesus Christ uttered one of the seven famous I Am statements. Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me .
I Am
The Way
The Truth
The Life
True Followers of Jesus Christ
God Covenants To Bring His Presence Back To His People
But in grace, God steps in to pay the price. To overcome mans sin and ensure his purposes, the Creator becomes covenant Redeemer. Through his covenant promises, the Lord restores what Adam failed to do. God makes a people and a place through the covenant all the while keeping his promises to humanity.
God does all of this so that he can be our God and we can be his people . At the heart of the covenant, then, is a relationshipone that is decidedly on his terms. God enters into his creation to create a people and a place for his presence. And so the covenant is as the Lord declares at Sinai: I will dwell among the people of Israel and be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them .
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The Presence Of God Is The Means And End Of Redemption
As evangelicals, we talk a lot about the presence of God but seldom look to the Bible to see what it is. When we do, we find that it is first and foremost a theme on which the story of Scripture hinges. If we read our Bibles though we begin to see a two-fold pattern.
First, the Bible makes clear that the presence of God is a central goal in Gods redemptive mission. All of Gods work ends with the Lord dwelling with man. And second, the presence of God is, not only an objective, it is also the means by which the redemptive mission is fulfilled. God writes himself into his own story to bring salvation. To understand our Bibles and how it changes us, we need to know Gods presence.
How To Gain Gods Presence
In recent years, all kinds of disasters have occurred constantly. Prophecies of the Lords return have come true. Have you discovered that you often cant feel the Lords presence when praying and cannot gain new light when reading the Bible? Then how can you have God with you and gain Gods enlightenment and illumination? The following biblical verses and words of God will bring you help.
Matthew 25:6
And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes go you out to meet him.
Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
John 10:27
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
Relevant Words of God
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Choosing To Seek God Leads To Deliverance
God has never forsaken those who diligently seek Him. Those who trust in Him will never be abandoned . He is a fortified tower of safety for all who run to Him .
- I sought the Lord, and he answered me he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant their faces are never covered with shame. Psalm 34:4-5
- The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear him he hears their cry and saves them. Psalm 145:18-20
- Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. Psalms 107:13-14
Bible Verses To Usher You Into The Presence Of God
Sometimes the most powerful motivator for me to slow the busyness of life to BE with God is a simple invitation, spoken straight from His Word.
To such an invitation, my spirit cant help but say,yes!
As I talked with one of my nearest, dearest friends this week, she mentioned a list shed curated of Bible verses about spending time with God. My interest was piqued, and I asked her to send me a copy.
I spent the next morning looking through and carefully reading all of her verses. I also thought and prayed about which ones I would add to the list. Together we came up with a great list I think.
Just looking at this sweet list filled me with such peace and joy in this beautiful relationship to which God has called me. To which he has called you.
Its breathtakingly intimate and personal.
So now, Im giving you this gift of invitation into Gods presence.
Please take some time to carefully pray through these verses. If one stands out to you, speaks to you, motivates you, and inspires you, please take the time to copy it down and put it where youll see it and be reminded.
Then follow through spend time with your Abba.
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Ephesians : 18 And : 11
For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him .
Think about the profound nature of this verse. We have access to the Father. We can often take this for granted in our prayer lives until we realize what the High Priest had to go through the one day a year he could approach the Holy of Holies. They had to attach bells to him in case he stopped moving . Praise the Lord that he found a way for us to have access to him and an ability to approach him.
God Is Immanent Because He Is Transcendent
The Lord is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath . But to understand God in full we must recognize that his drawing near to creation stems from his being distinct from creation. In other words, there is no deficiency in God that creation satisfies. The Lord doesnt relate to this world because he lacks something within himself. No, God draws near out of the abundance of who he is.
Gods transcendence distinguishes him from the created order and puts things in their right perspective. God does not come to us needy and wanting, but rather he comes to revive the spirit of the lowly and the heart of the contrite . It is the holy and righteous One above who restores the broken and needy below.
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Seeking God Infuses Hope
Time in Gods presence renews endurance to run the race ahead, a longing to see His kingdom come, and an expectancy to see Him move here on earth. Because He cares for you, you can cast all your apprehension on Him and receive a restored hope for the future.
- This I recall to my mind therefore I have hope. Through the Lords mercies, we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning great is Your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, Therefore I hope in Him! The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. Lamentation 3:21-25
- Then you will know that I am the Lord those who hope in me will not be disappointed. Isaiah 49:23
Seeking God Gives You Life
The same God who created life is trustworthy with your life. He came so that you might live abundantly. Seeking God ignites the eternity He placed in every heart and sets our mind on eternal things. While the world says, seek fulfillment to find life, Gods word says in seeking Him, you will fulfill your life.
- For thus says the LORD to the house of Israel, Seek Me that you may live. Amos 5:4-6
- The poor will eat and be satisfied those who seek the Lord will praise himmay your hearts live forever! Psalm 22:26
- The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God. Psalm 69:32
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Discernment Understanding & Wisdom Comes To Those Who Seek Him
As we commit to seeking God first, His wisdom and understanding pour over us with true freedom to follow His plan and purpose for our lives. And the foolishness of God is wiser than all human wisdom . From His throne flows the discernment to live every day to the fullest, making the most of every opportunity .
- Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the LORD understand all things. Proverbs 28:5
- Indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 2:3-6
- Seek His will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:6
To Be A Joyful Christian Is To Know Gods Presence
If we are honest, many of us can think of God as our magic genie from time to time. We keep him on the shelf until troubles arise or there is something our neighbor has that we really want. The problem is, real relationships dont work this wayespecially with the triune God. The Lord over all will not be left on the shelf of anyones life.
Instead, Scripture is clear that all of lifeand, principally, the gospel lifeis about being in Gods relational presence. This is why David proclaims, in your presence there is fullness of joy, at your right hand are pleasures forevermore . When we push all our peripheral issues to the periphery, this is all that is left and all that really matters.
Ryan Lister is professor of theology at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. He is the author of The Presence of God and serves as director of doctrine and discipleship for Humble Beast, where he also helped start the Canvas Conference. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife, Chase, and their four children.
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