Presence of God – 4/23/2017
God always desired to dwell with us
If God is just visiting in your life, things will return back to normal when glory leaves.
[Psalm 27:4] – The one thingI ask of the LORD–the thing I seek most–is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD’s perfections and meditating in His Temple.
Is God dwelling with you? Are you dwelling with God?
[Genesis 3:8-9] – the Lord God walking about in the garden, they hid because they realized their nakedness, He asked “Where are you?”
Tabernacle– “mishkan” (dwelling place, tent) – in the Wilderness
[Leviticus 26:11-12] – I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.
[Exodus 33:11] – Inside the Tent of Meeting, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting.
Temple – in Jerusalem
[1 Kings 8:27-30] “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built! Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O LORD my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you this day, that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place.”
[Acts 17:24-25] – The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, and human hands can’t serve his needs–for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need.
[Zechariah 2:10-11] “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD. And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you.
DWELL – “shakan” or “shaken” (shaw-kan’) – to settle down, abide, dwell – this word is derived from rabbinic word “shekhinah” (Shekhinah Glory – divine presence of God)
[Matthew 1:23] – Immanuel “God with us”
[John 1:14] – And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (Pitched His Tabernacle/Tent, Tabernacled with us)
[Ephesians 2:21-22] – In whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
“naos” – (nah-os’), place of divine dwelling place
[Ephesians 3:17] – Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. DWELLS IN OUR HEARTS THROUGH FAITH
“katoikeó” (kat-oy-keh’-o) – dwelling place, settle down as permanent resident
Revelation 21:3 – And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
Is God dwelling with you?
- Sin separated us from God (Romans 3:23)
- The penalty of sin is death (Romans 6:23)
- Jesus paid the penalty for our sin (Romans 5:8)
- If we repent of our sins & confess Jesus as Lord, we will be saved (Romans 10:9-10, 13).
If you believe in JESUS – the Spirit of God is dwelling within you.
[John 14:17] He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you.
“menó” (men’-o) – stay, abide, remain
Are you dwelling with God?
HOW’S YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
Are you talking to God (prayer)?
[1 Thessalonians 5:16] Pray without ceasing
Are you listening to God (reading His Word)?
[Colossians 3:16a] – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” WORD DWELL WITHIN YOU
Are you walking with God (in faithful obedience)?
[John 14:23] – Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves Me, He will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and we will come to Him and make our home with Him.” OBEY THE WORD
[John 15:5] – I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. BEARING FRUIT
Benefits of Dwelling with God
Psalm 91
- Rest
- Refuge
- Protection / Safety
- Rescue
- Removal of Fear
- Deliverance from evil
- Honor
- Long Life
- Salvation
Tania Gutekunst 