God’s Presence
Thank you so much for joining us today. Our topic is one that will, upon consideration, bring you to a place of awe. Learning about God’s presence in both the physical and spiritual world is exciting! Oh, to think of all that He is and all He does for His children! Enjoy and be blessed! Eric
In the prayer of the prophet, Habakkuk, in Habakkuk 3:2-4 we read, “LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, LORD. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy. 3 God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. His glory covered the heavens and his praise filled the earth. 4 His splendor was like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden.” In verse 3, the phrase, ”His glory covered the heavens” highlights the overwhelming presence and majesty of God. “His praise filled the earth” indicates the response of creation to God’s manifest presence. Verse 4 begins, “His splendor was like the sunrise.” “The phrase evokes the imagery of divine glory and majesty associated with God’s presence. The comparison to sunrise suggests purity, brilliance and the life-giving nature of God. “Rays flashed from His hand, symbolizes the emanation of divine power and authority. The “hand of God” represents action, strength and intervention. “Where His power is hidden'“ suggests that even though His power is evident, it’s full extent remains concealed until He reveals it in His timing according to His purposes.” (Bible Hub Study Bible).
Is it any wonder the prophet was in awe of God? The Lord’s glory (divine splendor, majesty, light) covered of clothed heaven and tehilla, songs of praise for Him, filled the earth! A blinding radiance or splendor envelopes Him and emanates from Him! Divine glory and majesty are strikingly visible in His presence!
Are we in awe of God’s presence” We definitely should be, for God is still the same today as He was in the days of Habakkuk!
It is vital for us to have a clear understanding of what the presence of God is, in order for us to realize and understand what being ‘in His presence’ means and signifies to us personally. I believe most of us have a diminished perception and understanding of who God really is! It is very difficult for us to visualize and comprehend His worthiness, preeminence, excellency and supremacy.
For many of us, our intimacy level with God is lacking. I pray this post will give you enlightenment of the miraculous gift we have been given in the provision and availability of an intimate relationship with the very God of the Universe. That relationship comes through the plan of reconciliation the Lord set in motion through the willing sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. Due to His sacrifice, motivated by His love for us, we are able to enter into a personal relationship with Him! Of course, the most valuable result of Jesus’ sacrifice is our redemption and the gift of eternal life, which we will spend in the presence of God!
A wonderful multifaceted benefit we have because of our reconciliation of right relationship with God is the privilege of being able to be ‘in His presence’ while we still reside on the planet! After Jesus accomplished His mission of being the perfect sacrifice for mankind’s redemption, He returned to sit at the right hand of the Father, where He makes intercession for us. At that time, the Father sent the Holy Spirit to dwell inside believers to be our Comforter and Helper. We have God living inside us!
As we face many troubles and trials, we need to know that God is present. Sometimes, it may appear that He is not, however, the Word of God reveals that He is always present in every situation you are in or will ever face. We read this promise in Hebrews 13:5b, “God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Faith believes God, even when things aren’t going the way we hoped or think they should. We all encounter those times when we need to exercise that faith and believe God’s Word above our circumstances.
My goal for today’s post is to give you Scriptures you can hold on to, in those times, when your faith needs to be founded in Truth (The Word of God), rather that in what you see with your eyes.
Jesus spoke to Jews who had believed Him and revealed, “If you continue in My Word … then, you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
You need to know without a doubt that God is with you, before you, behind you, in you and for you! I believe it would be beneficial, if possible, for you to print or copy the following Scripture references I am going to share (or particularly those which speak to your heart), so that you can look at, meditate on and memorize them.
Looking at the Greek or Hebrew words used in the Scriptures to express that God is ‘with’ you reveals various truths. Based on the various ‘with you’ Scriptures, we glean the following truths. ‘With you’ means: He is alongside, accompanying, attentive, responsive, present, near, not distant and actively involved. God is omnipresent, always near, He is your assurance when you are in distress and with you always, until the end of time. As the ‘Lord of Heaven’s Armies,’ He is the supreme authority and power over all celestial and earthly forces for your divine protection and deliverance. When He is ‘with’ you, He is there as your Helper, Comforter, Counselor and eternal presence. His presence assures you of God’s intimate involvement in your circumstances. Praise God! He is ‘with’ you!
He is ‘before’ and ‘behind’ you. ‘Before’ emphasizes guidance and His active role in leading. His presence ‘before’ and ‘behind’ you indicates divine guidance, leadership and protection. He is your ‘rear guard’ when behind you. Thus, He gives you comprehensive protection. His presence means your spiritual journey is secure from your beginning to the end. He is your shield and defender, who provides protection. When He ‘hems’ you in, ‘behind’ and ‘before,’ indicates He surrounds you with protection and guidance.
God is ‘in’ you! His presence is indwelling and gives you comfort, guidance and empowerment. His presence in you empowers you for holy living and service. When God’s presence is ‘in’ you, He is your constant source of strength and guidance. His presence is fixed and operative! He is the source of your spiritual life and power. He resides in you while guiding, teaching and empowering you to live according to God’s will.
God is ‘for’ you! He is on your side and you have the assurance of divine support. He stands with you against any and every adversary! You have the assurance of God’s favor and divine intervention. Hallelujah! Isn’t that good news?
God is ‘with’ you:
Isaiah 41:10, “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.”
Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Isaiah 43:2 (NLT), “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”
Psalm 91: i4 and15, “Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.”
Psalm 46:7 (NLT), “The LORD of Heaven's Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.”
Psalm 139:7,8, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”
Matthew 28:20 (NLT), “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
John 14: 16,17, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever-- 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
Matthew 1:13, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us").
God is ‘before and behind’ you:
Deuteronomy 31:8, “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
Isaiah 45:2 (NASB20), “I will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars.”
Isaiah 52:12 (NLT), “You will not leave in a hurry, running for your lives. For the LORD will go ahead of you; yes, the God of Israel will protect you from behind.”
Psalm 139:5 (NLT), “You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.”
Psalm 125:2, “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people both now and forevermore.”
He is ‘in’ you:
John 14:16,17, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever-- 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.“
1 Corinthians 3:16, “Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?”
1 Corinthians 6:19, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own”
1 John 4:13 (NLT), “And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us.”
God is ‘for’ you:
Psalm 118:6 (NLT), “The LORD is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”
Psalm 56:9 (NKJV), “When I cry out to You, Then my enemies will turn back; This I know, because God is for me.”
Romans 8:31-39, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 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.”
Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
In closing, I would like to remind you that God is ‘for’ you because you are His! Isaiah 43:1, “But now, this is what the LORD says--he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”
When He is ‘at your side,’ God will keep your feet from being snared.
“Let us learn to live in the Presence of the Living God; let us ask the Holy Spirit that this day, and every other day; we may sense God.” (Charles Spurgeon).
May you be more aware of His presence ‘with’, ‘before’ and ‘behind’, ‘in’ and ‘around’ you today than ever before.
I would also ask you to pray Habakkuk 3:2 with me for our world, “Lord, I have heard of Your fame; I stand in awe of Your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.” Amen
Unless otherwise noted, Scriptures were taken from the New International Version.
NLT New Living Testament
NASB20 New American Standard Bible 2020
NKJV New King James Version