What does it mean to be in the presence of God?
Is he not always with us?
Have you ever seen a room light up the moment a famous person enters it? Their magnetism has something intangible but very real. Their larger-than-life persona mysteriously charges at you, perhaps even changes you and makes you want to capture even a momentary smile from them.
This is an inadequate picture of what it sometimes (not always) feels like to be in the presence of God.
“The most common term in Hebrew for ‘presence’ is panim, which is also translated as ‘face,’ implying a close, personal encounter with the Lord,” according to Baker’s Bible Dictionary. An example of the Hebrew panim is in Genesis 3:8. In the New Testament, the Greek words prosopon and enopion are similar in meaning.
Here are six truths about the presence of God taught in the scriptures.
The presence of God is everywhere.
This is sometimes called God omnipresence. In Psalms 139:7-12, David says that God is already everywhere we might go in this life and the next. The prophet Jeremiah (23:23-24) goes on to say that God fills the heavens and the earth. This amazing truth is based on the fact that the Lord God created the entire universe and is so much greater than the heavens and the earth. The universe is just a little drop of dew or a tiny white wildflower.
God is both massive and powerful before all creation (Deuteronomy 10:17, Jeremiah 32:17) and is intimately aware of and concerned with his creation (Jeremiah 1:5, Luke 12:7).
God’s presence fills the heavens
He fills heaven with His infinite and eternal glory, majestic power, dominion, holiness and love. The angels of heaven stand before him with fear, adoration and joy. The same goes for believers, from Adam to Eve, to loved ones who have recently gone to be with the Lord. We never pray to them, but they continue to pray to God (Revelation 5:8, 5:13, 6:9-11, 7:9-10 and 8:3-4). Additionally, God the Father loves to hear the sincere prayers of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25, and 1 John 2:1) and the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26-27).
God’s presence also fills the earth.
We hear this from the Lord Himself in Numbers 14:21, from David in Psalm 8:1, from the seraphim in Isaiah 6:3, and again from the Lord in both Isaiah 11:9 and Habakkuk 2:14.
The presence of God settles in every Christian.
In fact, Romans 8:9 and other scriptures teach that if theSpirit of God is not in you, you are not yet a Christian. Why wait? Find out how to become a Christian today! Christians have the promise of God’s constant presence, even when we do not feel it (Matthew 28:20, John 14:16).
God can reveal His presence to anyone in any way He chooses.
He proved it with Moses (burning bush) and Aaron (aspiring staff). He proved this with Elijah in different ways (1 Kings 19:9-18). He also proved it by sending an angel to the Roman centurion Cornelius (Acts 10–11). Finally, He proved it by sending His own Son, Jesus Christ.
This truth is why there are countless tens of thousands of reports of God appearing to people around the world today, usually in their dreams. While God commands us to proclaim the Gospel of the Good News of Jesus Christ to all people in all nations, God has not tied His hands. Instead, he is winning people to Jesus Christ every day in every country on the planet. He ensures that the marriage supper of the Lamb will be an unbelievable joy.
When God reveals his presence to you, you will know it and feel it.
Do you remember the electricity that goes through you when a famous person is with you? You can not miss it. Same when God draws near to you. When he does, imagine him looking at you, smiling. It’s one of the best ways to feel blessed, isn’t it? These experiences are sometimes called moments of transcendence.
You usually can’t predict when God will make His presence known to you. It could be during a big event evangelical, a citywide prayer gathering or a Christian concert. This could be while you’re walking outside, looking up at the night sky, or watching a beautiful sunrise or sunset. Again, this could be when you are working, doing God’s will (Romans 13:14), or spending time with dear Christian friends.
“But I can’t know when that will happen” should encourage you. This should encourage you to think about God, meditate on these truths, and pay attention to how you feel. Never waste moments of transcendence by praising what is created. Instead, praise the Creator!
Yes, you can experience God’s presence here and there throughout your life. It’s not a one-and-done. Only the sky is the proof!
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7 Facts about the presence of God.
1. Adam and EveCain’s son, Cain, was the first to depart from the presence of the Lord (Genesis 4:16). Compare #6 below.
2. Isaac was the first patriarch to associate the presence and blessings of the Lord (Genesis 27:7). This theme is pervasive in the law (Exodus 33:14 and 33:19 and Deuteronomy 12:7, 12:18, 14:23, 14:26 and 27:7). It is also used in the New Testament (Acts 2:28 and 3:19-21 and 1 Thessalonians 3:9).
3. Moses was the first prophet to come into the presence of the Lord to speak with Him (Exodus 18:12, 33:14 and 34:34). It was an image of divine mission, strength and courage (Deuteronomy 31:7).
4. Aaron was the first high priest to enter into the presence of the Lord in the tabernacle (Exodus 28:30). It was also a service photo (Deuteronomy 18:7) and enter into the presence of God in heaven.
5. Kings David and Solomon associated the presence and prayer of the Lord (1 Kings 8:28, 2 Chronicles 6:19, and Psalm 139:1-18 and 139:23-24). We see this reiterated in Ephesians 3:12 and Hebrews 10:22.
6. The Lord repeatedly equates His judgment with removal from His presence and blessing. We see this in 2 Kings 17:18-23, 23:27, 24:3, and 24:20. We also see this in Psalm 9:19 and 114:7, in Isaiah 2:10, 2:19-21 and 3:8, and in Jeremiah 5:22, 15:1 and 52:3. Jumping to the New Testament, we see it again in Matthew 25:41-46 and 2 Thessalonians 1:9.
7. The apostle Paul linked the presence of the Lord and His second coming in 1 Thessalonians 2:19 and 3:13 and 2 Timothy 4:1.
David Sanford of leadership coaches passionate about demonstrating the relevance of Jesus Christ in all areas of life. His book and Bible projects have been published by Zondervan, Tyndale, Thomas Nelson, Doubleday and Amazon. His speaking engagements range from UC Berkeley (California) to the Billy Graham Center at the Cove (North Carolina).
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