THE PRESENCE OF GOD

12 Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.' 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people." 14 The LORD replied, "MY PRESENCE WILL GO WITH YOU, and I will give you rest." 15 Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" 17 And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name." (Exodus 33:12-17)

THE PRESENCE OF GOD Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. (Ps. 51:11) My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? (Ps. 22:1; Mt. 27:46; Mk. 15:34)

GOD IS PRESENT God is Omnipresent 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. (Ps. 139:7-8) God Has Promised To Be Present Immanuel, which means “God with us.” (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23)... surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Mt. 28:20) Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Heb. 13:5) even I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for [God is] with me; [His] rod and [His] staff, they comfort me. (Ps. 23:4) For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Mt. 18:20) When [he] awoke from his sleep, [and] thought, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it." (Gen. 28:16)

REALIZING GOD’S PRESENCE The Desire For God’s Presence Is Key To Realizing God’s Presence. Trials & challenges provoke the desire for God’s presence. Realizing that there are blessings that we could not know apart from God’s presence can foster a desire for God’s presence. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalms 16:11)

REALIZING GOD’S PRESENCE Through Faith – Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of WHAT WE DO NOT SEE (or, by implication, feel). (Hebrews 11:1) Through Feelings Through Evidence

RESPONDING TO GOD’S PRESENCE Fear "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty." (Isa. 6:5) When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" (Lk. 5:8)

RESPONDING TO GOD’S PRESENCE Joy & Worship Give to the LORD the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his presence. Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor. (1 Chron. 16:29 NLT) 1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 ENTER HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING AND HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE; give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Ps. 100) Be still, and know that I am God (Ps. 46:10)

What will heaven be like? It will be a continual sense and enjoyment of God’s presence.

What will hell be like? While there’s nowhere where God is not, hell will be a terrible sense of God’s absence—for ever!

WORSHIP: A means of entering into God’s presence A response to God’s presence