Sunday 29th September 2013 - God's Manifest Presence - Brian Nish

GOD’S MANIFEST PRESENCE (The Secret Place – or – Behind The Veil) INTRODUCTION (John 14v19-21) Why were we created? ‘Westminister Confession’ – “The chief end of man is to glorify God and ENJOY HIM forever” We are created for fellowship with God and to enjoy Him We can’t fellowship and enjoy someone we don’t know we can be Christians for years and yet not really ‘know’ God Our first calling is to know God and be with Him The Great Commandment (Math 22v37) – BEFORE - The Great Commission (Math 28v19) God has created us with a ‘longing/thirst’ deep within our soul that only He can satisfy even seeing thousands saved and great signs and wonders won’t satisfy the longing of our soul God wants us to know His Presence before His Power GOD’S PRESENCE Gen 2/3 – Adam/Even in Garden of Eden – lived in God’s Presence The Fall/sin, sickness, death – put out of God’s Presence O/T sacrifices – blood covered sins of people high priest once per year entered holy of holies went behind the veil at Mercy Seat encountered God’s Presence the meeting point between God and man on earth Math 27v51/Heb 6v19 – Jesus on the cross conquered sin, sickness, death veil torn in two from top to bottom made the way back into God’s Presence behind the veil O/T Mercy Seat – N/T Throne of Grace the meeting point between God and man on earth Rev 20v11 – The Judgement Seat/Hell/2nd death separation from God’s Presence forever A RETURN TO FIRST THINGS The first and great commandment is to love God with all your heart…(Math 22v37) The Great Commandment BEFORE The Great Commission Seek first the kingdom of God…..(Math 6v33) (3) Return to your first love…Rev 2v4 - and do the first works……..Rev 2v5 (4) Jesus appointed twelve – to be with Him – then preach gospel etc (Mark 3v14) That I may know him (Phil 3v10) – and the power of His resurrection etc We need to return to first things – First His Presence – then His Power SEEK HIS PRESENCE God wants to be found!! Jer 29v13 – You will seek Me and find Me when you search with all your heart God and heaven are nearer than we think?? Father/Son in heaven – Holy Spirit upon earth – Yes? but also within us (John 14-17) God and His kingdom are in heaven – Yes? but also upon earth Kingdom within you (Luke 17v21) – Kingdom of heaven at hand (Math 10v7) – My kingdom not of this world (i.e, a spiritual kingdom) (John 18v36) – God is everywhere (Psalm 139v7) From O/T Mercy Seat – to – N/T Throne of Grace – behind the veil the meeting place between God and man on earth Practical Helps be convinced it’s biblical be convinced it’s for you have a regular time and place to meet with God tell God you’re seeking Him be quiet/be still play appropriate worship music use sanctified imagination (i.e. ‘see’ Jesus/Throne etc as shown in bible) draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4v8) ‘consciously’ enter in to His Presence/into the Spirit realm stay there and ‘soak’ in His Presence and love RESULTS/BENEFITS OF HIS PRESENCE A satisfied soul – filled with more of God and His love A more fruitful life and ministry Go from His Presence with His love and power to bless others CONCLUSION Why were we created?? To ENJOY GOD!! Put first things first – The Great Commandment BEFORE The Great Commission. Seek His Presence – enter in – and ‘soak’ – make it a lifestyle. Be like the apostle Paul who counted everything as loss for the sake of KNOWING Him (in his personal experience). The more WE know God the more WE will become like Him. God is love. So let us enter in – receive His love – and then give it away to others.