| The clouds were dense, fluffy, and appeared to promise snow this afternoon, but it could just be my hope for snow and Christmas.
I am feeling very Christmassy, now that I've gotten most of my Christmas shopping done.
(for Christmas this weekend anyway - we're celebrating twice this year)
So Merry Christmas!
Oh right, and Happy Thanksgiving. ^_~ |
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Happy Monday!
You will not receive a countdown post today, because I'm FREE from work and class today! |
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| The Presence of God
Pastor Seth Polk
Psalm 73
The nearness of God is reserved for the righteous, for those who love and serve Him.
The psalmist is writing about a correcting of his perspective.
The presence of God is my good.
The psalmist holds up everything in the world and realizes that it is nothing in comparison with a relationship with God.
Because God is omnipresent, He is everywhere with all of His perfect characteristics, holiness, goodness, justice, love...
1. The presence of God in the Old Testament
-Adam and Eve -joined in fellowship with God, banished because of sin, hid themselves as if they could hide from God
God facilitated fellowship for and with them, but it could not be the same as what they what lost due to their sin until Jesus Christ came.
-Enoch - "walked with God", experienced a special closeness with God
-Abraham - "a friend of God"
2. The presence of God in the New Testament
There was a shift that occurred between the Old Testament and New Testament.
The men just mentioned from the Old Testament were privileged. The closeness they experienced with God was not true of Israel as a whole.
In the New Testament the barriers are dropped through the coming of Christ.
A 400 year silence was broken with announcements about the coming of the Messiah.
3. God's presence today
God's omnipresence ought to fill us with awe and amazement.
There is no place that God is not.
God is not all things.
God is all the time in all places, but not all things are God.
Not only is God not all things, God is not present in the same sense with all people.
He is near but not in unbelievers.
v. 23-28
God's presence is my good.
This cannot be said without knowing Him.
God's omnipresence will bring some fear, but it should be a fear that draws us to Him
Not a fear that makes us hide from Him but a fear that makes us hide in Him
The presence of God can bring confidence, trust, and peace to our hearts.
God is an omnipresent God Who is present with us personally as well.
See how greatly He cares for us?
He is near to all who call on the name of Jesus.
God is here.
v. 28
Our responsibility
We are called to give testimony to Who God is. |
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| It's fun opening the front door to a happy puppy. ^_^
The sky was so clear and amazing tonight!
I wish I hadn't been driving so I could look at the stars...
There were a ton, but I could only safely catch glimpses of them. |
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| I just finished grading outlines! Yay!
My life would be much easier if students didn't cheat on their exams.  |
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