The Powerful Presence of God
Apologies for the reduced audio quality
Introduction
- Examples of the presence and the fear of God
- What about the world?
- What about the Church?
- Ps 114 is about the powerful presence of God
- May it stir us up
- It is the second of the Hallel Psalms
- He would have heard these Psalms many times
- We know the Jews would sing Ps 113-114 as they ate the Passover meal
- Scripture tells us they sang a hymn afterwards
- What was going through Jesus mind?
- It speaks of the exodus of the Jews
- It speaks of the promised land - poetic and personified prose
- It speaks of God's presence
- 1 Cor 10:4
- As Jesus read this - He knew that He was the one to fulfill these words
- Overview - the powerful presence of God:
- For us (v1)
- In us (v2)
- Throughout our journey / from beginning to end (v3-8)
- In Jesus Christ
His presence for us (v1)
- There is no mention of God's presence in v1 - it might seem a 'walk in the park' but the Jews knew what this meant - after 400 years of oppression and bondage
- Oppressed by Pharaoh
- God had raised up Moses
- Pharaoh hardened his heart
- Eventually he let Israel go
- The people came out of captivity
- They would have 7 days of festivities once a year to remember this
- They would celebrate the Passover and rejoice
- They would remember what God had done for them
- If the Jews still remember the Passover - is the Church rejoicing in the mighty presence of God who has done something far greater for us?
- Jesus has set us free form sin - explanation of the work of Christ
- It is God's powerful presence that has saved us
- Have you been saved from sin?
- Are you under the grace of God?
- What has the powerful presence of God done for you?
- Have you been saved?
- Has you life been changed? - example of language and your desires
- We can celebrate every day what Christ has done for us
His presence in us (v2)
- Not just for us, but in us
- In the Old Testament - God dwelt in a certain place
- Dwelling in the tabernacle - Ex 40:34-35
- Then the Temple
- Judah (the leading tribe of Israel) became His sanctuary
- The Israelites became the dwelling place of God
- Ex 19:5-6
- Ex 33:14-15
- God was them as a people - not just certain individuals like Moses or David
- God was to be their King
- This sounds like the New Testament
- Eph 1:23 - the Church is God's body
- Do you think of God's fullness?
- Eph 2:21c-22
- 1 Peter 2:9-10
- 1 Cor 6:19
- Do we pray for the peace and prosperity of the Church?
- Do we take hold individually of what God is doing in us?
His presence from beginning to end (v3-8)
- The sea saw God coming -v3
- The parting of the waters was not a natural phenomenon - it was a miracle from God
- God's power is not short
- The river Jordan parted
- God's power was with them at the beginning and the end
- Was God not with you at your beginning?
- Will God not be with you at the end of your journey?
- Verses from song written by Vernon Higham
- Trust in Him
- Reading v4-6
- The answer - is found in v7
- Whatever we find in life - we can be sure that God is with us
- v8 - God supplied water (by Moses) at the beginning and the end of the journey
- We need to let the peace of God reign in our heart
His presence in Jesus Christ
- Reading 1 Cor 10:3-4
- The rock symbolised Christ
- God provided for their every need - examples
- John 7:37-38
- Jesus provides us with living water
- Do we murmur like the Israelites rather than receive the waters of living life?
- Moses song - 3 times he mentions the rock - of Jesus Christ
- The New Testament speaks of Peter as a rock
- Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone of the Church
- We have the parable of the house built upon the rock
- Eph 1 - reminds us of the powerful presence of God in Jesus Christ
- God can do exceedingly abundantly beyond what we can ask or think ...
- ... by His power at work in the Church
- Do we experience the life giving waters of Christ?
- Do we experience God's power in our lives?
- Do we share in the Lord's communion table?
Closing Remarks
- Do we tremble before the Lord?
- Like Peter, like Isaiah
- Know the presence of God and humble yourself before Him