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Transcript

The Presence of God · First15 Devotional

• 0:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: As we near the end of our week, getting back to the basics of a quality time along with God, we're going to take time today to look simply at the presence of God.
• 0:16
  [SPEAKER_00]: As mysterious as it may sound, God's presence is meant to be a regular part of all our lives.
• 0:24
  [SPEAKER_00]: Just as we experience the nearness of those we do life with every day, and the fruit of them simply being with us.
• 0:33
  [SPEAKER_00]: God wants us to experience His nearness as well.
• 0:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: My hope is that today, the presence of God is demystified a bit, and becomes a regular part of every day we set aside to meet with Him.
• 0:48
  [SPEAKER_00]: He's done so much to be close to us, and I can't wait to see how He fills the space we set aside for Him today.
• 0:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast.
• 1:27
  [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 139 verse 7, Scripture says, Where shall I go from your Spirit?
• 1:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: Or where shall I flee from your presence?
• 1:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: One of the most important pieces of spending time with God is encountering His presence.
• 1:52
  [SPEAKER_00]: His presence is meant to be at the core of all that we do.
• 1:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: God so hated separation from us that Jesus was sent to pay the ultimate price.
• 2:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: And at Jesus' death, the curtains separating the holy of
• 2:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: signifying that God's presence was no longer contained, but made available to everyone.
• 2:22
  [SPEAKER_00]: Psalm 139 verses 7 and 8 says, where shall I go from your spirit?
• 2:28
  [SPEAKER_00]: Or where shall I flee from your presence?
• 2:32
  [SPEAKER_00]: If I ascend to heaven, you are there.
• 2:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: If I make my bed in shield, you are there.
• 2:40
  [SPEAKER_00]: and Psalm 84 verses 3 and 4 says, even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow ennest for herself, where she may lay her young at your altar's o Lord of hosts, my king and my god, blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise.
• 3:06
  [SPEAKER_00]: God's presence is everywhere.
• 3:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: There is nowhere you could go that he won't be with you.
• 3:13
  [SPEAKER_00]: There is no situation, conversation, job or place in which you can't meet with God.
• 3:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: So how do we encounter the presence of God?
• 3:26
  [SPEAKER_00]: How do we experience his nearness?
• 3:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: encountering God is similar to encountering another person.
• 3:36
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't seek an experience with the friend.
• 3:39
  [SPEAKER_00]: I simply seek to know him by spending time with him and gain an experience as a result.
• 3:46
  [SPEAKER_00]: I don't seek to hear the voice of a friend.
• 3:49
  [SPEAKER_00]: I simply engage in conversation with him as an act of wanting to know him and hear his voice as a result.
• 3:58
  [SPEAKER_00]: The only thing about seeking God that makes it different is that he is spirit rather than flesh.
• 4:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: John 424 says,
• 4:18
  [SPEAKER_00]: But it's for that very reason that we can truly know Him.
• 4:23
  [SPEAKER_00]: Scripture is clear that God is everywhere, and that the Holy Spirit dwells within us.
• 4:31
  [SPEAKER_00]: His presence is already with you.
• 4:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: Encountering Him is as simple as taking some time to become aware of His nearness.
• 4:43
  [SPEAKER_00]: God longs for you to know Him.
• 4:47
  [SPEAKER_00]: So great is His desire to meet with you spirit, to spirit, heart to heart, that Jesus gave His life.
• 4:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: Take time to simply seek God, meditate on His Word, allow scripture to fill your heart with faith.
• 5:07
  [SPEAKER_00]: and makes space to rest in God's presence that your heart might come alive at the revelation of His nearness.
• 5:35
  [UNKNOWN]: Thank you.
• 5:55
  [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, meditate on Scripture about God's presence.
• 6:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: Exodus 33, 14 says, and He said, My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.
• 6:23
  [UNKNOWN]: you
• 6:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: And next, allow Scripture to fill you with faith to experience God.
• 6:57
  [SPEAKER_00]: Center your understanding of encountering God around simply seeking to know Him.
• 7:05
  [SPEAKER_00]: Romans 1017 says, So faith comes from hearing and hearing through the Word of Christ.
• 7:24
  [UNKNOWN]: Thank you.
• 7:54
  [SPEAKER_00]: And last, make space to rest in God's presence, ask Him to show you how to abide in Him.
• 8:04
  [SPEAKER_00]: He desires to make Himself known to you all throughout your day.
• 8:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: He wants to be involved in everything you are doing.
• 8:14
  [SPEAKER_00]: Nothing is too mundane for the Lord.
• 8:17
  [SPEAKER_00]: His desire is to be with you.
• 8:21
  [SPEAKER_00]: John 15 forces abide in me and I in you.
• 9:09
  [SPEAKER_00]: Once you begin consistently encountering God's presence, you will find it becomes easier and easier to set aside that time to meet with Him.
• 9:20
  [SPEAKER_00]: So many Christians are calling the time they spend reading the Bible, time they spend with God, without actually encountering Him.
• 9:29
  [SPEAKER_00]: We preach as Christians that Jesus is alive, our faith hinges on that fact.
• 9:37
  [SPEAKER_00]: Yet we go so long without encountering our God who is alive and present.
• 9:44
  [SPEAKER_00]: If we're not regularly encountering the God we serve, we are living and preaching a false gospel by our actions.
• 9:53
  [SPEAKER_00]: God's presence is meant to be encountered.
• 9:56
  [SPEAKER_00]: He is present, near, active, and full of love for you.
• 10:03
  [SPEAKER_00]: May your time spent with him be marked by his satisfying presence as you experience the transforming power of encountering the living God every day.
• 10:35
  [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you so much for listening to today's podcast.
• 10:38
  [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with First 15.
• 10:41
  [SPEAKER_00]: Tomorrow will wrap up our week on getting back to the basics by taking a closer look at what it means to meditate as a Christian.
• 10:50
  [SPEAKER_00]: I think tomorrow's episode is absolutely critical to maximizing the time we set aside to meet with God and living in communion with Him throughout our day.
• 11:01
  [SPEAKER_00]: So if you haven't already, make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you won't miss an episode.
• 11:08
  [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you see Kim.