TITLE: The Power of God’s Presence

TEXT: Psalm 22, Job 43THEME: God’s answer to our suffering is His presence.

We have spent most of our lives avoiding God with all these

distractions and then get angry at Him when we suffer.

The Greeks “amuse”

From which we get our word “amusement”. It is a compound word.

• The word “muse” means to think or reflect on- to be absorbed in thought.

The Greeks “amuse”

From which we get our word “amusement”. It is a compound word.

• The word “muse” means to think or reflect on- to be absorbed in thought.

• An “a” before it negates the word.• Together it means, “to intentionally be

without thinking or reflection.”

Where is God when it seems he has abandoned you?

I. God is present whether we feel him or not. (Psalm 22)

Psalm 22

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.

Psalm 22

6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people.7 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads.8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him.Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”

Psalm 22

11 Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.

Matthew 27: 46

“From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ (which means ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’).”

Psalm 22

14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me.15 My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.

Psalm 22

16 Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet.17 All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me.18 They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.

I. God is present whether we feel him or not. (Psalm 22)

A. The presence of God is a regular theme of scripture.

Psalm 22

But you, Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me.20 Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs.21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen.22 I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you.

Psalm 22

23 You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!24 For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one;he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.

Philippians 4:4-5

“4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”

Matthew 28:19-20

“And I will be with you even until the ends of the earth.”

We can conclude three things

• During times of suffering you may feel God has abandoned you.

We can conclude three things

• During times of suffering you may feel God has abandoned you.

• God is present even during times of suffering.

We can conclude three things

• During times of suffering you may feel God has abandoned you.

• God is present even during times of suffering.

• God is not hiding- He may be watching to see if you will turn to Him.

I. God is present whether we feel him or not. (Psalm 22)

A. The presence of God is a regular theme of scripture.B. Feelings should follow fact- not vice versa.

I. God is present whether we feel him or not. (Psalm 22)

A. The presence of God is a regular theme of scripture.B. Feelings should follow fact- not vice versa.C. This reality of His presence should give us security.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

"If you want favor with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don't ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success."

Where is God when it seems he has abandoned you?

II. It is our sin and disobedience that distances us from God. (Ephesians 2)

II. It is our sin and disobedience that distances us from God. (Ephesians 2)

A. Rebellion, unbelief and doubt hinder our ability to sense God’s presence.

Ephesians 2:1-2

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient…”

Ephesians 2:12

“12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.”

II. It is our sin and disobedience that distances us from God. (Ephesians 2)

A. Rebellion, unbelief and doubt hinder our ability to sense God’s presence.B. We fill our lives with inadequate substitutes to fill the void of God’s presence.

Ephesians 3:3

“All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.”

It is our sin and disobedience that distances us from God. (Ephesians 2)

A. Rebellion, unbelief and doubt hinder our ability to sense God’s presence.B. We fill our lives with inadequate substitutes to fill the void of God’s presence. C. God often uses our suffering to realize our utter dependence on Him.

Elizabeth Kubler Ross“On Death and Dying”

Five stages people go through when they realize they are going to die.

• Denial• Anger• Bargaining• Depression• Acceptance

Where is God when it seems he has abandoned you?

II. God has done everything needed for us to draw close to Him. (II Corinthians 5:16-21)

II. God has done everything needed for us to draw close to Him. (II Corinthians 5:16-21)

A. God wants us to draw near to Him.

II Peter 3:8-9

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

James 4:7

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.”

God has done everything needed for us to draw close to Him. (II

Corinthians 5:16-21)

A. God wants us to draw near to HimB. He cleared the path for us to enter his presence.

God has done everything needed for us to draw close to Him. (II

Corinthians 5:16-21)

A. God wants us to draw near to HimB. He cleared the path for us to enter his presence.• It now becomes our choice to enter into his

presence.

ISAIAH 26:9

“My soul yearns for You [O Lord] in the night, yes, my spirit within me seeks You earnestly; for [only] when Your judgments are in the earth will the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God).”

God has done everything needed for us to draw close to Him. (II

Corinthians 5:16-21)A. God wants us to draw near to HimB. He cleared the path for us to enter his presence.• Don’t blame God if you have rejected Him

and then blame Him for abandoning you.

God has done everything needed for us to draw close to Him. (II

Corinthians 5:16-21)A. God wants us to draw near to HimB. He cleared the path for us to enter his presence.C. We must remove the things that hinder us from experiencing Gods presence.

QUESTIONS

• Are there white elephants in your life? • Are you spending money on things that take

your time away from God?

Watchman Nee

• A drowning man cannot be saved until he is utterly exhausted and ceases to make the slightest effort to save himself.