The Journal of Biblical Accuracy http://www.jba.gr/
Article • In God’s Presence
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In God's Presence «In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (Genesis 1:1)» and after speaking into existence the whole Universe and every living creature.... «God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them..." (Genesis 1:26-27) God created man, His ultimate and so dear masterpiece and placed him right in His presence. Think about it ! The whole Universe created HE, for man to dwell in His presence! I John 1:5 «This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.» GOD IS LIGHT I John 4:8 «He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.» GOD IS LOVE The Lord God Almighty by/in/through His perfect love gave man freedom of will, the freedom to choose and man chose to question His Creator, thus resulting in ........
Genesis 3:8 «And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.» They left from God's very presence. However, would God ever give up on His most precious among the whole creation? NEVER. The plan was ready and the promise for victory over sin - man's isolation from Him-darkness, evil and death come just 7 verses later Genesis 3:15 «And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.» (plz note that the first usage of the word "BRUISE" in this verse, is in the text really, the word, SMASH/CRASH) So Satan's head crashed. It is done in the spiritual, with our Lord's ressurection and it will be manifested in its all glorious fulness, at God's perfect timing: 2 Peter 3:9 «The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.» Let's look at some verses: Revelation 21:10-11 «And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.
Revelation 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. Revelation 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. Revelation 22:.3 «And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him» INTO GOD'S PRESENCE Man started into God's presence and it is where he will be forever and ever. BUT WHAT ABOUT NOW? WHAT ABOUT TODAY? Psalm 118:24 «This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.» God rescued us, delivered us, redeemed us, calls us back in His very presence by His grace. Right now! Let's see what it is like to be in His presence. Psalms 100:2 «Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.» 1 Chronicles 16:26-27 «For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens. Glory and honor are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.»
Psalms 16:11 «Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.»
Psalms 95:2 «Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms. There is Joy, Glory and Honor, and PRAISES......PRAISES.. PRAISES, into God's presence, there is Thanksgiving.... Acts 3:19 «Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord» We need to ask God to cleanse us, to enter into His presence. Through confession and repentance that lead us to God's forgiveness, God is blessing us, to have boldness and access to His throne, His very throne, His very presence 1 Corinthians 1:29-31 «That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.» HUMBLENESS: there is no room for glory but unto the Lord God Almighty. GOD calls us today to come into His presence. GOD is Who will lead us into His holy of holies. GOD is Who will teach us how to approach and praise Him.
GOD is Who gives us the faith on His promises and His truth. GOD is Who cleanses us with His undeserved forgiveness, so we can with boldness stand before our Lord. Our part is to trust in Him in all humbleness, to lean on Him to carry us, to give Him our hearts, so that He will guide them closer and closer and as close as it gets to Him. It is His will. Our part is to surrender to our Mighty, Loving Master and our respond to His calling is to be: "Here I am Lord, I am yours." We are nothing but when in HIM. We know nothing but by HIS wisdom. We can do nothing but by HIS might and He is calling us to claim His promises. So ask!! Ask Him to take you into His presence. He is FAITHFUL. Matthew 7:7-8 «Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened» We don't have to "know how". He only asks from us to seek His presence. He is so faithful and longing for His precious children to seek Him more and more. Surrender to Him! Focus on Him, find time for your Creator! Jude 24-25 «Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. AMEN!
God bless you child of God, NOW is the time to press on and seek His very presence! Zoe Hadjiantoniou