Evans, Our God is Awesome:God's Omnipresence

8/7/2019 Evans, Our God is Awesome:God's Omnipresence

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Proverbs 10:14The wise

store up

knowledge

Friday 11 February 2011


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The

Omnipresence

of God



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Evans defines this as,

Gods complete essence is

fully present in all places at all

times

Gods omni attributes work together- e.g. he can do any thing he wants toanywhere he wants to - he knows allthere is to know as everythinghappens somewhere and he wasthere at that time - etc.



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God being omnipresent is aproblem - it means we are not

in control, so resorting to idolscan be easier as we are incontrol then.

We can create theologies whichmake us the control -pantheism states God is animpersonal force - like in Star

Wars - often we call it natureand therefore depersonaliseGod and limit his power andeffect



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In pantheism everything is part ofGod - trees, mountains, lakes,streams, and of course, people - sothere is no sin and no one isseparated from God - so no needfor salvation.

God becomes a sum of all theelements, without any morality.

Deism is another option - we haveseen Gods power but do not knowhim personally - God set theuniverse in motion and then left italone to work out - laws are fixedbut he then watches what goes on



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Definition of PANTHEISM1: a doctrine that equatesGod with the forces andlaws of the universe

2: the worship of all gods ofdifferent creeds, cults, orpeoples indifferently; also :toleration of worship of allgods (as at certain periodsof the Roman empire)

Definition of DEISM: a movement or system ofthought advocating natural

religion, emphasizingmorality, and in the 18thcentury denying theinterference of the

Creator with the laws ofthe universe



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Both pantheism and deismare heresy

The Omnipresence of God

says he dwells intimately inhistory and yet exists totallyoutside of it. He istranscendent and imminent

at the same time.



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1. God is set free of

limitations

1 Kings 8:26-27 - the templeis built and at the dedicationSolomon prays...

And now, God of Israel, let yourword that you promised yourservant David my father cometrue.

But will God really dwell onearth? The heavens, even thehighest heaven, cannot containyou. How much less this temple I

have built!Friday 11 February 2011


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1.a. No Limitations of Space

Gods presence is in the sphereof immensity and infinitude:

Immensityrefers to that whichcannot be contained

Infinitude refers to infinity,that which is without limit

God fills everything - even that

which we dont know about -we put on weight and burst out,God so fills the universe thatSolomon says he bursts out of it



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1.a. No Limitations of Space

Gods presence is in the sphereof immensity and infinitude:

Immensityrefers to that whichcannot be contained

Infinitude refers to infinity,that which is without limit

God fills everything - even that

which we dont know about -we put on weight and burst out,God so fills the universe thatSolomon says he bursts out of it



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Although Gods presence cannot

be contained, the whole universeis full of it - still it is notweakened, it is the same all theway through

The good thing about Jesusleaving the earth is that he waslimited by his physical humanbody and was thus in one place

at one time - Holy spirit is not,so he can be with all Christiansall the time



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John 14:16-17- And I will ask the

Father, and he will give you anotheradvocate to help you and be with you

forever the Spirit of truth. The worldcannot accept him, because it neither seeshim nor knows him. But you know him, forhe lives with you and will be in you.

The idea that God cannot be dividedand therefore must be in every place inthe same way is described by

theologians as Gods simplicity- hecannot be divided up into parts - hecannot be broken down ordecomposed into simpler parts for he is

not composed of parts in any way.Friday 11 February 2011


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1.a. No Limitations of Flesh

God is spirit - he is anuncompounded being - therefore

everything everywhere issurrounded by the being of God.

The fulness of God - omni

whatever you like - is in all placesat all times.



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Evans suggests it is like one drop

of water and the ocean - bothcontain the same components -the idea is that God is like this, inbeing fully with us all the time.

There is a problem in thatsometimes you dont feel God isaround you - it doesnt mean that

he isnt! You dont see the wind orcold, but you know they arethere.



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Evans suggests it is like one drop

of water and the ocean - bothcontain the same components -the idea is that God is like this, inbeing fully with us all the time.

There is a problem in thatsometimes you dont feel God isaround you - it doesnt mean that

he isnt! You dont see the wind orcold, but you know they arethere.



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God is with us

In saying this we shouldrealise that satan is noomnipresent - he commands

demons under his rulership -Eph 2:2

1 Jn 4:4 -You, dear children,

are from God and haveovercome them, because the onewho is in you is greater than theone who is in the world.



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My God Is So Big

by Ruth Harms CalkinMy God is so big, so strong and so mighty

There's nothing that He cannot do

My God is so big, so strong and so mightyThere's nothing that He cannot do

The rivers are His, the mountains are His

The stars are His handiwork tooMy God is so big, so strong and so mighty




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My God is so big, so strong and somighty

There's nothing that He cannot doMy God is so big, so strong and somighty

There's nothing that He cannot doHe's called you to live for Him everyday

In all that you say and you doMy God is so big, so strong and somighty




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2. God is intimately involved

with creation

Psalm 139:7 -Where can I gofrom your Spirit? Where can I fleefrom your presence?

David speculates in 8-10If I go up to the heavens, you arethere; if I make my bed in thedepths, you are there. If I rise on

the wings of the dawn, if I settleon the far side of the sea, eventhere your hand will guide me,your right hand will hold me fast.



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2.a. Too big to avoid

There is nowhere you can run

to to avoid God - in all eventsand circumstances he is there- Ps 139:11-12

If I say, Surely the darkness willhide me and the light becomenight around me, even thedarkness will not be dark to you;

the night will shine like the day,for darkness is as light to you.

God will sustain and be withyou in all places



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2.B. Too close to ignore

He is so close you cannot getaway from him - no matterhow you try.

Acts 17:28

For in him we live and move and

have our being.

Jonah - God used a wholerange of techniques and tactics

to make sure that Jonah, nomatter how hard he tried,knew that God was rightthere with him involved in

everything that happenedFriday 11 February 2011


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2.B. Too close to ignore

He is so close you cannot getaway from him - no matterhow you try.

Acts 17:28

For in him we live and move and

have our being.

Jonah - God used a wholerange of techniques and tactics

to make sure that Jonah, nomatter how hard he tried,knew that God was rightthere with him involved in

everything that happenedFriday 11 February 2011


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2.c. Too caring to ignore us

God knows where he wantsus to go and how he wants usto get there.

This means there is nothingGod is not aware of andtherefore nothing he does not

want us to talk with him aboutand bring to his attention.


3 G d O i b i i l b fit


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3. Gods Omnipresence brings special benefits

God is everywhere equally - bit notequally related to everyone andeverything.

God has a different relationship withpeople.

Isaiah 55:6 - call on him whilst he isnear.

Isaiah 29:13 -The Lord says: These

people come near to me with theirmouth and honor me with their lips, buttheir hearts are far from me.Their worship of me is based on merely

human rules they have been taught.Friday 11 February 2011


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God has not moved physically butthe relationship has changed - see

also Jesus on the cross, forsaken byFather.

Isaiah 43:1-7 - shows how muchGod takes care of those who

belong to him, of his children

But now, this is what the LORD sayshe who created you, Jacob, he whoformed you, Israel:Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have summoned you by name; youare mine.



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When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; andwhen you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep overyou. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD yourGod, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for yourransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are preciousand honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give

people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your childrenfrom the east and gather you from the west. I will say to thenorth, Give them up! and to the south, Do not hold themback.

Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends ofthe earth everyone who is called by my name, whom I

created for my glory, whom I formed and made.Friday 11 February 2011

3 Guid


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3.a. Guidance

As a child of God you get hisspecial guidance in your life.

Jacob - Genesis 28:13-15 - Hehad a dream in which he saw a

stairway resting on the earth, with itstop reaching to heaven, and theangels of God were ascending anddescending on it. There above it stoodthe LORD, and he said: I am theLORD, the God of your fatherAbraham and the God of Isaac.



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I will give you and your descendants theland on which you are lying. Yourdescendants will be like the dust of the

earth, and you will spread out to thewest and to the east, to the north and tothe south. All peoples on earth will beblessed through you and your offspring. I

am with you and will watch over youwherever you go, and I will bring youback to this land. I will not leave youuntil I have done what I have promised

you.

God is there if you feel him or not,

sense him or not, when things seem

to be going wrong or right - always!Friday 11 February 2011

3b Victory over temptation


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3.b. Victory over temptation

1 Cor 10:13 No temptation has

overtaken you except what is common tomankind. And God is faithful; he will not letyou be tempted beyond what you canbear. But when you are tempted,he will

alsoprovide a way out so that youcan endure it.

Why? 1 Cor 6:19

Do you not know that your bodies aretemples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you,whom you have received from God?

God is with you - always!



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This should also lead us to live

holy lives.We are in-dwelt by the HolySpirit - and we are not our own -in effect God asks,

How could you do that

with me standing with you?

This makes it important to

confess sin as soon as possible -God already knows about it andwants the relationship restored.


3c Provision for Needs


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3.c. Provision for Needs

Hebrews 13:5

Keep your lives free from the love ofmoney and be content with what youhave, because God has said,Never willI leave you; never will I forsake you.

So we say with confidence,The Lord ismy helper; I will not be afraid. Whatcan mere mortals do to me?

Evans says that this means God willpay your bills - and you need totrust him to do it in whatever wayhe chooses - if you dont you

end up in bondage to moneyFriday 11 February 2011


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It is easy to love money so muchthat you cant go to church, or

cant give - because you needyour money.

God wants us to be content with

the money he gives to us, andmore importantly with hispresence.

Php 4:19 -And my God will meet

all your needs according to theriches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

What is the context here?



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Liberal, generous, giving.

Evans suggests not that it is wrong to

improve or get ahead in some way - butmore importantly God wants us to becontent with his presence.

Php 4:11-13 - I am not saying this

because I am in need, for I have learned tobe content whatever the circumstances. Iknow what it is to be in need, and I knowwhat it is to have plenty. I have learned thesecret of being content in any and every

situation, whether well fed or hungry,whether living in plenty or in want. I can doall this through him who gives me strength.



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Evans reminds people who struggle of Hagar - cast out

of her home whilst pregnant, yet God reveals himselfas El Roi - the God who sees, Genesis 16, and

then when she leaves for good in Genesis 21

Hagar is impressed by the perceptiveness of God asrevealed through his angel-messenger. This is seen in thename she gives to the Lord; she calls him God of seeing(Hb. El Roi). here I have seen him who looks after

me...her remarks may be interpreted as denoting an innerperception; she perceives that God sees or looks after her.

ESVSB


3d Freedom from Anxiety


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3.d. Freedom from Anxiety

Often rather than run to God we

look for other people.Isaiah 41:10 - So do not fear, for Iam with you; do not be dismayed, for Iam your God. I will strengthen youand help you; I will uphold you withmy righteous right hand.

When you face challenges - God is

still omniscient, omnipresent andomnipotent - he is with you

God specialises in working whenwe think we cant.



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Moses said he couldnt lead orspeak, Exodus 3-4

Elishas servant didnt realiseGod was already there

surrounding Dothan, 1Kings 6Gods relational presence is withyou all the time - no matterwhat life throws at you, nomatter what difficulties youexperience.



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The bottom line for Evans is

Php 4:6-7

Do not be anxious aboutanything, but in every situation, by

prayer and petition, withthanksgiving, present your requeststo God. And the peace of God,which transcends all

understanding, will guard yourhearts and your minds in Christesus.


R di t G d O i


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Responding to Gods Omnipresence

1. Make sure that God doesnt haveto battle for your attention - as hedid with jonah

2. Deal with your frustration, angerdisappointment - especially if it iswith God - talk with a friend,pastor etc.

3. Renew your prayer life - God isthere, and he is listening

4. Clothe yourself in the armour ofGod

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Evans, Our God is Awesome:God's Omnipresence

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