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God's Exquisite Garden
OMNIPRESENCE OF GOD
The definition of omnipresence is an ability to be present at any/or all times. Another meaning is an ubiquitous occurrence. This attribute is usually used in a religious situation since monotheists generally allude to the feature of omnipresence as being a unique characteristic of God.
All individuals and animals are not capable of being in more than one place at the same time. Our God far surpasses any and all limitations that are placed on His creations, both humans and things.
The laws of limitations of space do not apply to God because omnipresence is an attribute of His alone.
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
and if children, then heirs—
heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him,
that we may also be glorified together.
Romans 8:16-17
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.
Proverbs 15:3
In that God is in all places, this allows Him to act everywhere.
Sometimes with God's awareness of all we do, some people might think they should run and hide because of their actions. We have a loving God who sees all because He is everywhere.
If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
Psalm 139:8
This attribute gives God the capability to have admittance into each secret place. The complete chapter of Psalm 139 tells of the ever presence of our Lord.
Jonah did not want to go to Ninevah to preach and thought he could hide from God, but God saw him wherever he went.
Under no conditions, such as darkness, can we hide from God. It
is so reassuring that we have a God who has the ability to be in all places at the same time. Our blessed Lord will always be with us no matter where we go or what we do.
Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?" says the Lord;
"Do I not fill heaven and earth?" says the Lord.
Jeremiah 23:24
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But the Lord is with me as a mighty, awesome One. Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail.
They will be greatly ashamed, for they will not prosper.
Their everlasting confusion will never be forgotten.
Jeremiah 20:11
Think how glorious it is that we have a God who can be with us wherever we are. He is with us in difficult circumstances and good times. How comforting it is to know He is near, we are never alone.
“Do not forsake me, O Lord; O my God, be not far from me!”
Psalm 38:21
The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
Psalm 145:18
The heavens were made by the Lord our God. Jesus Christ constantly supports all things through God, His father.
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things,
through whom also He made the worlds;
who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power,
when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high
Hebrews 1:1-3
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There are many Biblical examples of instances where the omnipresence of God is seen. We see this with Jacob, Elijah, and David.
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The father of Jacob was Isaac. Isaac sent Jacob to look for a wife. That night Jacob used a stone for a pillow and he had a dream. In his dream he saw angels ascending and descending on a ladder reaching from earth to heaven. The Lord told Jacob that He was with him.
Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, " Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it."
Genesis 28:16
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God appeared to Elijah on the mountain. God was not in the wind, the earthquake, nor the fire, but the prophet heard Him in the the still small voice that followed.
So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave.
Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
1 Kings 19:9
David, the Psalmist, asked this powerful question as he placed before us all the certainty that no one is able to escape the presence of God. See Psalm 139:7-12.
Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
Psalm 139:7
We need to remember that no matter what our station in life may be, God is with us wherever we are. We fill but a small space while He fills all space. There is no movement from Him when we move, but we should move in Him. This cannot be restated enough; wherever we are, He is. Our Lord is everywhere!!!
Thus says the Lord: "Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool.
Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? "
Isaiah 66:1
And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth,
and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,
so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him,
though He is not far from each one of us;
Acts 17:26-27
Our God proclaims Himself both in celestial and in temporal settings simultaneously. How wondrous He is and how fortunate we are. We have a loving, just God who is always with us as He is also in another location. We will never be forsaken, no matter what the situation we might be facing at the time.
He is near who justifies Me; who will contend with Me? Let us stand together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near Me.
Isaiah 50:8
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
Why someone would choose to go through life trying to live it on their own is beyond me. So many times they feel they are completely alone. They are so mistaken, our Lord is ever present. These trying times may include the death of a loved one, a serious illness, loss of a job. Think – how hard it would be to go it alone, all by ourselves.
This You have seen, O Lord; Do not keep silence. O Lord, do not be far from me.
Psalm 35:22
I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
Psalm 16:8
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There are times in our lives when we may feel abandoned by our friends, but we can be guaranteed that God will never leave us. He is there to encourage and/or uplift us. WE HAVE AN AWESOME GOD!!
O God, do not be far from me; O my God, make haste to help me!
Psalm 71:12
You shall not be terrified of them; for the Lord your God, the great and awesome God, is among you.
Deuteronomy 7:21
God's presence through Christ did not end with the death of Christ. Christ appeared to his disciples and to Paul. Christ's work continued through them.
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Acts 1:8
And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language,
'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'
So I said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “ I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”
But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose,
to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen
and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.
Acts 26:14-16
God is available to each person. You need only search for Him. He wants every person to know Him and of His wondrous powers. Wouldn't we all be better off knowing Him? He is ever with us.
You are near, O Lord, And all Your commandments are truth.
Psalm 119:151
For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us,
for whatever reason we may call upon Him?
Deuteronomy 4:7
We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near.
Psalm 75:1
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door,
I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
Revelation 3:20
Discussion ad Study Questions:
1. Why can't humans have the characteristic of omnipresence?
2. Why are we not able to flee the presence of God?
3. Through whom was God's presence seen on earth?
4. Who continued the work of Christ after His death upon the cross?
Application Activities:
Discuss how the omnipresence of God is seen to our benefit.
Discuss how we are affected by this attribute.
Copyright 2008 Linda Lawrence
Lessons in this Series
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