{"id":288,"date":"2011-02-20T08:30:00","date_gmt":"2011-02-20T13:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hanoverbaptistchurch.org\/blogpastor\/2011\/what-does-the-bible-say-about-the-promise-of-the-presence-of-god\/"},"modified":"2011-02-20T08:30:00","modified_gmt":"2011-02-20T13:30:00","slug":"what-does-the-bible-say-about-the-promise-of-the-presence-of-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hanoverbaptistchurch.dreamhosters.com\/blogpastor\/2011\/what-does-the-bible-say-about-the-promise-of-the-presence-of-god\/","title":{"rendered":"What does the Bible say about the promise of the presence of God?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9—NKJV)<\/cite> <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Raising little children teaches any observant parent basic life lessons. You learn a lot about yourself by observing nascent human nature displayed in an unpretentious way. <\/p>\n

Watching your toddler, you see him draw back from the sudden appearance of a big doggy. He is aware that he is being faced with a new set of unknowns that are just a little bit scary. He turns toward you to see that you are near. He reads your face to see your confidence and that you do not fear. Then he turns and forges ahead on a mission of discovery with a renewed sense of courage just because he knows you are near and you do not fear. Why should he fear? You have been there for him in the past. You have defeated his fears before. He knows that his pioneering ways are all well in your capable hands. Parental presence turns a fearful nightmare into an adventure of discovery. <\/p>\n

This childlike confidence in the physical presence of his father finds its full maturity in the confidence of an authentic Christian in the presence of his heavenly Father. The common, troublesome trials that befall all mankind descend upon born-again Christians just as frequently. In this life, just as sure as there is a new day tomorrow, there is a new trial brewing along with the new day as well (\u201cSufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.\u201d Matthew 6:34). Financial challenges, health problems, family difficulties, work drudgery, and worrisome struggles rush toward believers and unbelievers alike. Is it any wonder that our \u201cinstant\u201d society constantly invents new ways to diffuse, drug, and drown out each dissonant cacophony in the pursuit of just a little peace? <\/p>\n

When a sin-darkened man trusts Christ as his Savior for his salvation, the Bible teaches that he is instantly indwelt by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13). He fully inherits all the blessed promises that God has pronounced upon those who come to Him in faith. Deuteronomy 31:6 states, \u201cBe strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.\u201d It is this verse that is quoted in Hebrews 13:5–6 where we read, \u201cLet your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, \u2018I will never leave you nor forsake you.\u2019 So we may boldly say: \u2018The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?\u2019\u201d <\/p>\n

When faced with uncertainty and dark times, the believer turns to seek his heavenly Father\u2019s face, to see that His gaze rests upon him, to discern His confident, bright eye, and to be reminded of His presence. Only then can the saint turn and grapple with the unknown with a renewed confidence. His is the joy of adventure in partnership with God\u2019s ever-present help. Isaiah 26:3–4 reads, \u201cYou will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in Jehovah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.\u201d No, it is not a promise of ease, but it is a promise of faithful care. You are free to pursue His peace, His presence, His power, His sufficiency, and His purpose. <\/p>\n

Psalm 9:10 says, \u201cAnd those who know Your Name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.\u201d Immanuel, God with us, is His Name. Our Lord states, \u201cBehold, I am with you, even to the end of the earth (Matthew 28:20).\u201d <\/p>\n

What uncertainties are gaping before you at this moment? If you are born again through the grace of God, revisit the verses listed above and wait upon the Lord, drink in the confidence afforded in the promise of His presence, and then march on hand-in-hand with Him. It is an adventure of discovery. Trust and obey. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9—NKJV) Raising little children teaches any observant parent basic life lessons. You learn a lot about yourself by observing nascent human nature displayed in an unpretentious way. Watching your toddler, you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hanoverbaptistchurch.dreamhosters.com\/blogpastor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/288"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hanoverbaptistchurch.dreamhosters.com\/blogpastor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hanoverbaptistchurch.dreamhosters.com\/blogpastor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hanoverbaptistchurch.dreamhosters.com\/blogpastor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hanoverbaptistchurch.dreamhosters.com\/blogpastor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=288"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hanoverbaptistchurch.dreamhosters.com\/blogpastor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/288\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hanoverbaptistchurch.dreamhosters.com\/blogpastor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=288"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hanoverbaptistchurch.dreamhosters.com\/blogpastor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=288"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hanoverbaptistchurch.dreamhosters.com\/blogpastor\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=288"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}