His Omnipresence

God is everywhere. There is no place in creation where God does not exist in divine fullness. It might take you a while to grasp that. In fact, you might have thought about this at different times throughout your spiritual pilgrimage: about the omnipresence of God, that God Himself is everywhere. There's no place He is not. And hopefully, by the end of our time together this evening, you'll get a little bit further along in your understanding of the omnip of God. It's a tremendous attribute. Tonight, we'll look at three points.

We'll look at the explanation of his presence, the questions about his presence, and then finally, some consolation from his pres.

But first of all, let's look at an explanation of his presence. Turn with me to Jonah chapter 1. Very familiar story. You know it very well. But if we look at the explanation of his presence, we're going to look at Jonah's journey and Jeremiah's journal.

And by looking at those two aspects, we'll get a better grasp of the omnipresence. Of our Lord Jesus Christ. We need never fear to be alone. In fact, if you were to Read the book of Jonah, you would understand exactly what that means. He was about to go to Nineveh. It says in verse number one: the word of the Lord came to Jonah, the son of.

Am saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, the great city, and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before me. Now, if you're a preacher and God gives you an opportunity to preach, you preach. But Jonah, he had an opportunity to preach. He was a great prophet of God, but he didn't want to preach to these people. They were the enemy. And he didn't want to preach to the enemy. It says in verse number three: But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshis from the presence.

The Lord. It says on in verse number three: So he went down to Joppa, found a ship, which was going to Tarsh.

Paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence Of the Lord. He had this ridiculous idea that God would not go with him, that he could somehow get out of God's pres. I wonder if you share Jonah's sentiments. I like what it says over in verse number 10. It says this. Then the men became extremely frightened, and they said to him, How could you do this? For the men knew that he was what? Fleeing from the presence of the Lord because he had told them. Now, I read that and I marvel at that.

You see, when we run from God, we don't tell anybody, do we? We don't let anybody know we're running from God. We make our excuses. I'm going to another church. See, that's our excuse. Or, I'm going to get into another marriage. We never say, I'm running from God, I'm running from God's commands, I running from what God wants me to do. But Jonah, man, he was bold as brass. He told him exactly why. He was, they were in trouble there in the ship. Why the storm came up? Why they all feared for their lives.

I'm fleeing from the presence of God. That's why we're in trouble. It's my fault. Amazing. They knew because he told them that he was running from the presence of God. Text says that Jonah p the f. Whenever you run from God, you always pay the fare. Whenever you run with God, God pays the fare. That's important to note. Jonah had to pay his own way. God doesn't pay the way for you to run from him. He pays the way for you to run with him. But note this also. Jonah did not understand that when he ran from God, he'd have to run through God to God.

See that? Because God is everywhere. Instead of going 500 miles to Nineveh, he went 2,000 miles the other direction. Here's the point. Whenever you run from God, the trip is always longer and always harder than if you run with God. That's the point. And Jonah, figure that out the hard way. 2,000 miles to 500 miles, a great storm versus no storm. Just preach the word of the Lord. But Jonah found it out the hard way. I wonder how many of you this evening are paying the fare. I wonder how many of you this evening are finding it a hard road to travel because you've run from the presence of God.

Jonah thought he could flee God's presence. So God, in a miraculous way, sent that underwater express to pick up Jonah there in the middle of the ocean and spit him back up on shore in Nineveh. You know the story. About what happened there to those in Nineveh, how they all repented, gave their life to Christ. It was a tremendous testimony. But Jonah still wasn't a happy guy. He still was a sad man. And so God would manifest his presence in another way, and as Jonah went out to sulk in chapter 4. And feel sorry for himself because God did spare the enemy.

God did exactly what God said he was going to do. God was compassionate. God was gracious. God was merciful. And that's what made Jodah mad. Because God was that kind of God. And he didn't want his enemies to find the compassionate, graceful, merciful God. But God demonstrated his wonderful mercy, and Jonah himself was upset. So God would manifest him. In such a way by providing for Jonah a plant, a worm, and a scorching east wind to teach him a lesson. But the amazing thing about the book of Jonah is how it ends.

It's amazing to me. It has one of the strangest finales in all of Scripture. We are not told of whatever became of Jonah. We have no idea whether his attitude ever changed. We get no glimpse of how Jonah responded in his heart to the Lord's tender admonition in chapter 4. We know nothing of Jonah's further minist. You know why? I believe it's because he failed to learn the lesson of the omnipresence of God. If you want your ministry to flourish, If you want your ministry to be all that God wants it to be, you've got to learn this attribute: that God is everywhere.

That kind, gracious, loving, merciful God. Never skips a beat. He is everywhere. From Jonah's journey, I want you to go with me to Jeremiah's journal, Jeremiah chapter 23, to be exact. Jeremiah 23, verse number 23 says this: Am I a God who is near, declares the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can a man hide himself in hiding places so I do not see him, declares the Lord? Do I not fill the heavens and the earth? dec the Lord. Can you imagine that? Can you fathom that? Now some of you will think, well, this is just a theological discussion and really is of no interest to the common church attender about the Ramifications of God's omnip.

That's not true at all. In fact, listen, in 1992, September of 1992, In the Los Angeles Times, in the public opinion section, one man said this, and see how this brings things home to light about the omnip of God as he addresses an issue. of great interest to most Christians. Americans may reasonably differ on whether statecrafted prayer should be authorized in public schools. But it is an insecure, if not manipulative, view of the Christian faith to imply that an agency of the state can block the pres of God.

God is not excludable from any place. A U. S. Supreme Court cannot keep an omnipresent God out of our schools any more than Congress is needed to put him back in. Think about that. Let's answer four questions. That's point number two, about the omnipres of God.

If God is everywhere, how can He be confined to one location such as heaven? That 's a good question, isn't it? If we pray, Our Father, who art in heaven, why don't we say, Our Father, who art everywhere? Over in Psalm 11, listen to what it says. Verse number 4. The psalmist said, This: The Lord is in his holy temple. The Lord's throne is in heaven. His eyes behold his eyelids. Test the sons of men. So the psalm was referring to God who is in heaven. His holy place on the throne. Psalm 14, verse number 2 says this: The Lord has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.

If God is in heaven, then how can God be every place too? That's a good question. The answer that seems most plausible is that God is not everywhere present. In the same sense. Listen to this. God is able to localize his presence by special revelation. Or visible evidence. For example, he appeared in the pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day as he would lead the nation of Israel through the wilderness. He appeared to Moses in the burning bush. In the days of Isaiah, he was represented by smoke filling the temple of God.

But not one of those figures, whether it be fire, cloud, a burning bush, or smoke. Tells us all there is to know about the presence of God. They were simply visible man of His presence. All of that which is his presence was not seen in any one of those symbols, but they were given to man. To understand that God is with them. You follow me? Question number two.

If God is everywhere, how can anyone flee from his presence? Well, we looked at Jonah earlier. Realizing that Jonah couldn't get out of the presence of God, although he thought he could. And if he was a great prophet of God, used in a mighty way, how about people like you and me? We do think we can flee from God's presence. We think we can hide in our closet. We think we can get on the internet without God watching. We think we can watch TV or certain videos without God watching. We think we can read certain literature without God watching.

Or God being there. That's not true. Even though Jonah believed it. We cannot hide or run away from God's presence, let alone his knowledge. From man's point of view, there is a sense, though, in which we do run from God. We depart from the conscious fellowship with Him. Let me give you an example, not of conscious fellowship, but let me give you an example of leaving the presence of God.

Turn with me to Job chapter 1. Job chapter 1, verse number 12, we read these words. Then the Lord said to Satan, Behold, all that he has. That's Job, is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him. So Satan departed from the pres of the Lord. So if God is omnipresent, how could Satan depart from the presence of God? Answer: Satan is never outside the presence of God. Satan is not omnipresent. Only God is omnipresent. Satan can't be everywhere at once. Satan is not omniscient. He doesn't know everything like God knows all things.

So he had to go into the presence of God, get permission to deal with Job. Satan always has to get permission to deal with you, too, by the way. And God gave him certain leeway, but only as much as God would allow him to do. And yet he would leave the presence of God. So God's presence in this case was localized in heaven. And he no doubt gives a visible manifestation of himself so Satan could come to him and speak to him. Satan leaves that visible manifestation of God's presence in heaven, even though after he left, he never really did leave the presence of God because God is omnip.

You follow me? Sure. You understand that. Job 2:7 adds this. Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. We are told in verse number one that Satan came along with the sons of God, that is angels, to present himself before the Lord.

So we assume that there was some kind of visible manifestation. God for Satan to be able to come to him and speak to him. It is that special presence from which Satan then would depart. Question number three: If God is everywhere, how can He dwell in a physical body?

This is important, especially when it comes to the identity of who Jesus Christ is. If God is everywhere, can he actually localize him in the realm of human fles? Answer: Well, of course he can. If he can manifest himself in the Garden of Eden, If he can manifest him in the heavens, so Satan then would have to gain entrance into his presence, he can manifest him in the flesh. And that's important for us to understand. It says in Colossians 1:19, For it pleased the Father that in him, that is Jesus Christ, all the fullness should dwell.

That term all the fullness expresses the totality of God's person, his attributes. So Jesus Christ was the totality of God. In the flesh. Paul said in 1 Timothy 3:16, and without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifested in The flesh. See that? So while God is everywhere, He can give us a visible manifestation of Himself in the flesh. And that's what he did when Jesus Christ came to ear. Question number four: If God is everywhere, then how can he be near to some and far from others?

That's a good question. The Bible says in Isaiah 55, verse number 6: Call upon the Lord while he is near.

So if God is on the pres, how can he be near at some times, yet far away at other times? How does that. Manifests itself? What does that mean to us? We must understand the difference between God's essence and God's relationship. to people. When we become a Christian, when we give our life to Christ, God takes up a residence in our hearts. God lives in you and me. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. It's God in us. It says over in Colossians 1:2, Christ in you is your hope of glory. So Christ fills us, as Ephesians 3.

19 says, with his fullness. But before we were Christians, We did not have the presence of God relationally. We had the presence of God in His essence. But not relationally. So, back to the question I posed earlier when Christ hung on the tree and said, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? The relationship between God the Father and God the Son at that moment. Was different than it ever had been in eternity past. Why? Because at that moment, God the Son would bear the sins of the world, and because God is so holy, He cannot even look upon evil.

He had to turn his back from his son. He was still there. He is omnipres. He is everywhere. But relationally, it was different. But God, in his essence, was still there. That makes sense? You understand that now? So there's a difference, a distinction between God's essence and God's relationship when it comes to His presence. Those who sin against Him Don't have that relationship with him versus those who live a godly, holy life. They walk with God, they talk with God, they understand God, they hold God's hand, they know what it means to commune with God.

But those who live in wickedness, those who live in sin, Feel far removed from God. Why? Because their sin has separated them from their God. They have no communion with Him. It'll be more clear when we understand point number three: the consolation from His presence.

This is great. This is so good. Listen very carefully. Number one, he supports us in service. Because God is present, he supports us in our service. When life's challenges hit you and you face something you've never faced before moving to a new building starting a new church It's good to know that God is omniscient. He knew all that before you even embarked on the journey. It's good to know that God is omnipresent, that God is with you as you embark on that journey. And it's good to know that God is omnipotent, that God will handle any job.

On that journey. That's the way God is. So, are you going to trust yourself? Or are you going to trust God to do what God can do? In Deuteronomy chapter 31, it says this. As Moses was helping the nation of Israel understand that Joshua was the next leader, verse number 8, he says this: And the Lord is the one who goes ahead of you. He will be with you. He will not fail you or fors you. Do not fear or be dismayed. The only comfort that Joshua would have in his service of leading two million grumbling, bickering, complaining Jews is that God would be with him.

And that's all the encouragement he needed to have. That's all he needed to know. Number two, to comfort us in crisis.

To comfort us in crisis. Turn with me to Acts chapter 18. Here, Paul, in the midst of a crisis, received a word from the Lord and said, Paul, don't you worry about a thing. I am with you. Number three, He strengthens us in suffering.

He strengthens us in suffering. Turn with me to 1 Peter chapter 2. It says in 1 Peter chapter 2, verse number 19, we'll begin verse number 18: Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect. Not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable to you. For this finds favor if for the sake of conscience toward God Which refers to your actual consciousness of his presence. Okay? So Peter is saying. If for the sake of conscience towards God a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly, how does a man bear up under sorrows when suffering unjustly?

He does it because he is aware of the presence of God. He is conscious that God is there sustaining him. Psalm 16:8 says, This: I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Isn that good? That's the same thing Peter said. I've said the Lord before, I am conscious of God, he was always before me, I'm never going to be moved. I can't be shaken. I can't stumble. I can't fall because God is right there. And that's what the psalmist said. Number four: He alleviates us from anxiety.

He alleviates us from anxiety. Turn back with me to Isaiah chapter 41. Isaiah 41. Listen to what the Lord God says.

Do not fear, verse number 10, for I am with you. Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with my right, right hand. Isn 't that good? He alleviates. Our anxiety. Five, he takes us through temptation. He takes us through temptation. Remember Matthew 6, verse number 13? Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. It is the emotional plea of a saint. Who, having received cleansing from his sins, prays, Lord, don't lead me any into any trial that is more than I can bear.

And the answer to that is 1 Corinthians 10, 13, right? That God will not lead us into any temptation that is greater than we. Through his help, can find a route of escape. Why? Because God is there. Next, he persuades us to pray. Knowing the fact that God is omnip persuades us to pray. Psalm 145, verse number 18 says, The Lord is near to all who call upon him. Isaiah 55, verse number 6 says, Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call upon him while he is near. Psalm 3, verse number 18 says, The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart.

So I know that what persuades me to pray is the fact that God is near. And so I go to Him with a heart that seeks to know Him. And love him and honor him. It persuades me to pray. If you don't pray, it's not because you don't know the techniques of prayer. It's not because you have no motivation to pray. It's not because we haven't preached enough sermons on prayer. It's because you haven't understood the omnip of God. See that? We're back to the same old thing again. If you know God, everything about your life changes, even your prayer life, because God is there.

Next, and lastly, it prompts us toward purity. It prompts us toward purity. There's nothing to keep your life more pure than to know that your mother is in the room with you. Except that God is under the covers in the room with you. See that? God's everywhere. You can't hide from God. So, this prompts me toward purity. I don't want to offend the holy God. Every time you sin, Picture this in your mind. Every time you sin, it's like you take your sin to the throne of heaven, place it before God, and commit it right before Him.

Would you do that? That's what sin is. Because God is everywhere, right? He's omnipresent. There's no place he ain't. So, what prompts me toward purity is to realize that God is there and He is offended by my unholy actions. Psalm 139, verse number 3: Thou dost scrutinize my path and my line down, and art intimately acquainted with all my ways. Job 31, verse number 4: Doth not he see my ways? He does. It should prompt you toward purity. We need to be as Elijah's servants. The scales need to drop from our eyes, and we need to be able to see God.