Lesson Tag: God's Presence

LESSON 2: KEYS FOR WORSHIP
MAIN IDEA: Experiencing God in worship requires time and sacrifice.

When Jesus offered a God-sized assignment, the Seventy were ready to step out in faith and serve God. They responded to their revelation of God by offering their lives as living sacrifices. They had adopted a worship lifestyle, and Jesus was well-pleased. We can do the same thing today as we respond to God’s revelation of who He is and what He has done in our own lives.

There are four simple yet profound keys to experiencing God in worship, and the story of the Seventy gives us a clear pattern to follow. We will consider the first two keys in this lesson and look at the other two in the next lesson.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there. Mark 1:35

Key #1: Time in God’s Presence
Experiencing God in worship starts with our willingness to give God first place in our lives. This means spending time with Him every day — through prayer and devotion to His written and Living Word. God rewards those who diligently seek Him. Apart from Him, we truly can do nothing — and that includes worship. We cannot worship God unless we spend time with Him.

Jesus set the example for us. He often got away from the crowds and distractions and spent time with the Father. While the crowds pressed in for His attention, Jesus knew the source of His strength — time with the Father:

The news about [Jesus] spread even more, and large crowds would come together to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. Yet He often withdrew to deserted places and prayed. Luke 5:15-16

Time with the Father is always time well-spent! We too must develop a hunger for God that supersedes our desire for the things of the world. We can’t receive a fresh revelation of God and the continual infilling of the Holy Spirit without changing our priorities in life. The apostle Paul gives us these instructions:

Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk — not as unwise people but as wise — making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:15-18

The only way we can know the will of the Lord and be filled with the Holy Spirit is to spend time in God’s presence. This is the first key to experiencing God in worship.

Following the example of the Seventy, we must spend time in the presence of God if we are to receive revelation. That is what the Seventy did first and foremost: they spent time with Jesus. As we do this, worship becomes our natural response — and the priority of our lives.

When do you spend time with Jesus? In what parts of your day could you carve out some more time to commune with Him?

Key #2: Count the Cost
The story of the Seventy actually begins in Luke 9. That’s when Jesus’ ministry took a major turn:

When the days were coming to a close for Him to be taken up, He determined to journey to Jerusalem. Luke 9:51

Until this time, Jesus had been setting the stage for His triumphant moment on the cross. He was the Lamb who would be slain to take away the sins of the world. There had always been a cross in His future, and the time had come for that climactic victory.

Jesus knew the road He was about to travel was the most difficult one anyone had ever known. He knew the cross would cost Him great suffering and death, but the time had come — the sacrifice had to be made. The world needed a risen Savior.

As Jesus made clear His plans to go to the cross, many of His followers declared their desire to go with Him, no matter what. Jesus responded by teaching them about the cost of discipleship:

As they were traveling on the road someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go!” Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” “Lord,” he said, “first let me go bury my father.” Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house.” But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:57,59,61-62

Jesus wanted those disciples to fully understand that the cost of following Him toward His destiny was real and measurable. The cost included persecution, rejection by friends and family members, inconvenience, and material loss. In the language of that day, the concept of burying one’s father implied waiting until the father died so that the son could claim his inheritance. Jesus knew, however, that a far greater inheritance awaited them as they stepped out in faith and followed Him — the same inheritance that awaits us today.

They departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. Acts 5:41, NKJV

The Seventy followed and served Jesus — worshiped Him — at great cost to themselves. They gave up their time, their families, their earthly goods, and their own agendas to go and declare that the Kingdom was near. The New Testament is filled with examples of the loss and rejection believers experienced, yet they willingly suffered loss that others might know Christ. And they were greatly rewarded. The writer of the Book of Hebrew provides a clear picture of the cost these faithful believers endured as they followed Jesus:

Remember the earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to taunts and afflictions, and at other times you were companions of those who were treated that way. For you sympathized with the prisoners and accepted with joy the confiscation of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves have a better and enduring possession. So don’t throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised. Hebrews 10:32-36

Following Jesus required sacrifice then, and it requires sacrifice today. There are countless stories of ordinary people who have counted the cost and said “Yes!” to God’s invitation that I could share with you. However, I want you to focus on your own story.

Perhaps you already know what it’s like to spend time in God’s presence, hear God’s invitation to join Him as He works, and respond — and possibly you don’t always realize that is what is happening.

For every Bible teacher, for every choir member, for every home-group leader, for every person who invests even one hour in doing missions work or encouraging a friend, there remains a great reward. Recognizing and responding to God’s call takes so many forms. And every response requires faith and obedience. Every response is indeed an expression of worship (lateuro).

Perhaps God is using today’s study to stir your heart to action or greater action on His behalf. If so, then may I remind you that this stirring is God inviting you to join Him as He works right where you are! Your response to His invitation will allow you to continue to experience God in your life. Worship Him as you step out in faith, my dear friend. He is worthy. And He is waiting.

Let’s reflect further on the cost of discipleship: Jesus asked the Seventy to step out in faith and proclaim the coming of the Savior of the world. That sounds like an enviable role to us today, but the cost to them was severe.

What do you think the disciples’ mission might have cost them? Does your response include any of these possible answers: rejection by friends and family, loss of property and inheritance, verbal abuse, physical rejection? Perhaps you thought of other kinds of losses, both tangible and intangible.

Everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. Philippians 3:7

God wants to invite you to join Him as He works, as well. And His invitation will require faith and action on your part. If you sense that God is calling you to do something extraordinary in your life — something requiring faith and action — what might that look like? What cost might be involved?

LESSON 2 REVIEW
• What statement or Scripture you read in this lesson was most meaningful?
• Reword the statement or Scripture into a prayer of response.
• What does God want you to do in response to this lesson?

LESSON 1: EXPERIENCING GOD IN WORSHIP
MAIN IDEA: When we experience God in worship, we are empowered to serve Him — and worship Him more.

I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. Romans 12:1, AMP

Experiencing God in worship requires faith and action. Our revelation of God should always elicit a response; and as we have learned, complete surrender through a life of worship and service is indeed our only reasonable and adequate response to who God is and what He has done.

The Story of the Seventy
I have always loved the story of the Seventy — the group of disciples who were chosen by Jesus — as recorded in Luke 10. In many ways they represent a perfect picture of faith-filled worship in response to God’s revelation. These disciples definitely lived a life of worship. They spent time observing and following Jesus’ instructions and example. They sat at the Master’s feet, and when He invited them to make a difference in their world, they responded!

After this, the Lord appointed 70 others, and He sent them ahead of Him in pairs to every town and place where He Himself was about to go. Luke 10:1

The Seventy were not the culturally elite of that day; nor were they likely theologians and scholars. They were just ordinary people like you and me. In fact, not one of their names is even mentioned in the Bible. Most likely, their only real qualification for service was their eager desire to spend time with Jesus.

I can just imagine the crowds of people who came and went as Jesus walked through the towns and villages in those days. Multitudes often followed Jesus as He fulfilled the Father’s desire for His life. But the Seventy were special to Him — they were followers who just wouldn’t go away!

Can you imagine what it must have been like for them? They were constantly in the presence of God Himself. They had set aside the agendas of life in order to sit at the feet of the Master, absorb His every word, and serve Him no matter the cost. They were experiencing God in worship every day.

When it came time for Jesus to proceed toward His human destiny — Jerusalem and the cross — they were the ones He chose to go and announce that He was coming:

“Now go; I’m sending you out like lambs among wolves. Don’t carry a money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals; don’t greet anyone along the road. When you enter any town, and they welcome you, eat the things set before you. Heal the sick who are there, and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near you.’ ” Luke 10:3-4,8-9

All they had to do was go to the places Jesus sent them, follow His explicit instructions in the process, proclaim that the Kingdom was near, and put their faith into action in order to see God’s intervention in many, many lives. And in the process, these Seventy — these ordinary people just like you and me — experienced God in amazing ways:

The Seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.” He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a lightning flash. Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing will ever harm you.” Luke 10:17-19

The Seventy must have learned numerous valuable principles during the time they had spent at Jesus’ feet; and when it was time to put their faith to work, they were empowered by His presence. These ordinary people got a firsthand view of God’s willingness to respond to their act of lateuro worship!

So, although the principles that the Seventy had learned at the feet of Jesus were important, what they really needed to fulfill their mission was God’s presence; and they experienced God’s presence as they served and worshiped. The same is true for us today!

Let’s review our working definition of worship. By now, you may know it by heart! Worship is our response to God’s revelation of who He is and what He has done.

From James 2:17 we read, Faith, if it doesn’t have works, is dead by itself. How do you see faith and works as complementary? The Seventy proved their faith by their actions, and their reward was great: they experienced God’s presence and power! Think of a few actions you have taken in the past month as a result of your faith. How did you experience God in the process?

LESSON 1 REVIEW
• What statement or Scripture you read in this lesson was most meaningful?
• Reword the statement or Scripture into a prayer of response.
• What does God want you to do in response to this lesson?

LESSON 4: ENCOUNTERING GOD’S PRESENCE TODAY
MAIN IDEA: We can encounter God’s presence today when we worship.

“If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.” John 15:7-8

We have seen that God made Himself known in a variety of ways in Old Testament times. Then, in the days of the New Testament, God made His presence known through His Son, Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures also tell us that God is fully and forever present in heaven, and one day we will know what it is like to experience God’s presence face to face. But what about today? How do we encounter God’s presence right here and now?

We’ve explored three dimensions of God’s presence: God’s awesome, abiding, and amazing presence. We experience all three of these dimensions of God’s presence at various times and in various ways.

God’s awesome presence is with us every day, moment by moment, whether we realize it or not. God is indeed everywhere at all times. We also can experience God’s abiding presence daily. God has promised to dwell with us and in us, and God’s Word is always true. It’s up to us to make a daily decision to abide, remain, and dwell in Him. This decision leads to an intimate relationship with God and a fruitful life that glorifies Him. And, finally, there are many ways we can experience the responsive, intervening nature of God’s amazing presence — often in the midst of worship!

Encountering God’s Amazing Presence
Do you recall the story I shared about my encounter with God’s amazing presence at a Promise Keepers’ event? I was surrounded by over 60,000 men that day, but God reached out and touched me as if I were the only person in the entire stadium. Of course, I knew others had to be encountering God’s presence in a powerful way, too, and I was correct.

My coauthor, Stan, told me about a friend of his who had an amazing encounter with God at the very same event. Stan and his wife, Sue, were having dinner with their friends Tom and Celina Martinez when Tom told the story of this encounter that had changed his life.

Tom grew up believing in God, but like so many of us, he drifted away and began living for himself. The choices he had made in life were costing him his marriage, his family, and all the things he held so dear.

Some friends invited Tom to attend the same Promise Keepers event that I attended, and in spite of his spiritual condition at the time, he accepted. Though he didn’t know it, Tom was about to encounter the manifest presence of God — and his life was about to change forever!

As the men traveled across two states, the van was filled with praise and music. Tom had never seen grown men so excited and filled with expectation. God was using their expectation to set Tom’s encounter in motion, because coming with expectation is crucial to experiencing God in worship.

When these friends entered the stadium to join 60,000 men in worship, the presence of God was overwhelming. As so many men have commented through the years, the sense of God’s presence is very real at these events. A stadium full of men worshiping together is truly an unforgettable experience!

Within minutes, in the midst of worship, Tom was face to face with the One who had created him and who loves him with an everlasting love. He thrust his hands in the air and received Jesus. Through tears of repentance and joy, the old Tom tried to drag him back to “reality.” After all, what was he thinking? And how could he act like this in front of all these macho guys?

Then God sealed the deal. As Tom opened his eyes, all he could see was thousands of men around him in the same condition — worshiping, surrendering, repenting, and crying out in adoration and desperation for the One they always longed to encounter.

Worship was the key! When God is present, even “macho sinners” like Tom find themselves responding!

“As for Me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to Myself.” John 12:32

God’s Amazing Presence Is Available to All
Since that day 12 years ago when Tom encountered the amazing and overwhelming presence of God in worship, Tom’s marriage and family have been restored. Today he and his wife, Celina, are intercessory prayer leaders who serve regularly in one of the most dynamic churches in the country. Even though we have never met, Tom and I forever will be linked by our Promise Keepers encounter. I’m certain that Tom and I were not the only ones who were deeply impacted by God’s amazing presence that day, and I look forward to hearing story after story around the throne of God one day.

God’s amazing presence is available to all who surrender their lives to Him. As we learn to live by faith with expectation that God will respond, He will do just that. He is ready to meet you now as you worship Him. Recall God’s promise to inhabit the praises of His people:

You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3

Questions for Reflection
• How does your worship provide a place for God to meet with you?
• How would you describe the role or purpose your expectation plays before and during worship?
• When you prepare to worship God — whether corporately or privately — do you expect to encounter God’s presence? Why?
• Is your worship different when you have the expectation of encountering God? If so, how?
• Do you honestly desire to encounter the Living God in a tangible and undeniable way when you worship?
• Are you content with your worship as it is now? If not, ask God for a fresh encounter with His amazing presence. Then, worship Him with faith-filled expectation!

LESSON 4 REVIEW
• What statement or Scripture you read in this lesson was most meaningful?
• Reword the statement or Scripture into a prayer of response.
• What does God want you to do in response to this lesson?

LESSON 3: GOD’S PRESENCE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
MAIN IDEA: God revealed Himself in New Testament times through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

God has always desired a people who could dwell in His presence, but mankind was disqualified through disobedience in the garden. Dwelling in the presence of God Almighty always requires complete righteousness.

Something had to be done, and God took the initiative again. God’s people needed His presence. God desired relationship with mankind so much that He came to earth in human form to make a way for us to have an eternal covenant relationship with Him — not a covenant sealed by the blood of sheep and goats, but a covenant sealed forever with the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ:

Now the Messiah has appeared, high priest of the good things that have come. In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creation), He entered the holy of holies once for all, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of the Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:11-14

Now, that is reality! From the beginning of time, God existed — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three in one are the God who made man in His image:

God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” Genesis 1:26

The plan for the creation of man and the salvation of those who believe was set in motion long before Jesus came to earth. Jesus came in the form of man, fulfilled His destiny, and returned to His rightful place in heaven, but He did not leave us alone. The Holy Spirit remains with us today to carry out God’s will in each of our lives. The Spirit of the Living God provides for us every moment of every day. Now that’s revelation worthy of worship!

Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8, NKJV

New Testament Expressions of God’s Presence

1. Jesus was the Word of God who physically dwelt on the earth.
The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Jesus of Nazareth came to earth and lived as a man. He felt what we feel, and he experienced every temptation we will ever know:

Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens — Jesus the Son of God — let us hold fast to the confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:14-15

Our God became real flesh and blood to make it possible for us to be re-qualified for His presence.

2. Jesus was and is the exact image of God, for He is God.
[Now] He is the exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible]; He is the Firstborn of all creation. For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him. And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together). Colossians 1:15-17, AMP

From the creation of the earth, the stage was set for God’s entry through Jesus Christ. God knew exactly what it would take for man to respond to His love: Jesus. He is the full revelation of God!

3. Jesus’ life and words gave testimony of God.
“The One who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.” John 8:29

When we examine the love that Jesus demonstrated in word and deed — the mighty signs and wonders that He performed — there is simply no doubt that He was God. God is love, and only God could love us enough to die for our sins.

4. Jesus and God are one and the same.
“The Father and I are one.” John 10:30
“The one who has seen Me has seen the Father.” John 14:9

There is simply no doubt: Jesus was and is God. While on the earth, Jesus demonstrated the very life of God — only doing and saying as the Father directed. His communion and communication with God was complete!

5. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to remain with us.
“It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send Him to you. When He comes, He will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment.” John 16:7-8

We all understand the principle of giving to receive, and Jesus embodied that truth. He knew that His presence as a man was only a foreshadowing of God’s desire to intervene in our lives. Jesus had to depart the earth, but He did not leave us or forsake us.

6. The Holy Spirit came upon and empowered His people; He is present in us.
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

The Holy Spirit enables us to experience God’s presence and be in relationship with God. And He operates through us to impact the world around us. That is what experiencing God is all about — the Holy Spirit invites us to join Him as He works! He really is alive and well on planet earth, dwelling in and among His people. We are the body of Christ.

“I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.” John 14:18

Made to Enjoy God’s Presence
There is no doubt: we were made to enjoy God’s presence both now and throughout eternity. God has given us the invitation and the means — Christ in us, the hope of glory — to do just that. Our part is to live our lives by faith, fully expecting that we will encounter God’s manifest presence.

We experience God’s presence as we respond to His great love and surrender our lives to Him. As we have learned, surrender involves presenting all our members and faculties as a living sacrifice, as instructed by Romans 12:1:

I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. Romans 12:1, AMP

I like the way the Amplified Bible describes a living sacrifice: holy, devoted, consecrated, and well pleasing to God. This, we are told, is our reasonable — rational and intelligent — act of service and spiritual worship.

As we come before God in worship with surrendered and expectant hearts, He will respond, making His amazing presence known to us. He is, of course, worthy of our worship and adoration, but what does that actually look like? As always, our best source for direction is God’s Word. A survey of biblical elements of worship includes the following.

• Expectation (Ps. 27:14; 62:5; Isa. 8:17; 40:31)
• Obedience (Jer. 7:23; 42:6; Titus 3:1; Heb. 5:9)
• Sacrifice (Ps. 51:16-17; 54:6; 116:17; Matt. 9:13; Rom 12:1)
• Faith (Matt. 17:20; 21:21-22; Rom. 3:28; 5:1-2; Eph. 2:8-9; Heb. 11)
• Patience (Luke 8:15; 2 Thess. 3:6; Jas. 1:4; 5:10-11)
• Thanksgiving (Ps. 50:14; 95:2a; 100:4a; 107:22; Phil. 4:6)
• Attention (Prov. 4:20; 5:1; 7:24; 1 Tim. 4:13)
• Submission (Jas. 4:7; 1 Pet. 2:13-17; 5:5)
• Prayer (Matt. 6:5-6,9-13; 14:23; 26:41; Rom. 8:26; 1 Thess. 5:17)
• Meditating on God’s Word (Josh. 1:8; Ps. 63:6; 119:15,148; Phil. 4:8)
• Humility (Col. 3:12; Titus 3:1-2; 1 Pet. 5:5)
• Surrender (Rom. 6:13-14; 12:1; Phil. 3:8-10)
• Drawing near (Ps. 73:28; Heb. 10:19-22; Jas. 4:8)
• Listening (Ps. 78:1-4; 81:13; Prov. 8:32; 19:20; Eccl. 5:1)
• Watching (Matt. 25:13; Mark 13:35-37; 14:38; Luke 21:36; Acts 20:28-31)

Now, focus on any element on this list that has captured your attention. Your particular interest in any one element may be the Lord drawing you into a deeper worship experience. Take the time to examine each related Scripture carefully. God deeply desires to speak to you personally as you study His Word!

LESSON 3 REVIEW
• What statement or Scripture you read in this lesson was most meaningful?
• Reword the statement or Scripture into a prayer of response.
• What does God want you to do in response to this lesson?

LESSON 2: GOD’S PRESENCE IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
MAIN IDEA: God revealed His presence in Old Testament times in many different ways.

As the Scriptures demonstrate, God has manifested His presence in many different ways since the beginning of time. Let’s consider some of the ways God made His presence known in the Old Testament. In the next lesson we will turn our attention to the New Testament.

Though the number of ways God manifested His presence in the Old Testament is too great for us to cover, let us explore just a few examples.

Old Testament Expressions of God’s Presence

1. God was present before the heavens and the earth existed.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

God Almighty, the Creator of everything, existed before anything ever existed. In this age of computer-generated graphics and video games, that concept is not as hard to grasp as it once was. If a graphic designer can “think it,” he or she can “create it.” That’s essentially what happened in Genesis 1:1. God was there, and He brought everything we know into existence.

2. God was present with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.
The man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid themselves from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8

Adam and Eve knew God. But instead of worshiping God for who He was and what He had done in their lives, they chose to disobey His clear direction, which would have enabled them to have the perfect life on earth. As a result, sin entered the world through their trespass.

Just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned. Romans 5:12

Adam and Eve’s response to the Lord’s presence in the garden indicated that their revelation of God was complete:

The LORD God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” Genesis 3:9-10

Like Adam and Eve, we have been given a clear revelation of who God is, who we are relative to who He is, how we should respond, and what we can expect. Instead of bowing before the Lord in repentance and worshiping God for His great redemptive power, Adam and Eve hid from His very presence — from the very One who could redeem them from the sin they ushered into the world. Let’s not make the same mistake!

3. God made His presence known through His creation.
From the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse. Romans 1:20

Although the Gospel message is being preached around the world today, that wasn’t always true. Nevertheless, God has always been “visible” to humanity through His creation. When God made the earth and all that it contains, He created a reality that testifies of His greatness to every generation of men and women who have lived or ever will live on the earth.

4. God’s presence was in the cloud and pillar of fire that led the Israelites in the wilderness.
The LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to lead them on their way during the day and in a pillar of fire to give them light at night, so that they could travel day or night. Exodus 13:21

Before Jesus came to mediate between God and fallen man, God interacted with His people in some amazing ways. The unseen God had to find a way to lead His people to freedom in spite of their sin and rebellion. Evidently they could not respond to His leadership without a direct encounter.

5. God revealed His presence to Moses in the burning bush.
The Angel of the LORD appeared to [Moses] in a flame of fire within a bush. … When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush. Exodus 3:2,4

Can you imagine walking down the street in your neighborhood and encountering a burning bush? It most certainly would get your attention! God was determined to relate to His people, no matter what it took. Moses had the faith necessary to respond to the unseen God. Even when God does something extraordinary to get our attention, it still takes faith to “hear” Him.

6. God was present in a cloud at the dedication of the temple.
Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God. 2 Chronicles 5:14, NIV

Can you imagine what that worship must have been like? Surely the leaders and the congregation prepared for months, if not years. This was the crowning moment for the years of dedicated work in building God’s place of residence.

Just picture for a moment all the Levites and priests in their finest clothing, fulfilling their duties after months of rehearsal — and God brought the whole ceremony to a screaming halt! His presence was undeniable.

That is the same “presence” that God wants to bring to our assemblies today — and our worship creates that opportunity!

7. God was present with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace.
King Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in alarm. He said to his advisers, “Didn’t we throw three men, bound, into the fire?” “Yes, of course, Your Majesty,” they replied to the king. He exclaimed, “Look! I see four men, not tied, walking around in the fire unharmed; and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” Daniel 3:24-25

When God intervenes, it’s hard to deny. Even an ungodly leader like Nebuchadnezzar recognized the presence of God. There is no limit to God’s desire to rescue His beloved — and we, too, are the objects of His great love!

8. God was present in the holy of holies inside the temple.
The LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he may not come whenever he wants into the holy place behind the veil in front of the mercy seat on the ark or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.” Leviticus 16:2

As we have discussed previously, God has always been present. God existed before the foundation of the earth was laid — in fact, He spoke all of reality into existence. However, as we also have explored, man was disqualified from direct contact with God because of sin. There simply was no way that unholy man could encounter the one true holy God and survive direct contact, as this verse from Leviticus makes clear. Yet even with the self-imposed limitation of God’s holiness, God made His presence undeniable.

Perhaps a contemporary term can help us understand how God tried to communicate with His people in Old Testament days. In our computer-driven world, virtual reality is a familiar term. It describes our technological ability to experience and interact with events, characters, and situations through a computer-simulated sensory environment.

Similarly, God loved His people so much that He revealed Himself through sensory experiences — images and sounds with which they could interact for guidance and instruction. Why? Because without Jesus, our great High Priest, any contact more direct than that would have been fatal!

Read More About It
• King Nebuchadnezzar builds a golden statue: Dan. 3:1-7
The scheme against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: Dan. 3:8-15
• Refusal to worship the statue: Dan. 3:16-18
• Thrown into the fiery furnace: Dan. 3:19-23
• Delivered from the fiery furnace: Dan. 3:20-27
• Nebuchadnezzar praises God: Dan. 3:28-30

From Virtual Reality to Reality
Yes, God was the “ultimate” in virtual reality throughout the Old Testament. God manifested His presence as He willed in order to impact His chosen people and reveal Himself to the ungodly. God wanted His people to have a clear revelation of Him and to respond with worship, and sometimes they did. Unfortunately, they didn’t always respond to God’s visitation — His virtual reality — with repentance, obedience, and ensuing righteousness.

Even so, God still wanted an intimate relationship with His people — and still does! After all, He created man and woman for relationship. He walked in the garden right in their midst. He spoke to them face-to-face. His great desire always has been for us to be together in harmony. Yet the problem remained: unrighteous people cannot be in the presence of a perfectly righteous God.

Virtual reality just wasn’t enough. But God, who is gracious and merciful beyond our comprehension, knew exactly what to do. He was about to move from virtual reality to reality. He was about to send Himself in the form of a flesh and blood Savior. Jesus — the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the full and complete image of God — was about to come to the earth!

Can you think of other times and ways when God revealed His presence in the Old Testament? Why do you think God chose to manifest His presence in a variety of ways?

Have you ever experienced an unusual encounter with God? You may not have seen a burning bush or followed a cloud to your destination, but you may have an inspiring story of God’s unusual direction or intervention in your life. I encourage you to share that story with others when appropriate. Your testimony of God’s faithfulness may be a key to helping those around you overcome obstacles they are facing (Rev. 12:10-11).

You know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things, like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. 1 Peter 1:18-19

LESSON 2 REVIEW
• What statement or Scripture you read in this lesson was most meaningful?
• Reword the statement or Scripture into a prayer of response.
• What does God want you to do in response to this lesson?

LESSON 1: IN GOD’S PRESENCE
MAIN IDEA: God has promised to be present when we worship.

There really is nothing like being in God’s presence. According to the dictionary, presence means “the state or fact of being present, immediate vicinity, proximity.” God’s presence is proof that He exists and is always with us. Another word used when referring to God’s presence is manifest, which means “obvious, apparent.” When God’s presence is manifest, it is unmistakable and undeniable! There is no doubt that He exists and is present at that moment.

In this class we will explore God’s presence, various ways God has manifested His presence in the past, ways we can experience God’s presence today, and how the experience of being in God’s presence affects our lives.

Three Dimensions of God’s Presence
Jack Hayford is a renowned Christian leader who has led worship and taught about worship for over 50 years. In his book Manifest Presence: Expecting a Visitation of God’s Presence through Worship, he offers this insight:

The Bible reveals at least three different dimensions by which God makes His presence known. Indeed, He is everywhere! But the ways He chooses to manifest Himself imply certain distinctions. Consider: God’s awesome presence, God’s abiding presence and God’s amazing presence.

Of course, these three dimensions of God’s presence are not exhaustive, but they can help us begin to understand the meaning and benefit of being in God’s presence. As Blackaby and King write in Experiencing God, the first step to experiencing God in our lives is understanding that He is at work around us all the time. So as we examine these three dimensions of God’s presence, see if you can relate them to specific parts of your life today.

God’s Awesome Presence
God’s awesome presence is often described as God’s omnipresence, which means that God is present in all places at the same time. This dimension of God’s presence is undeniable. Consider these words of King David:

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. Psalm 139:7-8, NKJV

Likewise, the apostle Paul gave a great picture of the awesome omnipresence of God as he helped the people of Athens identify the true identify of their “unknown god.” Take a few minutes to read this account in Acts 17:22-28 of your Bible.

God is indeed everywhere at all times whether we have a relationship with Him or not. The Bible explains that God is just and considers everything we say and do. God’s awesome presence surrounds us all the days of our lives, and nothing escapes His notice.

God’s Abiding Presence
God’s abiding presence is evidenced by God’s loving, tender, understanding, and intimate relationship with those who call upon Him as Lord. The Bible tells us often of God’s abiding presence. Consider these examples:

He will not leave you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

“Remember, I am with you always.” Matthew 28:20

God’s presence is an abiding help in time of need and in times of great victory. Again, King David’s words bring God’s abiding presence to life for us:

If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits, even there Your hand will lead me; Your right hand will hold on to me. Psalm 139:9-10

God is very serious about abiding with us in an intimate relationship. And we have been given the privilege of responding by abiding in Him. Jesus made it very clear: if we dwell in Him, we will bear fruit and glorify God — we will prove ourselves to be His disciples.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be My disciples.” John 15:5, 8

It is truly a divine mystery that God Himself would choose to dwell in us, but it is a fact. God continues to invite human beings like us into relationship! How does “remaining in Him” factor into your worship?

God’s Amazing Presence
God’s amazing presence — sometimes called His manifest presence — is God’s response to His followers as they call out for His intervention. Which of us hasn’t cried out to God at some time in our lives? The leaders of the church in Acts depended on God’s unmistakable intervention. Their very lives depended on God’s amazing presence, as this passage from the Book of Acts reveals:

“Now, Lord, … grant that Your slaves may speak Your message with complete boldness, while You stretch out Your hand for healing, signs, and wonders to be performed through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God’s message with boldness. Acts 4:29-31

Most Christians today don’t face the persecution that these dear saints faced daily, but many around the world still do. As the Kingdom of God presses into every corner of the globe, missionaries — much like those in the early church — know the reality of their need for God’s amazing presence to deliver them from evil and to confirm His power to those who desperately need a Savior.

Throughout our study we have read about many people — people living today as well as Bible heroes who lived long ago — who have worshiped God and encountered His amazing presence. From Abraham to Nehemiah to Mary, to the individuals whose stories we’ve shared with you, God’s amazing presence is a proven reality.

Yes, God’s amazing presence is still available today. As we worship, we can expect Him to respond. God always delights in the praises of His people. We have every reason to expect God to respond as we worship.

You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3

God Is Always Present
Recently, I found myself in a familiar place: sitting in an auditorium waiting for my son Lee and the rest of the choir to take the stage. Like most choir members, Lee and his fellow university students had been working diligently on their program, and now was the moment of truth!

As the choir made its way to the platform, I could see Lee scanning the audience, looking for dad. I remembered Lee’s first choir program as a four-year-old. I was there then, as well, along with all the other proud papas.

All these years later, Lee probably didn’t want me to notice that he was looking for me, but I did. And it filled my heart with joy to catch his eye just as I did when he was four — letting him know that yes, indeed, ol’ dad was right there watching and cheering him on as he sang with all his heart.

The Bible makes it clear that God is doing the same thing every time we come to worship Him. He has promised to be there, and if we will focus our attention on the One who made us, we will find Him in the audience. He loves to hear our voices of praise!

Questions for Reflection
• How have you recognized or experienced God’s awesome presence?
• What has been the result of your awareness or encounter?
• How have you recognized or experienced God’s abiding presence?
• What has been the result of your awareness or encounter?
• How have you recognized or experienced God’s amazing presence?

LESSON 1 REVIEW
• What statement or Scripture you read in this lesson was most meaningful?
• Reword the statement or Scripture into a prayer of response.
• What does God want you to do in response to this lesson?

“Each of us was created by God for relationship with Him, but we can only enjoy that relationship by God’s grace. God’s great love for us, demonstrated in Christ Jesus, initiates our response. The only reasonable and adequate response is our expression of worship. And as we worship, God has promised to be present.”

Let’s begin to connect with this class by considering the following questions:
• Do you remember the list of worship activities we discussed earlier: kneeling/bowing, singing, praying, shouting, clapping, prostrating, raising hands, dancing, playing instruments, meditating/listening, giving, serving, taking communion, and fasting? Which ones are within your comfort zone? What do you think makes the others seem uncomfortable to you?
• How would you describe the importance of talent and skill for musicians, balanced with the inward appearance of the heart? What do you think is God’s view?
• From Lesson 3 in Class 4, what do you think about Pastor Tom’s role as the true worship leader of Mike’s church? Are there aspects of his leadership in that area that your church sees differently?
• What is your favorite part of the worship service? Why do you think that is?
• Can you think of examples of someone you know who has had an intense encounter with God? Praise the Lord for who He is and what He has done in that person’s life!

Watch and listen as Mike sets the stage for our study on worship by explaining how God has promised us His “Presence” when we worship Him.

“Each of us was created by God for relationship with Him, but we can only enjoy that relationship by God’s grace. God’s great love for us, demonstrated in Christ Jesus, initiates our response. The only reasonable and adequate response is our expression of worship. And as we worship, God has promised to be present.”

Let’s begin to connect with this class by considering the following questions:
• Do you remember the list of worship activities we discussed earlier: kneeling/bowing, singing, praying, shouting, clapping, prostrating, raising hands, dancing, playing instruments, meditating/listening, giving, serving, taking communion, and fasting? Which ones are within your comfort zone? What do you think makes the others seem uncomfortable to you?
• How would you describe the importance of talent and skill for musicians, balanced with the inward appearance of the heart? What do you think is God’s view?
• From Lesson 3 in Class 4, what do you think about Pastor Tom’s role as the true worship leader of Mike’s church? Are there aspects of his leadership in that area that your church sees differently?
• What is your favorite part of the worship service? Why do you think that is?
• Can you think of examples of someone you know who has had an intense encounter with God? Praise the Lord for who He is and what He has done in that person’s life!

Watch and listen as Mike sets the stage for our study on worship by explaining how God has promised us His “Presence” when we worship Him.

Engage by reflecting on the following questions from the Word of God and Mike’s message:
• What lesson about worship was Mike drawing out from his story about visiting the White House? Read Isaiah 6:1-5 and contrast Mike’s initial attitude with Isaiah’s.
• In what ways do you think we have tended to lose our sense of awe in worship? What are some traps we can fall into when we allow our friendship and familiarity with God to completely push aside our awe of Him and His holiness?
• Can you recall a time when you rushed into worship with thoughtless familiarity? How have you found that such occasions affect your time with God and your experience of His presence?

Prayer:
I love You, Lord. How could I not lift my voice and my entire being in honor of who You are and what You have done in my life? Thank You for promising to be present with us as we worship You. Amen.

Preparation:
• Think about any terms or concepts that are new to you for this class.
• God has promised to be present when we worship.
• God revealed His presence in Old Testament times in many different ways.
• God revealed Himself in New Testament times through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
• We can encounter God’s presence today when we worship.
• Faith is foundational to worship.