Question 1

How can I experience God’s presence in my life?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 145:18The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.The Lord invites us to call on him without hesitation. He promises to reveal himself to us if our heart is sincere in wanting to know him rather than just wanting to use him as a good-luck charm or magic potion.2 Chronicles 7:14“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”James 4:8Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.Sin drives a wedge between people and God. God reveals himself when we turn from our sinful habits and attitudes by confessing them to him, and then turn to him to be made clean on the inside. Only then can we begin to experience his presence in our life.Ephesians 3:12Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.Hebrews 4:14-16So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.When Jesus sacrificed his own life for us by dying for our sin, he made it possible for us to live in the presence of God. This involves an almost constant awareness of our access to God and the continuous practice of interacting with God in prayer and obedience.Psalm 27:4The one thing I ask of the Lord—the thing I seek most—is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.We can know God and sense his presence through earnest and sincere worship.Jeremiah 29:11-13“I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”Seeking and finding God requires purposeful prayer and attention to his Word. Wholehearted seeking means confidence in God’s character and intentions.Matthew 7:7-11“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”God invites us to approach him often and persistently. Repetition refines our desires as we shift our focus from what we want or need to enjoying the presence of God himself, the provider of all things.

Question 2

With all my faults and failures, how can I possibly enter God’s presence?

Accepted Answer

John 14:6Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”Romans 5:2Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.2 Corinthians 5:21God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.Ephesians 2:18Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.Ephesians 3:12Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.Colossians 1:22Now he [God] has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.Hebrews 10:19-22We can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.A holy God cannot be in the presence of sin, so how can a sinful person experience God’s presence? It is because of Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection—and our faith in him. He died and took the punishment for our sins. If we have asked Jesus to forgive our sins, as far as God is concerned, we now stand holy and blameless in his presence. He sees us as if we have never sinned and welcomes us into his presence.

Question 3

What are some of the benefits of being in God’s presence?

Accepted Answer

Philippians 2:13God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.God’s presence empowers and encourages us to obey and please him.2 Corinthians 3:17The Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.God’s presence frees us from being slaves to sin, so we can live a life of increasing freedom.Romans 8:9-17You are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.Finding the way into God’s presence is finding the way to eternal life. God’s Spirit confirms not only our status as his children but also our ongoing access to God.Psalm 23:4Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.Isaiah 43:2When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.God’s presence gives us both protection and comfort. Remembering his presence is an antidote to fear. We can learn to see the promise of his presence as stronger than any doubt or fear we might feel.Deuteronomy 20:1“When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you!”Joshua 1:9“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”God’s presence should give us courage. Because God is with us, the circumstances we face should not be the determining factor for the actions we take. If we acknowledge and trust God in all our ways, he will make our way into the future clear.Psalm 40:1-2I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.Psalm 63:8I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.Matthew 10:28“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”God’s presence helps and encourages us in our darkest times and with deepest insecurities, both now and forever. A proper fear of God puts all other fears in perspective, helping us see that our fears in this life are ultimately insignificant.Exodus 33:14The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”Psalm 23:1-3The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.Philippians 4:13I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.God’s presence refreshes us with courage, peace, and rest. We can learn to practice the presence of God each day throughout our lives.Psalm 16:8-9, 11I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. . . . You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.Acts 2:28“You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’Philippians 1:21To me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.God’s presence gives us lasting joy, not only in the ebb and flow of our experiences in this life, but in our ultimate hope in eternal life.

Question 4

How do I know God is with me?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 23:6Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.Psalm 139:5, 7You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. . . . I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!Romans 8:35, 38-39Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? . . . I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.The Bible, God’s Word to us, promises that when we have a relationship with God, his presence is always with us. When we believe this promise, we will begin to see events in our lives as evidences of his presence with us and love for us. When we don’t feel a sense of his presence, we should not give in to despair. These feelings don’t reflect the reality of our access to God and his presence with us.John 14:16-17“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”Acts 5:32We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.Romans 8:15-16You have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.2 Corinthians 1:22He [God] has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.Ephesians 1:14The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.When we place our trust in Jesus, God gives us his Spirit as our constant companion and guide. The Holy Spirit assures us in our hearts of God’s active presence all day, every day.Psalm 9:9-10The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.Psalm 16:8I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.Psalm 34:18-19The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.Psalm 121:3-4He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.Psalm 140:12I know the Lord will help those they persecute; he will give justice to the poor.Jonah 1:17Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.Jonah 2:6“I sank down to the very roots of the mountains. I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever. But you, O Lord my God, snatched me from the jaws of death!”Matthew 28:20“Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”If we are trusting in God, we have his guarantee that his presence is with us regardless of life’s circumstances.Genesis 39:2The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.Was it because God had abandoned Joseph that he became a slave and a prisoner? No, even then God was with him. God remained at work in Joseph’s life even while he was betrayed by his brothers, sold as a slave in Potiphar’s household, and sent to prison for something he hadn’t done. Regardless of your situation, God is actively present in your life, working to bring good out of every situation. One of the greatest ways to notice God’s presence is to watch him redeem good from our bad experiences.

Question 5

What comfort can I take from God’s presence?

Accepted Answer

John 14:26-29“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.”Ephesians 1:14The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.The presence of God in our lives is a guarantee of his eternal promises to us.Psalm 16:11You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.Psalm 21:6You have endowed him with eternal blessings and given him the joy of your presence.Psalm 26:8I love your sanctuary, Lord, the place where your glorious presence dwells.Psalm 31:20You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues.Psalm 68:4Sing praises to God and to his name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the Lord—rejoice in his presence!Psalm 121:3-4He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.When we live in harmony with God, we will find joy and delight in his presence.

Question 6

How can others see God’s presence in me?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 41:38So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so obviously filled with the spirit of God?”Daniel 4:8At last Daniel came in before me, and I told him the dream. (He was named Belteshazzar after my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)Daniel 4:18“Belteshazzar, that was the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now tell me what it means, for none of the wise men of my kingdom can do so. But you can tell me because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”Daniel 5:11-14“There is a man in your kingdom who has within him the spirit of the holy gods. During Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, this man was found to have insight, understanding, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your predecessor, the king—your predecessor King Nebuchadnezzar—made him chief over all the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers of Babylon. This man Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, has exceptional ability and is filled with divine knowledge and understanding. He can interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means.” So Daniel was brought in before the king. The king asked him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles brought from Judah by my predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar? I have heard that you have the spirit of the gods within you and that you are filled with insight, understanding, and wisdom.”Acts 9:19-27Saul [also known as Paul] stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!” All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?” Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. After a while some of the Jews plotted together to kill him. They were watching for him day and night at the city gate so they could murder him, but Saul was told about their plot. So during the night, some of the other believers lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the city wall. When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer! Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus.Joseph used the abilities God gave him and then gave God the credit. Pharaoh immediately recognized Joseph as “a man so obviously filled with the spirit of God.” Daniel lived out the presence of God in a foreign land. After Paul was converted, he immediately displayed the unexpected presence of God’s Spirit in his life and preaching. Although our opportunities may not be as challenging as interpreting dreams for a king, others can see God in us as we use the abilities he has given us in our everyday circumstances. We have positive spiritual influence on others simply by serving them in a way that honors God. When we allow God to work in us, others will then see God’s presence in us.

Question 7

Is it really possible to experience God’s presence today?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 28:20“Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”Hebrews 10:22-24Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.During Old Testament times, God’s presence was expressed in more limited ways. For example, the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place only once a year. But when Jesus died for our sins, the veil between us and God was torn away, and we can now enter freely into his presence. Don’t take for granted the privilege that is ours to enter directly into the very presence of God. When Jesus said, “I am with you always,” he was including today.Ephesians 3:12Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.Colossians 1:22Now he [God] has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.When we have a free pass to an event, we don’t hesitate to enter. We are given the privilege of admission based on the generosity of the giver. Our faith in Jesus Christ is God’s free pass into his presence. When we put our trust in Jesus Christ, we can enter God’s presence with confidence.

Question 8

Are there times when I should be afraid of the presence of God?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 3:8When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees.Isaiah 6:5-7Then I [Isaiah] said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”You cannot hide your sins from God because he is present when you commit them. Awareness of his presence in our lives should come with a heightened awareness of our own sins. So there really isn’t any point in hiding from God. He is always with us. It is always best simply to come clean with him through confession.Zephaniah 1:7Stand in silence in the presence of the Sovereign Lord, for the awesome day of the Lord’s judgment is near.To walk into God’s presence with a heart bent toward sin is to invite his judgment.

Question 9

What can keep me from enjoying God’s presence?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 15:29The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous.Isaiah 59:2It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.1 Corinthians 6:9-10Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.Galatians 5:19-21When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.Ephesians 5:5You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.Colossians 1:21This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. . . .1 Peter 3:12“The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil.”Revelation 21:27Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.Sin keeps us from fully enjoying God’s presence, because sin separates us from God, who is completely holy. Forgiveness of sin restores us so we can enter into fully into God’s presence. Someday we will experience the complete wonder and intimacy of his presence in eternity when we see him face to face.

Question 10

How can I experience God’s presence today on earth and also for eternity?

Accepted Answer

James 4:8Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.In Jesus and by his Spirit, God has already drawn as close to us as possible without violating the integrity of our choice. He will move closer when we respond to him with confession and faith.Deuteronomy 4:29“But from there you will search again for the Lord your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him.”Psalm 145:18The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.God is omnipresent; thus, he is with us everywhere. We can choose to draw near to him at any time.John 3:16“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”Hebrews 11:6It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.James 2:19You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.Revelation 3:20“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”We must believe that God exists before we can believe that he is with us. But admitting God’s existence doesn’t take us very far toward responding to him in faith. Knowing that God exists might even reveal, as it does with demons, that we don’t want to have anything to do with God.Matthew 5:20“Unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!”Matthew 18:3He [Jesus] said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.”There is only one way to experience God’s eternal presence—to turn from our sins, ask God to forgive our sins, and then ask Jesus to be Lord of our lives.Psalm 16:11You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.John 14:23Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.”God longs for us to enjoy fellowship with him. God’s solution to the sin in our lives is for us to come to him through believing in and accepting Jesus’ payment for our sin, turning from our sin, and obeying God. We experience God’s presence daily as we look to him and for him. That real experience, like the working of his Word, will vary depending on our condition. Sometimes he will teach, reprove, correct, and train us in righteousness. And sometimes there will be times of rest and renewal as preparation for the next round of learning.

Question 11

How does God’s presence in my life affect my relationships?

Accepted Answer

1 John 1:7If we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.1 John 4:16-21We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first. If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their Christian brothers and sisters.Living in the Lord’s presence gives us a better relationship with other Christians. But failure to address problems in our relationships with other believers calls into question the reality of God’s presence in our lives.2 Corinthians 13:5Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.When other people recognize Christ’s presence with us, this validates our walk with him. Spiritual self-examination is not an encouragement to doubt our standing with God but a practice of intentionally drawing near to God.Matthew 18:20“Where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”Galatians 3:26-29You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.Ephesians 4:4-6There is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.1 John 1:7If we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.We have unity, fellowship, and the privilege of praying with other believers because of God’s presence in our lives.Galatians 5:22-23The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!God’s presence in our lives fully equips us for healthy relationships with one another. It supernaturally supplies and produces traits in us that we know we could never have generated ourselves.Psalm 34:18The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.When our earthly relationships injure us, God’s presence is able to provide comfort, healing, and restoration.Exodus 34:29When Moses came down Mount Sinai carrying the two stone tablets inscribed with the terms of the covenant, he wasn’t aware that his face had become radiant because he had spoken to the Lord.Acts 4:13The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.2 Corinthians 2:14-17Thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? You see, we are not like the many hucksters who preach for personal profit. We preach the word of God with sincerity and with Christ’s authority, knowing that God is watching us.When we are walking close to God, somehow people can sense that we have been with him. His presence may draw them or repel them from us.

Question 12

What should I do when it feels like God is far away?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 139:7I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!God will go to any height or depth to be with you. Your feelings are fickle, but God is always faithful. Claim his presence even when you don’t feel it.Job 23:8“I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him.”Faith is trusting, even when you feel far from God. When you cannot find him, wait. He will come to you.Deuteronomy 4:29“From there you will search again for the Lord your God. And if you search for him with all your heart and soul, you will find him.”Joshua 1:9“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”James 4:8Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.Revelation 3:20“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”Faith is trusting in the fact that God is present with you regardless of how you feel. God is with you even if you are feeling like God is far away. Continue to seek God; you will find him right there. God wants to be with you and will respond when you seek him.

Question 13

Are there times when God leaves me? Did God leave Jesus on the cross?

Accepted Answer

Joshua 1:9“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”Matthew 28:20“Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”God does not come and go depending on his moods or circumstances. Knowing he is always with us can be a comfort in loneliness, a stimulus to obedience, a hedge against temptation, and a source of joy in his companionship.Matthew 27:46At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”2 Corinthians 5:20-21We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.While Jesus took on our sins on the cross, he experienced the Father’s rejection of the sin even as the payment for our sin was made. He felt that cost of his work on the cross deeply. Yet because of Jesus’ willingness to endure just such a separation from God, we never have to go through that experience.Psalm 139:7-10I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.Even when we think circumstances somehow drive God away, or when we think we want to get away from God, he is there. The sooner we break with our denial, the sooner we can deal with the things we may be trying to hide and the intimacy that threatens us. The promise of his presence holds the promise of our freedom.Psalm 16:8, 11I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. . . . You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.Psalm 23:6Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.The pursuit of God’s presence that David described is more like the pursuit of a wake behind a boat. God’s goodness and unfailing love are on us, in us, and flowing through us every day of our lives.Isaiah 43:2“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”God’s presence is like the sure hand of a guide who steadies us on a steep and slippery trail. We walk confidently because we know we are not walking alone.Isaiah 46:4“I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.”God’s presence lasts a lifetime and beyond. He created us, sustains us, and will one day welcome us into his eternal presence.

Question 14

Is God’s presence affected by the presence of others?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 18:20“Where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”The Lord gives a special promise to encourage and support us: We can experience God’s presence in a special way through our fellowship with other believers.

Presence of God