You who have been borne by Me from birth
And have been carried from the womb;
 Even to your old age I will be the same,
And even to your graying years I will bear you!
I have done it, and I will carry you;
And I will bear you and I will deliver you. – Isa 46

SEPARATED FROM GOD?

There are very few things in life that are “always”, “never” and “ever”. We may have the tendency to think in black & white, especially regarding our personal lives. We may find ourselves frustrated with the ‘always’ of a loved one’s behavior, “Will they always be this way?” Perhaps you’ve found yourself at the end of the month again with more bills than dollar bills. Thinking, “Will we ever make ends meet?” The reality of our lives is not defined or limited to our circumstances – or even the behaviors of others.  There is One, who is perfectly good, perfectly full of grace:

  • Always Present
  • Never Forsaking
  • Ever Loving

He is Abba, Father, Jesus – The Present1

 

THE LIFE GOD DESIGNED

You may find yourself thinking, there must be something more! If so, you may be missing out on God’s plan and promise for your life. All of us have been caught up in choices or a lifestyle that takes us far from God. We can easily be distracted by the lies told to us or simply, allowed our faith to become frail. But there is a truth that far outweighs our circumstances, our way of living or thinking. It is this:

  • You were created to live with God
  • You were created to receive the blessings of God
  • You were created to experience the presence of God

 

LIVING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD

Jesus came as a child, purposely vulnerable to the world. He came as Emmanuel – God With Us. He lived and walked with mankind, to experience the same joys and trials as we do. He came as a present to be present with us. He came to purchase us from the clutches of death and destruction. Having fulfilled the purposes of God (once and for all), Christ was resurrected and ascended into heaven. Many would have you believe that the story stops there!

Even the disciples grieved as the Lord went to heaven – they feared that they were being left alone, to struggle through the ups and downs of life. But it is simply NOT TRUE. Jesus promised that He was sending One, the counselor of truth and wisdom to abide with us. The triune God of creation (Holy Spirit) was sent to establish a new covenant with us – Sent to be the PRESENT ONE.

This is Believers 101, the one course we hope to ‘ace’ to live with God. If we stay wearily waiting for heaven, we miss the life God intended. If we practice tradition and religion without relationship, we can miss the promised plan of God. The Present One’s work within us and around us is our guarantee that something better, less fractured and less vulnerable to decay, is available. A life God intended that is eternal, established in our daily lives.

How do we live the life God intended?

A – ACKNOWLEDGE WE WERE MADE TO BE WITH GOD

B – BELIEVE GOD IS WITH US

C – COMMIT TO HIS PLAN, NOT OURS

1.   He is “always at his work”, never dozing or growing tired of meeting our needs.

Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” John 5:17

  • His Promises, His Plan, His Power
  • Christ’s Intercession
  • His Fulfillment

2.   He is “always righteous”, never changing to accommodate the times.

You are always righteous, O LORD, when I bring a case before you. Jer 12:1

  • God’s Perfect Will, The Word
  • God’s Character Revealed, The Word
  • God’s Hidden Will – Lived in Alleluia Time

3.   Jesus “always lives” to pray for you, to continually insure that your sins are forgiven, if you’ve trusted Him for salvation.

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Heb 7:25

  • Jesus Alive, Resurrected Life
  • Jesus Saves, Transformation
  • Jesus Lives in Us, Sanctification

4.   He is “always the shield”; shelter and the rock of refuge to which you can “always go”.

Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Psa 71:3

  • Jesus our Living refuge
  • Jesus our Protector
  • Jesus our Fortress, not for hiding out

5.   He will “never stop doing good” to you, always supplying you with all you really need.

I make an everlasting covenant with them: I never stop doing good to them, I will inspire them to fear me, that they never turn away from me. Jer 32:40

  • Daily Bread
  • Bread of Life
  • Living Waters

6.   He has promised, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Heb 13:5

  • Promised 1
  • Present 1
  • Purposed 1

7.   His years “will never end” (Hebrews 1:12).

You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same, and your years will never end. Heb 1:12

  • Eternal God
  • Eternal Plan
  • Eternal Love

8.   He will never change his mind. 

In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. Dan 2:44

  • King of Kings
  • Lord of Lords
  • Eternal Hope of Glory

9.   Jesus said, “but my words will never pass away”.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Luke 21:33

  • €       Jesus Christ is the Word
  • €       The Word that spoke creation into being
  • €       Every Word spoken by God comes to pass

 

THE THRONE OF GRACE

“Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.” HEBREWS 4:16

Jesus is the forever PRESENT1; he never leaves his place of mercy and grace. Having completed his priesthood on earth, He rose to His heavenly seat. On His throne of Grace, he took the government upon Himself. He sent the Spirit of God to prepare His people for His soon coming physical reign. In the throne room of heaven, He continually prays for you and me. He pleads the cause of the Father, for every power-filled promise. And in love, He pleads the cause of every human calling forth the purposes of God in our lives.

GOD IS OUR SOLUTION TO EVERY PROBLEM

  • He is EVER present
  • He ALWAYS has the best for us
  • He NEVER turns his back or takes His eyes from us