In a previous article, “Get Into The Presence Of God” {1}, we saw the spiritual reality that God is everywhere and we were also encouraged by the Holy Scriptures to get into His presence. If Jesus Christ is God why have another message about the presence of God? It is necessary for three reasons: 1.) God is holy and pure, and we certainly are not; 2.) God subsists as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, while each of us subsist as a body, soul, and a spirit; 3.) Not only was Jesus all God but He was all man {2} and
did what needed to be done so we might come to God and dwell with Him now, and for eternity.Jesus is the Christ, the Anointed One, but for the most part in this message I am emphasizing His Name, Jesus, because it expresses why we would need Him in our midst. The name “Jesus” is actually the same as the name “Joshua” and in Hebrew we would hear it as Yeshua, which means “YHVH (The Existing One) is salvation”. Many men were called by that name, so it was pretty common, but when it is spoken of about the Christ it is then no longer common, because Jesus Christ is the very salvation for mankind offered to all by God.
Christ Jesus vicariously fulfilled the requirement of the holiness of God for true righteousness. The Son of God was also the Son of man, the second Adam we might say. Philippians 2:5-12 shows that though He was God while on this earth He chose not to act like God but chose to act like us. Contrary to Adam, the Son obeyed and depended upon the Father every moment of His earthly life. When He dwells within us, all of His works and motives reside within us. The life of the Son pleases the Father and this is the only way any of us can be pleasing to God.
There are a few places in the New Testament where either Jesus speaks of His presence, or His presence is described, amongst those that trust in Him. If one is truly born again they will recognize these passages are the Word of God. They will realize that Jesus is in their midst in the following ways.
I. When With Other Christians - Matthew 18:20
“For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”
When possible, Christians are supposed to publicly gather together at least once a week. While Jesus, being God, is everywhere of course, most true Christians realize there is something special when gathered together with other true Christians on a Sunday or during any other assembly meeting time. While it is good to enjoy each other’s company and participate in mutual edification, many will say there is a sense of a special presence of Jesus there.
One does not have to physically see Him. He is present when we realize it or not. A classic example is when how surprised His disciples were when He suddenly appeared after His resurrection. They were together with the doors locked, As John 20:19-23 records, He appeared without opening any doors. He was there all the time, but chose to manifest Himself at that time.
Even when true Christians meet elsewhere, or happen to meet elsewhere, they will report the same. This is especially so if they pray for each other, talk about His Word, or do anything similar. And, as we can plainly see, it does not take many! Would Christian families realize this truth. Where there are two or three saved in a household Jesus is there in this special way. This means we should respect His presence, and respect each other at home, in a restaurant, or anywhere else.
II. Of Our Own Self - Hebrews 13:5-6, KJ21*
“Let your manner of living be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have. For He hath said, ‘I will never leave you, nor forsake you’; 6 so that we may boldly say, ‘YHVH (The Existing One) is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.’”
Covetousness includes not only money, but a range of material wealth. Our possessions should never possess us. A true Christian realizes all they really need is Jesus. This earthly life is only temporary, and as one grows in Christ they learn their main need, even their main desire, is Jesus. Things and people come and go but Jesus promises His disciples never to leave or forsake them.
Jesus, not wealth, not material things, not people, nothing earthly, but only Jesus must be the center of our life. He needs to be our King, the One Who is in charge of our life, whether “the sailing” is smooth or not. He is to be our main love. We should commune with Him daily and eventually do so constantly. We should be ready to hear from Him at any moment.
III. In Our Loving Service To Him - Matthew 28:19-20
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
One might say this just refers to the Apostles. Verse 16 does say “the eleven”, but refers to them as disciples and not as apostles. So I would say that the Holy Spirit is telling all disciples that we have the same commission as the eleven. In many ways we have it easier today to go into all the world, especially by using the Internet.
He tells them He is always with them. Indeed, by His Spirit He directs each disciple where to go, and it certainly does not have to be physically going to another country. Many are used by God in their local area and, like it has been said, we now have the Internet along with a number of other means any of us may use to reach out to the whole world.
He desires us to be part of the team to bring souls to the Kingdom of God, and not only bring them to the Kingdom, but to teach them. That would indicate to each disciple that one has to be a learner, “disciple”, themselves in order to make disciples. And much could be said about baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. However, we need to save that for another article.
The main point is that He promised to be with each disciple as they serve Him. “To the end of the age,” which is more accurate than “to the end of the world” should bring great comfort to each disciple for we know as we approach the end of the Gentile Age proclaiming the Gospel and edifying the Body of Christ will not get easier.
This article was written as we approached the 500th anniversary of the posting of Martin Luther’s ninety-five theses. As many know, that became the spark to get the Protestant Reformation underway. Things were very difficult for real Christians at that time. I am sure as we rapidly near the end of the Gentile Age they will become very difficult again, and in more ways than one. But a true Christian can take great solace that Jesus will be right there with us, even if it means torture and death for us.
IV. To Cause Us To Be Victorious - Revelation 1:13-18
“And in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a Son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. 14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.’”
We will look at many of the phrases above to bring out the point that Jesus, “The Existing One is salvation”, is in the midst of the Church (symbolized by the seven lampstands) and directs the ministers (termed angels, and the meaning of the Greek word often translated as “angels” can also mean “messengers” and therefore in this context ”pastors”) of the Church {3} (symbolized by the seven stars in His hand) in regard to their ministry to their respective churches.
Here is a brief summary of what each phrase can, and should, mean to each disciple:
I saw one like a Son of man speaks of His saving mercy because God, through Christ, became like us to redeem and sanctify us.
Clothed in a robe reaching to the feet tells of His righteousness which becomes our righteousness if we truly trust in Him.
Girded across His chest with a golden sash will remind us that “we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). This is one aspect of Christ that enables His disciples to live a victorious life.
His hair were white like white wool, like snow calls to mind Isaiah 1:18,
“Though your sins are as scarlet,
They will be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They will be like wool.”
He is pure, and a true disciple is made pure by His purity.
His eyes were like a flame of fire means in part that His Spirit will search us for what needs to be cleansed by the fire of His holiness.
His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace should speak to us of His faithfulness unto holiness for us. If Jesus truly dwells within we can be faithful unto holiness.
His voice was like the sound of many waters means that by His authority He speaks these things to us for our salvation and the glory of the Father. This is why we can say and mean it by His authority things in His Word like “sin shall not have dominion over me” (Romans 6:14).
In His right hand He held seven stars tells in part of His fellowship with, and authority over, His messengers.
Out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword means His Word, which is the never failing, totally sufficient, forever enduring Word of God.
His face was like the sun shining in its strength speaks of His holiness which is shared with us if we have been truly redeemed by Him.
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. With this, think of Galatians 2:20 where it states that a true Christian is dead, crucified with Christ, but yet alive having Jesus live through him with all we have already seen in this passage from Revelation and are about to see. In order to make all of these blessings happen one must die to self and let Christ live through them.
And He placed His right hand on me, saying, is very warming to the heart. His laying His right hand on John while in such a state shows Jesus’ comforting authority. Saying reminds me that as God He decrees His blessings of all that He is unto those that truly trust in Him as their Savior and King.
“Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, . . .”, says the ever-living victorious Jesus. Without Him there is much to fear, certainly of things in this world, but also regarding the pending judgment of God upon each person. If Jesus is dwelling within us we need not fear either and, most importantly, the judgment of God. YHVH God is recorded in Isaiah as stating He is the first and the last (Isaiah 41:4, 44:6, 48:12). Jesus is YHVH God in our flesh and has met every requirement for the righteousness we need unto salvation.
“And [I am] the living One; and I was dead, . . ." is very touching in that Jesus in merciful love was fully punished for our sins and died for us. His victorious life and death upon the cross made full salvation possible for each and every person.
“And behold, . . .” reminds me of Hebrews 12:1-2 which is, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
“I am alive forevermore, . . ." means a number of things which include vibrant meaningful life now and eternal life if we remain in Him.
“And I have the keys of death . . .” is a clear indicator of His power and authority to raise the dead. Death never means cessation of existence and for information about this directly from the Word of God please see the article listed in the link below {4}.
“And of Hades” is certainly good news. Jesus not only has power over physical death but He can make spiritually alive those who are spiritually dead. “Hades” in the New Testament can mean not only the grave but most often means hell. This is why the Authorized Version and other translations have “hell” for this verse. The grave used to be the “holding place” for all but after Jesus died He went there (1 Peter 3:18-20) and those that chose to trust Him were released and joined Him when He ascended (Ephesians 4:8).
Is Jesus In The Midst Of You?
Being God, Jesus is, of course, everywhere. However, as we saw in a previous article {1}, there are levels of His presence and degrees of our activity with Him. His desire is to have Him in the midst of our being, ruling us. This is what is meant, in part, about believing in Jesus. He needs to be the center of our being, the center of our life, and our primary love. Additionally, He intercedes for us and shields us from the wrath of the Father if we make Him our Savior and King. If He is in the midst of our being we will truly love Him, hate sin, and live like He would.
Notes:
{1} You may read “Get Into The Presence Of God" at http://holybibletreasures.expertscolumn.com/article/get-into-the-presence-of-god .
{2} Used in the proper traditional sensible sense, denoting all people, male and female. I could not care less about being politically correct.
{3} God directs but it is up to each individual minister to hear that direction and faithfully obey. Also, I continue to refer to the true Church and not nominal Christianity.
{4} Death not cessation of existence http://thesureword.expertscolumn.com/article/you-still-exist-after-death .
This article was written in the form of a sermon (message) outline with comments. God willing by October 25, 2017 (hopefully much sooner), you should be able to hear the actual message (sermon) by selecting a link at http://www.sapphirestreams.com/life/audioM.html#M470 .
Unless otherwise noted all Holy Scripture is from the New American Standard Bible changing LORD to YHVH as it rightly should be when the text so indicates and adding “(The Existing One)” to readily express the meaning of His Name without making repeated explanations in articles. * = For other versions the spelling of some words is updated for our time in addition to changing LORD to YHVH as it rightly should be when the text so indicates.
Not responsible for any advertisements appearing with this article nor am I necessarily in agreement with any of them. The statements of this paragraph hold true not only for this article, but for everything I have placed on the Internet.
