There are more people here today than you realize!

1
There are more people here today than you realize!

• Jesus wanted His disciples to know of His
  presence after His ascension.

2
There are more people here today than you realize!

• Jesus wanted His disciples to know of His
  presence after His ascension.
• When the disciples first observed the Lords
  Supper at Pentecost. (Acts 242 Mt 2629)

3
There are more people here today than you realize!

• Acts 242 (NKJV) - And they continued steadfastly
  in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, in the
  breaking of bread, and in prayers.

4
There are more people here today than you realize!

• Matthew 2629 (NKJV) - But I say to you, I will
  not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on
  until that day when I drink it new with you in My
  Fathers kingdom.

5
There are more people here today than you realize!

• When they prayed to the Father. (Mt 66 Heb
  924)

6
There are more people here today than you realize!

• When they prayed to the Father. (Mt 66 Heb
  924)

7
There are more people here today than you realize!

• Matthew 66 (NKJV) - But you, when you pray, go
  into your room, and when you have shut your door,
  pray to your Father who is in the secret place
  and your Father who sees in secret will reward
  you openly.

8
There are more people here today than you realize!

• Do you know of His presence today?

9
There are more people here today than you realize!

• Do you know of His presence today?
• Many false doctrines are built on a manipulation
  of emotions that then makes one
  aware of the presence of God.

10
There are more people here today than you realize!

• Do you know of His presence today?
• Many false doctrines are built on a manipulation
  of emotions that then makes one
  aware of the presence of God.
• The presence of God is only known today by faith,
  faith based on His promises.

11
There are more people here today than you realize!

• Do you know of His presence today?
• Many false doctrines are built on a manipulation
  of emotions that then makes one
  aware of the presence of God.
• The presence of God is only known today by faith,
  faith based on His promises.
• Other presences will lead you to another
  Jesus or another gospel which is not real.

12
The significance of a presence

• What is a presence?

13
The significance of a presence

• What is a presence?
• The state or fact of being present current
  existence or occurrence.

14
The significance of a presence

• What is a presence?
• The state or fact of being present current
  existence or occurrence.
• Immediate proximity in time or space.

15
The significance of a presence

• What is a presence?
• The state or fact of being present current
  existence or occurrence.
• Immediate proximity in time or space.
• The diplomatic, political, or military influence
  of a nation in a foreign country.

16
The significance of a presence

• What is a presence?
• The state or fact of being present current
  existence or occurrence.
• Immediate proximity in time or space.
• The diplomatic, political, or military influence
  of a nation in a foreign country.
• It involves consciousness.

17
The significance of a presence

• What is a presence?
• The state or fact of being present current
  existence or occurrence.
• Immediate proximity in time or space.
• The diplomatic, political, or military influence
  of a nation in a foreign country.
• It involves consciousness.
• It is easy to know when someone is physically
  present.

18
The significance of a presence

• There can be a presence without a physical one.
  (1 Cor 53 1 Thess 217)

19
The significance of a presence

• 1 Corinthians 53 (NKJV) - For I indeed, as
  absent in body but present in spirit, have
  already judged (as though I were present) him who
  has so done this deed.

20
The significance of a presence

• 1 Thessalonians 217 (NKJV) - But we, brethren,
  having been taken away from you for a short time
  in presence, not in heart, endeavored more
  eagerly to see your face with great desire.

21
The significance of a presence

• The presence of the Lord is greater than this.
  (Psa 1397-10)

22
The significance of a presence

• Psalm 1397-9 - 7 Where can I go from Your
  Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8
  If I ascend into heaven, You are there If I make
  my bed in hell, behold, You are there. 9 If I
  take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the
  uttermost parts of the sea, 10 Even there Your
  hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall
  hold me.

23
The significance of a presence

• Jonah learned this lesson! (Jonah 13)

24
The significance of a presence

• Our very spirit knows this. (Ps 191-4)

25
The significance of a presence

• Our very spirit knows this. (Ps 191-4)
• It involves some knowledge of the one who casts
  the presence.

26
The significance of a presence

• Our very spirit knows this. (Ps 191-4)
• It involves some knowledge of the one who casts
  the presence.
• This presence has a greater force when we know
  the character or significance of the one we are
  before.

27
The significance of a presence

• Our very spirit knows this. (Ps 191-4)
• It involves some knowledge of the one who casts
  the presence.
• This presence has a greater force when we know
  the character or significance of the one we are
  before.
• The great cloud of witnesses are significant only
  to those who know them. (Heb 1139-121)

28
The significance of a presence

• Hebrews 1139-121- 39And all these, having
  obtained a good testimony through faith, did not
  receive the promise, 40 God having provided
  something better for us, that they should not be
  made perfect apart from us.

29
The significance of a presence

• 1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by
  so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside
  every weight, and the sin which so easily
  ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the
  race that is set before us,

30
The significance of a presence

• Who is present with you here today?

31
The power of the presence of God

• The actual presence of the divine is awesome. (Ex
  3320-23)

32
The power of the presence of God

• Exodus 3320-23 - But He said, You cannot see
  My face for no man shall see Me, and live. 21
  And the LORD said, Here is a place by Me, and
  you shall stand on the rock. 22 So it shall be,
  while My glory passes by, that I will put you in
  the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My
  hand while I pass by.

33
The power of the presence of God

• 23 Then I will take away My hand, and you shall
  see My back but My face shall not be seen.

34
The power of the presence of God

• Isaiah reacted immediately when he perceived he
  was in Gods presence. (Isa 61-5)

35
The power of the presence of God

• Isaiah reacted immediately when he perceived he
  was in Gods presence. (Isa
  61-5)
• God wants all to fear His presence! (Isa 643)

36
The power of the presence of God

• Isaiah 643 (NKJV) - When You did awesome things
  for which we did not look, You came down, The
  mountains shook at Your presence.

37
The power of the presence of God

• We must keep our hearts attuned and tender to
  respect this presence!

38
The power of the presence of God

• We must keep our hearts attuned and tender to
  respect this presence!
• Gods people became hardened to it. (Jer 522-23)

39
The power of the presence of God

• Jeremiah 522-23 (NKJV) - Do you not fear Me?
  says the LORD. Will you not tremble at My
  presence, Who have placed the sand as the bound
  of the sea, By a perpetual decree, that it cannot
  pass beyond it? And though its waves toss to and
  fro, Yet they cannot prevail Though they roar,
  yet they cannot pass over it. 23 But this people
  has a defiant and rebellious heart They have
  revolted and departed.

40
The power of the presence of God

• The Gentile world already has. (Rom 118-20, 28)

41
The power of the presence of God

• The Gentile world already has. (Rom 118-20, 28)
• This is Satans only weapon against the powerful
  presence of God, a hardened
  conscience.

42
The power of the presence of God

• The Gentile world already has. (Rom 118-20, 28)
• This is Satans only weapon against the powerful
  presence of God, a hardened
  conscience.
• Moses would not leave without the assurance of
  Gods presence. (Ex 3314-16)

43
The power of the presence of God

• Exodus 3314 -16 - And He said, My Presence will
  go with you, and I will give you rest. 15Then he
  said to Him, If Your Presence does not go with
  us, do not bring us up from here. 16 For how then
  will it be known that Your people and I have
  found grace in Your sight, except You go with us?
  So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from
  all the people who are upon the face of the
  earth.

44
The power of the presence of God

• This presence (fellowship) is something the world
  does not have.

45
The power of the presence of God

• This presence (fellowship) is something the world
  does not have.
• This presence requires separation! (Ps 1017)

46
The power of the presence of God

• Psalm 1017 (NKJV) - He who works deceit shall
  not dwell within my house He who tells lies
  shall not continue in my presence.

47
The power of the presence of men

• The rulers of this world demand and receive
  respect.

48
The power of the presence of men

• The rulers of this world demand and receive
  respect.
• Esther knew the significance of access to the
  king. (Esther 114 416)

49
The power of the presence of men

• Esther 114 (NKJV) - those closest to him being
  Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres,
  Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia
  and Media, who had access to the kings presence,
  and who ranked highest in the kingdom)

50
The power of the presence of men

• Esther 416 (NKJV) - Go, gather all the Jews who
  are present in Shushan, and fast for me neither
  eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My
  maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go
  to the king, which is against the law and if I
  perish, I perish!

51
The power of the presence of men

• Before a king there is a way to dress, speak and
  act.

52
The power of the presence of men

• Before a king there is a way to dress, speak and
  act.
• The Pharisees were more aware of the presence of
  men than they were of God.

53
The power of the presence of men

• Jesus knew the motivation behind their piety. (Mt
  61-2)

54
The power of the presence of men

• Matthew 61-2 - Take heed that you do not do
  your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by
  them. Otherwise you have no reward from your
  Father in heaven. 2 Therefore, when you do a
  charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before
  you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in
  the streets, that they may have glory from men.
  Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

55
The power of the presence of men

• They used arguments that were intended to impress
  men. (Lk 2026 1-8)

56
The power of the presence of men

• Lk 2026 26 But they could not catch Him in His
  words in the presence of the people. And they
  marveled at His answer and kept silent.

57
The power of the presence of men

• Lk 201-8 - Now it happened on one of those days,
  as He taught the people in the temple and
  preached the gospel, that the chief priests and
  the scribes, together with the elders, confronted
  Him 2 and spoke to Him, saying, Tell us, by what
  authority are You doing these things? Or who is
  he who gave You this authority?

58
The power of the presence of men

• 3 But He answered and said to them, I also will
  ask you one thing, and answer Me 4 The baptism
  of Johnwas it from heaven or from men? 5 And
  they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we
  say, From heaven, He will say, Why then did
  you not believe him? 6 But if we say, From
  men, all the people will stone us, for they are
  persuaded that John was a prophet.

59
The power of the presence of men

• 7 So they answered that they did not know where
  it was from. 8 And Jesus said to them, Neither
  will I tell you by what authority I do these
  things.

60
The power of the presence of men

• How many writers and speakers have used the fear
  of men to persuade another to accept their
  teachings?

61
The power of the presence of men

• How many writers and speakers have used the fear
  of men to persuade another to accept their
  teachings?
• Paul wanted Christians to grow where the physical
  presence was not as needed.

62
The power of the presence of men

• There is a wonderful power being in the presence
  of faithful Christians. (Heb
  1023-25)

63
The power of the presence of men

• There is a wonderful power being in the presence
  of faithful Christians. (Heb
  1023-25)
• There comes a point where one has faith and zeal
  even when others are not there!
  (Gal 418-20)

64
The power of the presence of men

• Galatians 418-20 - But it is good to be zealous
  in a good thing always, and not only when I am
  present with you. 19 My little children, for whom
  I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in
  you, 20 I would like to be present with you now
  and to change my tone for I have doubts about
  you.

65
The power of the presence of men

• Many parents have sadly found this out when their
  child moves away.

66
The power of the presence of men

• There is a great encouragement when this God
  centered faith is confirmed and grows! (Phil 212)

67
The power of the presence of men

• Philippians 212 (NKJV) - Therefore, my beloved,
  as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence
  only, but now much more in my absence, work out
  your own salvation with fear and trembling

68
The power of the presence of men

• Which presence is greater for you? (Ps 3119-20)

69
The power of the presence of men

• Psalm 3119 -20 - Oh, how great is Your goodness,
  Which You have laid up for those who fear You,
  Which You have prepared for those who trust in
  You In the presence of the sons of men! 20 You
  shall hide them in the secret place of Your
  presence From the plots of man You shall keep
  them secretly in a pavilion From the strife of
  tongues.

70
The power of the presence of men

• This should be a very serious question we ask
  ourselves!

71
The power of the presence of men

• This should be a very serious question we ask
  ourselves!
• I am concerned when we focus on other men,
  churches, papers and not on God.

72
The power of the presence of men

• This should be a very serious question we ask
  ourselves!
• I am concerned when we focus on other men,
  churches, papers and not on God.
• Belshazzar was concerned about the thousand.
  That perspective changed radically
  when it was too late. (Dan 51)

73
The power of the presence of men

• Daniel 51 (NKJV) - Belshazzar the king made a
  great feast for a thousand of his lords, and
  drank wine in the presence of the thousand.

74
Using these presences for our good

• Let Gods presence build you up.

75
Using these presences for our good

• Let Gods presence build you up.
• God will defeat your enemies. (Ps 93)

76
Using these presences for our good

• Psalm 93 (NKJV) - When my enemies turn back,
  They shall fall and perish at Your presence.

77
Using these presences for our good

• You will find joy. (Ps 1611)

78
Using these presences for our good

• Psalm 1611 (NKJV) - You will show me the path of
  life In Your presence is fullness of joy At
  Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

79
Using these presences for our good

• You will find justification. (Ps 172)

80
Using these presences for our good

• (Ps 172) - Let my vindication come from Your
  presence Let Your eyes look on the things that
  are upright.

81
Using these presences for our good

• You will have peace and blessing in the presence
  of your enemies. (Ps 235)

82
Using these presences for our good

• Psalm 235 (NKJV) - You prepare a table before
  me in the presence of my enemies You anoint my
  head with oil My cup runs over.

83
Using these presences for our good

• Be aware of the presence of faithful men.

84
Using these presences for our good

• Be aware of the presence of faithful men.
• Seek their actual presence.

85
Using these presences for our good

• Let our assemblies be that which build faith and
  destroy sin. (1 Tim 520)

86
Using these presences for our good

• 1 Timothy 520 (NKJV) - Those who are sinning
  rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also
  may fear.

87
Using these presences for our good

• Let good influence always be with you. (2 Cor
  132, 10)

88
Using these presences for our good

• 2 Corinthians 132 (NKJV) - I have told you
  before, and foretell as if I were present the
  second time, and now being absent ?I write to
  those who have sinned before, and to all the
  rest, that if I come again I will not spare

89
Using these presences for our good

• 2 Corinthians 1310 (NKJV) - Therefore I write
  these things being absent, lest being present I
  should use sharpness, according to the authority
  which the Lord has given me for edification and
  not for destruction.

90
Using these presences for our good

• Let you hope be fully set on one day being in the
  presence of the Lord.

91
Using these presences for our good

• Let you hope be fully set on one day being in the
  presence of the Lord.
• Are you running the race? (Heb 121-3)

92
Using these presences for our good

• How do we find the strength to finish? What will
  make heaven a blessing for us?

93
Using these presences for our good

• How do we find the strength to finish? What will
  make heaven a blessing for us?
• Are you serving God or merely offering eye
  service? (Eph 66 Col 322)

94
Using these presences for our good

• Ephesians 66 (NKJV) - not with eyeservice, as
  men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ,
  doing the will of God from the heart,

95
Using these presences for our good

• Colossians 322 (NKJV) - Bondservants, obey in
  all things your masters according to the flesh,
  not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in
  sincerity of heart, fearing God.

96
Using these presences for our good

• One day you will know with a certainty!

97
Using these presences for our good

• One day you will know with a certainty!
• Those who loved the presence of men above God
  will spend an eternity away from His presence. (2
  Thess 19)

98
Using these presences for our good

• Who is present with you today?