WEBVTT 00:04.486 --> 00:15.884 [SPEAKER_00]: As we near the end of our week, getting back to the basics of a quality time along with God, we're going to take time today to look simply at the presence of God. 00:16.945 --> 00:24.537 [SPEAKER_00]: As mysterious as it may sound, God's presence is meant to be a regular part of all our lives. 00:24.770 --> 00:32.748 [SPEAKER_00]: Just as we experience the nearness of those we do life with every day, and the fruit of them simply being with us. 00:33.529 --> 00:37.378 [SPEAKER_00]: God wants us to experience His nearness as well. 00:38.202 --> 00:47.955 [SPEAKER_00]: My hope is that today, the presence of God is demystified a bit, and becomes a regular part of every day we set aside to meet with Him. 00:48.956 --> 00:57.127 [SPEAKER_00]: He's done so much to be close to us, and I can't wait to see how He fills the space we set aside for Him today. 00:57.167 --> 01:00.531 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast. 01:27.764 --> 01:38.050 [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from Psalm 139 verse 7, Scripture says, Where shall I go from your Spirit? 01:39.012 --> 01:42.060 [SPEAKER_00]: Or where shall I flee from your presence? 01:44.572 --> 01:50.721 [SPEAKER_00]: One of the most important pieces of spending time with God is encountering His presence. 01:52.022 --> 01:55.968 [SPEAKER_00]: His presence is meant to be at the core of all that we do. 01:57.450 --> 02:04.039 [SPEAKER_00]: God so hated separation from us that Jesus was sent to pay the ultimate price. 02:05.381 --> 02:13.212 [SPEAKER_00]: And at Jesus' death, the curtains separating the holy of 02:13.192 --> 02:20.241 [SPEAKER_00]: signifying that God's presence was no longer contained, but made available to everyone. 02:22.003 --> 02:27.810 [SPEAKER_00]: Psalm 139 verses 7 and 8 says, where shall I go from your spirit? 02:28.671 --> 02:30.954 [SPEAKER_00]: Or where shall I flee from your presence? 02:32.075 --> 02:34.598 [SPEAKER_00]: If I ascend to heaven, you are there. 02:35.539 --> 02:38.743 [SPEAKER_00]: If I make my bed in shield, you are there. 02:40.630 --> 03:03.111 [SPEAKER_00]: and Psalm 84 verses 3 and 4 says, even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow ennest for herself, where she may lay her young at your altar's o Lord of hosts, my king and my god, blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise. 03:06.095 --> 03:08.137 [SPEAKER_00]: God's presence is everywhere. 03:09.219 --> 03:12.483 [SPEAKER_00]: There is nowhere you could go that he won't be with you. 03:13.584 --> 03:20.973 [SPEAKER_00]: There is no situation, conversation, job or place in which you can't meet with God. 03:21.033 --> 03:25.859 [SPEAKER_00]: So how do we encounter the presence of God? 03:26.940 --> 03:29.824 [SPEAKER_00]: How do we experience his nearness? 03:31.120 --> 03:34.850 [SPEAKER_00]: encountering God is similar to encountering another person. 03:36.114 --> 03:38.300 [SPEAKER_00]: I don't seek an experience with the friend. 03:39.002 --> 03:45.400 [SPEAKER_00]: I simply seek to know him by spending time with him and gain an experience as a result. 03:46.628 --> 03:48.951 [SPEAKER_00]: I don't seek to hear the voice of a friend. 03:49.752 --> 03:57.601 [SPEAKER_00]: I simply engage in conversation with him as an act of wanting to know him and hear his voice as a result. 03:58.882 --> 04:05.730 [SPEAKER_00]: The only thing about seeking God that makes it different is that he is spirit rather than flesh. 04:07.292 --> 04:16.483 [SPEAKER_00]: John 424 says, 04:18.370 --> 04:22.177 [SPEAKER_00]: But it's for that very reason that we can truly know Him. 04:23.439 --> 04:29.711 [SPEAKER_00]: Scripture is clear that God is everywhere, and that the Holy Spirit dwells within us. 04:31.073 --> 04:33.698 [SPEAKER_00]: His presence is already with you. 04:35.141 --> 04:41.813 [SPEAKER_00]: Encountering Him is as simple as taking some time to become aware of His nearness. 04:43.733 --> 04:46.156 [SPEAKER_00]: God longs for you to know Him. 04:47.518 --> 04:55.107 [SPEAKER_00]: So great is His desire to meet with you spirit, to spirit, heart to heart, that Jesus gave His life. 04:56.770 --> 05:06.602 [SPEAKER_00]: Take time to simply seek God, meditate on His Word, allow scripture to fill your heart with faith. 05:07.578 --> 05:29.232 [SPEAKER_00]: and makes space to rest in God's presence that your heart might come alive at the revelation of His nearness. 05:35.590 --> 05:38.091 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you. 05:55.047 --> 06:00.201 [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, meditate on Scripture about God's presence. 06:01.604 --> 06:11.470 [SPEAKER_00]: Exodus 33, 14 says, and He said, My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. 06:23.313 --> 06:25.122 [UNKNOWN]: you 06:50.667 --> 06:56.514 [SPEAKER_00]: And next, allow Scripture to fill you with faith to experience God. 06:57.735 --> 07:03.702 [SPEAKER_00]: Center your understanding of encountering God around simply seeking to know Him. 07:05.164 --> 07:13.013 [SPEAKER_00]: Romans 1017 says, So faith comes from hearing and hearing through the Word of Christ. 07:24.485 --> 07:26.783 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you. 07:54.708 --> 08:03.037 [SPEAKER_00]: And last, make space to rest in God's presence, ask Him to show you how to abide in Him. 08:04.499 --> 08:08.584 [SPEAKER_00]: He desires to make Himself known to you all throughout your day. 08:09.805 --> 08:12.829 [SPEAKER_00]: He wants to be involved in everything you are doing. 08:14.210 --> 08:16.252 [SPEAKER_00]: Nothing is too mundane for the Lord. 08:17.294 --> 08:19.416 [SPEAKER_00]: His desire is to be with you. 08:21.050 --> 08:26.993 [SPEAKER_00]: John 15 forces abide in me and I in you. 09:09.515 --> 09:19.349 [SPEAKER_00]: Once you begin consistently encountering God's presence, you will find it becomes easier and easier to set aside that time to meet with Him. 09:20.911 --> 09:29.022 [SPEAKER_00]: So many Christians are calling the time they spend reading the Bible, time they spend with God, without actually encountering Him. 09:29.062 --> 09:36.973 [SPEAKER_00]: We preach as Christians that Jesus is alive, our faith hinges on that fact. 09:37.274 --> 09:43.120 [SPEAKER_00]: Yet we go so long without encountering our God who is alive and present. 09:44.321 --> 09:51.749 [SPEAKER_00]: If we're not regularly encountering the God we serve, we are living and preaching a false gospel by our actions. 09:53.051 --> 09:55.674 [SPEAKER_00]: God's presence is meant to be encountered. 09:56.635 --> 10:01.780 [SPEAKER_00]: He is present, near, active, and full of love for you. 10:03.143 --> 10:14.487 [SPEAKER_00]: May your time spent with him be marked by his satisfying presence as you experience the transforming power of encountering the living God every day. 10:35.138 --> 10:38.102 [SPEAKER_00]: Thank you so much for listening to today's podcast. 10:38.563 --> 10:40.505 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with First 15. 10:41.486 --> 10:49.938 [SPEAKER_00]: Tomorrow will wrap up our week on getting back to the basics by taking a closer look at what it means to meditate as a Christian. 10:50.939 --> 11:01.433 [SPEAKER_00]: I think tomorrow's episode is absolutely critical to maximizing the time we set aside to meet with God and living in communion with Him throughout our day. 11:01.750 --> 11:07.245 [SPEAKER_00]: So if you haven't already, make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you won't miss an episode. 11:08.087 --> 11:12.739 [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you see Kim.