Sermons from Good News: Encountering and understanding God’s presence.

Church 4/27/2024

Offertory scripture:

He has brought us out of darkness in to His marvelous light.

Hebrews 4:14

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Galatians 3:9

So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

Sermon message:

Thesis: Encountering and understanding God’s presence.

People around the world are hungry for the supernatural. But they often look in the wrong places. And those people open themselves to the demonic. There’s a hunger but their decisions aren’t good regarding how the feed it. And these folks mock Christians.

Christians and non Christians need God. And it’s our job to lead them to God.

The fact of the matter is that people just don’t know about God or the Bible. They’re not stupid or slow; they’re just not aware.

Consider the case of Samson. The presence of God was on him and he was very strong. But he encountered a woman named Delilah who was used by the devil. And she got the secret of his great strength and shaved his head and weakened him.

Judges 16:20

And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” So he awoke from his sleep, and said, “I will go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!” But he did not know that the Lord had departed from him.

Samson didn’t know that the Spirit of God left him. The Spirit of God left because he didn’t know he broke the covenant.

Having something of value but not knowing or understanding it is a sad case. This was Samson.

Truth: you might have something of incredible value that you don’t know it.

1 Corinthians 6:19

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

Christians need to know that we can have an encounter with God because we have the Holy Spirit inside of us.

We need to know that we have the Holy Spirit inside of us once we have received Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior.

You can have a relationship with Almighty God.

Questions to ask ourselves:

• Do we know God?
• Do we acknowledge Him?
• Do we spend time with Him?
• Do we give Him thanks?

The Spirit of God is closer to you than the breath in your nostrils.

Point #1: It’s not the place, it’s the focus

Busy-ness including doing God’s work can prevent us from having an encounter with Him.

Psalm 46:10

Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!

You can have an encounter with Him.

Don’t let other things distract you. When you come to church (and do come to church), keep the focus on God.

Acts 4:23-24

And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,

Acts 4:29-30

Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

Point #2: We can grieve the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4:30

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

This is when you don’t sense His presence.

To grieve means to cause sorrow. When we grieve the Holy Spirit we are causing Him sorrow.

When we are sinning we are clogging up the flow of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4:29-32

29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Point #3: We can quench the Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:19

Do not quench the Spirit.

It doesn’t say you’ll lose your salvation. But you might lose the fire of God that was in you.

Luke 1:37

For with God nothing will be impossible.”

Jeremiah 32:17

‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

1 Peter 5:7

casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

Point #4: Today, believe that God wants to have an encounter with you.


Pastor Gary’s message at the close (Pastor Tim had to leave straightaway):

Forgiveness is paramount. We absolutely need to forgive others, period. No matter who wronged us or how they wronged us, we must forgive them. But forgiveness doesn’t require that we go out to lunch with that person. We can forgive them (we must forgive them) but we are not required to have a relationship with them.