Dear Family,
Today is Monday, April 25, 2022. This Day 2 of Week 2. It is our 9th Day of Count to Pentecost.
God’s omnipresence is distinct from the special manifestations of His presence at numerous times we find recorded in Holy Scripture. The cloud and pillar of fire that covered and guided the ancient Israelites is only one example of God’s special or “manifest” presence.
Is there a spot in the universe where one can go and God not be there? Certainly not! There is NO where anyone can go to completely escape the omnipresence of God.
Psalm 139:7-12 (7) Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? (8) If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there. (9) If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; (10) Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me. (11) If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. (12) Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee.
However, God has made His very special presence known to many in His own special ways. A number of people have been privileged to experience a Special Presence of God.
For example, Adam and Eve walked with God in the garden. God spoke to Cain after Cain had killed his brother. He also spoke directly to Abraham. And later, God spoke face to face with Moses.
At Mt. Sinai, God spoke in a thunder and made the earth shake. Some humans saw only God’s glory while others spoke with the One we now know as our Savior, the Son of God. And, these are only a few of the instances and kinds of manifestations.
In the New Testament writings, we find a voice from heaven. But, probably the most distinctive manifestation of God in the New Testament occurred when the Day of Pentecost had fully come. It was the day God sent the cloven tongues of fire, and people clearly understood a description of the wonderful works of God in their own language and dialect.
Acts 2:7-11 (7) And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another; Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? (8) And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? (9) Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, (10) Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, (11) Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
And, because of the gift of God’s Holy Spirit that begats us as His children, and continuously dwells in us, we are experiencing God’s presence more and more in a most intimate way as we grow to the full maturity of sons of God. What a concept! Praise God!
Ben Faulkner, Pastor
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