In the Presence: 1st in a Series

IN THE MIDDLE

Genesis 1:26-27
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27 So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.



Genesis 3:8
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.


The goal is living in God's manifest presence

We are modeled/patterned after God's image. He created us with a social awareness that he gave no other part of creation.

Adam and Eve hear God in the garden (v. 3:8) In Heaven, we will be with God, must like Adam and Eve were with God in the garden.

Rev 21:3-4 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Rev. 22: 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

Today, we are 'in the middle" Sin limits our interaction with God ... we are 'banished from the garden.'' (Gen 3: 8-9, 23-24)

Lessons for Today
1. Our goal here is to crave and seek to experience God and his presence

2. Understand the character of God
a. God is perfect love
1 John 4:7-8 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

b. God is holy
1 Peter 1:15-16 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

God won't be around jealousy and hatred, and he won't be in immoral places

c. God is pure
Matt 5:8 -- Blessed are the pure..." This is why God didn't make himself know to Pharisees; God doesn't dwell in impurity

d. God is perfect, period
Mat 6:10 -- Your will be done on Earth AS IT IS in heaven
God's will is absolute in heaven, where there is no debate. Find out what God wants, and do that.

e. God is perfect unity
John 17: 20-23 ... "I pray that they may be one..."

This is how thigns were in the Garden and how they'll be in Heaven ... But God still shows up in the middle.
Invite the presence of God to be known in our lives, homes and church
All God the freedom to make Himself known...

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