Jesus Speaks 6 Cultivating Awareness of God's Presence Deana Leone

Practicing the presence of God ESTABLISHES us in a sense of God’s presence by CONTINUALLY CONVERSING with Him, and therefore, EQUIPS us to CARRY OUT the Father’s will atany and all times, no matter what is happening around us or where we are.

Luke 2:49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” 

(about my Father’s business)

                 Brother Lawrence said, “The time of business does not differ with me from the time of prayer.”

Psalm 139:7-8    7 Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?  8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

God is OMNIPRESENT – meaning He is EVERYWHERE SIMULTANEOUSLY. If this is true, why are there times or situations when it seems like He is distant or even absent? We know that God is not the one with limitations. However we exist in THIS world and in these EARTHEN vessels, which bring along with them certain limitations.These limitations effect our awareness of God’s presence.

 

BUT, as believers, God’s Spirit dwells within us (1 Cor 3:16; 1 Cor 6:19), so we can break free from these limits!

 

CULTIVATING AN AWARENESS OF GOD’S PRESENCE IS A WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit is FULLY AWARE of God’s presence because they are one

1 John 5:7-8        7 For there are three that testify: 8 the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement., (these three are one)

This means that through the Holy Spirit IN us, we are also one in Him (John 17:21) and are able to MOVE BEYOND ANY LIMITATIONS to gain a complete AWARENESS of God’s presence. In Christ, our ability to be aware is LIMITLESS.

 

It is a work of the Spirit in us and our cooperation with Him – His leading, teaching,guiding, that will create an awareness of God’s presence in our lives. We are utterly dependent on the Spirit to accomplish this.

 

1 Corinthians 2:10-16     10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

 

14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.

  

This cultivation, this “practice” of relying on the Holy Spirit, living BY the Spirit (Gal 5:25; Rom 8:5-9) leads us to become MORE AWARE of God’s presence

This is the starting rung on the figurative ladder where we ascend and God descends

Greater awareness is the first step in a greater experience;a greater knowing (epignosis) of God; greater understanding of His ways, His wisdom, His thoughts, His voice (His speaking)….so that we can carry out His will on earth AS IT IS in heaven.

 

ATTRIBUTES OF CULTIVATION

1.            SEASONAL in Nature

2.            ADJUSTS to Conditions

3.            Occurs through ACTIVE Participation

4.            Depends on CONSISTENCY Over Time

5.            Requires CARE (Feeding AND Weeding)

 

AREAS OF CULTIVATION

1 Thessalonians 5:23      Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of ourLord Jesus Christ.           

1.            Physical Space (Body & Environment)

2.            Soul Space (Mind, Will, Emotions)

3.            Spiritual Space (Inner Man)