#353 Welcome Home Series# 6, Abiding Presence

#353 Welcome Home Series# 6, Abiding Presence
By: Pastor D. Karl Thomas

You Need The Holy Spirit — He’s Your Best Friend — Have a vibrant relationship

Jesus Favourite House:
John 12:9 “Now a great many of the Jews knew that He was there; and they came, …”
There is a revelation of His abiding presence.

Culture Of Love
John 13:34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” Love :– Sacrificially ascribing infinite worth to another.

Culture Of Formation
Mark 1:17“Then Jesus said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.’”
Being a follower of Jesus looks like something. An authentic expression of being with Jesus

Culture Of Acceptance
Romans 15:7 “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”
Belong – Believe – Behave NOT Behave – Believe – Belong Behaviour Follows Identity

Culture Of Authenticity
Romans 2:4(The Message) “God is kind, but he’s not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change.”

Culture Of Honour

Romans 12:9-10 (ESV)“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”

PICTURE +++++++++++++++++++ HOUNOUR IS 360 +++++++++++++++++++++++++

Culture Of Abiding Presence
1 Samuel 10:6 “Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.”

Matthew 8:27 (AMP)“And the men were stunned with bewildered wonder and marveled, saying, What kind of Man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him!”

Acts 10:38“…GodanointedJesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”

John 1:14(MESSAGE)“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.”

The very day that Jews from around the world gather in Jerusalem to reaffirm their commitment to the Law of Moses, the Holy Spirit descends on them offering the Gospel, the promise of new life to all who will believe in Jesus. The Law was skin deep but the Gospel of Grace goes to – core.

Contrast First Pentecost with Acts 2 Pentecost: Exodus 19-32
1. 50 Days.
2. Flames and mountain shaking.
3. Law given (10 Com) tablets of stone. How to live.
4. Drunken party takes place.
5. 3000 people died.

Acts 2 Pentecost:
1. 50 Days.
2. Flames and a violent wind.
3. Spirit comes – Law on our heart – Power to live.
4. Drunken party takes place.
5. 3000 people made alive.
2 Corinthians 3:6“…for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

Exodus 33:3-4 “Go up to this land that flows with milk and honey. (Go to inherit what I promised but I’m not going to be with you) ButI will not travel among you, for you are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I did, I would surely destroy you along the way. When the people heard these stern words, they went into mourning and stopped wearing their jewelry and fine clothes.”

Moses Secured Three Things:
1. Forgiveness
2. His Presence
3. Revelation Of His Glory
Exodus 33:16“For your presence among us sets your people and me apartfrom all other people on the earth.”

Exodus 34:6-7 (NLT)“Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty.”

2 Corinthians 3:9-10 (NLT)
“If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God! In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way.”

2 Corinthians 3:18
“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

What will set us apart? How will they know we are your people?
1 Corinthians 3:16 “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive powerwhen the Holy Spirit has come upon you;and you shall bewitnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Ephesians 2:22 (AMP)“In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place)of God in (by, through) the Spirit.”

Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” (ESV)
“Arise, my people! Let your light shine for all the nations to see! For the glory of the Lord is streaming from you.”
(Living Bible)

John 7:37-39 “‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive,”(Pentecost)

Rivers Of Living Water: Manifesting the GLORY … His Abiding Presence
1. Love
2. Formation — Stuff He Did … healing delivering providing …miracles
3. Acceptance
4. Authenticity — free … living only by his presence and proceeding word
5. Honour— Free to esteem every person as better than yourself …Criticism is cowardly pride!
6. Abiding Presence —Glory … manifesting his nature and power from intimate relationship

The following is supposedly from the Peace Corps Manual for volunteers who work in the Amazon Jungle. It tells what to do in case you are attacked by an anaconda, the largest snake in the world; growing to over 35 feet long and weighing between three to four hundred pounds. This is what the manual said.

from Columbia travel guide … and …. BOOK “Hey, Idiot!: Chronicles of Human Stupidity”

If you are attacked by an anaconda, do not run.
1. The snake is faster than you are.
2. Lie flat on the ground. Put your arms tight against your sides, your legs tight against one another.
3. Tuck your chin in.
4. The snake will come and begin to nudge and climb over your body.
Do not panic.
After the snake has examined you, it will begin to swallow you from the feet end – always from the feet end. Permit the snake to swallow your feet and ankles. Do not panic.
7. The snake will now begin to suck your legs into its body. You must lie perfectly still. This will take a long time.
8. When the snake has reached your knees, slowly, and with as little movement as possible, reach down, take your knife and very gently slide it into the side of the snake’s mouth between the edge of its mouth and your leg. Then suddenly rip upwards, severing the snake’s head.