“In your presence is fullness of joy.”
Psalm 16:11 (NKJV)
1. God’s Presence Pursues Me
“Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. He reached a certain place and spent the night there because the sun had set. He took one of the stones from the place, put it there at his head, and lay down in that place. And he dreamed: A stairway was set on the ground with its top reaching the sky, and God’s angels were going up and down on it. The Lord was standing there beside him, saying, ‘I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your offspring the land on which you are lying. Your offspring will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out toward the west, the east, the north, and the south. All the peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. Look, I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.’ When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.’ He was afraid and said, ‘What an awesome place this is! This is none other than the house of God. This is the gate of heaven.’”
Genesis 28:10-17 (CSB)
“Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I fly on the wings of the dawn and settle down on the western horizon, even there your hand will lead me; your right hand will hold on to me.”
Psalm 139:7-10 (CSB)
2. God’s Presence Amazes Me
“He was afraid and said, ‘What an awesome place this is! This is none other than the house of God. This is the gate of heaven.’”
Genesis 28:17 (CSB)
- God cares for you – “I’ll watch over you” (Genesis 28:15)
- God has plans for you – “He will give you offspring” (Genesis 28:14)
- God is with you – “I’ll be with you” (Genesis 28:15), “Never will I leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5)
3. God’s Presence Changes Me
“Early in the morning Jacob took the stone that was near his head and set it up as a marker. He poured oil on top of it and named the place Bethel, though previously the city was named Luz. Then Jacob made a vow: ‘If God will be with me and watch over me during this journey I’m making, if he provides me with food to eat and clothing to wear, and if I return safely to my father’s family, then the LORD will be my God. This stone that I have set up as a marker will be God’s house, and I will give to you a tenth of all that you give me’” (Genesis 28:18-22).
Things people do when they meet Jesus:
- Worship
- Tell Others
- Giving
- Restitution
- Faith
“If you love me, you will keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.”
John 14:15-17 (CSB)