How will you know that “it is the Lord”?

Evidence of the presence of God and Knowledge of Him

What do you mean by saying having an encounter with God!?

John 14: 8 – 10 –“Lord show us the Father and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in is in ME?

Genesis 28: 16 – Surely the LORD is in this place and I did not know it

There are so many people who claim they had encounters with God. After the surfacing of charismatic movement in early 19^th century people claim to have all kinds of supposed encounters with the supernatural.

How would I know that in fact I met God? Phillip the disciple missed the Lord in Jesus of Nazareth. So did all the Jewish leaders and Roman soldiers!

Many have their own fanciful versions of God's revelation. They expect God to manifest in their way.

But, it is very important to have a perspective and sensitivity to recognize His presence in His own terms.

How will you know that “it is the Lord!”

People who saw God had positive and negative responses. The immediate presence of God either brought curse or a blessing. Closeness of His presence need to be sensed by the presence of these signs.

Moreover, if the revelation of God does not make these responses in us that would lead us to destruction!

1. True repentance (Isaiah 6: 1 -5)

Paul - Acts 8 Saul the destroyer of those who believed in Jesus suddenly repented and was changed after a vision of Jesus Christ on his way to Damascus.

Job 42:5, 6 – I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; therefore I retract and I repent in dust and ashes”

2. True worship

John 4: 22 – you worship what you do not know; we worship what we know; for salvation is from the Jews

Exodus 34:8 Moses made haste to bow low toward the earth and worship

Revelation 1: when I saw Him I fell at His feet

3. Voice of God

Ezekiel 9:3 Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherub

Ezekiel 10:4 Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub to the threshold of the temple

Ezekiel 10: 19 rose up from the earth in my sight with the wheels beside them; and they stood still at the entrance of the east gate of the LORD'S house, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them.

Ezekiel 11: 23 And the glory of Jehovah went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city

Ezekiel 43:2 and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of 
rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory!

Ezekiel describes how the glory of God departed from Jerusalem. However, in Ezekiel 43 we see God's glory returning to the city. Most peculiar thing about His glory is His voice! It was like the rushing water! We draw that "When His presence is near His voice is heard!"

4. Obedience to God's commands -1 John 2: 3 – 5 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him.

Knowing God

In the magical waters...

Acts 17:26 - 28 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, ²⁷ so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; ²⁸ for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’

A sailor from the old fairy-tale found himself in the middle of an ocean after a ship wreck! He woke up on top of a wood Planck. He does not have a map nor does he know when the morning would come. He is lonely, hungry and thirsty.

He does not recall what happened! Only things his aching head perceived in the dark were not any promising either.Initial search was not so unfruitful for him. He found a smaller wood piece to paddle his life saving log!

Initially he frantically tried to row himself to some shore which he hoped would be around. He soon discovered in the process he is killing some half dead souls trying to afloat in their own little wood planks. Moreover he soon got tiered of his own aimless frenzy! After all, who knows how far the shore is!

There were whirlpools all over, wreckage everywhere. There was more than one danger to his life!

But, if the magical waters in which he is in is able and willing to communicate and guide and help him! Things would change so dramatically for him. He will know how far the nearest shore is, will he hurt any or how to avoid a whirlpool. In the midst of his limited resources he could use the help of the powerful waves, which could gently bring him to a desirable shore.

This is where the journey of man begins. Why am I here? what am I suppose to do? Where am I going? How can I get there? Is there someone else in this universe or are we alone here….so on and so forth!

Some look for answers but are already convinced that there cant be an answer!

The Scripture answers these questions of life for us!

It is Man’s pursuit

Acts 17:26 - 28 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, ²⁷ so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; ²⁸ for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’

This is the definition of human life

1. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth - THEIR ORGIN (THEIR PARENTAGE)

2. Has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings – THEIR DESTINY

Our lives intersected each other in divine purpose. We have an allotted time to live! That is what we call as earthly sojourn! (THEIR PERIPHERY)

3. That they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him,–THEIR PURPOSE

Knowing God is the pursuit of existence as human beings. Not in theory, or a creed but in reality! Our hearts are yearning for the one whom we miss so dearly! We want to know that we are not left in this lonely planet in all its chaos!

4. though He is not far from each one of us – THEIR PREDICAMENT

- they know we all are His children (even gentile poets knew it)

- Then why am I left to figure out for my self how to seek God?

5. In Him we live and move and have our being - THEIR MEANING

Why should we know Him!? Because even though He is standing so close to us we are unable to perceive Him!

6 . PENITENCE – their solution

Our parentage and our other limits (geographical, economical, health, opportunities etc.) are God God ordained! We can do all what we want but can’t change our relatives or the limited of resources!

But, with our limited resources and not so perfect parentage God has allowed us to live in His beautiful earth - for one purpose!

Our purpose is “that we may seek Him and find Him.” Because finding Him would make sense of all our problems. This is just as the story of desperate sailor in the magical waters.

Poets of old and people of understanding tell us that “in Him we live move and have our being.” Even though He is not far from any one of us!

May God give us grace that we may have to diligently seek for Him to grope Him!

Sin drove its prey to seek for a hiding!

Sin drove its prey to seek for a hiding!

Hide the shame with something - leaves could be a solution - a transient one!

new day needs a new leaf

because even as the leaf withered the shame remained !!

But there is a cure...for He is still around!!

With My Great Physician...

It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick: I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners Mark 2:17

Jesus who displayed impeccable holiness is now dinning with some of the worst of sinners! They are holding a party in the house of one of the worst of outlaws! They are having merry of a superior kind! Kind of party in which there is no prejudice, no artificial smiles or no grins of artificial serenity! This is unlike the up-tight religious leaders of the time! Some of the religious people imagined they could predict the behavior of God! But, it was His purpose that He should seek and save those who understood they are lost! Popularity of a sinner was the least of an issue for God! The Pharisees figured socially rejected sinners won't enjoy the presence of the Purest of pure! They believed the purest will ignore the impure!! But only God could perceive the worst of all will enjoy Him just as much! Look at those who are rejoicing in His presence now! Not for a moment did they think that He would be Fun to be around. But, He knew they would find Him as most entertaining to be around! He knew we would need Him the most when we are at the worst!! That thought made Him to walk down a muddied ancient town and stop by an outlaw's door! The great physician knocked at Levi's door until he responded and then told him "follow me!" Levi decided to follow the physician and take Him at His word! In the process he transformed into Matthew the gospel writer! He said ' I will follow you....Not just your teaching, not just your disciples, nor some of your principles...but will follow YOU!! Levi did not find religion but the God of the universe! Do you see that The great Physician is still around!! He told those who would like to follow Him, they will see Him even after His physical departure! He expected them to see Him now.... How do you see the unseen? Invisible atoms are seen by their effects, you see the wind by its effect...how else would you see the unseen!!? You will see the invisible God by His actions!!