Today's Topic: Clearly Seeing God's Presence!

Last Sunday, we talked about becoming friends with the living God!

Today, let us ask: if we become friends with the living God, will people know it? Yes, they will know! Such people bear the mark of God.

God's presence – can it be seen? - Some can be seen, and whether there are those that cannot be seen, we do not know! We know that God was with Abraham, with Isaac, and people could see it! We also know that God was with Paul, and it was clearly visible! Jesus Christ, needless to say, they saw Him but did not know He was God, how foolish! We do not need to look at those unseen, because I long to be the one whose presence of God can be seen.

God likes to use earthly things. God likes to be with us while we are still alive, God likes to bless us while we are still alive! God likes to work with us while we are still alive!

How wonderful is God's presence! In fact, our God loves to bless us financially.

There was a sister who had a very difficult life.

Today, I will share with you – becoming friends with the living God!

Scripture: Genesis 26:26-29

Gen 26:26 Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his forces. Gen 26:27 Isaac asked them, “Why have you come to me, since you were hostile to me and sent me away?” Gen 26:28 They answered, “We saw clearly that the Lord was with you; so we said, ‘There ought to be a treaty between us’—between us and you. Let us make a treaty with you Gen 26:29 that you will do us no harm, just as we did not harm you but always treated you well and sent you away peacefully. You are now the blessed of the Lord.”

Background of this passage – Isaac and Abimelech

Abimelech the king of the Philistines – the local strongman

Isaac – a nomadic group residing there

Can God's presence truly be seen?

5) What did King Abimelech see?

He saw clearly that God was with Isaac!

There was a famine in the land – Isaac had a hundredfold harvest

God greatly blessed Isaac financially

He saw Isaac's servants digging wells (water is key)

People who fail at critical moments – it's not that they are incapable

People who perform exceptionally at critical moments – it's not that they are capable

People began to realise – blessed people are indeed blessed

God's presence is key to our living!

King Abimelech's reaction – just one step away from knowing God!

Having seen it, he came to make a covenant with Isaac

Why not seek Isaac's God?

Our God is with those who seek Him!

Some say it was the Philistine king, the Philistine people – but it was not!

The story of Rahab in Jericho – very inspiring! The story of Ruth the Moabite woman is also very inspiring!

Our God wants to be with all who seek Him!

God being with you – that is the most wonderful thing in a person's life!

The key is to thirst, seek, explore – he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, the door will be opened!

When you meet God, wow, finally found Him, how exciting! In fact, that is nothing rare, God has been waiting for you there for a long time!

YX's testimony – that is the power of the spiritual realm! Our God is a God of great power and full of love!

Learn a lesson from King Abimelech – when you see God with someone, seek Him!

7) Why was God with Isaac?

Established the church to this day, we see that God is also clearly with us. It all started with longing.

My English name is Samuel. Later I read the Bible, and it said that God did not let any of Samuel's words fall to the ground. I was deeply shaken! I want that too! Who wouldn't want that! If God makes our words come true, what a grace that would be!

There was a sister who had been working very hard but earning very little – $2100 a month. She came to me and asked, Pastor, how much should I ask for my next job? - $3500! - Later, she really found a job paying $3500!

Then there was another sister, who had also been working very hard but earning very little – $2300 a month. She came to me and asked, Pastor, how much should I ask for my next job? - $3500! - Later, she really found a job paying $3500!

And there was a brother, with a salary of $2000, whose company was closing down, and he was anxious about losing his job! He asked me, what salary should I ask for my next job? $3500! Later, he really found it.

I know myself that it is not their ability that is great, but the grace of God. Never forget the grace of God!

I also know that it is not my ability that is great, and do not regard me as a master. The key is that I am very thirsty for the presence of God! Wherever I go, I know that my life is given to me by God.

There was a sister who went from being a poor student to a top student, from being terrible at learning to being a very good student. She had never experienced the feeling of being a top student before. Now that she feels it, she feels great. Yesterday, I told her that it was God who accomplished it. Every time she comes to pray with everyone, I see her and tell her that she is very smart, and indeed, she is getting smarter and smarter! She is happy, but I am even happier. She is happy because of the turnaround in her studies, and I am happy because God is with me!

Brothers and sisters, start thirsting! Thirsting is the beginning.

The initial thirst of our church was to thirst to be like the Lord Jesus! A few years ago, I thirsted for our service to be like Jesus, and as a result, God accomplished it! Frankly, today we are really more like Him than we were a few years ago. Do not challenge me on those aspects where we are not like Him. With such progress in recent years, if we continue to move forward, we will surely become more like Jesus Christ.

Now we must thirst for the character of Jesus Christ! In a few years, we will be more like Him!

We are a church that practices the Bible! We do what the Bible says! - Why do I talk about ourselves? Because we act according to the practices of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and we clearly see the presence of God!

Why Isaac had the presence of God is worth our reflection. After reflecting, we must implement it!

Isaac's Character 1 - Inheriting Abraham's Faith

Completely dedicated himself.

How was Isaac born? He was born out of Abraham's faith after waiting for more than 20 years! That was the result of faith training!

From the time Isaac was small, Abraham often taught him - he was born of faith!

Isaac was a very obedient child, and he believed what he heard!

Later, he completely dedicated himself and also knew that he had a mission. God would definitely bring him back to life.

What kind of father and son are these? They are both people of faith! Not people of temperament! People of temperament do not have the presence of God, but people of faith have the presence of God!

Isaac's Character 2 - Inheriting Abraham's Concept of Living

The concept of sojourning.

Isaac - clear about the purpose of his life

Abraham - trained Isaac from a young age, and Sarah too. What living is all about

How can you know God if you do not understand what living is all about!

But just sojourning on earth -

Why you live is why you lay down your life!

The most fundamental question people have is why they live.

Isaac's Character 3 - Inheriting Abraham's Character

Do not use carnal abilities - never fighting and killing

When people stole his well, he dug another one

Highly valued relationships with people - making peace

Summary - Building the Character that God Wants

Hearing God's revelation - a journey of faith - the road to the mountain

Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Php 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Php 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. Php 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Php 3:19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) Php 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: