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Christ in You ā¦
Godās Manifest Presence in the World Today
A Biblical-Theological Study of
Godās Interaction with Man
Douglas Sullivan
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ISBN 978-1-64028-048-9 (Paperback)
ISBN 978-1-64028-049-6 (Digital)
Copyright Ā© 2017 by Douglas Sullivan
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.
Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
296 Chestnut Street
Meadville, PA 16335
www.christianfaithpublishing.com
Printed in the United States of America
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Acknowledgment
For my dear wife, Debbie: You have always been my best cheerleader, constant companion, and forever friend. Just as we promised each other some thirty-five years ago, I will love you always and forever for your never-ending love and faithful support. Thank you for your always practical words of wisdom, your desire to walk with me through times of uncertain change, and your continuous support of my God-given dreams. You are an incredible partner in the journey to which God has called us.
Finally, thanks to Jesus Christ, who set the example for me to become the Word of God incarnate to my culture and live out His gloryāfull of grace and truth.
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Introduction
This book examines the biblical-theological foundation for developing the necessary understanding of the true incarnational ministry impact of spirit-filled Christians in marketplace outreaches, and it provides hope for believers in the world today by showing that as they develop a true relationship with the Lord, Godās revealed glory in them also transforms individuals in their communities. People find the evidence of Godās manifest presence in relationships. God connects individually with humans and then impacts His people through personal interactions.
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Godās Manifest Presence
The New Testament Church grew through the exponential power of small groups that allowed Godās manifest presence to transform them and help them reach out to other people. One such community of faith in post-modern cultureāspirit-filled believers ministering in the workplaces and marketplaces in which they liveāmust base their approaches on the eternal principles they find in Godās Word. Then, with the manifest presence of the Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit working in them, they must carry out a practical theology of evangelism and discipleship to the people to whom God calls them to minister. The church must rediscover the biblical principles of Godās glory and presence within His community of faith. But to accomplish this, one must first recognize Godās glory and presence.
People who walk with Him and allow His glory to change their lives through a personal relationship with Him experience the manifest presence of God. Desmond Alexander and Brian Rosner assert that āGodās glory is his visible and active presence.ā Walter Elwell also writes much about the manifest presence of God. He states, āThe Scriptures often speak of Godās presence in human history. The most common Hebrew term for āpresenceā is paniymā×¤× ××, which implies a close and personal encounter with the Lord.ā HarperCollins Bible Dictionary defines Godās glory as the āā¦divine attribute indicating significance, importance, or presenceā¦ā The glory of God is sometimes said to appear to people, indicating that Godās worth and significance has become particularly manifest. In some instances, Godās āgloryā seems to serve as a virtual synonym for Godās presence or being.ā
The New Dictionary of Biblical Theology confirms this viewpoint as it continues:
This interchangableness or close association of Godās glory and his presence/face, his goodness, his name and his radiance ā¦ indicates that Godās glory is his manifest presence, which without further mediation, will destroy his creatures, but which admits the most intimate fellowship with him. In the NT Jesus Christ is the ultimate and permanent expression of divine glory. Godās glorious presence, whether for salvation or destruction, is prominent in the decisive moments and central institutions of Israelās history ā¦ the NT explicitly applies such passages to Jesus as the Christ.
Therefore, many scholars agree that Godās manifest presence is interchangeable with His glory.
By exploring fundamental biblical texts about the nature of Godās glory or presence, scholars encounter a biblical theology for the manifest presence of God in the Old Testament covenants. Specifically, they should examine the Hebrew terms for walk (halakā×××), face or presence (paniymā×¤× ××), appear (raāahā×Ø××), and glory (kabowdā××××) in relation to Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and the prophets during the exile of Israel.
Scholars can also trace the impact of Godās manifest presence in the New Testament by looking at Jesusā incarnation, Godās glory in the New Testament Church during these last days, and finally how His glory and divine presence will once again be forever present with humankind in the New Creation. This work explores the Greek term for glory (doxaāĪ“ĻĪ¾Ī±). Their study should also briefly discuss the Greek terms for walk (peripateoāĻĪµĻĪ¹ĻĪ±ĻĪĻ) and face or presence (prosoponāĻĻĻĻĻĻĪæĪ½) in relationship to a couple of important passages.
Finally, an effective study includes summarizing Godās manifest presence incarnated through the ministry of presence in both Old Testam...
