Christ in You âŠ
Godâs Manifest Presence in the World Today
A Biblical-Theological Study of
Godâs Interaction with Man
Douglas Sullivan
ISBN 978-1-64028-048-9 (Paperback)
ISBN 978-1-64028-049-6 (Digital)
Copyright © 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.
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www.christianfaithpublishing.com
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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 gloryâfull of grace and truth.
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, Godâs revealed glory in them also transforms individuals in their communities. People find the evidence of Godâs manifest presence in relationships. God connects individually with humans and then impacts His people through personal interactions.
Godâs Manifest Presence
The New Testament Church grew through the exponential power of small groups that allowed Godâs manifest presence to transform them and help them reach out to other people. One such community of faith in post-modern cultureâspirit-filled believers ministering in the workplaces and marketplaces in which they liveâmust base their approaches on the eternal principles they find in Godâs 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 Godâs glory and presence within His community of faith. But to accomplish this, one must first recognize Godâs 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 âGodâs glory is his visible and active presence.â Walter Elwell also writes much about the manifest presence of God. He states, âThe Scriptures often speak of Godâs presence in human history. The most common Hebrew term for âpresenceâ is paniym⌀Ś ŚŚ, which implies a close and personal encounter with the Lord.â HarperCollins Bible Dictionary defines Godâs glory as the ââŠdivine attribute indicating significance, importance, or presenceâŠâ The glory of God is sometimes said to appear to people, indicating that Godâs worth and significance has become particularly manifest. In some instances, Godâs âgloryâ seems to serve as a virtual synonym for Godâs presence or being.â
The New Dictionary of Biblical Theology confirms this viewpoint as it continues:
This interchangableness or close association of Godâs glory and his presence/face, his goodness, his name and his radiance ⊠indicates that Godâs 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. Godâs glorious presence, whether for salvation or destruction, is prominent in the decisive moments and central institutions of Israelâs history ⊠the NT explicitly applies such passages to Jesus as the Christ.
Therefore, many scholars agree that Godâs manifest presence is interchangeable with His glory.
By exploring fundamental biblical texts about the nature of Godâs 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 (halak⌌Ś), face or presence (paniym⌀Ś ŚŚ), appear (raâah⌚ŚŚ), and glory (kabowd⌌ŚŚ) in relation to Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and the prophets during the exile of Israel.
Scholars can also trace the impact of Godâs manifest presence in the New Testament by looking at Jesusâ incarnation, Godâs 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 (doxaâÎŽÏΟα). Their study should also briefly discuss the Greek terms for walk (peripateoâÏΔÏÎčÏαÏÎÏ) and face or presence (prosoponâÏÏÏÏÏÏÎżÎœ) in relationship to a couple of important passages.
Finally, an effective study includes summarizing Godâs manifest presence incarnated through the ministry of presence in both Old Testam...