Manifest Presence Series
“The Real Power of God’s Word Within”
(Inspired by Don Nori Sr.’s Manifest Presence: You Can Live Within The Veil)
February 11, 2015 CFBC Chester, IL Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker
A Psalm 119:130 (NASB) 130 The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
Psalm 119:105 (NASB) 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
1 His Word pours light into our lives, onto our paths, into our understanding.
a What we see when the light comes on is what we need to deal with in our lives.
aa When the Word of God is spoken, the lamp of the Lord turns on within our spirits and we know what the Lord expects of us.
bb This isn’t a bad thing, meant to scare us. . .
b Because we’re covered under the blood of Jesus, whatever shows up that is sinful, our soft hearts move quickly to deal with.
aa IL. Father telling his son to go clean up the basement (the son may not want to, but he goes).
bb The basement is dark so a light must be turned on to see what needs to be picked up, cleaned out, hauled off.
cc Only when the light is turned on is the messed revealed . . . now the cleaning can begin.
2 In the same way, when the lamp of the Lord is turned on, we know what we’re supposed to do.
James 1:22 (NASB) 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.
a God wants us to be people who are not just hearers, but doers of the Word.
aa If we want to minister in the fullness of God’s light, we must first let this light do its work in us.
bb He wants us to walk in truth, not just talk about it, not just sing/dance about it, but walk in truth.
cc He wants us to become what he Word is saying.
b The world is full of people who have their doctrine straight, who “know” what the Word is saying, requires. (That’s important)
aa There are experts, theologians, people who understand the things revealed by the Word of God.
bb The problem is the world is lacking people who are experiencing what they say they believe.
B When the world sees Christians who are living what they believe, the nations will stand up and take notice.
1 I don’t want to settle for preaching/teaching the truths of God, I want to live them out, experience them in my life.
a I want to touch God, have fellowship with Him.
b 1 John 1:1 (NASB) 1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life—
1 John 1:3 (NASB) 3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.
aa The things I preach are things I have experienced or I believe I will experience in the near future.
bb I want to be a man who believes and lives out the truths that God’s Word reveals.
cc I believe it is these kind of people, churches that will change the communities, cultures, regions, nations, world.
2 John 1:14 (NASB) 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
a That word was spoken eons ago, and He still wants His Word to become flesh in you and me. (That’s how the world will know that He is Lord.)
b Admittedly, sometimes when the light gets turned on . . . it’s not comfortable, too bright, hurts our eyes.
aa The light can make us angry (angry at God maybe.)
bb The light proves this one thing: God is having His way in our lives . . . He’s still speaking to us . . . He wants us to respond to the Light of His Word.
C Getting on the Cutting Edge
1 To be on the cutting edge of the Kingdom at this hour means being on the cutting edge of the Spirit and His work in our personal lives.
a When He reveals something to us that needs cleaned up/picked up/thrown away/ disposed of . . .
aa We don’t ignore it, walk around it, explain it away, blame others, or dwell it.
bb We now that we are growing when God puts His light on a particular area of our lives, we respond, deal with it out of obedience.
b The more you grow up, the less complaining you do (the less you’ll hassle the Holy Spirit about the light.)
aa Galatians 2:21 (KJV) 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
bb You can frustrate God’s grace by not doing according to the Word that is shining upon you.
2 Psalm 119:130 (NASB) 130 The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
and when that light shines, grown-up Christians are those who can respond to the light.
a We see the light and we respond, making our way for His Manifest Presence.
b This is important because it’s apart of the journey & our journey is based upon the purpose of God.
aa I believe His purpose for this generation is to be a church that knows restoration.
bb To be a church that is no longer water downed, sissified, childish . . . but mature.
cc Responsible enough to carry out His purposes.
c It’s one thing to get exciting fresh revelation, it’s another thing to apply that revelation to our lives in such a way it works.
aa One of the greatest errors in Christendom involves us knowing so much, and showing/applying so little in our personal lives.
bb The goal is for us to not to simply know the Word, but for the Word to establish His dwelling place within us as if we’re Solomon’s Temple.
D Having kids, it’s never been hard to see where they’ve been.
1 Lil’guys, their little fingerprints were everywhere, toys left where they may.
a Older, clothes, shoes, boots, backpacks. Evidence of them living there.
b Has God left his fingerprints on you?
aa It is obvious when God is at work in your life because he leaves His mark everywhere He goes. When others look at you do they see evidence that God has been there?
bb "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do".
Ephesians 2:10 (NASB) 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
2 It has never been Jesus intent to just pay us an occasional visit, but to stay/dwell/manifest.
a When He stays, our plans are permanently changed.
Micah 4:1-2 (NASB) 1 And it will come about in the last days That the mountain of the house of the LORD Will be established as the chief of the mountains. It will be raised above the hills, And the peoples will stream to it. 2 Many nations will come and say, "Come and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD And to the house of the God of Jacob, That He may teach us about His ways And that we may walk in His paths." For from Zion will go forth the law, Even the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
b The prophets saw Zion as the spot, but the Church is a type of Zion.
aa For out of Zion God will speak, move, teach, heal, save, protect.
bb It’s the place His glory dwells, good news flows from.
cc Free from fears, hassles, chains are broken, Presence dwells.
3 Jeremiah 31:29-30 (NASB) 29 "In those days they will not say again, 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children's teeth are set on edge.' 30 "But everyone will die for his own iniquity; each man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge.
a Our past failures/generational curses no longer rule over us.
aa The blood of Jesus that secured victory is realized at Zion.
bb You are set free and that is the good news proclaimed from Zion, the Church.
b It’s only good news if someone’s home . . . someone is dwelling there . . . leaving His fingerprints all over the place!!!
aa That someone is God, who has chosen Zion/Church to be His dwelling place.
bb When God is dwelling in Zion, His Word is going forth.
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My name is Mike Fogerson, and I pastor a Southern Baptist Church in Chester, Illinois. I have been a long-time user of Sermon Central and truly appreciate its content and contributors. Some of the best sermons I’ve ever preached have been reworked material from this website. As you use the material from my sermon bank, understand that it is work that has been done from not just myself, but from hundreds of other pastors as well. If you see part of your message, or a bunch of your message with my name on it and this upsets you, please email me and I will quickly respond and cite you as the main source. My intent is not to claim someone’s work as my own. I am disclaiming up front that I use the resources from Sermon Central and appreciate the tool. I simply want all those who use my work to know that some of these messages were inspired by the Holy Spirit working through other pastors. Because I do use the messages of other pastors I waive all claims of originality or origin of creativity for the messages posted under my messages. I pray God blesses your preaching ministry for the glory of His Kingdom.
Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
