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God Is TangibleActs 17:24-28Intro“If God really exists, why does he seem so hidden? Why doesn't he make himself more obvious to us?” That’s what some people have asked me at one time or another through the years of pastoral ministry. People, especially non-believers and skeptics often want tangible proof of God’s existence.Science is limitedAtheists and skeptics often ask for evidence to prove the existence of God.?They want tangible, testable evidence that can be verified by the?scientific method.? Unfortunately for the atheist such a request is the wrong approach.? Instead, they should look for evidence consistent with a Transcendent God. What do I mean by this? Well, first the scientific method consists of observation, experimentation, hypothesis, and theory.? It is based on the observations of the physical universe and its properties.Secondly, the scientific method does not consider transcendence - meaning that which exists independent of the universe. Therefore it can't detect what is outside of the material realm since it is based on observing things inside the natural physical realm.A third reason is that the Judeo-Christian worldview proclaims a?transcendent?God who independently exists outside of the material universe.?This means that God is not dependent upon the material universe for his existence.God is TranscendentTherefore for an atheist who requires evidence inside their materialistic worldview for the non-material transcendent God won't work. He or she is asking for the material evidence of the non-material transcendent God. It is like asking to have a person's love placed into a test tube.You see, God is transcendent. It means that He exists above and independent of time and space and the universe. God is the only truly transcendent Being. He created all things on the earth, beneath the earth and in the heavens above, yet He exists above and independent from them. All things are upheld by His mighty power yet He is upheld by Himself alone. The whole universe exists because of Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16-17 states this, "For in him all things were created:?things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;?all things have been created through him and for him.?17?He is before all things,?and in him all things hold together."God is far above the universe yet he is near; he is majestic yet approachable; he is to be greatly feared, yet easily to be loved. That is God. He is both transcendent and at the same time immanent. When the Apostle Paul was in Athens he spoke to the Athenian philosophers about God’s transcendence and immanence. We read in Acts 17:24-28, “The God who made the world and everything in it?is the Lord of heaven and earth?and does not live in temples built by human hands.?25?And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.?26?From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.?27?God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.28?‘For in him we live and move and have our being."God is ImmanentImmanent simply means that God is near. God is wholly present with and active in the created order. God is near us, present with us, active on earth and involved in our world. He is present and active in nature, in history, and in peoples' lives. He acts in the universe and in this world and dwells with his people.The incarnation is the supreme example of this because Christ became one of us. He took upon Himself human likeness, and lived, worked and died among us. This was no God from afar, aloof, unconcerned about our plight. He actually became what we are.His work on the cross, along with his resurrection, shows how God took great lengths to restore our relationship to Himself, to allow us to again enjoy His immanence. Our sin magnified His transcendence, but our repentance and faith enables a new and deeper immanence and tangibility of God.His immanent nature works to draw Him near to His creation and to sustain the universe. God’s love for His creation is so great that we see His immanence overshadowing His transcendence. This becomes clear in His incarnate Son, Jesus Christ, as He breaks through the barrier of sin and separation to draw all humanity back into a close, personal relationship. Through Christ God shows all humanity how much He loves us. “For so loved the world He gave us His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not die but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).We see God not only choosing to draw near to His creation but to personally come into the hearts and minds of His people through the indwelling power of His Spirit. I would like to share with you a few examples of how God's immanence has been manifest in the lives of individuals. God is truly tangible – you can truly experience Him.Charles FinneyCharles Finney, a 29-year-old lawyer with little knowledge of the Christian faith - decided he needed to read the Bible since much of the law was based on it. The more he read, the more convicted he was over his sin. One day he determined to get right with God, so he went to his house, where God met him in a powerful way.He writes: "There was no fire, and no light, in the room; nevertheless it appeared to me as if it were perfectly lit. As I went in and shut the door after me, it seemed as if I met the Lord Jesus Christ face to face. It did not occur to me then, nor did it for some time afterward, that it was wholly a mental state. On the contrary it seemed to me that I saw him as I would see any other man.He said nothing, but looked at me in such a manner as to break me right down at his feet. . . . I fell down at his feet and poured out my soul to him. I wept aloud like a child, and made such confessions as I could with my choked utterance. It seemed to me that I bathed his feet with my tears; and yet I had no distinct impression that I touched him, that I recollect. . . .As I turned and was about to take a seat by the fire, I received a mighty baptism of the Holy Ghost. Without any expectation of it, without ever having the thought in my mind that there was any such thing for me, without any recollection that I had ever heard the thing mentioned by any person in the world, the Holy Spirit descended upon me in a manner that seemed to go through me, body and soul. I could feel the impression, like a wave of electricity, going through and through me. Indeed it seemed to come in waves and waves of liquid love; for I could not express it in any other way. It seemed like the very breath of God. I can recollect distinctly that it seemed to fan me, like immense wings.No words can express the wonderful love that was shed abroad in my heart. I wept aloud with joy and love; and I do not know but I should say, I literally bellowed out the unutterable gushings of my heart. These waves came over me, and over me, and over me, one after the other, until I recollect I cried out, “I shall die if these waves continue to pass over me.” I said, “Lord, I cannot bear any more;” yet I had no fear of death."James IrwinJames Irwin was an astronaut with the Apollo 15 lunar landing in 1971. On the moon he had a tangible encounter with God. It began when he encountered a problem and he said, “God I need your help right now.” Suddenly Irwin experienced the presence of Jesus Christ in a remarkable way, unlike anything he ever felt on earth. The Lord showed him the solution to the problem. His wife Mary said, “He was so overwhelmed at seeing and feeling God’s presence so close. At one point he turned around and looked over his shoulder as if He was standing there.”?This unusual encounter with Jesus – some 238,000 miles from earth, changed Irwin’s life forever.It is oft-repeated that several of the Apollo astronauts "found God" after their experiences on the moon - astronauts like Charles Duke and Buzz Aldrin.Experiencing the tangibility of God My personal experiences: (for details listen to the audio message)My testimony (1971) ….My mother’s miraculous healing (1972)…Little 4 year-old girl who was healed (1973)…The providence & guidance of God upon my life:Call to be a pastor…Experiencing the love of God in the mall...God is tangible, real and you can experience His presence.BUT you need to seek Him with all your heart.“Then you will call?on me and come and pray?to me, and I will listen?to you.?13?You will seek?me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.?14?I will be found by you,” declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 29:12-14). ................
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