Living In the Presence of God
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Pursuing a passionate and Spirit-filled Christian life in the very Presence of God.
Text: Rom. 1:8
Date: 10/11/2026, the Combined service.
Series: "Romans: Unashamed of the Gospel" Part 11
Description:
If you are a Christian, you are living in the Presence of God. But how completely does that Presence define you and guide you in the way that you live? And how would it effect you if that Presence was taken away-- even temporarily? We have already seen Paul as a man deeply entrenched in the doctrines of the faith. We will now begin to see him as a man who not only puts these doctrines into practice, but does so with a deeply passionate and loving heart that is filled with the Spirit of God. After making our way through the opening verse of this section, we will ask ourselves if we, too-- both in our personal walk with Christ and our corporate life as His church-- are truly filled with the same zeal and passion for Christ as we see in Paul. And if not, how can God's Presence become real to us? Once again we will find a narrow road with ditches on either side as we pursue as individuals and as a church a Spirit-filled life that is neither stale and lifeless, nor manufactured or contrived. But rather to discover that the secret to a Spirit-filled, passionate life with Christ-- is to live that life fully in the Presence of God!
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I. Introduction, Psa. 51:11, 139:7; 1Cor. 11:1; Ex. 3:5; Rev. 2:5.
II. Exposition of the text, Rom. 1:8.
A. Context, Rom 1:7b.
B. Paul's example of life in the Presence.
1. Insight into Paul's relationship with God, vs. 8a.
a. A relationship at the center of life, Rom. 1:10b-11a; Phil. 1:21.
b. Telltale signs of Paul's passion.
i. Noticing Paul's "anacoluthon", 1Cor. 11:18, 12:28; Rom. 3:2.
ii. Revealing a burning passion, 2Pet. 3:15-16.
iii. A pressing issue for Reformed churches.
c. Paul's relationship with God.
i. True thankfulness, Phil. 4:11.
ii. A personal God.
1) The transcendence and immanence of God, Rom. 11:33-36; 1Cor. 1:4; Phil. 1:3, 4:9; Philem. 4.
2) What Paul is not saying, 1Tim. 6:16.
d. A relationship made possible through Jesus Christ.
i. An end to separation.
ii. The failure of legalism, Phil. 3:4-9; John 14:6.
iii. Finding the balance.
e. Thankful for the Romans.
2. Insight into the faith of the Romans.
a. The meaning of "faith".
i. Not an extraordinary faith, Matt. 17:20; 1Cor. 12:8-9.
ii. A general, Christian faith, Rom. 1:16-17.
b. The "buzz" about the church at Rome.
i. The meaning of "proclaimed".
ii. The meaning of "world", John 3:16.
iii. Reasons for the "buzz".
1) Because the Holy Spirit was at work.
2) Because Rome was famously wicked.
3) Because Christians were talking.
III. Application
A. A challenging application.
B. How to live in the Presence of God.
1. Realize that God is near, Zeph. 3:17; Isa. 12:6.
2. Hunger and thirst for His Presence, Psa. 42:1, 107:8-9; Matt. 5:6.
3. Draw near to God, James 4:8; Psa. 139:2-4, 44:21.
a. Spend quality time in His Word.
b. Spend quality time in prayer.
c. Spend time in quality worship.
4. Live a life God is pleased to occupy, 1Cor. 6:19-20.
IV. Conclusion
