Church Order: Preaching and Pastoral Ministry

God Manifest Among Us

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Church Government

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2021-03-08

Synopsis: Pastor John Weaver explores the biblical theme of God's manifest presence among His people, past, present, and future. He argues that God's presence was evident in the Old Testament tabernacle and temple, is fully revealed in the incarnation of Jesus Christ, indwells believers through the Holy Spirit, and is experienced in the church through the preaching and teaching of God's Word. The sermon calls for a humble, obedient heart to perceive and receive this presence.

[John Weaver] your Bibles into Psalm 68, Psalm 68, and we're going to be looking at verses 18 and 19. Psalm 68, note if you would please verse 18 and 19.

[John Weaver] The title of the message is God Manifest Among Us. God Manifest Among Us. So in Psalm 68 and verse 18, the word of God says this. Thou hast ascended on high. Thou hast led captivity captive. Thou has received gifts for men. Yea, for the rebellious also, the Lord, thy God might dwell among them. Blessed be the Lord who daily loaded us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.

[John Weaver] So here's a good question. Would you like to be in the presence of God on this earth? Would you desire to see, to know, and sense His manifest presence as the Israelites did in the Old Testament when they were being led through the wilderness by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by the night? Would you also like to observe the manifest presence of God as did the people when the temple was dedicated Or in 2nd Chronicles chapter 5 and verse 14, the Bible says, so that the priest could not minister by reason of the cloud for the glory of the Lord had filled the house. In other words, the priest had to get out of the temple because the glory of the Lord was so powerful. His presence was so manifest. They could not stay in the temple.

[John Weaver] It is a ground for wonder and amazement that God should even dwell with men, especially when we contemplate upon His holiness, His righteousness, His immensity, His independence, His sovereignty, and also when we consider the absolute sinfulness of man. I'm going to make a statement. I'm going to show you the scripture. It is indeed humbling for God to even observe the things on this earth. I want you to hold Psalm 68, but turn in your Bibles to Psalm 113. Psalm 113. This is a wonderful Psalm, very beautifully expressed. I want to begin reading with verse five and read through verse nine. I want you to look what the Bible says. Psalm 113 in verse five, who is like unto the Lord, our God, who dwelleth on high, who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth.

[John Weaver] He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the needy out of the dunghill, that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord. It's also an astounding condescension of God for God to even behold the things on this earth. And not only does he behold the things on this earth, but the Bible tells us he raises up the poor out of the dust. He lifts up the needy out of the dunghill. He then makes the barren woman to keep house and to be a joyful mother of children. Interestingly, in the Old Testament, those who were poor And those who were childless were despised. That is why I think it was Rebecca who said to Isaac, give me children or I die. And the truth of the matter is God, in his great condescending humility to us, not only observes us and observes the things on the earth, but he helps us as well.

[John Weaver] May I remind you that our low estate does not deter his humility His grace or His mercy. It was Mary in Luke chapter 1 verses 46 through 49 when she said this, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. For he hath regarded the lowest state of his handmaid. For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done great things to me. Holy is his name.

[John Weaver] But note what she confessed. She confessed that he, that is God, hath regarded the low estate of his handmaid. So here then I think is a very clear application for each one of us. Many individuals on this earth, and I've met some of them, Do indeed think that they are high and mighty in and of themselves. They're very proud. They're very lifted up. They're very arrogant. They are not high and mighty. They just simply think that they are high and mighty.

[John Weaver] And consequently, they totally ignore others, especially those who are in need, those who are poor, those who are desperate. They have absolutely no compassion and they're very uncaring. May I point out the fact that that is very unlike God. That is very unlike our heavenly father. And when you run into a Christian who supposedly will be a Christian and he's very proud, very arrogant, very high, very heady, very high minded, and very thoughtful of himself, but very unthoughtful toward others. He's not only unlike our heavenly father, but he absolutely knows nothing about biblical humility and biblical submission.

[John Weaver] As I was reading through Psalm 68, it was verse 18 that caught my attention. When the Bible says very clearly there that when he ascended upon high, he led captivity captive and he gave gifts on the men. And the reason being in verse 18 was so that the Lord thy God might dwell among them.

[John Weaver] Now I'm going to come back to this verse I'm not necessarily going to expound it right now, but I think before I finish, you're going to see the exposition of this verse. Now, I want to point out that this is a biblical concept. That is God being manifest among his people. It's not only a biblical concept, but it is also a concept that should be much desired and coveted after.

[John Weaver] Now, to lay out the foundation, let me ask you, to think with me concerning the Old Testament, especially the tabernacle and the temple. Do you realize the purpose for the tabernacle and the purpose for the temple was for the manifest presence of God that He might dwell among His people? In other words, they knew that God was there. They saw the glory cloud, so to speak, His manifest present was there in the tabernacle and in the temple, and it was there. They communed with God.

[John Weaver] Now, let me show you, I want you to turn in your Bibles. First of all, to the book of Exodus chapter 25, and look, if you would please at verse eight, and then we'll go to Exodus 29. But look in Exodus chapter 25 and verse 8. I'm talking about the purpose of the tabernacle. Look at it. He said, and let them make me a sanctuary, that would be the tabernacle, that I may dwell among them. So the purpose of that tabernacle was so that God would dwell among his people. Now look in Exodus 29, beginning there with verse 44, and let's read through verse 46.

[John Weaver] Again, he makes this very plain. And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons to minister me in the priest's office. And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord, their God that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the Lord, their God. So I want you to note very carefully And precisely that that tabernacle and later on the temple was for the specific purpose that God might dwell among his people. Now, we may not have the physical tabernacle today the way they did in the Old Testament. Neither do we have the physical temple the way they did in the Old Testament. But we still have the manifest presence of God among us. I want you to look in your Bibles, first of all, to 2 Corinthians 6. 2 Corinthians 6, and look, if you would please, at verse 16.

[John Weaver] 2 Corinthians 6, and look at verse 16. And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God. As God has said, I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people. Wherefore coming out from among them and be separate, saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you unto myself. But notice it in verse 16. I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God and they shall be my people. Then if you will look in the book of Revelation chapter 7 and verse 15, Revelation 7 and verse 15. Again, he says this Revelation 7 and verse 15.

[John Weaver] Therefore, are they before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple. And he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. Now, let me just point out that the apex, the height of our salvation is when we dwell with God and he dwells with us. If you would look since you're in the book of Revelation to Revelation chapter 21 and verse three, Revelation 21 and verse three, look what the Bible says again. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, behold, the tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them. And they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God. Note, he will dwell with them and God himself shall be with them.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to answer this question, first of all, in your mind. I want you to think in the Old Testament. On all the types, emblems, pictures, There was the manifest presence of God in the tabernacle and in the temple. In eternity, in the future, God says, I will dwell with them. And they will be my people and I'll be their God. So in the past, you had the manifest presence of God. In the future, you have the manifest presence of God. So my question is, where is the manifest presence of God in the present? you had the presence of God in the past and you have the presence of God in the future, then obviously you should have the presence of God here and now. And may I point out the fact that the manifest presence of God is here.

[John Weaver] We are simply unobservant or we are totally ignorant of its reality. I want today to point out three historical instances of the manifest presence of God. The very first one should be obvious, and that is the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is God. Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. And the incarnation is nothing less than God becoming man. Now, the physical tabernacle in the Old Testament And the physical temple in the Old Testament were nothing more than an emblem or a type of the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] How can I say that? Well, I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 10. And let's begin reading there with verse 5. Hebrews chapter 10 verse five. Remember, I told you now that the old Testament tabernacle is nothing more than an emblem and symbol and type and picture of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. So in Hebrews chapter 10, beginning there with the verse five, wherefore, when he cometh into the world, he sent.

[John Weaver] Sacrificing offering that what it's not, but a body that has prepared for me. In other words, no longer the tabernacle, no longer the temple for sacrifice and offering were offered. No, no, that's gone. That's over. What is replacing that tabernacle and that temple? A body has self-prepared for me. in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin, thou hast had no pleasure." That's in the tabernacle in the temple. That's past tense.

[John Weaver] Then said I, lo, I come in the volume of the book that is written to me to do thy will, O God. Above, when he said sacrifice and offering and burnt offering and offering for sin, thou wouldest not, neither as pleasure therein which are offered by the law. That would be the ceremonial law in the tabernacle in the temple. Then said he, lo, I come to do thy will. Oh God, he take it away. The first that is all that ceremonial law, the tabernacle and the temple that he may establish the second. And then he goes on to say by the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. In other words, the tabernacle and the temple are over and done with because there's no more sacrifice for sin. Jesus Christ is indeed the perfect sacrifice. So the sacrifices then were nullified because they were no longer needed since Jesus Christ was and is the perfect sacrifice. And therefore the tabernacle and the temple are no longer needed because the sacrificial system is over and done with.

[John Weaver] So the body of our Lord was the tabernacle, was the temple in the sense that he is the full and final sacrifice. So skip down to verse 11, Hebrews 10 verse 11. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which you never take away sins. But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God, from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he had perfected forever them that are sanctified. So clearly then, That tabernacle, that temple just simply foreshadowed the body of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was going to take care of sin permanently through the sacrifice of himself. Now, the declaration of the fact that Jesus Christ is God is found over and over in the Bible. Now, that declaration, just simply, you can find it in John 1, 1 through 3.

[John Weaver] For instance, let me give it to you. In John 1 verse 1, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. Notice now, in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by Him.

[John Weaver] Jesus Christ is the Creator. Jesus Christ is God. When you get down to verse 14, the Bible says this, And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father. Now note if you would, the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. The Word was incarnated and dwelt among us. Now let me tell you the important thing about verse 14. And that is when the Bible said, and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. The Word dwelt. It's from the Greek word skenao. And skenao literally refers to tabernacle, to live in a tabernacle, to fix one's tabernacle. So literally what John 1.14 says is this, and the word was made flesh and tabernacled among us. That is, his body was his tabernacle. And it was in that tabernacle that he offered the full and final sacrifice for sin. So now you're going to ask the question, why was Jesus Christ made flesh?

[John Weaver] Well, if you'll look in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 2, beginning there with verse 14. Hebrews 2 and verse 14. Look what the Bible says. For as much then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, that's us. We had a fleshly body. He also himself likewise took part of the same, that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil, and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject of bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels, But he took on him the seed of Abraham, where for all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God and to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. So our Lord then tabernacled in the flesh because we're in the flesh.

[John Weaver] And therefore he became the perfect sacrifice for sin. Moreover, may I remind you as well, that one of the clearest and most concise statements concerning the incarnation of Jesus Christ is found in first Timothy chapter three and verse 16. In that passage, the Bible says this, And without controversy, there's no argument about this. Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached on unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up into glory. So he said, without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh. So Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh. You remember that passage in John 14, where our Lord was telling his disciples that he was going to leave them.

[John Weaver] And Thomas, no it was not Thomas, it was Philip. Philip said to our Lord, show us the Father and it suffices us. And in John chapter 14, verses eight and nine, Jesus answered Philip and he said this, have I been so long with you? And yet thou hast not known me, Philip. He that had seen me, hath seen the father. And sayest thou to me, show us the father. Why? He said, I am the Father.

[John Weaver] I am God in the flesh. That's why he said in John 10, 30, I and my Father are one. So Jesus Christ is God. I suppose one of the greatest passages Concerning the incarnation is found in Philippians chapter two of chapter. Yes. Chapter two verses five through eight, where the Bible says, let this mind being you, which also was in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. but made himself of no reputation, and took upon himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man, and being found in the fashion of a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death on the cross.

[John Weaver] So our Lord then tabernacled among us, He lived in that fleshly body in order that he might put an end to the ceremonial and sacrificial system, because he himself is indeed the perfect sacrifice. And in doing so, he reconciled us unto God the Father. Now, Consequently, since he is perfect God and perfect man, he is now also the perfect mediator. That's why in first Timothy chapter two in verse five, the Bible says this, for there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. So we have the manifest presence of God in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Secondly, God manifest himself in us by the abiding of the Holy Spirit in our lives. As Christians, God manifest himself in us by the abiding of the Holy Spirit. I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of John chapter 14, John 14. And we're going to begin reading at verse 18. And I want you to note these words. And please remember, we're talking about the manifest presence of God.

[John Weaver] In John chapter 14, beginning there with verse 18, our Lord says to his disciples, I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more. But you see me, because I live, you shall also live. At that day you shall know that I am in the Father, and you in me, watch, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me. And he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

[John Weaver] Judas saith unto him, Not Iscariot. Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us and not unto the world? Jesus entered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words, and my father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not, keepeth not my sayings. But the word which you hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

[John Weaver] Now, note if you would back in verse 21. He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me. And he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him. Verse 23, Jesus entered and said to him, if a man loved me, he would keep my words and my father will love him. And we will come unto him and make our abode with him. Now notice verse 25. These things have I spoken to you, being yet present with you, but the comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the father will send in my name. He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you.

[John Weaver] Now, the interesting thing is the word for comforter there is the word paracletos. He's the divine paraclete. He's the one that's called alongside up to help. So the truth of the matter is this then. The promise manifestation of Christ in us is by the abiding of the Holy Spirit, which proceeds from the Father and the Son. And the very fact that the Holy Spirit of God resides in us is indeed the manifest presence of God in us.

[John Weaver] Now, please take note of this. Two things. Number one, the Holy Spirit is a witness with us. And number two, the Holy Spirit is a witness to us. First of all, Romans 8, if you'll look there, turn in your Bible, so Romans chapter 8, and look if you would please at verse 16. Romans 8, And verse 16, note what the scripture says. The spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. The spirit himself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. So he is a, he is a witness with us. So you ask how in the world does the Holy spirit bear witness with my spirit that I'm a child of God?

[John Weaver] Well, may I remind you what our Lord just said in John chapter 14. He said, if you love me, you'll keep my commandments. And then he said that the Holy spirit would not speak. of himself but he would speak of Jesus Christ and everything that is about Christ he would teach us and bring us to our remembrance. So it is the Holy Spirit then who provokes us to holiness and obedience, who leads us and guides us to obedience, who gives us grace and the ability to obey. And as we do obey, then he is witnessing with our spirit that yes, we are indeed the children of God.

[John Weaver] When you stop and think about this, By nature, man does not like to be obedient. By nature, man does not desire holiness. So anytime that we desire holiness and obedience and godliness, it is not from us, it is from the Holy Spirit of God. And He is witnessing with our spirit that yes, we are the children of God. Then if you'll look in your Bibles very quickly to Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 15. Hebrews 10 verse 15, look at it clearly there. The Bible says, wherefore the Holy Ghost is also a witness to us.

[John Weaver] For after that, he has said before, this is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, said the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts and in their minds. Will I write them? So the Holy Spirit is not just simply a witness with us, He is also a witness to us as well. Now, these words, these truths should lead us to understand that the Holy Spirit indwells our bodies, and therefore our bodies are now the temple of the Holy Spirit.

[John Weaver] So let me show you. Turn in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 6. And look, if you would please, at verses 19 and 20. 1 Corinthians chapter 6, verses 19 and 20. Watch. He says, What? Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which you have of God, and you're not your own? For you're bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are his. Now let's go back. Look at verse 19. What do you not know? Don't you know this, that your body is the temple of the Holy ghost.

[John Weaver] And I think the Greek word is NAOS. It is a holy place. It is the most holy place. Your body is the temple. It is a holy of holies, which is in you, which you have of God, and you're not your own, for you're bought with a price. Therefore, you're to glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are His.

[John Weaver] Now, if you comprehend this fact, if you understand that your body is a temple of the Holy Ghost, then you will then see the awfulness and the wickedness of fornication, adultery, and any and everything that will defile your body. So look back, if you would please, beginning with verse 15 in 1 Corinthians chapter 6. He says, know you not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Well, remember Christ is our head, we're his body. So we're joined together. He said, shall I then take the members of Christ and make them the members of a harlot? God forbid. What? Know you not that he which is joined to a harlot is one body? For two said he shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body. But he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? Know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?

[John Weaver] So it is the Holy Spirit then who guides us and directs us and leans us into obedience and holiness and sanctification. And in this it is indeed the manifestation of God in our lives. He speaks the truth of Jesus Christ He leads us into conformity to his word and he intercedes for us and he prompts us to prayer and to faith so we have to understand that the Holy Spirit of God abides in us and That is a manifestation of God for our Lord said we will come unto you and we will manifest ourselves unto you and So we can see the manifest presence of God in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. We can see the manifest presence of God in our bodies. And thirdly, listen carefully. We can see the manifestation of God's presence in his church.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Matthew, chapter 18. I'm going to read a verse which every one of you can quote. In fact, I'm sure that you have quoted it in times past quite frequently. So you have Matthew chapter 18 in verse 20. Our Lord says, for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them. We often quote this passage when our numbers are small and we seek to encourage ourselves.

[John Weaver] Now, it is true that a crowd is not necessary to pray or to proclaim the truth or to preach or to worship. And it is equally true that where two or three are gathered together in his name, there he is in the midst of them. However, in the context, this promise for where two or three are gathered together in my name and there I am in the midst of them, It's not only given to the church, but it is given in the context of church discipline.

[John Weaver] So if you'll go back to Matthew 18 in verse 15, look at it. Moreover, if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother. So let's suppose that Joshua has done something against me. He sinned against me in some way. And it's upset me. What am I to do? Am I to go over to Gary and say, Gary, let me tell you what Joshua just did to me. No. Am I to go to Francis and say, Francis, let me tell you what that boy did. No. Scripture said, if he upsets me, if he's done something against me, if he sins against me, I am to go to him privately. Tell him the fault between me and him alone.

[John Weaver] If he hears me, fine, everything's worked out. No problem. Well, what if he doesn't hear me? What if he's recalcitrant? What if he's rebellious? What if he's stubborn and arty? Is he? I looked at his wife. I knew I was going to get an answer from there. But he won't listen. What do I do next? Well, look at it, if you would, please. In verse 16. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more that in the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word may be established. So I may go to him privately three or four times and it doesn't work out.

[John Weaver] Then I can come back and say, all right, James. All right, Francis, you go with me. We need to confront Joshua. And look, the Bible says, I'm to take two or three witnesses that every word should be established. Let's suppose he's still recalcitrant. Let's suppose he's still stubborn. What happens then? He won't hear me. He won't hear us. Verse 17. If he shall neglect to hear them, tell it to the church. Now it becomes a matter of church discipline. If he will not hear the church, Let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. Excommunicate him. He's out. He will not listen to the word of God. Now look in verse 18.

[John Weaver] Verily I say unto you, whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. And whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. That is not the keys of the kingdom given to the Pope. I can assure you. Because now he's talking about church discipline. He said in verse 19, again, I say to you, that if any two of you shall agree on earth is touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done of them for them of my father, which is in heaven. For, here it is, for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them. So it regards church discipline. It regards binding and loosing.

[John Weaver] It does regard praying, that is for sure. But note, if you would, This promise, there I am in the midst of them, is given in the context of the church. You're there for obedience to God, to obedience to the Word of God, doing that which He commanded in the way that He commanded.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to go back in your Bibles to Psalm 68, and look, if you would please, one more time at verse 18. Psalm 68, verse 18. The scripture says thou has ascended on high. Thou has led captivity captive. Thou has received gifts for men. Yea, for the rebellious also that the Lord thy God might dwell among them. Now here's my question. Does that scripture ring a bell in your minds? Does Psalm 68 and verse 18 remind you of any other passage in the Bible, and especially in the New Testament?

[John Weaver] Well, if it doesn't, let me help you. Go ahead and turn, hold Psalm 68, but go ahead and turn to Ephesians, Ephesians chapter four. Turn there if you would, and we will begin reading there at verse eight. Look at Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 8. Watch carefully. Ephesians 4 verse 8. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Now that he ascended, what is it? But that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth, that is, he was buried, He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens.

[John Weaver] Then he might fill all things that he sees seated at the right hand of God. Now watch. And he gave some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastor teachers. It's actually one group. Why? For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come into the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

[John Weaver] that we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive. But speaking the truth in love may grow up in him in all things which is the head, even Christ. From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies According to the effectual working in the measure of every part making increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love now I want you to note if you would please his ascension and Leaning captivity was captive was necessary in order to give gifts unto men.

[John Weaver] Now, he specifically said that he gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists and some pastor teachers. Well, let me answer it like this. There are no apostles today like there were in the New Testament. There are no apostles today like the original 12. In fact, it cannot be because to be an original apostle, you had to be there when Christ was alive and to observe his death and or his resurrection.

[John Weaver] Now, Paul was specially chosen, I think, but I'm just saying that was the qualifications laid out in Acts chapter two. Now, there were other apostles in the New Testament other than the twelve. In fact, James is called an apostle, although he was not necessarily listed in the original 12. But the word apostle is from the Greek word apostolos, which just simply means a sent one. So if this church sent Gary to a conference to represent us and to represent our views, he would be an apostle from this church, only from the fact that the word means a sent one. We sent him. That's all that means. So, yeah, we might have an apostle in that sense of the word, but we don't have an apostle in the New Testament sense of the word. What about a prophet? No, we don't have prophets today either. What do you say? I know people who call themselves prophets. Well, I could call myself the Empire State Building, but that doesn't mean I'm an Empire State Building either. You see, the Hebrew word for prophet is the word Nabib.

[John Weaver] A prophet did two things. Number one, he foretold. And number two, he told forth.

[John Weaver] Now, there are no prophets in the sense of the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament prophets who are foretelling events. You don't need them if you have the full and final revelation of God in the Word of God and in the Lord Jesus Christ. Okay? Now, I could be a prophet in the sense that I foretell, or not foretell, but it could be a combination, but I'm telling forth what is coming based upon the completed revelation of God in the word of God. I'm telling that forth. That sense of the word might work, but not in the original sense of where I'm seeing visions and having trances and God's giving me revelation that's never been known before to the human mind, no.

[John Weaver] So what about the evangelist? Well, you know, the apostle Paul told Timothy, who was a pastor, do the work of an evangelist.

[John Weaver] Now, we have many who call themselves evangelists. Maybe they are. I don't know. But Paul told Timothy, who was a pastor, to do the work of an evangelist. So basically, what we have today is the pastor teachers. How do you pastor by teaching? In other words, a pastor who does not teach is really not pastoring. I'm going to show you why just momentarily.

[John Weaver] Now, so let's ask some questions. I want to get back to Psalm 68 in just a moment, but I want you to listen to this. The Bible says that when he is sent by, he led captivity captive and gave gifts to men. Why did he give gifts to men? Well, the answer is found In Ephesians 4, 11 through 16, look at it. Ephesians 4, verse 11, he gave some apostles and some prophets, some evangelists, some pastor teachers. Why?

[John Weaver] For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying, the building of the body of Christ. Till we all come to the unity of the faith and to the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, Then we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie and wait to deceive.

[John Weaver] But speak the truth, and love may grow up in him in all things. Who is the head, even Christ, that the whole body might literally work together?" So let me ask you these questions. Think about this. How are the saints perfected? How do the saints perform the work of the ministry? How do we come into the unity of the faith? How do we mature? How do we avoid error and heresy? How are we to grow up in Jesus Christ? How are we to minister to each other and to edify each other in love?

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look in Ephesians 4 and verse 8. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended upon high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. What is lacking in this verse that is applied for us in Psalm 68 and verse 18? If you look back at Psalm 68 and verse 18, thou hast ascended upon high, thou hast led captivity captive, thou hast received gifts from men, yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them." Isn't that amazing? Why in verse 8 of Ephesians 4 did he not say, Wherefore he saith, when he ascended upon high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men, that God might dwell among them? Hmm.

[John Weaver] Let me ask you this question. How does God dwell among his church? And the answer would be through the preaching of his word. So when people live together, there's always conversation. Whether you believe it or not, After 58 years of marriage, I still talk to my wife. And she still speaks to me every now and then. But there's conversation. Anybody who comes to visit us, there's conversation.

[John Weaver] We don't just sit there with our arms folded, staring at each other, hoping somebody will get up and leave first. No, no. No, there's conversation. How does God manifest Himself in His church? And the answer is He speaks to His people. He instructs us. He teaches us. He directs us. Let me show you. Turn in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy chapter 33 and verse 3. Deuteronomy 33.

[John Weaver] We're going to look at several verses real quickly. But look if you would, Deuteronomy 33. And notice, if you would please, verse 3. Deuteronomy 33 in verse 3. The Bible says, Yea, he loved the people. This is God now. We're talking about the Lord. You will find that in verse 2. Yea, he loved the people. All his saints are in thy hand, and they sat down at his feet. Everyone shall receive of thy words. Everyone, that is all the saints will receive of his words. If you would turn right over to the book of Job, right before the book of Psalms, Job 36 and verse 22. Job 36 verse 22. Look at what the Bible says. Job 36 and verse 22.

[John Weaver] Here it is. Behold, God, exalted by his power. Who teaches like him? Behold, God, exalted by his power. Who teaches like him? Then if you would turn right on over to Isaiah, chapter 48, Isaiah 48. And look, if you would please, at verse 17, Isaiah 48 and verse 17 Isaiah 48 verse 17. Thus said the Lord, thy Redeemer, thy Holy one of Israel. I am the Lord, thy God, which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. God said, I teach you and I teach you to profit and I lead you by the way that you should go. Now look in your Bibles to the book of John chapter six, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, John chapter six. And notice if you would be getting there with verse 43, John chapter six and verse 43. Watch carefully. John six, verse 43.

[John Weaver] Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, murmur not among yourselves, Now, look what he tells them. No man can come unto me except the father who sent me draw me, draw Sydney, draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets and they shall be all taught of God. Now watch what happens when God teaches you. Every man, therefore, that hath heard and hath learned of the father cometh unto me. Not that any man has seen the Father, save he which is of God. He has seen the Father. Barely, barely, I say unto you, verse 47, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

[John Weaver] But note what he said. It is written in the prophets, and they shall all be taught of God. And then he said, everyone that has been taught of him, that has heard him, they come to Jesus Christ. Then if you would turn over one more time to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 and look in verse 9. 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 and verse 9. Here's the interesting thing. 1 Thessalonians 4 and verse 9.

[John Weaver] The Bible says, But as touching brotherly love, you need not that I write unto you. For ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. What did he say? You yourselves are taught of God. God dwells with his church. God manifests himself in his church. How does he do so? Through the exposition and application of his word. He does so through the preaching and teaching of his word. So the question is, do you hear God speaking?

[John Weaver] Do you receive his instruction? Do you make application to your life? You see, God speaks through his word. Listen carefully as that word is expounded and explained and applied by the preacher. Hmm. I want you to look in First Thessalonians, chapter two and verse 13. Look what the apostle Paul said to these Thessalonians. Look at this. He said, Verse 13, for this cause also thank we God without ceasing. Here's a special reason to thank and praise God. What is that special reason? Because when you receive the word of God, which you heard of us, that is, they were preaching, they were teaching. When you receive the word of God, which you heard of us, you received it not as the word of men. Oh, that's what Paul thinks. That's just what Silas says.

[John Weaver] I don't care about a policy's ideas. No, no, no. He said, because when you receive the word of God, which you heard of us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. Ah. How does God speak? Through His Word. How does God manifest Himself? Through the preaching and teaching of His Word.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to listen to this application. If you want to know the manifest presence of God, then you must listen to His Word with a humble, contrite, and obedient heart. I can assure you that that is one of the main reasons as to why most folks never learn the Word of God. They do not come with a humble, contrite, or obedient heart. They may come out of rituals, or out of ceremonial acts, or out of curiosity, or out of necessity, but they don't really come to learn.

[John Weaver] Isaiah 57 verse 15 is a wonderful passage. I want you to listen to this. Thus of the high and lofty one that inhabited the eternity. I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with Him who is of a humble and contrite heart. So if God speaks, we need to have a humble and contrite heart to listen. Now, I want to show you. I want you to turn in your Bibles to Psalm 32. Go to Psalm 32 if you would. Here's a principle that you and I need to understand, because God works with us. And we oftentimes work the same way with our children that God works with us. For instance, if I were to say to my child, I want you to do this and this and that. Do you understand? Yes. Fine. Please get this done.

[John Weaver] And I come back four or five hours later and it's not done. So I call my child and I said, did you not hear me? Yes, dad, I heard you. Well, did you not understand? Yes, I understood. Well, son, why did you not do what I asked you to do? Well, I just didn't want to do it. Really? Well, son, you know, God made peach trees for several reasons, not just to bear fruit. I've got a peach tree limb out here that might make you really want to obey me. OK, so the point I'm trying to make, my child can learn by listening. and being obedient. Or he can learn by being disciplined. So I want you to watch this.

[John Weaver] Look in Psalm 32, beginning there in verse 8. God says, I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go. Isn't that wonderful? God promises to instruct us. He promises to teach us. He said, I will guide thee with mine eye. I mean, you know, that's very easily done. Just look at his eyes. God says, this is the easy way, but look at verse nine.

[John Weaver] Be you not as the horse or as the mule, which have no understanding, whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto you. Now God says, don't make me put a bit and bridle in you. Don't make me jerk you around. Don't make me pull back so hard. I'll break your teeth. You can learn by listening. And you can be obedient. Or God says, I can put a bridle on you and make you do what I want you to do. This is why I'm saying we need to understand that the word which you hear is not the word of man, but it is indeed the word of God.

[John Weaver] One other look in Psalm 85 and verse eight. Look in Psalm 85 and verse eight. This is absolutely beautiful. Psalm 85 verse eight. David said. I will hear what God the Lord will speak. For he will speak peace into his people and to his saints, but let them not turn again to folly. I will hear what God the Lord will speak. So the truth of the matter is this. God does manifest himself in the present. He manifests himself in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. He manifests himself in the indwelling Holy Spirit in his people. And he manifests himself in his church through the preaching and teaching of the word of God. So the question is, do you perceive the manifest presence of God. Do you understand when you miss the preaching and teaching of the Word of God, you're missing the manifest presence of God. For God dwells among His people and with His people, as well as in His people. God is just as present Today, more so than he was in the Old Testament in the tabernacle and temple.

[John Weaver] We just do not perceive it. We do not grasp it. And in the future, in eternity, it will be even a greater revelation when our faith becomes reality. God manifests himself. in his church. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee this day. We thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. We ask, Lord, that you would teach us, build us up in the most holy faith, and make us holy and godly and obedient. In thy name we pray. Amen.

[John Weaver] ♪

God Manifest Among Us

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	BNGdAKgrd1k
Subject	Church Government
Course	Church Order: Preaching and Pastoral Ministry
Genre	Sermon
Date	2021-03-08
Dictation Name
Book	Book 040: Church Order and Worship - Volume 2 — Chapter 36
Source Timed Segments	78

Formatted Transcript

Opening

Your Bibles into Psalm 68, Psalm 68, and we're going to be looking at verses 18 and 19. Psalm 68, note if you would please verse 18 and 19.

The title of the message is "God Manifest Among Us." God Manifest Among Us. So in Psalm 68 and verse 18, the word of God says this:

Scripture Reading — Psalm 68:18-19

"Thou hast ascended on high. Thou hast led captivity captive. Thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation."

Introduction: The Desire for God's Manifest Presence

Weaver opens by asking if we desire to experience God's manifest presence as the Israelites did, citing the cloud in the wilderness and the glory filling the temple.

So here's a good question. Would you like to be in the presence of God on this earth? Would you desire to see, to know, and sense His manifest presence as the Israelites did in the Old Testament when they were being led through the wilderness by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night? Would you also like to observe the manifest presence of God as did the people when the temple was dedicated? Or in 2 Chronicles chapter 5 and verse 14, the Bible says, "So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house." In other words, the priests had to get out of the temple because the glory of the Lord was so powerful. His presence was so manifest, they could not stay in the temple.

It is a ground for wonder and amazement that God should even dwell with men, especially when we contemplate upon His holiness, His righteousness, His immensity, His independence, His sovereignty, and also when we consider the absolute sinfulness of man. I'm going to make a statement. I'm going to show you the scripture. It is indeed humbling for God to even observe the things on this earth. I want you to hold Psalm 68, but turn in your Bibles to Psalm 113. Psalm 113. This is a wonderful Psalm, very beautifully expressed. I want to begin reading with verse five and read through verse nine. I want you to look what the Bible says. Psalm 113 in verse five: "Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!"

God's Humility in Beholding and Helping Humanity

Using Psalm 113 and Mary's Magnificat, Weaver emphasizes that God humbles Himself to regard the lowly, contrasting this with human pride.

"He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord." It's also an astounding condescension of God for God to even behold the things on this earth. And not only does He behold the things on this earth, but the Bible tells us He raises up the poor out of the dust. He lifts up the needy out of the dunghill. He then makes the barren woman to keep house and to be a joyful mother of children. Interestingly, in the Old Testament, those who were poor and those who were childless were despised. That is why I think it was Rebecca who said to Isaac, "Give me children, or else I die." And the truth of the matter is God, in His great condescending humility to us, not only observes us and observes the things on the earth, but He helps us as well.

May I remind you that our low estate does not deter His humility, His grace, or His mercy. It was Mary in Luke chapter 1 verses 46 through 49 when she said this: "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name."

But note what she confessed. She confessed that He, that is God, hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden. So here then I think is a very clear application for each one of us. Many individuals on this earth, and I've met some of them, do indeed think that they are high and mighty in and of themselves. They're very proud. They're very lifted up. They're very arrogant. They are not high and mighty. They just simply think that they are high and mighty.

And consequently, they totally ignore others, especially those who are in need, those who are poor, those who are desperate. They have absolutely no compassion and they're very uncaring. May I point out the fact that that is very unlike God. That is very unlike our heavenly Father. And when you run into a Christian who supposedly will be a Christian and he's very proud, very arrogant, very high, very heady, very high-minded, and very thoughtful of himself, but very unthoughtful toward others, he's not only unlike our heavenly Father, but he absolutely knows nothing about biblical humility and biblical submission. As I was reading through Psalm 68, it was verse 18 that caught my attention. When the Bible says very clearly there that when He ascended upon high, He led captivity captive and He gave gifts unto men. And the reason being in verse 18 was so that the Lord God might dwell among them.

Now I'm going to come back to this verse. I'm not necessarily going to expound it right now, but I think before I finish, you're going to see the exposition of this verse. Now, I want to point out that this is a biblical concept. That is God being manifest among His people. It's not only a biblical concept, but it is also a concept that should be much desired and coveted after.

The Old Testament Foundation: Tabernacle and Temple

The purpose of the tabernacle and temple was for God to dwell among His people, as seen in Exodus 25:8 and 29:44-46.

Now, to lay out the foundation, let me ask you to think with me concerning the Old Testament, especially the tabernacle and the temple. Do you realize the purpose for the tabernacle and the purpose for the temple was for the manifest presence of God that He might dwell among His people? In other words, they knew that God was there. They saw the glory cloud, so to speak. His manifest presence was there in the tabernacle and in the temple, and it was there they communed with God.

Now, let me show you. I want you to turn in your Bibles, first of all, to the book of Exodus chapter 25, and look, if you would please, at verse eight, and then we'll go to Exodus 29. But look in Exodus chapter 25 and verse 8. I'm talking about the purpose of the tabernacle. Look at it. He said,

Scripture Reading — Exodus 25:8

"And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them."

So the purpose of that tabernacle was so that God would dwell among His people. Now look in Exodus 29, beginning there with verse 44, and let's read through verse 46.

Again, He makes this very plain. "And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest's office. And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the Lord their God." So I want you to note very carefully and precisely that that tabernacle and later on the temple was for the specific purpose that God might dwell among His people. Now, we may not have the physical tabernacle today the way they did in the Old Testament. Neither do we have the physical temple the way they did in the Old Testament. But we still have the manifest presence of God among us. I want you to look in your Bibles, first of all, to 2 Corinthians 6. 2 Corinthians 6, and look, if you would please, at verse 16.

2 Corinthians 6, and look at verse 16.

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 6:16

"And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you."

But notice it in verse 16:

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 6:16

"I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

Then if you will look in the book of Revelation chapter 7 and verse 15, Revelation 7 and verse 15. Again, He says this: Revelation 7 and verse 15.

The Present Reality of God's Manifest Presence

Weaver argues that if God's presence was in the past and will be in the future, it must be present now, though often unrecognized.

Now, I want you to answer this question, first of all, in your mind. I want you to think in the Old Testament. In all the types, emblems, pictures, there was the manifest presence of God in the tabernacle and in the temple. In eternity, in the future, God says, "I will dwell with them, and they will be my people and I'll be their God." So in the past, you had the manifest presence of God. In the future, you have the manifest presence of God. So my question is, where is the manifest presence of God in the present? If you had the presence of God in the past and you have the presence of God in the future, then obviously you should have the presence of God here and now. And may I point out the fact that the manifest presence of God is here.

We are simply unobservant or we are totally ignorant of its reality. I want today to point out three historical instances of the manifest presence of God. The very first one should be obvious, and that is the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is God. Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. And the incarnation is nothing less than God becoming man. Now, the physical tabernacle in the Old Testament and the physical temple in the Old Testament were nothing more than an emblem or a type of the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ.

First Instance: The Incarnation of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh, fulfilling the tabernacle type by offering the perfect sacrifice for sin.

How can I say that? Well, I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 10. And let's begin reading there with verse 5. Hebrews chapter 10 verse five. Remember, I told you now that the Old Testament tabernacle is nothing more than an emblem and symbol and type and picture of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. So in Hebrews chapter 10, beginning there with verse five:

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 10:5-10

"Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith..." "Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me."

In other words, no longer the tabernacle, no longer the temple for sacrifice and offering were offered. No, no, that's gone. That's over. What is replacing that tabernacle and that temple?

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 10:5-10

"A body hast thou prepared me." "In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure."

That's in the tabernacle in the temple. That's past tense.

"Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;" that would be the ceremonial law in the tabernacle in the temple. "Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second." And then he goes on to say, "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." In other words, the tabernacle and the temple are over and done with because there's no more sacrifice for sin. Jesus Christ is indeed the perfect sacrifice. So the sacrifices then were nullified because they were no longer needed since Jesus Christ was and is the perfect sacrifice. And therefore the tabernacle and the temple are no longer needed because the sacrificial system is over and done with.

So the body of our Lord was the tabernacle, was the temple in the sense that He is the full and final sacrifice. So skip down to verse 11, Hebrews 10 verse 11. "And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." So clearly then, that tabernacle, that temple just simply foreshadowed the body of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was going to take care of sin permanently through the sacrifice of Himself. Now, the declaration of the fact that Jesus Christ is God is found over and over in the Bible. Now, that declaration, just simply, you can find it in John 1:1-3.

For instance, let me give it to you. In John 1 verse 1:

Scripture Reading — John 1:1-3, 14

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."

Notice now,

Scripture Reading — John 1:1-3, 14

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by him."

Jesus Christ is the Creator. Jesus Christ is God. When you get down to verse 14, the Bible says this:

Scripture Reading — John 1:1-3, 14

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)"

Now note if you would, "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." The Word was incarnated and dwelt among us. Now let me tell you the important thing about verse 14. And that is when the Bible said,

Scripture Reading — John 1:1-3, 14

"and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us."

The word "dwelt" is from the Greek word skēnoō. And skēnoō literally refers to tabernacle, to live in a tabernacle, to fix one's tabernacle. So literally what John 1:14 says is this: "And the Word was made flesh, and tabernacled among us." That is, His body was His tabernacle. And it was in that tabernacle that He offered the full and final sacrifice for sin. So now you're going to ask the question, why was Jesus Christ made flesh?

Well, if you'll look in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 2, beginning there with verse 14. Hebrews 2 and verse 14. Look what the Bible says.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 2:14-17

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood,"

that's us, we have a fleshly body,

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 2:14-17

"he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people."

So our Lord then tabernacled in the flesh because we're in the flesh.

And therefore He became the perfect sacrifice for sin. Moreover, may I remind you as well, that one of the clearest and most concise statements concerning the incarnation of Jesus Christ is found in 1 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16. In that passage, the Bible says this: "And without controversy"—there's no argument about this—

Scripture Reading — 1 Timothy 3:16

"without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."

So he said,

Scripture Reading — 1 Timothy 3:16

"without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh."

So Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh. You remember that passage in John 14, where our Lord was telling His disciples that He was going to leave them. And Thomas—no, it was not Thomas, it was Philip. Philip said to our Lord, "Show us the Father, and it sufficeth us." And in John chapter 14, verses eight and nine, Jesus answered Philip and He said this: "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?" Why? He said, "I am the Father."

I am God in the flesh. That's why He said in John 10:30, "I and my Father are one." So Jesus Christ is God. I suppose one of the greatest passages concerning the incarnation is found in Philippians chapter 2, verses five through eight, where the Bible says:

Scripture Reading — Philippians 2:5-8

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

So our Lord then tabernacled among us. He lived in that fleshly body in order that He might put an end to the ceremonial and sacrificial system, because He Himself is indeed the perfect sacrifice. And in doing so, He reconciled us unto God the Father. Now, consequently, since He is perfect God and perfect man, He is now also the perfect mediator. That's why in 1 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 5, the Bible says this: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." So we have the manifest presence of God in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Secondly, God manifests Himself in us by the abiding of the Holy Spirit in our lives. As Christians, God manifests Himself in us by the abiding of the Holy Spirit. I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of John chapter 14, John 14. And we're going to begin reading at verse 18. And I want you to note these words. And please remember, we're talking about the manifest presence of God.

In John chapter 14, beginning there with verse 18, our Lord says to His disciples:

Scripture Reading — John 14:18-26

"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."

Second Instance: The Indwelling Holy Spirit

God manifests Himself in believers through the abiding Holy Spirit, who witnesses with and to us, making our bodies His temple.

In John chapter 14, beginning there with verse 18, our Lord says to His disciples:

Scripture Reading — John 14:18-26

"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." "Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me."

Now, note if you would back in verse 21. "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." Verse 23: "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." Now notice verse 25. "These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."

Now, the interesting thing is the word for Comforter there is the word paraklētos. He's the divine Paraclete. He's the one that's called alongside to help. So the truth of the matter is this then. The promised manifestation of Christ in us is by the abiding of the Holy Spirit, which proceeds from the Father and the Son. And the very fact that the Holy Spirit of God resides in us is indeed the manifest presence of God in us.

Now, please take note of this. Two things. Number one, the Holy Spirit is a witness with us. And number two, the Holy Spirit is a witness to us. First of all, Romans 8, if you'll look there, turn in your Bible to Romans chapter 8, and look if you would please at verse 16. Romans 8, and verse 16, note what the scripture says. "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. So He is a witness with us. So you ask, how in the world does the Holy Spirit bear witness with my spirit that I'm a child of God?

Well, may I remind you what our Lord just said in John chapter 14. He said, "If you love me, you'll keep my commandments." And then He said that the Holy Spirit would not speak of Himself but He would speak of Jesus Christ and everything that is about Christ He would teach us and bring to our remembrance. So it is the Holy Spirit then who provokes us to holiness and obedience, who leads us and guides us to obedience, who gives us grace and the ability to obey. And as we do obey, then He is witnessing with our spirit that yes, we are indeed the children of God.

When you stop and think about this, by nature, man does not like to be obedient. By nature, man does not desire holiness. So anytime that we desire holiness and obedience and godliness, it is not from us, it is from the Holy Spirit of God. And He is witnessing with our spirit that yes, we are the children of God. Then if you'll look in your Bibles very quickly to Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 15. Hebrews 10 verse 15, look at it clearly there. The Bible says, "Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us."

"For after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them." So the Holy Spirit is not just simply a witness with us, He is also a witness to us as well. Now, these words, these truths should lead us to understand that the Holy Spirit indwells our bodies, and therefore our bodies are now the temple of the Holy Spirit. So let me show you. Turn in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 6. And look, if you would please, at verses 19 and 20. 1 Corinthians chapter 6, verses 19 and 20. Watch. He says,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 6:15-20

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

Now let's go back. Look at verse 19. "What? know ye not"—don't you know this—"that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost?"

And I think the Greek word is naos. It is a holy place. It is the most holy place. Your body is the temple. It is a holy of holies, which is in you, which you have of God, and you're not your own, for you're bought with a price. Therefore, you're to glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are His.

Now, if you comprehend this fact, if you understand that your body is a temple of the Holy Ghost, then you will then see the awfulness and the wickedness of fornication, adultery, and any and everything that will defile your body. So look back, if you would please, beginning with verse 15 in 1 Corinthians chapter 6. He says,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 6:15-20

"Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?"

Well, remember Christ is our head, we're His body. So we're joined together. He said,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 6:15-20

"Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"

So it is the Holy Spirit then who guides us and directs us and leads us into obedience and holiness and sanctification. And in this it is indeed the manifestation of God in our lives. He speaks the truth of Jesus Christ. He leads us into conformity to His word and He intercedes for us and He prompts us to prayer and to faith. So we have to understand that the Holy Spirit of God abides in us and that is a manifestation of God, for our Lord said, "We will come unto you and we will manifest ourselves unto you." And so we can see the manifest presence of God in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. We can see the manifest presence of God in our bodies. And thirdly, listen carefully. We can see the manifestation of God's presence in His church.

Third Instance: God's Presence in the Church

God dwells among His church through the preaching and teaching of His Word, as seen in Matthew 18:20 and Ephesians 4:8-16.

Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Matthew, chapter 18. I'm going to read a verse which every one of you can quote. In fact, I'm sure that you have quoted it in times past quite frequently. So you have Matthew chapter 18 in verse 20. Our Lord says, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." We often quote this passage when our numbers are small and we seek to encourage ourselves.

Now, it is true that a crowd is not necessary to pray or to proclaim the truth or to preach or to worship. And it is equally true that where two or three are gathered together in His name, there He is in the midst of them. However, in the context, this promise

Scripture Reading — Matthew 18:15-20

"for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them"

is not only given to the church, but it is given in the context of church discipline. So if you'll go back to Matthew 18 in verse 15, look at it.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 18:15-20

"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother."

So let's suppose that Joshua has done something against me. He sinned against me in some way. And it's upset me. What am I to do? Am I to go over to Gary and say, "Gary, let me tell you what Joshua just did to me"? No. Am I to go to Francis and say, "Francis, let me tell you what that boy did"? No. Scripture said, if he upsets me, if he's done something against me, if he sins against me, I am to go to him privately. Tell him the fault between me and him alone.

If he hears me, fine, everything's worked out. No problem. Well, what if he doesn't hear me? What if he's recalcitrant? What if he's rebellious? What if he's stubborn and hard-headed? I looked at his wife. I knew I was going to get an answer from there. But he won't listen. What do I do next? Well, look at it, if you would, please. In verse 16. "But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established." So I may go to him privately three or four times and it doesn't work out.

Then I can come back and say, "All right, James. All right, Francis, you go with me. We need to confront Joshua." And look, the Bible says, I'm to take two or three witnesses that every word should be established. Let's suppose he's still recalcitrant. Let's suppose he's still stubborn. What happens then? He won't hear me. He won't hear us. Verse 17. "And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church." Now it becomes a matter of church discipline. "But if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican." Excommunicate him. He's out. He will not listen to the word of God. Now look in verse 18.

"Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." That is not the keys of the kingdom given to the Pope. I can assure you. Because now he's talking about church discipline. He said in verse 19, "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For"—here it is—"for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." So it regards church discipline. It regards binding and loosing. It does regard praying, that is for sure. But note, if you would, this promise, "there am I in the midst of them," is given in the context of the church. You're there for obedience to God, to obedience to the Word of God, doing that which He commanded in the way that He commanded.

Now, I want you to go back in your Bibles to Psalm 68, and look, if you would please, one more time at verse 18. Psalm 68, verse 18. The scripture says: "Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them." Now here's my question. Does that scripture ring a bell in your minds? Does Psalm 68 and verse 18 remind you of any other passage in the Bible, and especially in the New Testament? Well, if it doesn't, let me help you. Go ahead and turn, hold Psalm 68, but go ahead and turn to Ephesians, Ephesians chapter four. Turn there if you would, and we will begin reading there at verse eight. Look at Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 8. Watch carefully. Ephesians 4 verse 8. "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?" that is, He was buried. "He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens."

"That he might fill all things." That He is seated at the right hand of God. Now watch. "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;" it's actually one group. Why? "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." Now I want you to note if you would please, His ascension and leading captivity captive was necessary in order to give gifts unto men.

Now, He specifically said that He gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists and some pastor-teachers. Well, let me answer it like this. There are no apostles today like there were in the New Testament. There are no apostles today like the original 12. In fact, it cannot be because to be an original apostle, you had to be there when Christ was alive and to observe His death and/or His resurrection.

Now, Paul was specially chosen, I think, but I'm just saying that was the qualifications laid out in Acts chapter 2. Now, there were other apostles in the New Testament other than the twelve. In fact, James is called an apostle, although he was not necessarily listed in the original 12. But the word apostle is from the Greek word apostolos, which just simply means a sent one. So if this church sent Gary to a conference to represent us and to represent our views, he would be an apostle from this church, only from the fact that the word means a sent one. We sent him. That's all that means. So, yeah, we might have an apostle in that sense of the word, but we don't have an apostle in the New Testament sense of the word. What about a prophet? No, we don't have prophets today either. What do you say? I know people who call themselves prophets. Well, I could call myself the Empire State Building, but that doesn't mean I'm an Empire State Building either. You see, the Hebrew word for prophet is the word nabi.

A prophet did two things. Number one, he foretold. And number two, he told forth. Now, there are no prophets in the sense of the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament prophets who are foretelling events. You don't need them if you have the full and final revelation of God in the Word of God and in the Lord Jesus Christ. Okay? Now, I could be a prophet in the sense that I foretell, or not foretell, but it could be a combination, but I'm telling forth what is coming based upon the completed revelation of God in the word of God. I'm telling that forth. That sense of the word might work, but not in the original sense of where I'm seeing visions and having trances and God's giving me revelation that's never been known before to the human mind, no.

So what about the evangelist? Well, you know, the apostle Paul told Timothy, who was a pastor, "do the work of an evangelist." Now, we have many who call themselves evangelists. Maybe they are. I don't know. But Paul told Timothy, who was a pastor, to do the work of an evangelist. So basically, what we have today is the pastor-teachers. How do you pastor? By teaching. In other words, a pastor who does not teach is really not pastoring. I'm going to show you why just momentarily.

Now, so let's ask some questions. I want to get back to Psalm 68 in just a moment, but I want you to listen to this. The Bible says that when He ascended, He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men. Why did He give gifts to men? Well, the answer is found in Ephesians 4:11-16. Look at it. Ephesians 4, verse 11: "He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers." Why?

"For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted..." So let me ask you these questions. Think about this. How are the saints perfected? How do the saints perform the work of the ministry? How do we come into the unity of the faith? How do we mature? How do we avoid error and heresy? How are we to grow up in Jesus Christ? How are we to minister to each other and to edify each other in love?

Now, I want you to look in Ephesians 4 and verse 8. "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." What is lacking in this verse that is applied for us in Psalm 68 and verse 18? If you look back at Psalm 68 and verse 18: "Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them." Isn't that amazing? Why in verse 8 of Ephesians 4 did he not say, "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men, that God might dwell among them"? Hmm.

Application: Hearing God with a Humble Heart

To know God's manifest presence, we must listen to His Word with a humble, contrite, and obedient heart, avoiding the need for divine discipline.

I don't care about Paul's ideas. No, no, no. He said, "Because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." Ah. How does God speak? Through His Word. How does God manifest Himself? Through the preaching and teaching of His Word.

Now, I want you to listen to this application. If you want to know the manifest presence of God, then you must listen to His Word with a humble, contrite, and obedient heart. I can assure you that that is one of the main reasons as to why most folks never learn the Word of God. They do not come with a humble, contrite, or obedient heart. They may come out of rituals, or out of ceremonial acts, or out of curiosity, or out of necessity, but they don't really come to learn. Isaiah 57 verse 15 is a wonderful passage. I want you to listen to this. "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a humble and contrite heart. So if God speaks, we need to have a humble and contrite heart to listen. Now, I want to show you. I want you to turn in your Bibles to Psalm 32. Go to Psalm 32 if you would. Here's a principle that you and I need to understand, because God works with us. And we oftentimes work the same way with our children that God works with us. For instance, if I were to say to my child, "I want you to do this and this and that. Do you understand?" "Yes." "Fine. Please get this done."

And I come back four or five hours later and it's not done. So I call my child and I said, "Did you not hear me?" "Yes, Dad, I heard you." "Well, did you not understand?" "Yes, I understood." "Well, son, why did you not do what I asked you to do?" "Well, I just didn't want to do it." "Really? Well, son, you know, God made peach trees for several reasons, not just to bear fruit. I've got a peach tree limb out here that might make you really want to obey me." OK, so the point I'm trying to make, my child can learn by listening and being obedient. Or he can learn by being disciplined. So I want you to watch this. Look in Psalm 32, beginning there in verse 8. God says, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go." Isn't that wonderful? God promises to instruct us. He promises to teach us. He said, "I will guide thee with mine eye." I mean, you know, that's very easily done. Just look at His eyes. God says, this is the easy way, but look at verse nine.

"Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee." Now God says, don't make me put a bit and bridle in you. Don't make me jerk you around. Don't make me pull back so hard I'll break your teeth. You can learn by listening. And you can be obedient. Or God says, I can put a bridle on you and make you do what I want you to do. This is why I'm saying we need to understand that the word which you hear is not the word of man, but it is indeed the word of God.

One other look in Psalm 85 and verse eight. Look in Psalm 85 and verse eight. This is absolutely beautiful. Psalm 85 verse eight. David said, "I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly." I will hear what God the Lord will speak. So the truth of the matter is this. God does manifest Himself in the present. He manifests Himself in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. He manifests Himself in the indwelling Holy Spirit in His people. And He manifests Himself in His church through the preaching and teaching of the word of God. So the question is, do you perceive the manifest presence of God? Do you understand when you miss the preaching and teaching of the Word of God, you're missing the manifest presence of God? For God dwells among His people and with His people, as well as in His people. God is just as present today, more so than He was in the Old Testament in the tabernacle and temple.

Study Guide

Major Themes

God's Manifest Presence

Summary: The central theme is that God desires to dwell among His people, and His presence is real and accessible in the present age.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'the manifest presence of God is here. We are simply unobservant or we are totally ignorant of its reality.'

The Incarnation as Tabernacle

Summary: Jesus Christ's body is the true tabernacle, replacing the Old Testament system and providing the perfect sacrifice for sin.

Evidence: Weaver explains John 1:14: 'the Word was made flesh, and tabernacled among us.'

The Indwelling Holy Spirit

Summary: The Holy Spirit's presence in believers is a manifestation of God, guiding them into obedience and holiness.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'the very fact that the Holy Spirit of God resides in us is indeed the manifest presence of God in us.'

God Speaks Through His Word

Summary: God manifests Himself in the church primarily through the preaching and teaching of Scripture.

Evidence: Weaver asks, 'How does God dwell among His church? And the answer would be through the preaching of His word.'

Humility and Obedience Required

Summary: Receiving God's manifest presence requires a humble, contrite, and obedient heart.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'If you want to know the manifest presence of God, then you must listen to His Word with a humble, contrite, and obedient heart.'

Key Arguments

Continuity of God's Presence

Summary: Since God's manifest presence was in the Old Testament and is promised in eternity, it must be available now.

Evidence: Weaver argues, 'If you had the presence of God in the past and you have the presence of God in the future, then obviously you should have the presence of God here and now.'

Christ's Body as the True Tabernacle

Summary: The Old Testament tabernacle was a type of Christ's incarnation, which fulfilled and ended the sacrificial system.

Evidence: Weaver cites Hebrews 10:5-10 to show that a body was prepared for Christ to replace sacrifices.

The Holy Spirit as Witness

Summary: The Holy Spirit witnesses with our spirit that we are God's children by leading us into obedience.

Evidence: Weaver explains Romans 8:16: 'The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.'

The Body as Temple

Summary: Believers' bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, which should deter them from sexual immorality.

Evidence: Weaver references 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: 'your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost.'

Church Discipline and Christ's Presence

Summary: Matthew 18:20's promise of Christ's presence is given in the context of church discipline, emphasizing obedience.

Evidence: Weaver notes the context of Matthew 18:15-20, showing it relates to binding and loosing in church discipline.

Gifts for Edification

Summary: Christ gave pastor-teachers to the church to perfect the saints and build up the body, through which God dwells among them.

Evidence: Weaver connects Ephesians 4:8-16 with Psalm 68:18, noting the purpose is 'that the Lord God might dwell among them.'

Learning by Listening or Discipline

Summary: God teaches His people either through willing obedience or through corrective discipline, as illustrated in Psalm 32:8-9.

Evidence: Weaver explains, 'You can learn by listening. And you can be obedient. Or God says, I can put a bridle on you.'

Scripture References

Psalm 68:18-19

Context: The primary text, describing God's ascension, leading captivity captive, and receiving gifts so that He might dwell among men.

2 Chronicles 5:14

Context: Illustrates the manifest presence of God at the temple dedication, where priests could not stand to minister because of the glory cloud.

Psalm 113:5-9

Context: Shows God's humility in beholding things in heaven and earth and raising the poor and needy.

Luke 1:46-49

Context: Mary's Magnificat, confessing that God regarded her low estate.

Exodus 25:8

Context: God commands Moses to make a sanctuary so that He may dwell among the Israelites.

Exodus 29:44-46

Context: God promises to dwell among the children of Israel and be their God.

2 Corinthians 6:16

Context: Believers are the temple of the living God, and God will dwell in them.

Revelation 7:15

Context: God will dwell among those who serve Him before His throne.

Revelation 21:3

Context: The tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them.

Hebrews 10:5-10

Context: Christ's body was prepared to replace the Old Testament sacrifices, fulfilling the tabernacle type.

John 1:1-3, 14

Context: The Word was God and became flesh, tabernacling among us.

Hebrews 2:14-17

Context: Christ took on flesh to destroy the devil and make reconciliation for sins.

1 Timothy 3:16

Context: God was manifest in the flesh, a concise statement of the incarnation.

John 14:8-9

Context: Jesus tells Philip that seeing Him is seeing the Father.

Philippians 2:5-8

Context: Christ, being in the form of God, humbled Himself to death on the cross.

John 14:18-26

Context: Jesus promises to manifest Himself to those who love Him through the Holy Spirit.

Romans 8:16

Context: The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.

Hebrews 10:15-16

Context: The Holy Spirit is a witness to us of the new covenant.

1 Corinthians 6:15-20

Context: Believers' bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, so they must flee fornication.

Matthew 18:15-20

Context: The promise of Christ's presence among two or three gathered is given in the context of church discipline.

Historical References

Israelites led by pillar of cloud and fire

Context: Weaver references the Old Testament wilderness experience as an example of God's manifest presence.

Dedication of Solomon's Temple

Context: The glory cloud filling the temple in 2 Chronicles 5:14 is cited as a historical instance of God's manifest presence.

Rebecca's plea for children

Context: Weaver mentions Rebecca saying to Isaac, 'Give me children, or else I die,' to illustrate the desperation of the childless in the Old Testament.

Mary's Magnificat

Context: Mary's response to Elizabeth is used to show God's regard for the lowly.

Original apostles' qualifications

Context: Weaver explains that to be an original apostle, one had to witness Christ's life and resurrection, referencing Acts 2.

Important Quotes

the Word was made flesh, and tabernacled among us.

Significance: Weaver's translation of John 1:14 emphasizes that Christ's body was the true tabernacle, a key argument for the incarnation as God's manifest presence.

the very fact that the Holy Spirit of God resides in us is indeed the manifest presence of God in us.

Significance: This statement directly ties the indwelling Holy Spirit to the theme of God's manifest presence.

How does God dwell among His church? And the answer would be through the preaching of His word.

Significance: This quote identifies the primary means by which God manifests Himself in the church, a key application of the sermon.

If you want to know the manifest presence of God, then you must listen to His Word with a humble, contrite, and obedient heart.

Significance: This is the main practical application, calling for a proper heart posture to receive God's presence.

You can learn by listening. And you can be obedient. Or God says, I can put a bridle on you and make you do what I want you to do.

Significance: This illustrates the choice between willing obedience and divine discipline, reinforcing the call to humility.

Discussion Questions

In what ways might we be 'unobservant or totally ignorant' of God's manifest presence today, as Weaver suggests?

Context: Weaver claims that God's presence is here but often unrecognized.

How does understanding Jesus' body as the true tabernacle change your view of the Old Testament sacrificial system?

Context: Weaver explains that Christ's incarnation fulfilled and ended the tabernacle type.

What evidence in your life shows that the Holy Spirit is witnessing with your spirit that you are a child of God?

Context: Weaver discusses the Spirit's role in leading believers into obedience as a witness.

How should the truth that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit affect your daily choices?

Context: Weaver applies 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 to warn against sexual immorality.

Why is church discipline connected to the promise of Christ's presence in Matthew 18:20?

Context: Weaver emphasizes that the promise is given in the context of binding and loosing.

How can we better receive the preached word as the word of God and not merely the word of man?

Context: Weaver cites 1 Thessalonians 2:13 to show the proper reception of preaching.

What does it mean to have a 'humble and contrite heart' when listening to God's Word?

Context: Weaver applies Isaiah 57:15 to the need for humility in hearing God.

In what areas of your life might God be using a 'bit and bridle' rather than willing obedience?

Context: Weaver uses Psalm 32:8-9 to contrast learning by listening versus discipline.

Applications

Cultivate Awareness of God's Presence

Summary: Recognize that God's manifest presence is a present reality, not just a past or future event.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'the manifest presence of God is here. We are simply unobservant or we are totally ignorant of its reality.'

Honor Your Body as God's Temple

Summary: Flee sexual immorality and glorify God in your body, recognizing it as the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Evidence: Weaver warns, 'if you comprehend this fact... you will then see the awfulness and the wickedness of fornication, adultery, and any and everything that will defile your body.'

Receive Preaching as God's Word

Summary: When you hear biblical preaching, receive it not as human opinion but as the very word of God.

Evidence: Weaver cites 1 Thessalonians 2:13: 'ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God.'

Approach God's Word with Humility

Summary: Come to Scripture with a humble, contrite, and obedient heart to truly hear God speak.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'If you want to know the manifest presence of God, then you must listen to His Word with a humble, contrite, and obedient heart.'

Choose Willing Obedience Over Discipline

Summary: Learn from God's instruction willingly rather than forcing Him to correct you through hardship.

Evidence: Weaver explains Psalm 32:8-9: 'You can learn by listening. And you can be obedient. Or God says, I can put a bridle on you.'

Prioritize Corporate Worship

Summary: Do not neglect the gathering of the church, for God manifests Himself there through the preaching of His Word.

Evidence: Weaver asks, 'Do you understand when you miss the preaching and teaching of the Word of God, you're missing the manifest presence of God?'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T22:16:16Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T13:53:56Z

Clean Transcript

God Manifest Among Us

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Your Bibles into Psalm 68, Psalm 68, and we're going to be looking at verses 18 and 19. Psalm 68, note if you would please verse 18 and 19.
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The title of the message is "God Manifest Among Us." God Manifest Among Us. So in Psalm 68 and verse 18, the word of God says this: "Thou hast ascended on high. Thou hast led captivity captive. Thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation."
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So here's a good question. Would you like to be in the presence of God on this earth? Would you desire to see, to know, and sense His manifest presence as the Israelites did in the Old Testament when they were being led through the wilderness by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night? Would you also like to observe the manifest presence of God as did the people when the temple was dedicated? Or in 2 Chronicles chapter 5 and verse 14, the Bible says, "So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house." In other words, the priests had to get out of the temple because the glory of the Lord was so powerful. His presence was so manifest, they could not stay in the temple.
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It is a ground for wonder and amazement that God should even dwell with men, especially when we contemplate upon His holiness, His righteousness, His immensity, His independence, His sovereignty, and also when we consider the absolute sinfulness of man. I'm going to make a statement. I'm going to show you the scripture. It is indeed humbling for God to even observe the things on this earth. I want you to hold Psalm 68, but turn in your Bibles to Psalm 113. Psalm 113. This is a wonderful Psalm, very beautifully expressed. I want to begin reading with verse five and read through verse nine. I want you to look what the Bible says. Psalm 113 in verse five: "Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high, who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!"
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"He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; that he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord." It's also an astounding condescension of God for God to even behold the things on this earth. And not only does He behold the things on this earth, but the Bible tells us He raises up the poor out of the dust. He lifts up the needy out of the dunghill. He then makes the barren woman to keep house and to be a joyful mother of children. Interestingly, in the Old Testament, those who were poor and those who were childless were despised. That is why I think it was Rebecca who said to Isaac, "Give me children, or else I die." And the truth of the matter is God, in His great condescending humility to us, not only observes us and observes the things on the earth, but He helps us as well.
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May I remind you that our low estate does not deter His humility, His grace, or His mercy. It was Mary in Luke chapter 1 verses 46 through 49 when she said this: "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name."
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But note what she confessed. She confessed that He, that is God, hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden. So here then I think is a very clear application for each one of us. Many individuals on this earth, and I've met some of them, do indeed think that they are high and mighty in and of themselves. They're very proud. They're very lifted up. They're very arrogant. They are not high and mighty. They just simply think that they are high and mighty.
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And consequently, they totally ignore others, especially those who are in need, those who are poor, those who are desperate. They have absolutely no compassion and they're very uncaring. May I point out the fact that that is very unlike God. That is very unlike our heavenly Father. And when you run into a Christian who supposedly will be a Christian and he's very proud, very arrogant, very high, very heady, very high-minded, and very thoughtful of himself, but very unthoughtful toward others, he's not only unlike our heavenly Father, but he absolutely knows nothing about biblical humility and biblical submission.
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As I was reading through Psalm 68, it was verse 18 that caught my attention. When the Bible says very clearly there that when He ascended upon high, He led captivity captive and He gave gifts unto men. And the reason being in verse 18 was so that the Lord God might dwell among them.
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Now I'm going to come back to this verse. I'm not necessarily going to expound it right now, but I think before I finish, you're going to see the exposition of this verse. Now, I want to point out that this is a biblical concept. That is God being manifest among His people. It's not only a biblical concept, but it is also a concept that should be much desired and coveted after.
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Now, to lay out the foundation, let me ask you to think with me concerning the Old Testament, especially the tabernacle and the temple. Do you realize the purpose for the tabernacle and the purpose for the temple was for the manifest presence of God that He might dwell among His people? In other words, they knew that God was there. They saw the glory cloud, so to speak. His manifest presence was there in the tabernacle and in the temple, and it was there they communed with God.
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Now, let me show you. I want you to turn in your Bibles, first of all, to the book of Exodus chapter 25, and look, if you would please, at verse eight, and then we'll go to Exodus 29. But look in Exodus chapter 25 and verse 8. I'm talking about the purpose of the tabernacle. Look at it. He said, "And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them." So the purpose of that tabernacle was so that God would dwell among His people. Now look in Exodus 29, beginning there with verse 44, and let's read through verse 46.
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Again, He makes this very plain. "And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest's office. And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the Lord their God." So I want you to note very carefully and precisely that that tabernacle and later on the temple was for the specific purpose that God might dwell among His people. Now, we may not have the physical tabernacle today the way they did in the Old Testament. Neither do we have the physical temple the way they did in the Old Testament. But we still have the manifest presence of God among us. I want you to look in your Bibles, first of all, to 2 Corinthians 6. 2 Corinthians 6, and look, if you would please, at verse 16.
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2 Corinthians 6, and look at verse 16. "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." But notice it in verse 16: "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." Then if you will look in the book of Revelation chapter 7 and verse 15, Revelation 7 and verse 15. Again, He says this: Revelation 7 and verse 15.
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"Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them." Now, let me just point out that the apex, the height of our salvation is when we dwell with God and He dwells with us. If you would look, since you're in the book of Revelation, to Revelation chapter 21 and verse three, Revelation 21 and verse three, look what the Bible says again. "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God." Note: "He will dwell with them, and God himself shall be with them."
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Now, I want you to answer this question, first of all, in your mind. I want you to think in the Old Testament. In all the types, emblems, pictures, there was the manifest presence of God in the tabernacle and in the temple. In eternity, in the future, God says, "I will dwell with them, and they will be my people and I'll be their God." So in the past, you had the manifest presence of God. In the future, you have the manifest presence of God. So my question is, where is the manifest presence of God in the present? If you had the presence of God in the past and you have the presence of God in the future, then obviously you should have the presence of God here and now. And may I point out the fact that the manifest presence of God is here.
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We are simply unobservant or we are totally ignorant of its reality. I want today to point out three historical instances of the manifest presence of God. The very first one should be obvious, and that is the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is God. Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. And the incarnation is nothing less than God becoming man. Now, the physical tabernacle in the Old Testament and the physical temple in the Old Testament were nothing more than an emblem or a type of the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ.
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How can I say that? Well, I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of Hebrews chapter 10. And let's begin reading there with verse 5. Hebrews chapter 10 verse five. Remember, I told you now that the Old Testament tabernacle is nothing more than an emblem and symbol and type and picture of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. So in Hebrews chapter 10, beginning there with verse five: "Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith..."
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"Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me." In other words, no longer the tabernacle, no longer the temple for sacrifice and offering were offered. No, no, that's gone. That's over. What is replacing that tabernacle and that temple? "A body hast thou prepared me." "In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure." That's in the tabernacle in the temple. That's past tense.
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"Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;" that would be the ceremonial law in the tabernacle in the temple. "Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second." And then he goes on to say, "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." In other words, the tabernacle and the temple are over and done with because there's no more sacrifice for sin. Jesus Christ is indeed the perfect sacrifice. So the sacrifices then were nullified because they were no longer needed since Jesus Christ was and is the perfect sacrifice. And therefore the tabernacle and the temple are no longer needed because the sacrificial system is over and done with.
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So the body of our Lord was the tabernacle, was the temple in the sense that He is the full and final sacrifice. So skip down to verse 11, Hebrews 10 verse 11. "And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." So clearly then, that tabernacle, that temple just simply foreshadowed the body of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was going to take care of sin permanently through the sacrifice of Himself. Now, the declaration of the fact that Jesus Christ is God is found over and over in the Bible. Now, that declaration, just simply, you can find it in John 1:1-3.
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For instance, let me give it to you. In John 1 verse 1: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." Notice now, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by him."
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Jesus Christ is the Creator. Jesus Christ is God. When you get down to verse 14, the Bible says this: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)" Now note if you would, "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." The Word was incarnated and dwelt among us. Now let me tell you the important thing about verse 14. And that is when the Bible said, "and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." The word "dwelt" is from the Greek word skēnoō. And skēnoō literally refers to tabernacle, to live in a tabernacle, to fix one's tabernacle. So literally what John 1:14 says is this: "And the Word was made flesh, and tabernacled among us." That is, His body was His tabernacle. And it was in that tabernacle that He offered the full and final sacrifice for sin. So now you're going to ask the question, why was Jesus Christ made flesh?
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Well, if you'll look in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 2, beginning there with verse 14. Hebrews 2 and verse 14. Look what the Bible says. "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood," that's us, we have a fleshly body, "he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." So our Lord then tabernacled in the flesh because we're in the flesh.
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And therefore He became the perfect sacrifice for sin. Moreover, may I remind you as well, that one of the clearest and most concise statements concerning the incarnation of Jesus Christ is found in 1 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 16. In that passage, the Bible says this: "And without controversy"—there's no argument about this—"without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." So he said, "without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh." So Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh. You remember that passage in John 14, where our Lord was telling His disciples that He was going to leave them.
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And Thomas—no, it was not Thomas, it was Philip. Philip said to our Lord, "Show us the Father, and it sufficeth us." And in John chapter 14, verses eight and nine, Jesus answered Philip and He said this: "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?" Why? He said, "I am the Father."
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I am God in the flesh. That's why He said in John 10:30, "I and my Father are one." So Jesus Christ is God. I suppose one of the greatest passages concerning the incarnation is found in Philippians chapter 2, verses five through eight, where the Bible says: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
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So our Lord then tabernacled among us. He lived in that fleshly body in order that He might put an end to the ceremonial and sacrificial system, because He Himself is indeed the perfect sacrifice. And in doing so, He reconciled us unto God the Father. Now, consequently, since He is perfect God and perfect man, He is now also the perfect mediator. That's why in 1 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 5, the Bible says this: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." So we have the manifest presence of God in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Secondly, God manifests Himself in us by the abiding of the Holy Spirit in our lives. As Christians, God manifests Himself in us by the abiding of the Holy Spirit. I want you to look in your Bibles to the book of John chapter 14, John 14. And we're going to begin reading at verse 18. And I want you to note these words. And please remember, we're talking about the manifest presence of God.
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In John chapter 14, beginning there with verse 18, our Lord says to His disciples: "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."
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"Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me."
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Now, note if you would back in verse 21. "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." Verse 23: "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." Now notice verse 25. "These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
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Now, the interesting thing is the word for Comforter there is the word paraklētos. He's the divine Paraclete. He's the one that's called alongside to help. So the truth of the matter is this then. The promised manifestation of Christ in us is by the abiding of the Holy Spirit, which proceeds from the Father and the Son. And the very fact that the Holy Spirit of God resides in us is indeed the manifest presence of God in us.
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Now, please take note of this. Two things. Number one, the Holy Spirit is a witness with us. And number two, the Holy Spirit is a witness to us. First of all, Romans 8, if you'll look there, turn in your Bible to Romans chapter 8, and look if you would please at verse 16. Romans 8, and verse 16, note what the scripture says. "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. So He is a witness with us. So you ask, how in the world does the Holy Spirit bear witness with my spirit that I'm a child of God?
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Well, may I remind you what our Lord just said in John chapter 14. He said, "If you love me, you'll keep my commandments." And then He said that the Holy Spirit would not speak of Himself but He would speak of Jesus Christ and everything that is about Christ He would teach us and bring to our remembrance. So it is the Holy Spirit then who provokes us to holiness and obedience, who leads us and guides us to obedience, who gives us grace and the ability to obey. And as we do obey, then He is witnessing with our spirit that yes, we are indeed the children of God.
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When you stop and think about this, by nature, man does not like to be obedient. By nature, man does not desire holiness. So anytime that we desire holiness and obedience and godliness, it is not from us, it is from the Holy Spirit of God. And He is witnessing with our spirit that yes, we are the children of God. Then if you'll look in your Bibles very quickly to Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 15. Hebrews 10 verse 15, look at it clearly there. The Bible says, "Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us."
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"For after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them." So the Holy Spirit is not just simply a witness with us, He is also a witness to us as well. Now, these words, these truths should lead us to understand that the Holy Spirit indwells our bodies, and therefore our bodies are now the temple of the Holy Spirit.
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So let me show you. Turn in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 6. And look, if you would please, at verses 19 and 20. 1 Corinthians chapter 6, verses 19 and 20. Watch. He says, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." Now let's go back. Look at verse 19. "What? know ye not"—don't you know this—"that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost?"
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And I think the Greek word is naos. It is a holy place. It is the most holy place. Your body is the temple. It is a holy of holies, which is in you, which you have of God, and you're not your own, for you're bought with a price. Therefore, you're to glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are His.
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Now, if you comprehend this fact, if you understand that your body is a temple of the Holy Ghost, then you will then see the awfulness and the wickedness of fornication, adultery, and any and everything that will defile your body. So look back, if you would please, beginning with verse 15 in 1 Corinthians chapter 6. He says, "Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?" Well, remember Christ is our head, we're His body. So we're joined together. He said, "Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"
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So it is the Holy Spirit then who guides us and directs us and leads us into obedience and holiness and sanctification. And in this it is indeed the manifestation of God in our lives. He speaks the truth of Jesus Christ. He leads us into conformity to His word and He intercedes for us and He prompts us to prayer and to faith. So we have to understand that the Holy Spirit of God abides in us and that is a manifestation of God, for our Lord said, "We will come unto you and we will manifest ourselves unto you." And so we can see the manifest presence of God in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. We can see the manifest presence of God in our bodies. And thirdly, listen carefully. We can see the manifestation of God's presence in His church.
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Now, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Matthew, chapter 18. I'm going to read a verse which every one of you can quote. In fact, I'm sure that you have quoted it in times past quite frequently. So you have Matthew chapter 18 in verse 20. Our Lord says, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." We often quote this passage when our numbers are small and we seek to encourage ourselves.
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Now, it is true that a crowd is not necessary to pray or to proclaim the truth or to preach or to worship. And it is equally true that where two or three are gathered together in His name, there He is in the midst of them. However, in the context, this promise "for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" is not only given to the church, but it is given in the context of church discipline.
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So if you'll go back to Matthew 18 in verse 15, look at it. "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother." So let's suppose that Joshua has done something against me. He sinned against me in some way. And it's upset me. What am I to do? Am I to go over to Gary and say, "Gary, let me tell you what Joshua just did to me"? No. Am I to go to Francis and say, "Francis, let me tell you what that boy did"? No. Scripture said, if he upsets me, if he's done something against me, if he sins against me, I am to go to him privately. Tell him the fault between me and him alone.
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If he hears me, fine, everything's worked out. No problem. Well, what if he doesn't hear me? What if he's recalcitrant? What if he's rebellious? What if he's stubborn and hard-headed? I looked at his wife. I knew I was going to get an answer from there. But he won't listen. What do I do next? Well, look at it, if you would, please. In verse 16. "But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established." So I may go to him privately three or four times and it doesn't work out.
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Then I can come back and say, "All right, James. All right, Francis, you go with me. We need to confront Joshua." And look, the Bible says, I'm to take two or three witnesses that every word should be established. Let's suppose he's still recalcitrant. Let's suppose he's still stubborn. What happens then? He won't hear me. He won't hear us. Verse 17. "And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church." Now it becomes a matter of church discipline. "But if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican." Excommunicate him. He's out. He will not listen to the word of God. Now look in verse 18.
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"Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." That is not the keys of the kingdom given to the Pope. I can assure you. Because now he's talking about church discipline. He said in verse 19, "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For"—here it is—"for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." So it regards church discipline. It regards binding and loosing.
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It does regard praying, that is for sure. But note, if you would, this promise, "there am I in the midst of them," is given in the context of the church. You're there for obedience to God, to obedience to the Word of God, doing that which He commanded in the way that He commanded.
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Now, I want you to go back in your Bibles to Psalm 68, and look, if you would please, one more time at verse 18. Psalm 68, verse 18. The scripture says: "Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them." Now here's my question. Does that scripture ring a bell in your minds? Does Psalm 68 and verse 18 remind you of any other passage in the Bible, and especially in the New Testament?
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Well, if it doesn't, let me help you. Go ahead and turn, hold Psalm 68, but go ahead and turn to Ephesians, Ephesians chapter four. Turn there if you would, and we will begin reading there at verse eight. Look at Ephesians chapter 4 and verse 8. Watch carefully. Ephesians 4 verse 8. "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?" that is, He was buried. "He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens."
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"That he might fill all things." That He is seated at the right hand of God. Now watch. "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;" it's actually one group. Why? "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."
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"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." Now I want you to note if you would please, His ascension and leading captivity captive was necessary in order to give gifts unto men.
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Now, He specifically said that He gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists and some pastor-teachers. Well, let me answer it like this. There are no apostles today like there were in the New Testament. There are no apostles today like the original 12. In fact, it cannot be because to be an original apostle, you had to be there when Christ was alive and to observe His death and/or His resurrection.
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Now, Paul was specially chosen, I think, but I'm just saying that was the qualifications laid out in Acts chapter 2. Now, there were other apostles in the New Testament other than the twelve. In fact, James is called an apostle, although he was not necessarily listed in the original 12. But the word apostle is from the Greek word apostolos, which just simply means a sent one. So if this church sent Gary to a conference to represent us and to represent our views, he would be an apostle from this church, only from the fact that the word means a sent one. We sent him. That's all that means. So, yeah, we might have an apostle in that sense of the word, but we don't have an apostle in the New Testament sense of the word. What about a prophet? No, we don't have prophets today either. What do you say? I know people who call themselves prophets. Well, I could call myself the Empire State Building, but that doesn't mean I'm an Empire State Building either. You see, the Hebrew word for prophet is the word nabi.
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A prophet did two things. Number one, he foretold. And number two, he told forth.
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Now, there are no prophets in the sense of the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament prophets who are foretelling events. You don't need them if you have the full and final revelation of God in the Word of God and in the Lord Jesus Christ. Okay? Now, I could be a prophet in the sense that I foretell, or not foretell, but it could be a combination, but I'm telling forth what is coming based upon the completed revelation of God in the word of God. I'm telling that forth. That sense of the word might work, but not in the original sense of where I'm seeing visions and having trances and God's giving me revelation that's never been known before to the human mind, no.
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So what about the evangelist? Well, you know, the apostle Paul told Timothy, who was a pastor, "do the work of an evangelist."
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Now, we have many who call themselves evangelists. Maybe they are. I don't know. But Paul told Timothy, who was a pastor, to do the work of an evangelist. So basically, what we have today is the pastor-teachers. How do you pastor? By teaching. In other words, a pastor who does not teach is really not pastoring. I'm going to show you why just momentarily.
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Now, so let's ask some questions. I want to get back to Psalm 68 in just a moment, but I want you to listen to this. The Bible says that when He ascended, He led captivity captive and gave gifts to men. Why did He give gifts to men? Well, the answer is found in Ephesians 4:11-16. Look at it. Ephesians 4, verse 11: "He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers." Why?
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"For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive."
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"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted..." So let me ask you these questions. Think about this. How are the saints perfected? How do the saints perform the work of the ministry? How do we come into the unity of the faith? How do we mature? How do we avoid error and heresy? How are we to grow up in Jesus Christ? How are we to minister to each other and to edify each other in love?
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Now, I want you to look in Ephesians 4 and verse 8. "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men." What is lacking in this verse that is applied for us in Psalm 68 and verse 18? If you look back at Psalm 68 and verse 18: "Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them." Isn't that amazing? Why in verse 8 of Ephesians 4 did he not say, "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men, that God might dwell among them"? Hmm.
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Let me ask you this question. How does God dwell among His church? And the answer would be through the preaching of His word. So when people live together, there's always conversation. Whether you believe it or not, after 58 years of marriage, I still talk to my wife. And she still speaks to me every now and then. But there's conversation. Anybody who comes to visit us, there's conversation.
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We don't just sit there with our arms folded, staring at each other, hoping somebody will get up and leave first. No, no. No, there's conversation. How does God manifest Himself in His church? And the answer is He speaks to His people. He instructs us. He teaches us. He directs us. Let me show you. Turn in your Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy chapter 33 and verse 3. Deuteronomy 33.
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We're going to look at several verses real quickly. But look if you would, Deuteronomy 33. And notice, if you would please, verse 3. Deuteronomy 33 in verse 3. The Bible says, "Yea, he loved the people;" this is God now. We're talking about the Lord. You will find that in verse 2. "Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words." Everyone, that is all the saints will receive of His words. If you would turn right over to the book of Job, right before the book of Psalms, Job 36 and verse 22. Job 36 verse 22. Look at what the Bible says. Job 36 and verse 22.
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Here it is. "Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?" Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? Then if you would turn right on over to Isaiah, chapter 48, Isaiah 48. And look, if you would please, at verse 17, Isaiah 48 and verse 17. Isaiah 48 verse 17. "Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go." God said, "I teach you and I teach you to profit and I lead you by the way that you should go." Now look in your Bibles to the book of John chapter six, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, John chapter six. And notice if you would be getting there with verse 43, John chapter six and verse 43. Watch carefully. John six, verse 43.
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"Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves." Now, look what He tells them. "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God." Now watch what happens when God teaches you. "Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you," verse 47, "He that believeth on me hath everlasting life."
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But note what He said. "It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God." And then He said, "Everyone that has been taught of Him, that has heard Him, they come to Jesus Christ." Then if you would turn over one more time to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 and look in verse 9. 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 and verse 9. Here's the interesting thing. 1 Thessalonians 4 and verse 9.
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The Bible says, "But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another." What did he say? "Ye yourselves are taught of God." God dwells with His church. God manifests Himself in His church. How does He do so? Through the exposition and application of His word. He does so through the preaching and teaching of His word. So the question is, do you hear God speaking?
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Do you receive His instruction? Do you make application to your life? You see, God speaks through His word. Listen carefully as that word is expounded and explained and applied by the preacher. Hmm. I want you to look in 1 Thessalonians, chapter 2 and verse 13. Look what the apostle Paul said to these Thessalonians. Look at this. He said, verse 13, "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing." Here's a special reason to thank and praise God. What is that special reason? "Because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us," that is, they were preaching, they were teaching, "when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men." Oh, that's what Paul thinks. That's just what Silas says.
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I don't care about Paul's ideas. No, no, no. He said, "Because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." Ah. How does God speak? Through His Word. How does God manifest Himself? Through the preaching and teaching of His Word.
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Now, I want you to listen to this application. If you want to know the manifest presence of God, then you must listen to His Word with a humble, contrite, and obedient heart. I can assure you that that is one of the main reasons as to why most folks never learn the Word of God. They do not come with a humble, contrite, or obedient heart. They may come out of rituals, or out of ceremonial acts, or out of curiosity, or out of necessity, but they don't really come to learn.
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Isaiah 57 verse 15 is a wonderful passage. I want you to listen to this. "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a humble and contrite heart. So if God speaks, we need to have a humble and contrite heart to listen. Now, I want to show you. I want you to turn in your Bibles to Psalm 32. Go to Psalm 32 if you would. Here's a principle that you and I need to understand, because God works with us. And we oftentimes work the same way with our children that God works with us. For instance, if I were to say to my child, "I want you to do this and this and that. Do you understand?" "Yes." "Fine. Please get this done."
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And I come back four or five hours later and it's not done. So I call my child and I said, "Did you not hear me?" "Yes, Dad, I heard you." "Well, did you not understand?" "Yes, I understood." "Well, son, why did you not do what I asked you to do?" "Well, I just didn't want to do it." "Really? Well, son, you know, God made peach trees for several reasons, not just to bear fruit. I've got a peach tree limb out here that might make you really want to obey me." OK, so the point I'm trying to make, my child can learn by listening and being obedient. Or he can learn by being disciplined. So I want you to watch this.
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Look in Psalm 32, beginning there in verse 8. God says, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go." Isn't that wonderful? God promises to instruct us. He promises to teach us. He said, "I will guide thee with mine eye." I mean, you know, that's very easily done. Just look at His eyes. God says, this is the easy way, but look at verse nine.
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"Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee." Now God says, don't make me put a bit and bridle in you. Don't make me jerk you around. Don't make me pull back so hard I'll break your teeth. You can learn by listening. And you can be obedient. Or God says, I can put a bridle on you and make you do what I want you to do. This is why I'm saying we need to understand that the word which you hear is not the word of man, but it is indeed the word of God.
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One other look in Psalm 85 and verse eight. Look in Psalm 85 and verse eight. This is absolutely beautiful. Psalm 85 verse eight. David said, "I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly." I will hear what God the Lord will speak. So the truth of the matter is this. God does manifest Himself in the present. He manifests Himself in the incarnation of Jesus Christ. He manifests Himself in the indwelling Holy Spirit in His people. And He manifests Himself in His church through the preaching and teaching of the word of God. So the question is, do you perceive the manifest presence of God? Do you understand when you miss the preaching and teaching of the Word of God, you're missing the manifest presence of God? For God dwells among His people and with His people, as well as in His people. God is just as present today, more so than He was in the Old Testament in the tabernacle and temple.
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We just do not perceive it. We do not grasp it. And in the future, in eternity, it will be even a greater revelation when our faith becomes reality. God manifests Himself in His church. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee this day. We thank You for Your word. We thank You for Your truth. We ask, Lord, that You would teach us, build us up in the most holy faith, and make us holy and godly and obedient. In Thy name we pray. Amen.
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T22:16:16Z

God Manifest Among Us

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

Pastor John Weaver explores the biblical theme of God's manifest presence among His people, past, present, and future. He argues that God's presence was evident in the Old Testament tabernacle and temple, is fully revealed in the incarnation of Jesus Christ, indwells believers through the Holy Spirit, and is experienced in the church through the preaching and teaching of God's Word. The sermon calls for a humble, obedient heart to perceive and receive this presence.

Opening

Your Bibles into Psalm 68, Psalm 68, and we're going to be looking at verses 18 and 19. Psalm 68, note if you would please verse 18 and 19.

The title of the message is "God Manifest Among Us." God Manifest Among Us. So in Psalm 68 and verse 18, the word of God says this:

Scripture Reading — Psalm 68:18-19

"Thou hast ascended on high. Thou hast led captivity captive. Thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation."

Introduction: The Desire for God's Manifest Presence

Weaver opens by asking if we desire to experience God's manifest presence as the Israelites did, citing the cloud in the wilderness and the glory filling the temple.

God's Humility in Beholding and Helping Humanity

Using Psalm 113 and Mary's Magnificat, Weaver emphasizes that God humbles Himself to regard the lowly, contrasting this with human pride.

The Old Testament Foundation: Tabernacle and Temple

The purpose of the tabernacle and temple was for God to dwell among His people, as seen in Exodus 25:8 and 29:44-46.

Scripture Reading — Exodus 25:8

"And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them."

So the purpose of that tabernacle was so that God would dwell among His people. Now look in Exodus 29, beginning there with verse 44, and let's read through verse 46.

2 Corinthians 6, and look at verse 16.

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 6:16

"And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you."

But notice it in verse 16:

Scripture Reading — 2 Corinthians 6:16

"I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

Then if you will look in the book of Revelation chapter 7 and verse 15, Revelation 7 and verse 15. Again, He says this: Revelation 7 and verse 15.

The Present Reality of God's Manifest Presence

Weaver argues that if God's presence was in the past and will be in the future, it must be present now, though often unrecognized.

First Instance: The Incarnation of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh, fulfilling the tabernacle type by offering the perfect sacrifice for sin.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 10:5-10

"Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith..." "Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me."

In other words, no longer the tabernacle, no longer the temple for sacrifice and offering were offered. No, no, that's gone. That's over. What is replacing that tabernacle and that temple?

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 10:5-10

"A body hast thou prepared me." "In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure."

That's in the tabernacle in the temple. That's past tense.

For instance, let me give it to you. In John 1 verse 1:

Scripture Reading — John 1:1-3, 14

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."

Notice now,

Scripture Reading — John 1:1-3, 14

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by him."

Jesus Christ is the Creator. Jesus Christ is God. When you get down to verse 14, the Bible says this:

Scripture Reading — John 1:1-3, 14

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)"

Scripture Reading — John 1:1-3, 14

"and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us."

Well, if you'll look in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 2, beginning there with verse 14. Hebrews 2 and verse 14. Look what the Bible says.

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 2:14-17

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood,"

that's us, we have a fleshly body,

Scripture Reading — Hebrews 2:14-17

"he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people."

So our Lord then tabernacled in the flesh because we're in the flesh.

Scripture Reading — 1 Timothy 3:16

"without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."

So he said,

Scripture Reading — 1 Timothy 3:16

"without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh."

Scripture Reading — Philippians 2:5-8

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."

In John chapter 14, beginning there with verse 18, our Lord says to His disciples:

Scripture Reading — John 14:18-26

"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."

Second Instance: The Indwelling Holy Spirit

God manifests Himself in believers through the abiding Holy Spirit, who witnesses with and to us, making our bodies His temple.

In John chapter 14, beginning there with verse 18, our Lord says to His disciples:

Scripture Reading — John 14:18-26

"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." "Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me."

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 6:15-20

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

Now let's go back. Look at verse 19. "What? know ye not"—don't you know this—"that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost?"

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 6:15-20

"Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?"

Well, remember Christ is our head, we're His body. So we're joined together. He said,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 6:15-20

"Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"

Third Instance: God's Presence in the Church

God dwells among His church through the preaching and teaching of His Word, as seen in Matthew 18:20 and Ephesians 4:8-16.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 18:15-20

"for where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them"

is not only given to the church, but it is given in the context of church discipline. So if you'll go back to Matthew 18 in verse 15, look at it.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 18:15-20

"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother."

Application: Hearing God with a Humble Heart

To know God's manifest presence, we must listen to His Word with a humble, contrite, and obedient heart, avoiding the need for divine discipline.

God Manifest Among Us

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	BNGdAKgrd1k
Subject	Church Government
Course	Church Order: Preaching and Pastoral Ministry
Genre	Sermon
Date	2021-03-08
Dictation Name
Book	Book 040: Church Order and Worship - Volume 2 — Chapter 36
Source Timed Segments	78

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: The Desire for God's Manifest Presence: Weaver opens by asking if we desire to experience God's manifest presence as the Israelites did, citing the cloud in the wilderness and the glory filling the temple.
God's Humility in Beholding and Helping Humanity: Using Psalm 113 and Mary's Magnificat, Weaver emphasizes that God humbles Himself to regard the lowly, contrasting this with human pride.
The Old Testament Foundation: Tabernacle and Temple: The purpose of the tabernacle and temple was for God to dwell among His people, as seen in Exodus 25:8 and 29:44-46.
The Present Reality of God's Manifest Presence: Weaver argues that if God's presence was in the past and will be in the future, it must be present now, though often unrecognized.
First Instance: The Incarnation of Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh, fulfilling the tabernacle type by offering the perfect sacrifice for sin.
Second Instance: The Indwelling Holy Spirit: God manifests Himself in believers through the abiding Holy Spirit, who witnesses with and to us, making our bodies His temple.
Third Instance: God's Presence in the Church: God dwells among His church through the preaching and teaching of His Word, as seen in Matthew 18:20 and Ephesians 4:8-16.
Application: Hearing God with a Humble Heart: To know God's manifest presence, we must listen to His Word with a humble, contrite, and obedient heart, avoiding the need for divine discipline.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Continuity of God's Presence

Since God's manifest presence was in the Old Testament and is promised in eternity, it must be available now.

Weaver argues, 'If you had the presence of God in the past and you have the presence of God in the future, then obviously you should have the presence of God here and now.'

Christ's Body as the True Tabernacle

The Old Testament tabernacle was a type of Christ's incarnation, which fulfilled and ended the sacrificial system.

Weaver cites Hebrews 10:5-10 to show that a body was prepared for Christ to replace sacrifices.

The Holy Spirit as Witness

The Holy Spirit witnesses with our spirit that we are God's children by leading us into obedience.

Weaver explains Romans 8:16: 'The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.'

The Body as Temple

Believers' bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, which should deter them from sexual immorality.

Weaver references 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: 'your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost.'

Church Discipline and Christ's Presence

Matthew 18:20's promise of Christ's presence is given in the context of church discipline, emphasizing obedience.

Weaver notes the context of Matthew 18:15-20, showing it relates to binding and loosing in church discipline.

Gifts for Edification

Christ gave pastor-teachers to the church to perfect the saints and build up the body, through which God dwells among them.

Weaver connects Ephesians 4:8-16 with Psalm 68:18, noting the purpose is 'that the Lord God might dwell among them.'

Learning by Listening or Discipline

God teaches His people either through willing obedience or through corrective discipline, as illustrated in Psalm 32:8-9.

Weaver explains, 'You can learn by listening. And you can be obedient. Or God says, I can put a bridle on you.'

Scripture References

Psalm 68:18-19: The primary text, describing God's ascension, leading captivity captive, and receiving gifts so that He might dwell among men.
2 Chronicles 5:14: Illustrates the manifest presence of God at the temple dedication, where priests could not stand to minister because of the glory cloud.
Psalm 113:5-9: Shows God's humility in beholding things in heaven and earth and raising the poor and needy.
Luke 1:46-49: Mary's Magnificat, confessing that God regarded her low estate.
Exodus 25:8: God commands Moses to make a sanctuary so that He may dwell among the Israelites.
Exodus 29:44-46: God promises to dwell among the children of Israel and be their God.
2 Corinthians 6:16: Believers are the temple of the living God, and God will dwell in them.
Revelation 7:15: God will dwell among those who serve Him before His throne.
Revelation 21:3: The tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them.
Hebrews 10:5-10: Christ's body was prepared to replace the Old Testament sacrifices, fulfilling the tabernacle type.
John 1:1-3, 14: The Word was God and became flesh, tabernacling among us.
Hebrews 2:14-17: Christ took on flesh to destroy the devil and make reconciliation for sins.
1 Timothy 3:16: God was manifest in the flesh, a concise statement of the incarnation.
John 14:8-9: Jesus tells Philip that seeing Him is seeing the Father.
Philippians 2:5-8: Christ, being in the form of God, humbled Himself to death on the cross.
John 14:18-26: Jesus promises to manifest Himself to those who love Him through the Holy Spirit.
Romans 8:16: The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.
Hebrews 10:15-16: The Holy Spirit is a witness to us of the new covenant.
1 Corinthians 6:15-20: Believers' bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, so they must flee fornication.
Matthew 18:15-20: The promise of Christ's presence among two or three gathered is given in the context of church discipline.

Historical References

Israelites led by pillar of cloud and fire: Weaver references the Old Testament wilderness experience as an example of God's manifest presence.
Dedication of Solomon's Temple: The glory cloud filling the temple in 2 Chronicles 5:14 is cited as a historical instance of God's manifest presence.
Rebecca's plea for children: Weaver mentions Rebecca saying to Isaac, 'Give me children, or else I die,' to illustrate the desperation of the childless in the Old Testament.
Mary's Magnificat: Mary's response to Elizabeth is used to show God's regard for the lowly.
Original apostles' qualifications: Weaver explains that to be an original apostle, one had to witness Christ's life and resurrection, referencing Acts 2.

Important Quotes

the Word was made flesh, and tabernacled among us.

Weaver's translation of John 1:14 emphasizes that Christ's body was the true tabernacle, a key argument for the incarnation as God's manifest presence.

the very fact that the Holy Spirit of God resides in us is indeed the manifest presence of God in us.

This statement directly ties the indwelling Holy Spirit to the theme of God's manifest presence.

How does God dwell among His church? And the answer would be through the preaching of His word.

This quote identifies the primary means by which God manifests Himself in the church, a key application of the sermon.

If you want to know the manifest presence of God, then you must listen to His Word with a humble, contrite, and obedient heart.

This is the main practical application, calling for a proper heart posture to receive God's presence.

You can learn by listening. And you can be obedient. Or God says, I can put a bridle on you and make you do what I want you to do.

This illustrates the choice between willing obedience and divine discipline, reinforcing the call to humility.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

In what ways might we be 'unobservant or totally ignorant' of God's manifest presence today, as Weaver suggests?

[Context]

Weaver claims that God's presence is here but often unrecognized.

[Question]

How does understanding Jesus' body as the true tabernacle change your view of the Old Testament sacrificial system?

[Context]

Weaver explains that Christ's incarnation fulfilled and ended the tabernacle type.

[Question]

What evidence in your life shows that the Holy Spirit is witnessing with your spirit that you are a child of God?

[Context]

Weaver discusses the Spirit's role in leading believers into obedience as a witness.

[Question]

How should the truth that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit affect your daily choices?

[Context]

Weaver applies 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 to warn against sexual immorality.

[Question]

Why is church discipline connected to the promise of Christ's presence in Matthew 18:20?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes that the promise is given in the context of binding and loosing.

[Question]

How can we better receive the preached word as the word of God and not merely the word of man?

[Context]

Weaver cites 1 Thessalonians 2:13 to show the proper reception of preaching.

[Question]

What does it mean to have a 'humble and contrite heart' when listening to God's Word?

[Context]

Weaver applies Isaiah 57:15 to the need for humility in hearing God.

[Question]

In what areas of your life might God be using a 'bit and bridle' rather than willing obedience?

[Context]

Weaver uses Psalm 32:8-9 to contrast learning by listening versus discipline.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T13:53:56Z