Transcription downloaded from https://yetanothersermon.host/_/church4u/sermons/86382/where-is-god/. Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions. Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt. [0:00] Isaiah 57, verse 15 says, For thus saith the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy. [0:24] ! I dwell in the High and Holy Place.! And to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. [0:42] Let us pray. Lord, thank you for the privilege we have to just to be able to gather in this time, just to be able to open these pages before us, just to receive some nuggets. [0:59] Lord, the joy that we have in Christ of eternal life. Lord, help us to put aside all the cares and to be able to do the distractions that might hinder that, Lord, that we might concentrate upon you today. [1:24] Help us, Lord, to be stirred further to action as we continue, Lord. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. I want to talk along the line of answering the question, Where is God? [1:43] Where is He? It's a fundamental question, isn't it? One that we all, I trust, would seek to find the answer to. [1:54] And if you were to think of it such, what is God's address? [2:06] Where does He live? Where does He live? Where does He dwell? Where will I find Him? I trust that you are searchers after God, seekers after God. [2:17] I trust by His grace He's helping you to seek after Him, that you might find Him, that you might find what is God's address. And He tells us that in this verse here, Isaiah 57, 15. [2:30] It tells us of His nature, of His name, of His eternal character, of His reviving life. It talks of revival here. It talks of those that He gives His life to, of where He dwells in 2011 and beyond. [2:49] Now just think of it in the context, in the dimension of time and space. Where is God? Where is God? He's the Alpha and Omega. He's the beginning and the end. [3:01] He's the first and the last. He's A to Z of eternity. Where is God? He's present in the now. [3:13] God is. God is. He's the same yesterday, today and forever. God is in that dimension of time and space. [3:25] He's beyond it all, isn't He? Because it says of Him that He inhabits eternity. He lives in eternity. We see some places to look for Him here in these verses of Isaiah 57, verse 15. [3:40] Where to look? To find Him. Look up. Look up. Look up. He's in the heights. He is the High God. The High God. Isaiah 57, verse 15 it says, For thus saith, the High and Lofty One that inhabits of eternity. [3:58] He's the High and Lofty One. He is the High and Lofty One. I know the world makes jokes of, I know you might have heard such statements in places you've worked, you know, through the different layers of management in a company. [4:19] You've got different supervisors and managers and then ultimately there's God in the company, so to speak. The CEO. But no, He's not God. [4:30] There's one above all authority. There's one above the Prime Minister of Australia. There's one above every king and prince and kingdom and ruler and dictator. [4:42] There's one above all authority and power. The one who is at the top. The High and Lofty One. In Job 22, verse 12 it says of Him, Is not God in the height of heaven? [4:54] Is not God in the height of heaven? Catch a glimpse of His glory, of the wonder, of His power, of His eternity. The High and Lofty One. [5:05] In Psalm 148, verse 1, it says, Praise ye the Lord from the heavens. Praise Him in the heights. He is the High and Lofty One. [5:16] God is High. He is His Highness. It's an expression used of men and women. His or her Highness. No! [5:27] He is the Highness. He is His Highness. He is high and lifted up and His train fills the temple. He is the highest. He is at the top. [5:39] He is the One. And when you think of that truth, how it should move us to think if He is at the highest, if He is at the height, if He is the highest of the high, how ought we to react? [5:54] How ought we to respond? How ought we to regard and honour our Lord? And give Him due place. And give Him due honour and due regard. He is in the highest place. [6:07] The highest place. The Most High God. The highest power. He's in authority. He has all authority given unto Him. [6:18] Every other authority is purely delegated really, isn't it? It's purely by His authority. And He says to you, I dwell in the high and holy place. [6:34] Where will we find Him? We will find Him in the most high and holy place. He is the most high. Psalm 91. We read, He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the almighty. [6:52] That is the height of our God. The most high. Elyon. The supreme one. The highest one. The owner of heaven and of earth. [7:04] The God who is over and above all other things. This God, I trust, whom we love and serve, is the high and lofty one. [7:15] It puts everything in perspective, doesn't it? In the dimension of time and space, He is present. He is now. God is. [7:26] And He is in eternity. Past, present and future. And He is the high and lofty one. And so, when you think of that, God is ultimately in control. [7:39] Even though it seems, at times, things are not as we would like. God is the final authority. And He has the highest place. His eminence. His royal highness. [7:50] The sovereign king. His name. Our Lord Jesus, we read, His name is above every other name. Above all names. And He is the high and lofty one today. [8:04] He is high and lifted up. And He speaks still from heaven's height. In 1 Chronicles 29, 11, we read, Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty, for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine. [8:24] Thine, Thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and Thou art exalted as head above all. Head above all. Thine is the greatness. Thine is the power. [8:35] Thine is the glory, the victory, the majesty. Thine is the kingdom, O Lord. It puts everything in perspective, doesn't it? As we as mere man, as mere dust, as mere worm, could consider the highness, the height of the highest one, of our God's kingdom rule and reign. [9:00] His authority is above every other principality, is above every other power. and consider then, if that is the case, what should our relationship be to this one, the highest? [9:15] You know, some bound, stoop and curtsy to mere royalty on this earth, mere men and women. What ought our posture, what ought our regard be to this one, who is the highest? [9:31] Consider his rulership. Are you under it? Do you know this ruler? Do you come under his authority, under his dominion? In Ephesians 1.21 we read that Christ was raised up at the Father's right hand, far above, far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. [10:02] raised up from the dead, set at the Father's own right hand, far above all principality and power and might and dominion. Are you under his domain, his dominion? [10:17] Or are you under another dominion? Another dominion we read in Romans 6.14, For sin shall not have dominion over you. [10:27] Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under the law, but under grace. Are you under his domain of grace? Are you under his rulership of grace, of his dominion, of his domain? [10:42] Or are you under the dominion of sin still? Is sin still dominating you and controlling you? Are you under his power or sin's power? [10:54] In 1 Peter 5.6 it says, Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. Under the mighty hand of God. [11:06] Friends, it's good to be under his mighty hand. It's good for his everlasting arms to be under us and over us and all about us. He is above all. [11:18] The King of kings, the Lord of lords, the first and the last. He is so high above us and yet, this highest one, he stoops down and he comes and walks beside us. [11:31] So, where is God? Where is God? He is the high and lofty one. Look for him. Look up for him. Look up to heaven's height. Look up to the highest place, to the place of ultimate and absolute authority. [11:46] Look for the highest, the high one, the high God. Secondly, look for the holy. Look for the holy. Look for the holy one. Whose name is holy, we read. [11:57] Whose name is holy. And he says to us, I dwell in the high and holy place. If you're looking for God today, look in the holy place. Look where there is holiness. [12:10] Look where God's holy character is seen. God is holy. God is holy. And it's in God's holy word that we find God. [12:22] It's by God's holy word we set the decisions for our lives, I trust. We assume the spiritual convictions that come from God's holy word. [12:34] His name is holy. The angels cried out, holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. If you're looking for God, then he will be evident where the holy is regarded. [12:52] Where the holy is sought. Where the holy transforms the earthly. That is where God is. In the holy place. The high and holy place. [13:04] The holy Bible has much to say of holy things. Of holy things. Of a holy nation. The church of God. We should be a holy nation. [13:16] A holy people. The saints are holy ones. Or ought to be. It says of a holy calling. Of a holy faith. Holy conversation. [13:27] Or way of life. Holy ground. Holy angels. Holy brethren. Holy kiss. Holy hands. Those holy things. Holy things. That we should treat. [13:40] With regard. Not lightly. And any church. We could think of other churches. But what of this church? [13:51] Do we think of the holy one? Do we revere him? Do we regard him? We could think of other worship styles. Or other types of churches. And regard them as missing the boat. [14:05] But what of us? It must come to us. It must be us. It must be we. That examine ourselves. And consider. Are we living up to what the Holy Bible. Urges. [14:16] And commands us to be. Holy. Holy. An authentic. Biblical holiness. Not a holiness. That's manufactured. And man made. [14:26] Not a holiness that's. Man. Made. But a biblical holiness. And that's a necessity. [14:38] It's vital. It's required. For God's holy purpose. As we read. But as he which I've called you is holy. So be ye holy. [14:48] In all manner of conversation. For. It is written. Be ye holy. Even as. I am holy. Be ye holy. [14:59] For I am holy. I was encouraged to think. As was earlier said. If God's told us. To be something. He'll help us. He'll. He'll make it happen. [15:10] It can be. It can be. That we be holy. Not by a man made. Or man effort. Thing. But a God thing. By a God thing. [15:22] And ask the Lord to create in you. To create in you. That love. A love for the holy. A love for the holy scriptures. To follow them. A love for biblical standards. Biblical guidelines. [15:33] Biblical foundation. And. I was listening to a tape. Earlier on the subject. Or a CD. Recording. And the encouragement. [15:46] For every one of us here today. Is. Thank God. It's possible. Thank God. It is. Promised to us. That. God's righteousness. God's righteousness. [15:57] Is possible. God's righteousness. Is based on everything. That Christ has done. That Christ has completed. At the cross for us. His righteousness. Is. [16:08] Our promise. His righteousness. Is. Our trust. His righteousness. Is credited. To your account. Credited to you. It's granted to you. [16:19] It's bestowed upon you. That you are. Declared. A righteous people. You are declared righteous. A declared. A separated. Set apart. People. [16:30] That Christ can live. Through you. And walk with you. It's available. That's the blessing. Isn't it? That's the joy. That's the. The wonder of it. [16:42] That we. Even while. Walking this. Earthly life. We can be living. And walking. And sitting. And reigning. In. Heavenly places. That we can be. With the highest. [16:52] And holy one. And he can come. Alongside us. And be that. Friend. Of man. Are you walking. That road. With the saviour. [17:04] It's a road. That he. Guides you. Along. It's a road. That he helps you. To walk. To walk. In the beauty. Of holiness. It's not an ugly thing. It's not. A. [17:15] Harsh. Forced thing. It's a beautiful thing. It's a great. And wonderful thing. It's a joyful thing. To know that walk. With Christ our Lord. [17:25] To know. Our loving saviour. Can walk. Hand in hand. And friends. There's others there too. On that way. Of holiness. The Bible speaks to us. [17:37] Of a way. Of holiness. It's a roadway. It's a narrow way. It's a road that. Is less travelled. And yet. Your brothers and sisters. [17:48] Are along that road. And. It's a walk. It takes time. We're at different stages. We need to. Give people room. To grow. Because the son. Still learning. [18:00] We need to walk. That walk with him. And. Thank God. It says. In 2 Corinthians 5. 21. You are made. The righteousness. Of God. [18:10] In Christ. That's wonderful. Isn't it? He makes us. His own righteousness. In Christ. For he hath made him. To be sin for us. Who knew no sin. [18:21] That we might be. Made. The righteousness. Of God. In him. It is possible. That you can be holy. As the righteousness. Of God. [18:32] In Christ. Is granted to you. And. Yet. We need to be urged. Daily. Don't we? To be provoked. And to provoke. [18:43] That we can. Return to God's pathway. To God's principles. For God hath not called us. To uncleanness. But unto holiness. We read. 1 Thessalonians 4. [18:55] Verse 7. And. It tells us. In Revelation 22. Of a holy city. Where. Is God. Where. Is. [19:06] God. He is the high. And lofty one. He inhabits. Eternity. From. Woe. To go. From. A. To Z. To. Alpha. [19:17] To Omega. He inhabits. Eternity. Beyond time. And space. He is the high. And lofty one. Look up. Look up. To the heavenly father. The authority. [19:29] The king of kings. And come under him. Look up. To the holy one. He inhabits. The high. And holy place. [19:41] And he's got a holy city. Just about. Finished. As it were. Well I'm sure. I'm guessing really. [19:52] I could kind of. Jokingly say. The angels are still putting some. Last coats of paint. On it for us. But. Thank God. The holy city. It's going to come down from heaven. [20:03] And. The Lord Jesus says. I'm preparing a place for you. That where I am. There. You. May be also. Where is that place? [20:14] It's the holy city. There'll be nothing unclean there. Hmm. But thank God. They'll be the. The ones who have been cleaned. [20:25] Will be there. Thank God for that. God hath not caught us to uncleanness. But unto holiness. And thank God for that. So where. When you're looking for God. Look. To that. [20:36] Holy. Place. That holy one. And thirdly. We see. Where. We find him. In the humble. We find him in the humble. Look for the humble. [20:48] He's there. I'm glad. I know some humble people. I won't tell. I won't tell them who they are. Because they'll get proud. But. There's some humble people in this church. [20:58] Amen. There's some people who are humble. And. And. And. Not proud of it. They're. They're humble people. And God. God looks for the humble. He looks for the humble. [21:09] We read. For thus. Saith the high and. Lofty one. That inhabiteth eternity. His name is holy. I dwell in the high and. Holy place. With him also. That is I. [21:19] Contrite. And humble spirit. To revive the spirit of the humble. And to revive the heart. Of the contrite ones. The wonder of it. Is that the one who inhabits eternity. Comes and dwells. [21:31] With an immortal man. He visits the humble heart. He visits the contrite spirit. He. Comes to the yielded heart. The wonder of it. That your heart. [21:42] If it can be humbled. Before his throne. If your heart. Can be humbled. Before his highness. Before his holiness. That it can be made. His residence. That our heart. [21:52] Can become. His royal throne. The high and holy one. Can stoop down. And touch. Your life. And mine. And dwell in you. And with you. [22:04] The one. Of whom it says. And being found. And in fashion. As a man. He humbled himself. And became obedient. Unto death. Even the death. Of the cross. That this one. [22:14] Who inhabits eternity. Can visit. And make you. His dwelling place. Consider that. Awesome price. Of eternal life. Of eternal salvation. Are you one. [22:25] Who will walk humbly. With your God. Where is God? If you're a Christian. Here today. He is in you. And you are in him. [22:36] The one who inhabits eternity. The high and holy one. He indwells you. He fills you. He inhabits you. As his yielded vessel. [22:48] So you can be the church. You can be the church. You can be that bride. Without spot. Or wrinkle. Or any such thing. [22:59] How can we? It's by the holy word. Taking its effect. Matthew 13. We read of the different types of soil. There was a hard heart. A hard heart. [23:10] The seed was rejected. Bounced off. There was no fruit. The shallow heart. Just an emotional response. No depth. No fruit. A crowded heart. [23:22] Full of the cares. And sins. No repentance. No fruit. Or a fruitful heart. A bountiful harvest. A fruitful Christian. [23:33] God's plan is that we bear fruit. The fruit of holiness. Friends, to close. Think of it. The high and holy one. He reaches you. [23:43] He hears you. He stoops down. He wants to hear you pray to him. He wants to hear you cry out. In contrition. In repentance. In yieldedness. In surrender. [23:55] That we might walk worthy of him. Unto all pleasing. Being fruitful. In every good work. Colossians 1. 10. You can be his vessel. A container. [24:06] A vessel. That God can fill. You can be saved. If you can be one. Of the contrite. One. Of the humble. [24:16] It's whenever we big note ourselves. Or think of ourselves. Of any note. That we miss the boat. God bypasses. But if you can be one of the humble. [24:30] If you can be one of the contrite. Here today. And we've been stirred. By the messages already. God can revive. The spirit. Of the humble. [24:40] And revive the heart. Of the contrite ones. If you're not humble. He will bypass you. He will bypass you. You'll be left in death. You can't revive. [24:52] The one. Who is not humble. God resisted the proud. But giveth grace unto the humble. James 4.6 A work of life. Is spoken of here. [25:02] Friends. This is life. To know him. This is life. It's revival. There's a restoration. There's a refreshing. There's a renewal. There's a rejoicing in revival. [25:13] In Psalm 85.6 Wilt thou not revive us again. That thy people may rejoice in thee. The humble heart can sing. Because he has done the work. The humble heart can be made holy. [25:25] Because he comes and occupies the throne. The humble heart can rejoice for sins forgiven. For a home in heaven. For the holy city. [25:36] For the holy one. Turn to him today. Friends. If you're outside of Christ today. There's great danger. [25:50] You might. Some might. Care to think. That. As the phrase goes. I'm alright Jack. She'll be right. [26:01] You know. The Aussie. Attitude. But we must come. As the contrite. As the humble. And realise. An absolute. [26:12] Utter need of him. The need of the eternal. The need of the high and holy one. Outside of him. We're held captive. Under the dominion. [26:24] Of sin. And death. But the most high God. Dwells. In that place. The most high. Dwells. In that place. The humble. [26:35] The contrite. Heart. Of man. Let us pray. Lord. We thank you. That we can rejoice. In that joy. Of sins forgiven. [26:46] Of a home in heaven. That holy city. Not by virtue. Of any doing. That we have done. Lord. We thank you. That you are. The royal highness. You are. [27:00] His holiness. No man can claim such a title. Lord. We thank you. That we can come. And bow the knee. And bow our heart. Our will. [27:11] That you can. Enter the yielded heart. You can draw us. By your spirit. That we can come. To that knowledge. The wonder of it all. [27:21] We thank you. Lord. For salvation. That in salvation. We find you. And you find us really. More so. Lord. We thank you. [27:31] For the wonder of it. In Jesus name. night.