c) Teaching the Lesson

Purpose of the Lesson
• Begin to understand more about where God is and what He is like
• Recognize God’s nearness and His continual presence
• Recognize His willingness to answer when we call

Prayer

Almighty God, we want to learn more about You. Help us understand the things we read in your Word each day. We need to know where You are when we call on You. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

This lesson will stretch our minds, as we learn more about who God is and what He is like.

His greatness is beyond our imagination. The human mind cannot even begin to comprehend the awesomeness of God! Our God created everything that has being or existence.

The mysteries and exquisite detail involved in everything God created, even the minute detail in one human cell, is beyond our understanding. How can any human being even begin to understand the God who created all that magnificent detail? He is truly a majestic, all-knowing God.

But, mystery of mysteries, God tells us that He wants us to know Him! Therefore, we know it is possible to know about God because He reveals Himself through the pages of the Bible. The more we read and study the entire Bible and apply its truths to our daily living, the better we will know Him, and the more meaningful our fellowship with Him will be

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1. Where does God dwell?

Optional: Download 'God is light and in Him is no darkness' music video

1 Timothy 6: 15b – 16a

God is unapproachable because of the brightness of His supreme holiness and purity. But God reveals Himself to us in ways which we can understand. We learn to draw near to God through the book He has written - the Bible.

DOWNLOAD Bible for Children 'Heaven God's Beautiful Home' adapted PowerPoint Adapted from Bible for Children.

2. What does the Bible say about where God does not live?

A. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. Acts 17: 24 - 25

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B. But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. 1 Kings 8: 27a

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The Bible says God is not limited to living in buildings made for Him, or even limited to the “heaven of heavens,” which we would call space. In the light of what the Bible says, we must say that God does not “live” in the way we think of dwelling in a place.

God’s presence fills all the earth, all of heaven, and all of space. Since the space He made is unlimited, we know that God is even beyond space! Does that help you see what a great God He is?

God is with us, whether we are aware of it or not! Many times He takes care of our needs or keeps us from danger when we are not even aware of it.

Solomon, the king of Israel, built a magnificent temple to the Lord, but recognized that God could not be contained in a temple. His immensity is not limited to a place. He is present everywhere, but all things are not filled to the same degree.

“He does not dwell on earth as He does in heaven, in animals as He does in man, in the inorganic as He does in the organic creation, in the wicked as He does the [righteous], nor in the Church as He does in Christ.”

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3. If God lives in unapproachable light and does not live in temples or buildings, what does the Bible say about where He does live on earth?

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4: 12

Since the book of First John was written to Christians, the “us” in verse 12 refers to people who believe in Jesus; those who have put their trust in Him.

Christian author A.W. Tozer, in speaking of the omnipresence of God said, “God is everywhere here, He is close to everything, next to everyone.”

Read Isaiah 57:15a ......

For thus says the High and Lofty One
Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
"I dwell in the high and holy place"

This verse says that although God is completely unapproachable, He reaches down to lift up those who humble themselves before Him. God is above everyone. God is everywhere. There is no place we can hide from Him.

Read Jeremiah 23:24b . . . . .

"Do I not fill heaven and earth?" says the Lord .

God penetrates every aspect of our lives. Every place in all the universe and in all of space is filled with His presence.

While God is the Creator of all nature, He is not only the God of nature, but the God of all history. He controls and directs the affairs of all humanity. He is a real, divine person who gives Himself to those who desire a vital relationship with Him. Through Jesus Christ, God is immediately accessible to anyone who wants to come to Him.

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4. Write about a time when you were aware of God’s presence or of a time when you were aware that God was doing something special for you. Be sure to include your reaction to this experience.

God wants to reveal truth about Himself to each of us. He allows things to come into our lives to get our attention, so we will know that we need a power beyond ourselves to live in this ever-changing, sin-filled world.

Read Romans 1:20. . . . .

20  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

God has revealed His invisible attributes, His eternal power, and His divine nature to all people through His creation. So people are without excuse, because the only way creation can be explained is to say that God made it.

God has revealed Himself to us in other ways besides the Bible and
creation. He reveals Himself to everyone through their consciences. The Bible says that all people have an innate knowledge of God.

Read about it in Romans 2:15b -16 . . . . .

"Their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them ) 16  in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel."

One of the attributes of God which we mentioned in last week’s lesson was His omnipresence. Omni means “all,” so the word means God is present everywhere. God is not bound by space. God, in the total of His being, without being divided, multiplied, or defused, penetrates and fills the whole universe in all its parts. God is everywhere
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5. How does the omnipresence of God comfort you when sadness, sickness and disaster strikes?
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GOD WITH US

6. The following Bible verses give assurance of God’s presence. Read them and memorize the one that fits your situation or would be a help to someone you know.

• Exodus 33: 14 The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

• Psalm 16: 11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

• Psalm 21: 6 Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.

• Psalm 31: 20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them from all human intrigues; you keep them safe in your dwelling from accusing tongues.

• Psalm 46: 1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.

• Psalm 89: 15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, LORD.

• Psalm 21: 6 Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.

• Psalm 31: 20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them from all human intrigues; you keep them safe in your dwelling from accusing tongues.

• Psalm 46: 1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.

• Psalm 89: 15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, LORD.

• Psalm 139: 7 – 12 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

• John 14: 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

If one of these verses would be a help or a comfort to someone you know, plan the best way to share it with that friend.

We can't hide from God. He knows all about us. He knows what we are going to say before we say it and what we are going to do before we do it. It is foolish to play "Hide and Seek" with God. Besides, the reason God comes seeking is because He loves us and wants to bless us. Why would we want to hide from His blessing?

6. APPLICATION/ENCOUNTERING GOD:

CLOSING PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I am thankful that even though you know everything about me, you still love me anyway. Thank you for leading and guiding me, thank you for your presence where I can rest and be protected from harm. Thank you for your promise that you will come back for me and take me to be with you in Heaven for ever. Amen.

TAKE HOME ACTIVITY:

DOWNLOAD Bible for Children 'Heaven God's Beautiful Home' Take home Colouring Pages for the Junior Youth. Adapted from Bible for Children.

In this lesson, we have learned about God’s continual presence in our individual lives. Next week we will learn that God knows each of us personally and loves us intimately.

Take Home Weekly Bible Readings: LESSON #5

Print 'Weekly Bible Verse Readings', one for each youth to take home.

During the week, while at home, read the Bible verses below, each of the verses gave an answer to our question-where is God? Take time to answers to each question we will review it in the next class.

1. Psalm 34: 18

The  Lord  is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

(Where is God when you need Him?) .............

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2. Psalm 103: 19

The  Lord  has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all.

(Where is God's throne?) ..................

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3. Psalm 145: 18

The  Lord   is  near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.

(What does this verse tell us about God? ............

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4. Isaiah 37:16

"O  Lord  of hosts, God of Israel,  the One  who dwells  between  the cherubim, You  are  God, You  alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 

(Where does this verse say God dwells?) ..........

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5. Isaiah 40:22

It is  He who sits above the circle of the earth,
And its inhabitants  are  like grasshoppers,
Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in.

(What does this verse tell us about where God is?) .......

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6.  Isaiah 43:2

When you pass through the waters, I  will be  with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.

(Where is the Lord when you are in trouble?) .........

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7. Jeremiah 23: 23-24

23  "Am I a God near at hand," says the  Lord ,
"And not a God afar off?
24  Can anyone hide himself in secret places,
So I shall not see him?" says the  Lord ;
"Do I not fill heaven and earth?" says the  Lord .

(Where does God say He is all the time?)..............

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Prayer

O God, we are overwhelmed by your majesty! How can we ever know the fullness of who You are? You are hidden in light-which cannot be approached. What You are is beyond our ability to express. The Bible plainly tells us that You want us to know You. As we study this next week, open our eyes to see new truths. We worship You. In Jesus' name, amen.

DOWNLOAD Weekly Bible Readings: LESSON #5

This week while at home write your testimony of how your concept of God has changed since you started this class.

DOWNLOAD Lesson #5 Teaching Manual

NEXT WEEK: Lesson #6 Does God Know Me? In this Lesson we will recognize the fact that God knows us as individuals, begin to understand that God’s love never changes. As we mature in Christ we will desire to have meaningful fellowship with God and talk to Him through Prayer.