I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!
Psalm 139:7
One of the things that you might notice when you read from both the Old and New Testament is that the Holy Spirit functions in a different way. In the Old Testament, we see times where the Holy Spirit would come into a person so he or she could share messages for God as His prophets. We see that it enabled men to have incredible power and strength to face the enemies of Israel like Samson. Once the person was used for the purpose of God, the Holy Spirit would then depart. In the New Testament, we find that when a person becomes a follower of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit lives inside of them. That means that God doesn't leave us, He stays with us wherever we go.
One Old Testament person that got a taste of this function of the Spirit was King David. After he was anointed as king, the Bible says that, "The Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power" (1 Kings 16:13). He sensed God walking with him, and he wrote songs under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. In reflecting on being filled with the Holy Spirit, he wrote Psalm 139. It is here that David gave those before Jesus Christ a glimpse of what it would be like to have the presence of God living and active in their lives. He says regardless of where I go I can't escape or get away from Your presence. David knew that God was with him no matter what.
This world can be a hard, cold, and lonely place. One of the great things about being a follower of Jesus Christ is that we don't have to face this life alone. After Jesus rose from the dead, He promised the disciples that they would be filled with the Holy Spirit. This was meant to encourage them that they didn't have to face the challenges in this world alone. He promised them that the presence of God was going to dwell inside of them and equip them with the power to accomplish His purposes. Now we can say with David, "Where could I go from Your presence?" Because we know that God is with us no matter what.
When you think about God being with you no matter what you're facing, how does that make you feel? Our hope is that it would give you great confidence just as it did the original disciples. They were ordinary, but God made them extraordinary through the power of the Holy Spirit. What is something that you are facing today that you need God's comfort in walking through?
Read Psalm 139:1-12 (NLT)
O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!
I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans,even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.
©2024 Sagebrush Church
