The Presence of Christ

1. Read: Hebrews 13:5-6 “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’”

2. About the Text:

1) In Matthew 28:20, Jesus promised to be with His disciples always.

2) The book of Hebrews is about faithfulness to Christ.

3) At the close of this epistle, we read about Christ’s faithfulness.

4) He will not leave us or forsake us.

3. The doctrine of the presence of God and Christ is full of comfort and hope.

1) Read Psalm 139:1-18.

2) Eph.4:6 – “one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Read Hebrews 13:5-6

2. To be content means to be satisfied with what one is or has.

1) We struggle with this because we always want more of something.

2) We also desire to be something other than what we are under the guise of seeking to better ourselves.

3) There is great blessing, however, in being satisfied with who we are and what we have.

3. Christ’s presence brings contentment.

1) When we have God, we have everything.

2) The book of Lamentations is a lament over the destruction of the city of Jerusalem.

3) Nevertheless, consider Jeremiah’s words in Lamentations 3:21-24: “This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!’”

4) When our attitude is “The LORD is my portion,” we have all things because Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.”

5) Psalm 84:11 says, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.”

6) And Matthew 6:33 tells us that God will provide all the things we worry about.

7) Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

8) Psalm 16:11 “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore;” also quoted in Acts 2:28.

4. Are we satisfied with God? We should be.

1. Read Hebrews 13:5-6

2. We need Christ’s help in our lives.

1) “And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her’” (Luke 10:41-42).

2) “I need Thee every hour Most gracious Lord No tender voice like Thine Can peace afford.” / “I need Thee every hour Stay Thou nearby Temptations lose their power When Thou art nigh.” / “I need Thee every hour In joy or pain Come quickly and abide Or life is vain.” / “I need Thee, O I need Thee Every hour I need Thee O bless me now, my Savior I come to Thee.”

3) Psalm 28:7 states, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.”

4) Psalm 33:20 says, “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.”

5) Psalm 121:2 says, “My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.”

3. God always helps.

1) God helps the helpless – Psalm 10:14 – “But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, To repay it by Your hand. The helpless commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.”

2) He helps in times of trouble – Psalm 46:1 declares, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

3) God helps when we are discouraged – Psalm 42:5 – “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.”

4) God helps the poor – Psalm 70:5 – “But I am poor and needy; Make haste to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay.”

5) God helps those who fear Him – Psalm 115:11 – “You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.”

4. Do we allow the presence of God to help us?

1. Read Hebrews 13:5-6

2. What is fear?

1) Fear is a feeling of dread, distress, or anxiety that prompts us to either fight or flee.

2) God exhorts us to not allow fear to control our lives.

3) Psalm 17:2 says, “Let my vindication come from Your presence; Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright.”

3. Knowing Christ is present reduces and can eliminate fear if we trust in Him.

1) God told the Israelites not be afraid in battle – Deuteronomy 20:3 – “And he shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; for the Lord your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.’”

2) Moses told Joshua in Deuteronomy 31:6 – “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

3) Psalm 91:1-2, 5-6 – “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust. . . . You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.’”

4) Jeremiah 1:8 – “Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.”

5) John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

4. Are we fearless knowing that God is with us?

1. In studying Hebrews 13:5-6 we’ve learned three blessings of Christ’s presence.

1) Contentment

2) Help

3) Fearlessness

2. Invitation