The Omnipresence of God: “Ubiquity” 上帝的無所不在 The infinite God is entirely, undividedly present, at each point of creation in each moment of time 無限的上帝全然地,不分割地,在創造的每個地點,每個時刻都在。 “All” of God is “every where” “all the time!” 上帝的全部,在全地,全時候都在。 In a transcendent manner God’s essence fills all space! Being infinite there can be no limit to His Presence! 上帝的本質超然地充滿全部空間!祂的無限使祂的同在不受任何限制!
God must be Omnipresent in order to be… 上帝必然是無所不在,才能夠… “Omniscient:” to know all & “to see all” (Isa. 40:13-4; Job 34:21-2) 「無所不知」-全然知道,全然看見(賽40:13-14;伯34:21-22)。 “Creator,” “Preserver,” & “Governor” of everything (Gen. 1:1; Heb. 1:3; Acts 17:27-28). 祂是萬物的「造物主」,「保全者」,「治理者」(創1:1;來1:3;徒17:27-28)。 His Presence is inseparable from His Power & life giving energy 祂的同在與祂的能力和賜生命的能量是分不開的。
The Glorious Harmony of all God’s attributes 上帝所有的屬性榮耀的和諧 Because God is “infinite” He must be “everywhere” 因為上帝是「無限的」,所以祂必是「隨處都在」。 Because “The LORD our God is one LORD” all of God must be everywhere. He is not divisible into parts or pieces. 因為「主我們的神是一位主」 ,所以全然的神必是隨處都在。祂不能分成各個部分。 Because God is “Eternal” all of God has always been & will always be everywhere for ever. 因為上帝是「永恆的」 ,所以全部的神過去永遠都無所不在。
The Omnipresent God is Independent from His Creation 無所不在的上帝獨存于祂的造物之外 God is everywhere but He is not everything (Pantheism) 上帝無所不在,但祂不是萬物(泛神論)。 All things have their being in God but God is distinct from all things (Acts 17:24-28) 萬物都在乎上帝,但上帝與萬物有別(徒17:24-28)。 God fills the Universe but He is distinct from it (I Kings 8:27; Neh. 9:6; Eph. 4:9-10) 上帝充滿宇宙,但祂與宇宙有別(王上8:27;尼9:6;弗4:9-10)。
God’s Omnipresence exposes the absurdity of Idolatry 上帝的無所不在揭發拜偶像的荒謬 The 2nd of the 10 Commandments 十誡第二誡, (Ex. 20:4) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image… of any thing in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth: 出20:4 - 不可為自己雕刻偶像,也不可做什麼形像彷彿上天、下地,和地底下、水中的百物。 We must not worship a created thing! Only the Creator. 我們不可敬拜受造物!只能敬拜造物主。
出20:5 -不可跪拜那些像,也不可事奉他,因為我耶和華你的神是忌邪的神。 (Exo 20:5) Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God…” 出20:5 -不可跪拜那些像,也不可事奉他,因為我耶和華你的神是忌邪的神。 If you are keeping any idols in your home or office read the following Scriptures and realize the danger you are in! 倘若你在家中或办公室存有偶像,請讀下列經文,明白其中危險! (Ps. 115:3-8; Isaiah 44:6-20; Deut. 27:15; Ps. 97:7; Jer. 10:3-6, 14-15; I Cor. 10:7-14; 2 Cor. 6:16-17; Rev. 9:20; Romans 1:21-23) (詩115:3-8;賽44:6-20;申27:15;詩97:7;耶10:3-6,14-15;林前10:7-14;林後6:16-17;啟9:20;羅1:21-23)
Experiencing the Presence of God Transforms our life! 經歷上帝的同在改變我們的生命 ! (Heb 13:5) “… be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 來13:5 -你們…要以自己所有的為足;因為主曾說:『我總不撇下你,也不丟棄你。』 The closer we are to God the less we worry about other things (Ps. 37:25; Isa. 41:17). 我們與上帝越親近,我們就越不擔憂(詩37:25;賽41:17)。 Illustration: When Annie got cancer
Experiencing the Presence of God Transforms our life! 經歷上帝的同在改變我們的生命 ! The LORD “will be with thee, Fear not, neither be dismayed” (Deut. 31:8; 31:6; Isa. 41:10; Gen. 28:15; Josh. 1:5; Rev 22:3-5) 耶和華必在你前面行;他必與你同在,必不撇下你,也不丟棄你。不要懼怕,也不要驚惶。(申31:8,31:6;赛41:10;创28:15;书1:5,启22:3-5)
All God’s Divine Attributes function in Glorious Harmony 上帝所有的屬性都榮耀和諧地運作 The Creator has a glorious purpose “in Christ” for everything (Prov. 16:4; Rev. 4:11; Eph. 1:9-12). (We each have a Purpose!) 造物主「在基督裡」對萬物都有榮耀的目的 (箴16:4;啟4:11;弗1:9-12)。 All Creation manifests the “design” of its Omnipotent, Omniscient Creator. (We were designed to fulfill our Purpose) 所有造物都表彰它們無所不能,無所不知造物主的「設計」。
只有當我麼獲得對上帝的真知識,我們才能回答生命最重要的問題(箴1:7;伯28:28;詩11:10)。 Thus we can only answer life’s most important questions as we gain a true knowledge of God (Prov. 1:7; Job 28:28; Ps. 11:10) 只有當我麼獲得對上帝的真知識,我們才能回答生命最重要的問題(箴1:7;伯28:28;詩11:10)。 (Prov. 9:10) “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 箴9:10 - 敬畏耶和華是智慧的開端;認識至聖者便是聰明。 As we get to know God & His Word we learn: “Where did I come from?” “Why am I here?” “What is my Purpose?” 當我們認識上帝以及祂的話語,我們得知: 我從何處來?我為何在此? 我人生的目的為何?
The Omnipresence of God is a spiritual reality 上帝的無所不在是一個屬靈的實際 (Psalm 139:7-10) “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 詩139:7 - 我往那裡去躲避你的靈?我往那裡逃、躲避你的面? (8) If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there…” (God fills infinite space!) 139:8 -我若升到天上,你在那裡;
“… if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there” …我若在陰間下榻,你也在那裡。 2010 Chile mine collapse (33 men) “In his hand are the deep places of the earth…” (Ps. 95:4) 詩95:4 -地的深處在他手中…
(Ps 95:6) “O come, let us worship & bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” 詩95:6 - 來啊,我們要屈身敬拜,在造我們的耶和華面前跪下。 Mónica Araya, wife of first man rescued, Florencio Ávalos, noted: "We are really religious, both my husband & I, so God was always present”
The Omnipresence of God (Psalm 139:7-10) 上帝的無所不在(詩篇139:7-10) (9) If I take the wings of the morning, & dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 139:9 - 我若展開清晨的翅膀,飛到海極居住, (10) Even there shall thy hand lead me, & thy right hand shall hold me. (John 10:27-30) 139:10 - 就是在那裡,你的手必引導我; 你的右手也必扶持我 (約10:27-30)。
The spiritual battle with Materialism, Humanism & Atheism 與物質主義,人本主義,無神主義的屬靈爭戰 Materialists would have us believe this World is strictly material and runs by itself. (time & chance with no design or purpose) 物質主義者相信世界僅有物質,並自我運作(時間與機率,無設計或目的)。 But God’s Word & experience make it clear this world is primarily spiritual & run by unseen powers (Good & evil!) (Hebrews 11:3; Gen. 1:2; Job 26:13; 33:4; Ps. 104:30; Titus 3:5) 但上帝的話語和經驗清楚告知:世界主要是靈性的,且被看不見的力量管理(來11:3;創1:2;伯26:13,33:4;詩104:30;多3:5)。
Jesus is the Omnipresent Creator 耶穌是無所不在的造物主 We previously studied the Scriptures that reveal Jesus is God (John 1:1-3; Col. 1:15-17; Heb. 1:1-3) 我們之前已研究過啟示耶穌是上帝的經文 (約1:1-3;西1:15-17;來1:1-3), Jesus told us: “… I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matt. 28:20) 耶穌告訴我們:…我就常與你們同在,直到世界的末了 (太28:20)。
Jesus is the Omnipresent Creator (John 3:13 KJB) 耶穌是無所不在的造物主(約3:13) “No man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven” 「除了從天降下、仍舊在天的人子,沒有人升過天」。 Spiritually Jesus could be in more than one place at the same time! So can we “in Christ” (Eph. 2:6; I Cor. 5:3-4), 就屬靈而言,耶穌可以同時在不同地方;因此我們「在基督裡」也可以(弗2:6;林前5:3-4)。
Miraculous events reveal the Omnipresence of Jesus 奇跡的發生顯明耶穌的無所不在 (John 4:46) Jesus came to Cana of Galilee. There was a nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. (16 miles away) 約4:46 –耶穌來到加利利的迦拿,有一個大臣,他的兒子在迦百農患病 (16英里之外)。 (4:47) The nobleman besought Jesus that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. 4:47 – 大臣求他下去醫治他的兒子,因為他兒子快要死了。
The Miracle of the Nobleman & the Omnipresent Jesus 大臣的奇跡與無所不在的耶穌 (John 4:50) Jesus said: “Go thy way; thy son liveth. The man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, & he went his way.” 約4:50 -耶穌對他說:「回去吧,你的兒子活了!」那人信耶穌所說的話就回去了。 Just trust God’s Word! Believe what He says. 只要信靠上帝的話語!相信祂所說的。
約4:51 -正下去的時候,他的僕人迎見他,說他的兒子活了。 (John 4:51) As he was going down, his servants met him, & told him: “Thy son liveth.” 約4:51 -正下去的時候,他的僕人迎見他,說他的兒子活了。 (52) He asked them the hour when he began to amend. They said “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 4:52 -他就問什麼時候見好的。他們說:「昨日未時熱就退了。 (53) So the father knew it was the same hour Jesus said unto him: “Thy son liveth: & himself believed, & his whole house.” 4:53 -他便知道這正是耶穌對他說「你兒子活了」的時候;他自己和全家就都信了。
Impact of God’s Omnipresence on Prayer 上帝的無所不知對禱告的影響 We Know we can pray for people 1000’s of miles away and our Omnipresent God is there to answer them. 我們可以為千里之外的人禱告,無所不在的上帝會在那裡回應我們的祈禱。 Illustration: Jacob de Shazer’s mothers prayer
Jesus is LORD of Space: Omnipresent! 耶穌是空間的主:無所不在 He instantly knows everything that happens or will happen to us! (John 2:24-25; 16:30; 18:4; 21:17; Matt. 9:4) 祂即時知道現在,或將要發生在我們身上的事 (約2:24-25, 16:30, 18:4, 21:17;太9:4)。 He does not have to travel to be anywhere. He’s already everywhere. (Eph. 4:8-10; Ps. 30:4) 祂不需旅行到某處,祂已在各處(弗4:8-10;詩30:4)。
Jesus’ Omnipresence impacts our Prayer 耶穌的無所不在影響我們的禱告 (Matt. 18:20) For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. 太18:20 - 因為無論在那裡,有兩三個人奉我的名聚會,那裡就有我在他們中間。 Illus: The Muslim who came to Christ as a result of Christ’s presence in Prayer!
Impact of God’s Omnipresence on Prayer 上帝的無所不在影響我們的禱告 Illustration: When working with OM in Israel, a fellow laborer shared a powerful evangelism experience his group had with a Muslim. They had shared the Gospel but he said he was not ready to believe in Jesus yet. They asked him if they could pray for him before they left. He said yes.
How do you read the following sentence? 你如何讀這幾個字? “GODISNOWHERE” Most read: GOD IS NO WHERE What it really says: GOD IS NOW HERE
God is ‘immanent’ in His works & ‘transcendent’ above them 上帝在祂的工作「之中」,但「超然」于它們之上 (Jer 23:23) “Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? (immanent) 耶23:23 - 耶和華說:「我豈為近處的神呢?不也為遠處的神嗎?」 (23:24) Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven & earth? saith the LORD.” (transcendent) 23:24 - 耶和華說:「人豈能在隱密處藏身,使我看不見他呢?耶和華說:我豈不充滿天地嗎? 」
The Paradox of God’s Immanence & Transcendence (John 14:17; I Cor How can God be everywhere yet seem to be nowhere? 上帝如何能夠無處不在,又好像都不在呢? Because “Where” has to do with matter & space & God is independent of both. God is “Spirit” 因為「何處」與物質和空間相關,而上帝在它們之外。 上帝是「靈」。 He is totally independent of our Time / Space domain 祂完全獨立于我們時間/空間的領域。
In Christ we are enabled to “step into” God’s Realm 在基督裡,我們能夠「踏進」上帝的領域 (John 4:23) “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit & in truth: 約4:23 -時候將到,如今就是了,那真正拜父的,要用心靈和誠實拜他, for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 因為父要這樣的人拜他。 (4:24) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” 4:23 -神是靈,所以拜他的必須用心靈和誠實拜他。
Right now we are all surrounded by an incredibly amazing World we can’t experience if we don’t have a… 我們被環繞在無比奇妙的世界,但如果沒有這些就無法經歷… Television: marvelous movies are always playing but we can’t see them without the T.V. 電視:電影在上演,但沒電視就看不見, Radio: amazing music is constantly being broadcast on radio waves but we can’t hear them without a radio 廣播:音樂在播放,但沒有收音機就聽不見。 iPhone or iPad:
The Atheist’s “foolish” mistake (Ps Because you can’t see TV waves with the naked eye (without a TV) does not make them nonexistent! 肉眼看不見電視波,不使得它們不存在! Because you can’t hear the radio waves (without a radio) does not make them nonexistent! 耳朵聽不見無線電波,不使得它們不存在! Because the atheist doesn’t have the Holy Spirit, & can’t experience God, doesn’t mean God doesn’t exist! 無神論者沒有聖靈,無法經歷上帝,不表示上帝不存在!
The Omnipresent God will seem far away if you… 無所不在的上帝好似很遠,如果你… … are spiritually dead: 靈性是死亡的: (Isa 59:2) “your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. (Jer. 5:25; Ezek. 39:23-24) 賽59:2 - 但你們的罪孽使你們與神隔絕;你們的罪惡使他掩面不聽你們 (耶5:25;結39:23-24)。 Our Hope through Faith in Christ: (Eph 2:1) “you hath he quickened, who were dead in sins” 我們相信基督的盼望(弗2:1)- 你們死在過犯罪惡之中,他叫你們活過來。
約3:5 - 耶穌說:「…人若不是從水和聖靈生的, 就不能進神的國。 How Can I Experience the glory of God’s Presence? 1st we must be “born again” of God’s Spirit 我如何經歷上帝同在的榮耀? 首先,我們必須藉上帝的靈「重生」 (John 3:5) Jesus said: “… Except a man be born of water & of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 約3:5 - 耶穌說:「…人若不是從水和聖靈生的, 就不能進神的國。 (3:6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (read John 1:11-13; Ezek. 36:25-27) 約3:6 - 從肉身生的就是肉身;從靈生的就是靈 (約1:11-13;結36:25-27)。
約14:23 耶穌回答說:「人若愛我,就必遵守我的道; 我父也必愛他, Keep God’s Word & you will Experience God’s Presence 遵守上帝的話語,你就會經歷上帝的同在 (John 14:23) Jesus said: “… If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, 約14:23 耶穌回答說:「人若愛我,就必遵守我的道; 我父也必愛他, & we will come unto him, & make our abode with him” (see 14:21; 16:13-15; Ps. 119:11) 並且我們要到他那裡去,與他同住。 (看約14:21,16:13-15;詩119:11)
Genuine Humility is necessary to experience the Presence of God 必須有真實的謙卑才能經歷上帝的臨在。 (Isa 66:2) Thus saith the LORD: “… to this man will I look, even to him that is poor & of a contrite spirit, & trembleth at my word.” (also Isa. 57:15) 賽66:2 -耶和華說:…..但我所看顧的,就是虛心痛悔、 因我話而戰兢的人。(參賽57:15)
Once we enter God’s Spiritual Realm we find God to be our Strength in Trouble & Peace in the Storms of life 一旦我們進入上帝屬靈的領域,我們就發現祂是我們 患難中的力量,風暴中的平安 (Ps. 46:1) “…God is our refuge & strength, a very present help in trouble. 詩46:1 - 神是我們的避難所,是我們的力量, 是我們在患難中隨時的幫助。 (46:2) Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, & though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea 46:2 -所以,地雖改變,山雖搖動到海心我們也不害怕。
It is up to us to seek the presence of God in conscious experience You might feel lonely at times but you are never alone 或許你有時感到孤獨,但你絕不孤單 It is up to us to seek the presence of God in conscious experience 我們要有意識地尋求上帝的同在,成為人生的經歷。 (Jer 29:13) “ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” 耶29:13 -你們尋求我,若專心尋求我,就必尋見。 (Ps. 16:11) Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. 詩16:11 -你必將生命的道路指示我。在你面前有滿足的喜樂;在你右手中有永遠的福樂。