GOD IS OMNIPRESENT - EVERYWHERE
Omnipresence means God is present everywhere, in all spaces and places.
Omni comes from the Latin prefix omni, which means “all.” There are three Omni terms to describe God: Omnipresent (Everywhere), Omniscient (all-knowing), and Omnipotent (all-powerful).
Scriptural Basis: David captures this attribute of God beautifully in Psalm 139:7-10 NLT
No place is beyond God’s reach - whether in heaven, hell, the depths of the sea, or your heart. God’s omnipresence is powerfully depicted across many other scriptures. God declares Himself both near and far, filling heaven and earth, and is unable to be hidden from. No person can elude God or exist beyond his knowledge or reach. All persons are fully known to God. As you can imagine, God’s omnipresence is both a source of comfort and warning, depending on one’s relationship and reverence for God.
Jeremiah 23:21-24 “I have not sent these prophets, yet they run around claiming to speak for me. I have given them no message, yet they go on prophesying. 22 If they had stood before me and listened to me, they would have spoken my words, and they would have turned my people from their evil ways and deeds. 23 Am I a God who is only close at hand?” says the Lord. “No, I am far away at the same time. 24 Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” says the Lord.
Notice that the prophets could be in the presence of God to properly hear from Him.
God’s presence is so vast that not even the highest heaven can contain Him. 1 Kings 8:27-30 “But will God really live on earth? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built! 28 Nevertheless, listen to my prayer and my plea, O Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you today. 29 May you watch over this Temple night and day, this place where you have said, ‘My name will be there.’ May you always hear the prayers I make toward this place. 30 May you hear the humble and earnest requests from me and your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, hear us from heaven where you live, and when you hear, forgive.
Proverbs 15:3 The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.
Further understanding: God is present everywhere, in all spaces and places; however, this should not be misunderstood as God physically occupying space. God’s omnipresence is best understood in connection with another divine attribute: God is Spirit.
God is not physical; He is immaterial. Jesus says, “God is Spirit, and He must be worshiped in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). God is not restricted to any one place because He is Spirit. This means we can worship God anywhere because He is Spirit and He is everywhere!
God is without spatial dimensions, having no size, and is present everywhere because He is not localized anywhere. As the creator of space, God is free from spatial limitations. -Susanne Calhoun, “God’s Omnipresence,” in Lexham Survey of Theology, ed. Mark Ward et al. (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2018)
The Omnipresence of God sets Him apart from all other so-called gods.
The declaration of God’s omnipresence in the Old Testament (Ps 139:7–10) directly challenged the false gods of the ancient Near East, who were conceived as territorial gods in charge of specific regions. These gods and their powers had clear boundaries. In contrast, Yahweh was extolled as the “one true God” because his presence and power have no limits (1 Kgs 20:28). Calhoun, S. (2018). God’s Omnipresence. In M. Ward, J. Parks, B. Ellis, & T. Hains (Eds.), Lexham Survey of Theology. Lexham Press.
“We cannot say that some of God or just part of God is present…God is present with his whole being in every part of space.” -Wayne Grudem
God’s omnipresence does not take away the fact that God can be personal and close.
God is everywhere, but His presence can also be in a specific place for a specific purpose. The tabernacle and temple are the primary Old Testament examples of this reality (1 Kgs 8:27–29). God tabernacled among His people, and this was initiated by God's choosing. God gave instructions and the means to construct a tent, the tabernacle, until the temple was later built. This was the benevolent heart of God to choose a people for himself and to dwell among them.
We are renovated for His presence! Since Pentecost (Acts 2), the Holy Spirit is said to dwell within the bodies of believers (1 Cor 6:19). Temple imagery continues in the New Testament. As the Spirit indwells believers in the body of Christ, we become God’s “temple” (1 Cor 3:16; 6:19) and uniquely manifest His presence in the world.
Paul says in Acts 17:27-28, “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us. 28 For in him we live and move and exist…He is not distant, but intimately close to every aspect of existence.
Jesus promised “I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Mt 28:20).
This attribute confronts the lie that God is not here for you and doesn't see or care about what you're going through. This is simply not true.
The Ministry of His Presence
God isn't passively present; God is actively present, everywhere. At God's choosing or in response to a need, God can work specifically in different ways in different places. God is working in ways such as sustaining, blessing, guiding, and disciplining; and we get to be the recipients…we get to experience His presence. God is personally available to all who call on him, regardless of their circumstances.
Psalms 16:8-11 I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. 9 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. 10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. 11 You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
How do we experience the presence of God if God is everywhere, but we don't always sense or experience His presence?
While God is omnipresent and working in our presence all the time, it doesn’t mean we have to experience His active and manifest presence all the time. Faith says, I know God is present everywhere without having to feel Him or see Him working. Faith knows God is there and working. Do we hold onto faith at the most basic level believing and remembering He exists, that He exists in each day, and if we begin to talk to Him we know He is listening? We can also go about our day by faith, focusing on our tasks and jobs knowing God is there and suddenly experience His peace or presence.
Psalm 27:4-11
While God is omnipresent and working in our presence all the time, it doesn’t mean we are actively pursuing to experience His presence. God has pursued us. God is already for us and has given himself to us. God is sustaining, protecting, blessing, convicting, guiding, etc..but are we pursuing God?
I personally want to have a greater awareness of God’s presence and experience His presence, but this requires the pursuit of God and God’s grace and will for me that day.
We have to be present before God. We must commit ourselves to seeking God. Practicing quality time with Him in prayer and reading His Word. We can experience His presence while being with His people in corporate worship, prayer, and Biblical fellowship. We even experience God while doing His will on earth like sharing the gospel, caring for others, serving, giving, etc.
If God feels distant, check your faith and pursuit, but also check your heart.
Isaiah 59:1-2 Listen! The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. 2 It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.
Also see Isaiah 66:1-4
Proverbs 15:29 The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous.
This doesn't mean God doesn't hear the wicked; it just means He doesn't always respond to the wicked until they humble themselves and genuinely cry out to Him for help.
James 4:6-10 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
God isn’t too busy for us; God is available and waiting. The question is, are we too busy for God? Are we making ourselves available to Him? Do we pursue God, or do we push Him out of our lives by purposely avoiding Him or by pursuing ungodly ways?
Discussion
What does it mean that God is omnipresent? How is this different from simply saying God is “near”?
How does God’s omnipresence set Him apart from the false gods described in the Old Testament?
Pastor Ryan says God’s omnipresence can be comforting or terrifying. What determines which one it is for a person?
How does knowing God fully sees and knows you impact your prayer life and personal integrity?
Why do you think we don’t always feel God’s presence even though He is always present?
What practices help you become more aware of God’s presence in your everyday life?
In what ways might busyness, sin, or divided loyalty crowd God out of our daily lives?
What additional notes did you make during the sermon?
How can we pray together for you today?
The most important decision you will ever make!
If you’re ready to trust in Jesus for salvation and eternal life, we encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and, when you’re ready, say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways, and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!
We would love to know if you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!