God is a spirit and universally present

(Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD. (Jer 23:24)

"Oh, how little man can comprehend the perfection of God, His Omnipresence united with His almighty power. ... I am afraid we have altogether too cheap and common ideas. "Behold the heaven of heavens cannot contain Thee." Let not any one venture to limit the power of the Holy One of Israel. There are conjectures and questions in regard to God's work. Take off thy shoes from off thy feet; for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground." _Selected Messages Book 3, p. 311

What declarations of the Bible suggests that God is present in all places? Psa 139:7; 2 Chr 6:18

"The psalmist represents the presence of the Infinite One as pervading the universe. "If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there." We can never find a solitude where God is not. The Lord God omnipotent, who reigneth in the heavens, declares, "I am with you." He assures His people that those who are obedient are in a position where He can bless them, to the glory of His name. . . . He will be a present help to all who serve Him in preference to serving self." __ The Faith I Live By, p. 62

Is God Himself personally with us, or is someone else here with us, representing Him?

"Through Christ was to be fulfilled the purpose of which the tabernacle was a symbol--that glorious building, its walls of glistening gold reflecting in rainbow hues the curtains inwrought with cherubim, the fragrance of ever-burning incense pervading all.... In all, God desired His people to read His purpose for the human soul. It was the same purpose long afterward set forth by the apostle Paul, speaking by the Holy Spirit: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 1 Cor. 3:16, 17. _ The Faith I live By, p. 192

God's word tells us that He numbers the hairs or our heads (Matt. 10:30), He knows our thoughts afar off (Ps. 139:2), that He sees every bird that falls (Matt. 10:29), that before we call He will answer (Isa. 65:24). All these declarations speak to us of a God who is universally present, in constant personal touch with every part of His creation.


Key Thought
Is God Himself personally with us, or does He only interact with us by means of other beings such as angels?

God is a spirit

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; (Acts 17:24)

"The heavens are not large enough to contain God; how much less could those temples made with hands contain him. Paul, under the inspiration of his subject, soared above the comprehension of the idolatrous assembly, and sought to draw their minds beyond the limits of their false religion to correct views of the true Deity, whom they had styled the "Unknown God." This Being, whom he now declared unto them, was independent of man, needing nothing from human hands to add to his power and glory." _ Sketches From The Life of Paul, p. 94

"Although God dwells not in temples made with hands, yet He honors with His presence the assemblies of His people. He has promised that when they come together to seek Him, to acknowledge their sins, and to pray for one another, He will meet with them by His Spirit. When Christ ascended to heaven, the sense of His presence was still with His followers. It was a personal presence, full of love and light." _ The Faith I Live By, p. 62

What did Jesus declare concerning the nature of God? John 4:24

The woman that Jesus met by Jacob's well was confused concerning the nature of God. Her concept of God made Him into a Being who was limited to certain times and places. Her question as to whether or not Jerusalem or Samaria was the correct place to worship revealed her ideas that God was available only in certain places and only to certain people. Jesus statement revealed not only the true nature of God, but also focused on the true nature of worship. God is not to be limited by the misconceptions of human minds, neither can He be considered to be the exclusive property of any nation, people or religious group. Worshipping God in spirit and in truth encompasses a realization of all these facts and an acknowledgement of them in our worship.

By what means is God personally present?

"The Bible shows us God in His high and holy place, not in a state of inactivity, not in silence and solitude, but surrounded by ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of holy beings, all waiting to do His will. Through these messengers He is in active communication with every part of His dominion. By His Spirit He is everywhere present. Through the agency of His Spirit and His angels He ministers to the children of men." _ Ministry of Healing - p. 417

Key Thought
Since God is a spirit, He must not be treated or regarded as one having the limitations of humanity. His worship cannot be limited to any particular place.