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GENESIS 28:16, 17

"THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF GOD"

Intro: The omni-presence of God is a part of Christian theology. Though we believe it, we so
       often fail to recognize it.

I. "SURELY THE LORD IS IN THIS PLACE."
        A. Jacob was fleeing for his life.
                1. His brother threatened to kill him.
                2. Jacob had disguised himself and received his brother's patriarchal
                   blessing.
                3. Running for his life he arrived tired, lonely and weary at Bethel.
        B. Bethel is a rocky barren area.
                1. Nothing there to suggest presence of God.
                2. It is interesting how in the lonely nights in a barren time, we
                        so often become aware of God.
        C. The consciousness came through a dream.
                1. We have all the ingredients for dreaming; a guilty conscience, a hard
                   journey, an uncomfortable bed.
                2. A ladder set on the earth reaching heaven. Angels ascending and
                   descending. The Lord stood above it and spoke to Jacob words of promise.
        D. We think of God as being in heaven.
                1. As Jacob laid down to sleep he could see the thousands of stars.
                        a. He probably was thinking somewhere up there exists a great God. If
                           I could only somehow reach Him.
                        b. "God who at different times and various places spoke to
                           our fathers."
                                1. God spoke through the dream of a ladder reaching
                                   to heaven.
                        c. When the Son of God came to give us a clear revelation, Philip
                           heard Him.
                                1. He brought Nathaniel to Jesus.
                                2. Jesus said, "O henceforth you will see the heavens
                                   opened..." Jesus is the ladder by which men can reach God.
        E. His awakening consciousness was "truly the Lord is in this place." 
                1. Not just in heaven, He is here.
                2. We discover God in the most unlikely places. 
                        a. Not lust in the sanctuary.
                        b. Uncrowded freeway.
                3. Not was in this place, but is.

II. "I KNEW IT NOT" WHAT KEEPS US FROM THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF GOD?
        A. Busy schedules. "The cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, the desire
           of things."
                1. So many have just crowded God out of their lives. 
                2. They have no. time for God. How foolish.
                        a. You will have plenty of time later, but if you do not establish
                           a relationship now, you will have no opportunity then.
        B. Evil lifestyles. Romans 1.
                1. "They did not want to retain God in their conscience so God gave them over
                   to reprobate minds.
                2. Some of your lifestyles are so corrupt, you do not want to think of God.
        C. Spiritual apathy.
                1. There is a part of you that is totally undeveloped.
                                a. People are so concerned for physical and emotional
                                   development.
                                b. Spiritually, they are worse off than the 97 pound weakling
                                   They rank somewhere below the moron.