Lesson 3: The Presence in the New Testament — Near, Personal, and Indwelling

In Lesson 3 of The Fragrance of Hunger: A Biblical Theology of the Presence of God, we reach the turning point of the series: the presence of God is no longer distant, restricted, or located behind a veil—it is now near, personal, and indwelling through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

We walk through key New Testament moments that redefine access to God:

Matthew 27:50–51 — the veil is torn from top to bottom

Hebrews 10:19–22 — believers now have confidence to draw near

John 4:21–24 — worship shifts from a place to a Person

John 14:16–17 & Acts 2:1–4 — the Spirit comes to dwell in God’s people

Then we land the message with a powerful gospel mirror: two women and one warning. The broken surrender of the woman in Luke 7, the Spirit-led devotion of Mary of Bethany, and the danger of becoming like Simon—close to Jesus, yet untouched by His presence.

This lesson calls the church back to a soft heart, holy hunger, and costly devotion—because the invitation to His presence is open, and the Spirit still responds to surrendered posture.