EXPERIENCING THE ABIDING PRESENCE OF GOD

EXPERIENCING THE ABIDING PRESENCE OF GOD

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple” Psalms 27:4 KJV 

“Here’s the one thing I crave from God, the one thing I seek above all else: I want the privilege of living with him every moment in his house, finding the sweet loveliness of his face, filled with awe, delighting in his glory and grace. I want to live my life so close to him that he takes pleasure in my every prayer” Psalms 27:4 TPT 

Men are seeking so many things in order to be happy and enjoy this life but wise men are seeking to abide where the Presence of God is so that they can behold the goodness of the Lord and enjoy the blessings that flows from His Presence; furthermore in verse 5, the writer said … “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock” [Psalms 27:5 KJV. See Psalms 31:20].

In time of challenges, crisis and troubles, it is best to be hidden in God’s Presence where God will keep you from the troubles that men causes. You must create an expectation when you live in His Presence where all the evil is driven away by the wind of the Spirit. Situation of life may be like the valley of dry bones but the Presence of God come in and changes things … The Presence of God is the four winds that causes what is dead to come alive again … It is the quickening Spirit who reveals the Presence of God unto us!

“Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live” Ezekiel 37:9 

When we dwell in the place of God’s Presence, goodness and blessings are our portion but evil and curses ensues when we sin or get away from the place of the abiding presence of God. Adam and Eve would have kept the abiding presence of God if they obeyed the command of God not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil, but they ate and were driven away from the place of God’s Presence. Obedience helps in maintaining the Presence of God but disobedience and sin drove Adam and Eve away from the earthly Paradise of God called the Garden of Eden.

In the beginning of human history, God enjoyed a close relationship with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden [Genesis 3:8]. After their sin, they became separated from the place of His presence. Those who flee from the Presence of God like Jonah goes down from the mountain top or Mount Zion and goes down to the valley where nothing good is happening.

"But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and WENT DOWN to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so, he paid the fare thereof, and WENT DOWN into it, to go with them unto Tarshish FROM THE PRESENCE of the LORD. " Jonah 1:3

The Presence of God can be categorized into three forms.

First: The Omnipresence of God:

It means God is present in all places and at all times or God is everywhere at all times. King David explained this in Psalms 139:6-12, that he cannot flee from God’s presence; that if he hides himself in heaven or hell, or even darkness, God will still be there. God’s presence is felt everywhere, nothing is hidden from God and He knows all that we are doing.

Second: The Manifest Presence of God.

It is called the ‟Shekinah Glory.” It connotes God dwelling in a tabernacle or the physical manifestation of God’s presence momentarily or temporarily. In Exodus 3:1-5, God made a dramatic appearance to Moses in a burning bush that was not consumed. That is the manifest presence of God. In Daniel 3:24-25, Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon declared that he put 3 men inside fire but there is a fourth man there who look like a son of the gods. Even a heathen king was able to discern the manifest Presence of Christ. In season of revival, the Presence of God that shows up as we worship and we see different miracles, signs and wonders and all manner of prophetic manifestations is the manifest Presence of God.

It is also called the experiential Presence as seen in the upper room in Acts 1-2 as the disciples prayed and God’s Presence came as tongues of fire to input the indwelling Presence on the disciples.

Moses was a man well acquainted with the visiting Presence of God, on one occasion, Moses face shone like that of an angel after being in the presence of the Presence of God for a tangible time. It is this manifest Presence that operates in redemption but it takes the abiding Presence to teach and mature us in the things of the Spirit as the “live in” teacher, counsellor, healer, or comforter. 

Third: The Abiding Presence of God.

The veil that covers the Most Holy place in the Tabernacle has been torn into two when Jesus gave up the ghost on the cross and we all are privileged now to enter and dwell perpetually in the place of the presence of God. Now we can say God in us and we are in God.

That is why Hebrews 4:16 says now we can come boldly before that Throne Room of Grace where we can obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need. [Heb. 10:19-22]. God comes to revive the spirit of the lowly and the heart of the contrite [Isa. 57:15], God restores our broken relationship so we can relate again through the cohabitating of our spirit man and the Spirit of God

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory” Coll. 1:27 

This realm is when we live with the awareness of the Presence of God and allow His Spirit to control our lives and we push into perpetual dwelling in the place of the Presence of God. The kingdom or the Presence of God is within us [Luke 17:21]. The Spirit of Truth or the Presence of God dwell in us and shall be in us [John 14:17]. The different between this and the manifest Presence is that the manifest Presence comes and goes and not perpetually dwelling unlike the abiding Presence that has taken absolute permanent Presence or residence in us. In John 1:14 we hear “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling amongst us…” That is the indwelling or abiding Presence of God.

 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they HAD BEEN WITH Jesus” Act 4:13 KJV

The council members, Pharisees and Sadducees saw that the Apostles were ordinary men who were not educated and considered ignorant men BUT they were bold and courageous and this was because they had spent quality time with Jesus. The Presence of God in the life of Jesus rubbed upon them. They were different from ordinary men because God was evidently with them and God supernatural operated in their lives. It is likened to a man that exposed himself to the sun at the beach on sunny days, soon the golden glow of the sun will begin to reflect on his body.

In the Old Testament, God dwell in the Most Holy place in the Tabernacle of God that Moses erected in the wilderness but now the contents found in the outer court, inner court and Most Holy place of that former tabernacle are inside believers today and are altogether known as the treasure of God in earthen places [2 Cor. 4:7] or the tabernacle of God that is with men.

“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God” Rev. 21:3 

This is best explained in the Old Testament by the pillar of cloud during the day and the pillar of fire during the night that protected the Israelites from the heat of the day and the cold at night. It was the glory of God abiding upon the Israelites that their clothes and shoes did not wear out nor grow old for 40 years. That is the supernatural of God abiding in the place where His Presence dwells.

For the full content of the Presence of God to be in man, we must have been purged and cleansed and offer our body as a living sacrifice, have a renewed mind by the word of God [Romans 12:1-2], partake of the show bread [Word of God], beamed upon by the candle light []entrance of His word giveth light Psalms 119:105], offer incense in prayers , sit with God on the mercy seat [Eph. 2:6], believe in and partake of the resurrection power as seen in the rod of Aaron that budded, muse and ponder in the book of God’s commandment and fellowship with atmosphere of God and worshipping Him where His PRESENCE resides in the Holy of Holies.

For better understanding, in the Old Testament, those who serve God goes in the Tabernacle to worship Him but in the New Testament, we are the carriers of this Tabernacle otherwise known as the abiding PRESENCE of Jehovah God. This Presence of God is the greater One that is in us than he that is in the world [1 John 4:4]. The abiding Presence of God is not geographically limited, wherever you the carrier of that Presence is, that is where He is; either in bed, at work, travelling, in the Church or even in the market. God is in us and He is doing the works of the Kingdom of God through us.

 “… and, lo, I AM WITH YOU always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” Matt. 28:20 

Here our Lord gives his apostles, believers and all the ministers of his gospel, truly sent and called by Him, an assurance of his spiritual presence with them in the execution of this commission unto the end of time; and this exceeding great and precious promise he ushers in with, “Lo! or behold!” stating need to stand in amazement, strengthen their faith and engage their faith in the manifestation of what God promised. This is to assure ourselves of and rely upon the fact that “He is with us and will never leave nor forsake us”.

“…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” Heb. 13:5-6 

God is saying something like …

“I am with you; I, the everlasting Son of God;

I, who have the angels at my command, I AM with you.

I, who has all the power and the glory, I AM with you.

I, who says it and what I say come to pass, I AM with you.

I, who causes poverty, lack and want to cease, and releases wealth and riches, I AM with you.

I, that speaks and my words “make the devils tremble and they are subjected under my commands”, I AM with you.

I, who in your sight have caused the storms to cease, the blind to see, the sick to be healed, the lame to walk, the dead to rise up, only with the word of my mouth, I AM with you.

I, who have all power in heaven and earth committed into my hands… I AM WITH YOU;

I am not saying, I will be with you, but I AM with you WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES.

I say, I AM in you making all things to work together for your good!

 

“So, David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite. And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household” 2 Sam. 6:11 

The Ark of God which represents the Presence of God was carried into the house of Obededom just like the Presence of God came to indwell believers in the New Testament and in three months, Obededom was blessed beyond measure so much so that king David had to quickly come and carry the Ark into a prepared place in Jerusalem so that he too can partake of the blessings of the Lord.

Can I say as Christians filled with the Presence of God; we do not know the potency of the Presence of God that cohabitate with our spirit in our inner man? There is power and presence of God in us that makes the rulers of the dark world to tremble. The Presence of God is He that is called “Greater is He that lives in us than He that lives in the world” [1 John 4:4]. He is greater and there is no controversy about that.

People are tired of stories and dead Churches like a mortuary or cemetery where we just talk and tell tales of what used to happen like Job did in Job 22. Today, Christians want to have genuine encounter with the Presence of God and see their situations of life turn around for good. Even Jesus Christ said except Church goers see miracles, signs and wonder many will not believe. It takes the potency of God’s Presence in us to show forth the awesomeness of God’s Presence, Power and Glory!

“And the apostles went out announcing the good news everywhere, as the Lord himself consistently worked with them, validating the message they preached with miracle-signs that accompanied them!” Mark 16:20 TPT 

The messages preached in our Churches today must be validated as God performs miracles, signs and wonders in our midst. God is at work healing all that were oppressed, harasses, repressed and depressed by the devil. We cannot afford not to live according to the consciousness of the divine life of God we see in Jesus Christ. For your information, you and Jesus are co-heirs of all that is God the Father’s properties and inheritance. So as God the Father lives in the Son, so does the Son live in Him.

Jesus has come as the Presence of God to reside in us and will continue to do all the works He was doing while living on earth in us and through us. He even said we will come up to the knowledge of who we are and what we carry will enable us to do greater works than what He does. The question is “Do you believe” that you carry the divine Presence? He is at work in you making the powers of darkness to bow at your feet!

Even Elijah in the Old Testament knows who he was though he was a man of like passion like us but he understood God in him and commanded rain not to fall for three and half years and rain stayed and obeyed. I will question your relationship with God and His Presence in you if powers of darkness are able to exert their evil powers over your life, health or finances. It tells me that you do not know what you carry or you are ignorant of the personality of the Presence of God that you dwell in you!

WE MUST ABIDE IN GOD

“Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abide in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing” John 15:3-5 [Read also John 17:22-23]

To abide in God is to dwell, to remain continually, to take up permanent residence in God, to continue in God; it means to be in a fixed state and to take residence in a place. God want us to abide in Him and He want to dwell in us [2 Cor. 4:7]. The era of visiting God once a week at the Sunday Church Services is over with. Christ is the Bridegroom and the Body of Christ or all believers are the bride and we all know that husband and wife live together forever until death separates them.

God is seeking a steadfast, unchanging, continuous, staying people who desire to be in His abiding presence as much as He longs to be in their presence. Such believers believe and trust that Jesus is everything they need. Such remain steadfast as they walk in Him, depend on Him, and are intentional with their acts of faith in God and believe in God’s ability to do all things [Coll. 2:6-7].

In order to become like Jesus Christ, we must allow His word to lead us as light or lamp in the midst of darkness [Psalms 119:105]; such depend solely on every word thar come from the mouth of the Lord [Matt. 4:4] and they do everything in the name of the Lord [Coll. 3:17]. We must put on His image and likeness and that involves bearing His image and likeness [2 Cor. 3:16-18] as we put on His character and nature that is otherwise called the fruit of the Spirit [Gall. 5:22-24]. It is in this perpetual abiding together that we can bear such fruit of the Spirit and become like Him. We do not only bear fruit but we bear more and much fruit [John 15:2, 5].

God want us perfect, lacking nothing necessary for completeness as a Christ-like believer and it is only by dwelling in and with God that we can be perfected and complete, lacking nothing. This is the invitation that God is sending our way today. No more visitation but habituating with God 24 hours a day and seven days a week forever. In Him we will find peace when we dwell, pray, or sometimes just sit quietly in His Presence and bask in His glory. We must continually seek His face and let Him have the very special place in our heart.

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” Matt. 5:6 

Remember that those who thirst or pant after righteousness, holiness or purity of heart shall be filled. Filled with what? The Presence of God! Those who live with the consciousness of the need to be pure and holy must always frown at the things that God detests like sexual immoralities, lies, covetousness, unforgiveness or impure thoughts! If we watch how we behave when our Pastors are around, how much more should we with the consciousness that God lives in us and see all that we do.

God who stays in heaven decided to live with man in the earth realm. He is called ‟Emmanuel,” which means “God with us”. Here, God is no longer an occasional guest or visitor, but an abiding guest. God is living in me, helping me to live right, do right and give me the grace to contact with wisdom for witty inventions. The life of God in me give me competence and advantage over those who are not filled or have not become carriers of grace by reasons of the “GOD IN US”. You carry divine life by reasons of the Holy Spirit and you also have the grace to use the divine life to help others contact the grace and the goodness of God, and you are capacitated to transfer the divine life to others also.

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing” Isa. 10:27 

You have now become the carrier of the ARK of God and it is impossible for your life to remain the same. If you are carried into the place where Dagon gods dwell [1 Sam.5:1-7], by morning time the Dagon gods will fall to the ground, if they continue, their hands and legs will be cut off the next morning. The Presence of God make you a carrier of the ANOINTING which destroys yokes and lift of burdens.

‟By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.” 1 John 4:13

Anyone who has accepted Christ as his personal Savior carries the presence of God with him. The consciousness of His presence will enable you to live a holy life. And this presence is the Holy Spirit.

“If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may ABIDE WITH YOU FOREVER; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it see him not, neither know him: but you know him; for HE WILL DWELL WITH YOU, and shall be IN you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will COME to you … At that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keep them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” John 14:15-18, 20-21

We shall be enlightened by the Holy Spirit, filled with the Spirit of wisdom, knowledge, understanding, might, counsel, fear of the Lord and quick understanding or discernment [Isa. 11:1-3]. The Spirit of God releases to us the love of God [Romans 5:5], awakens the love of God in us and teaches us all things until we will begin to reflect the perfect man, having the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. 

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” Eph. 4:13 

All those who abide in the Presence of God must walk in the Spirit and do not fulfill the lust of the flesh and must not yield to the drawing or falling away through the flesh. That is why we must flee away from lust, demonic desires and illicit passions that will lead to the falling away from the path of godliness.

We must continue to converse with God in our heart by bringing to His attention prayers without ceasing [1 Thess. 5:17], praise, thanksgiving, dialoguing with God just like two lovers does, showering love upon God who by the way is ready to reciprocate with agape love… That is why we set God on our right hand so that we shall not be moved [Psalms 16:8]

Now let us look at our main bible text…

“And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and PUT AWAY the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and RENEWED the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD. And he GATHERED all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they FELL TO HIM out of Israel in abundance, when they SAW that the LORD HIS GOD WAS WITH HIM. So, they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the THIRD month, in the FIFTEEN year of the reign of Asa” 2 Chronicles 15:8-10 [See also Gen. 39:3; 1 Sam. 18:28; 1 Kings 3:28; Zech. 8:21-23; Acts 7:9-10]

Asa simply mean a doctor or healer. I see in this gathering of saints, God is raising up a lettered doctor like Luke, and a healer of the perturbed or disturbed heart of men so that by the teaching of the Word and by the impartation of the Spirit we can confidently or boldly say the Lord God is with us, we will not be afraid.

“Fear thou not; FOR I AM WITH YOU: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will HELP thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” Isa. 41:10

Our season of getting HELP from the Lord has come!!! Your helper has come, no more fear! The divine helper is set to help us

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most-High. God IS IN THE MIDST of her; she shall not be moved: God SHALL HELP HER, and that right early” Psalms 46:1-5 READ ALL VERSES]

When you see one that is fearful, it means they are unconscious of the greatness and power of God who said, He is with them and promised to strengthen and help them. We should have the confidence always that no matter what we pass through either water or fire, God got our back and we will not drown nor be burnt by fire. [Isa. 43: 2]

 “So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” Heb. 13:6 

Prophetically speaking, let us look at the story of Asa the king over the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. We saw that God’s blessing was upon him and his country Judah while the other country Israel, was cursed and doomed and nothing good was happening there.

Very significant, God is ingathering believers as He did to Judah; God’s grace and blessings came upon Judah in the THIRD month of the FIFTEEN year of Asa’s reign just like we are celebrating the fifteenth year of this local assembly in this third month of March and we are due to get the same kind of blessings that God gave to king Asa and the land of Judah.   

“And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD WAS WITH HIM, and that the LORD made all that he did TO PROSPER in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and ALL THAT HE HAD HE PUT INTO HIS HAND. And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the BLESSING OF THE LORD WAS UPON ALL that he had in the house, and in the field. And he left all that he had IN Joseph's HAND; and he knew not all that he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a GOODLY person, and WELL FAVORED” Gen. 39:2-6 

The Lord was with Joseph in Gen. 39:2; for me this is the key to the blessedness of God in the life of Joseph and even his master. All the goodness, prosperity and favor of God found in his life is tied to the Presence of Jehovah God in his life. Joseph was a goodly man and well FAVORED because of the Presence of God in his life.

Those demonically inclined people that meant evil for our lives, bad mouthing us, speaking evil of us or even trying to bewitch us cannot deprive us of the glorious Presence of our God and its corresponding blessings when we dwell in the secret place of the Most-High, we will become untouchable [Psalms 91:1].

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most-High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that fly by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that waste at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee” Psalms 91:1-7 

There is nothing that guarantees maximum protection like God’s Presence! God will hide you inside His pavilion, no one can pluck you from His hands and His protection includes immunity from demonization, sickness, noisome pestilence, satanic arrows, accidents and evil occurrences. Is it possible for a fox or hyena to grab the cub (baby) of a lion while the mother lioness is seated right in front of the cub? Impossible!!! God watches over you day and Night!!!

When Joseph was all alone in a foreign land and had none of his relations with him, he had his God with him, even in the house of the Egyptian. Joseph was banished from his father’s house, forcefully taken away and sold into slavery, into the hand of the Ishmaelites who took him to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar but the Lord was with him.

It is God’s Presence with him and even us that makes all we do to prosper. Those that would prosper must therefore make God their friend and walk according to His statutes; and those that do prosper must therefore give God praise for His goodness and mercy. Joseph was in the house of his master the Egyptian and he did not endeavor to shine as might have been expected, neither to run away and escape to his father’s land, but he humbled himself patiently and faithfully in the house into which God’s wisdom had brought him. And the Lord lifted him up and cause all that he laid his hands to do to prosper. God is set to prosper and lift you up in this house in Jesus Mighty Name.

The prosperity that attended all Joseph’s doings was so striking as to show that the Lord was with him. Until his master “Set him over”, that is made him overseer of all that was in his house and all that belong to Potiphar was tremendously blessed. “The Lord blessed the Master’s house.” Because of Joseph. God blesses those who bless his people. You are a Child of God… in your family, on your job and in your business… God is set to set you above and not beneath… All that you lay your hand upon shall prosper in the Mighty Name of the Lord Jesus!!!

“And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curses you: and in you shall all families of the earth be blessed” Gen. 12:3 

As a matter of fact, we saw the same indwelling and Presence of God in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ and the correspondent blessings for God was with Him.

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God WAS WITH HIM” Act 10:38 

The Body of Christ that has God’s presence in her midst will live, move and worship with a quiet confidence in the Lord at all times, and will be filled with joy and peace. They will experience good and will be distributors of good of God to those who needs the goodness of the Lord. The same is true for every Christian. If you have Jesus’ Presence in your life, you will experience divine order and the goodness of the Lord. You will have inexplicable peace and calmness, with no fussing or anxiety, knowing God has everything under control! God with you is set to take you to the top and never beneath. I see the glory of God upon you.

“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore, will we not fear, though the earth do change, And though the mountains be shaken into the heart of the seas; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains tremble with the swelling thereof. There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacles of the Most-High.  God IS IN THE MIDST OF HER; She shall not be moved: God will help her, and that right early. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved: He uttered his voice, the earth melted. Jehovah of hosts IS WITH US; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He makes wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and cut the spear in sunder; he burns the chariot in the fire. BE STILL, and KNOW that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts IS WITH US; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah” Psalms 46:1-11.

Desire God’s presence in your life, because no matter what enemies or trials you face, you will always find peace and quiet rest in Him and God will defend and fight for you. God destroys all the weapon of war that the enemy is using… He makes war to cease, breaks the bow, cut the spears asunder.

Scriptures on God being with us

Gen. 39:21-22; Gen. 21:22; Gen. 26:24; Gen. 26:28; Gen. 28:15; 1 Sam. 3:19; 1 Sam. 16:18; 1 Sam. 18:14; 1 Sam.18:28; Psa. 1:3; Psalms 46:4-7; Psa. 46:11; Psa. 91:15; Isa. 8:9-10; Isa. 41:10; Isa. 43:2; Jer. 15:20; Matt. 1:23; Acts 7:9-10; Acts 8:31; Joshua 1:5, 9; Psalms 23:4.

 

WE FOREVER NEED HIS PRESENCE

In the Bible, we have boundless examples of how the Presence of God empowers His children to live for Him. As for Moses, he was convinced that without God’s presence in his life, it was useless for him to attempt to lead God’s people into the Promised Land.

He said, “…If thy presence goes not with me, carry us up not hence” Exodus 33:15.

He was saying, “Lord, if your presence is not with me, then I am not going anywhere. I won’t take a single step, unless I have the assurance you are with me!”

Moses knew it was God’s Presence in Israel that set the people apart from all other nations. And the same is true of the Church of Jesus Christ today. One of the things that set us apart from unbelievers is God’s being “with us” – leading us, guiding us, directing us, blessing us, and working His will in and through us. When the Lord’s presence is in our midst, no one can harm us. But without Him, we are helpless, reduced to nothing. That is why we must crave for and trust in the manifestations of God’s Presence. The blessings that God’s presence brought to the lives of His followers are many, unique and uncountable.

“My Presence will go with you and I will display my awesome power for you” Exodus 33:14

“I will perform miracles that HAVE NEVER BEEN PERFORMED anywhere in all the earth or in any nation, And all the people around you will see the power of the LORD-the awesome POWER I WILL DISPLAY for you” Exodus 34:10 NLT

Rest here meant God will bring us into our Promised Land. Better still all His precious promises shall come to pass, none of it shall fail! God said He is set to do unto us what has never been performed before now anywhere in the earth. He will do as promised. God is not a man that lies!

Joshua the son of Nun was a firsthand witness of the abiding Presence of God with Moses, how Moses face shone with the glory of God and awesome miracles were ignited like abundant flow of water coming out of the rock and bitter water becoming sweet, that was why God was bold enough to say to Joshua …

“There shall NOT ANY MAN be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I WAS WITH Moses, so I WILL BE WITH YOU: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” Joshua 1:5 

When the Lord’s presence is in our midst, no one can harm us. With him, we have help, and our enemies are reduced to nothing. Let the people of this world trust in their money and might but we will trust in the Lord.

“Some trust in their war chariots and others in their horses, but we trust in the power of the LORD our God” Psalms 20:7 GNB

We will trust in the abiding presence of our God. God’s Presence is our companion, guide, confidence, counselor, healer, helper and comforter.

God’s presence was so evident in Abraham’s life, even the heathen around him recognized the difference between their lives and his.

“…Abimelech…spoke unto Abraham, saying, God is with you in all that you do” Genesis 21:22.

 This heathen king noticed something special about Abraham all because God guides him, preserves him and blesses him, wherever Abraham went. All of these are in the package of dwelling in God’s presence.

The Angel of the Lord told Gideon. “…The Lord IS WITH YOU, thou mighty man of valor…Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel…” (Judges 6:12, 14).

The phrase “thy might” in this verse refers to the previous verse – which “the Lord is with thee.” Do you see what God is saying? “Gideon, there is a might in you that’s so powerful, it can save Israel. And that might is My Presence!” Scripture reveals Gideon to be a coward – so, why did God call him a “mighty man of valor”? It was because he wanted to prove to Gideon what any person could do, when the Lord’s presence is with him!

When it seems like things are not working for you, lots of unanswered prayers, delayed blessings, poverty, sickness and diseases, and curses showing up here and there and you are just stagnant not moving from one position, then you need to check if you still carry the Presence of Jehovah. Remember when the Presence of God left Eli, Hophni and Phinehas [1 Sam. Chapter 3]; they cried “Ichabod” for the glory of God is gone, and they all perished, both sons died at battle.

When the Presence of God left the Israelites in the time of Elijah when they turn to worship Baal, they experienced famine for three and half years. When Jonah left the place of God’s Presence, the big fish swallowed him and he was imprisoned for three days.

Thank God for the Lord Jesus Christ who came to set the captives free and input back the Holy Spirit into our lives. Now the Holy Spirit is the Power and the Presence of God that co-dwell in our hearts with our spirit man. The Holy Spirit is the God in us, the hope of glory or restorer of the abiding Presence of Jehovah in us.  

“Have you forgotten that your body is now the sacred temple of the Spirit of Holiness, who lives in you? You don’t belong to yourself any longer, for the gift of God, the Holy Spirit, lives inside your sanctuary” 1 Cor. 6:19 TPT

You must do all it takes to keep the Presence of God just like David repented and make sure that you must never cry “Ichabod” which means the God in you is gone or the glory is gone! We must stay away from sin, transgressions and iniquity… They are the little foxes that spoils the vine.

“Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me” Psalms 51:11 

Holiness and righteousness go along with abiding in the Presence of God and you stay away from what will negatively affect your relationship with God. The works of the flesh will negatively affect the presence of God in your life so make sure that you mortify or put them off so that you do not wallow in the lust, passions and evil cravings of the flesh

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envying, murders, drunkenness, reveling, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” Gall. 5:19-21 

Three things that will show you that you are abiding in the Presence of God is that you will depend on God whole heartedly for everything, your perspective of time and eternity changes, and your view of sin changes as you see him as an enemy that is bent on negatively affecting your relationship with God

“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” Isa. 59:2

We are face to face with God when we are abiding in His Presence just like Adam and Eve were in His Presence until they sinned and hid away from the Presence of God which is the revelation of God Himself, You are not in His Presence until something belonging to Him is revealed to you like Jehovah Jireh providing for you or Jehovah our righteousness revealing His righteousness to you

 

BLESSINGS OF GOD’S PRESENCE

The Presence of the Lord is in your life as a believer, it also means the Holy Spirit is in your life. This is what sustains and nourishes us as we commune with God through the indwelling Holy Spirit. So also, we must know that that when we read, pray and worship; the Presence of the Lord is released and we are graced to also to receive the blessings of the indwelling Holy Spirit which includes revelation, wisdom, Knowledge, might, counsel, fear of the Lord, and quick understanding or discernment.

Let us for space sake look at the below seven blessings among several blessings that the presence of God brings into the life of the children of God or believers. We will find security, preservation, protection, and shielded in His Presence.

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most-High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” Psalms 91:1 

 

1. PEACE

When God is with us, we will experience rest and peace in our lives.

The LORD said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest” (Exodus 33:14).

The presence of God gives us rest from all the turmoil and confusion of life. Jesus promised us the peace which the world cannot give (John 14:27). Jesus entered the room where the frightened disciples were and said, “Peace be with you” (John 20:19). This divine peace does not depend on the outward circumstances but the reality that God turns around our mourning into joy so that we might know that He rules in all the affairs of men.

When we are inside an air-conditioned room, we can be cool even though it is hot outside. Similarly, the presence of God will give you great inward peace and joy forever more even though the external circumstances may be turbulent. Peace is stillness or calmness; this peace come in the midst of chaos and it drives away all the disorders of life. You will have rest from fears, sorrow, bondages, poverty and agitations of the powers of darkness.

Rest is the absence of hard chaos and labor; it brings peace, ease, security and refreshment [Matt. 11:28-30]. No more fatigue or tiredness born out of being disconnecting from the Presence of God. Resting allows us to quiet down our agitation before God and revives our minds, bodies, and spirits so that there can be quietness, revel in the absence of worry, and have stillness before God.

Peace of God helps us to bear the weight of life’s challenges because God is bearing that weight with us.

 

2. PROTECTION

God’s presence will give us protection, defense, shield or fortification.

The Lord promises, “when you pass through the waters, I WILL BE WITH YOU; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you” (Isaiah 43:2).

The Presence of God will be a great wall of protection around us (Zech. 2:5). We need not fear the floods and fire when we go through them because God will be with us to protect us (Read Daniel 3:25).

David says, “Even though I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I will fear no evil, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME” [Psalm 23:4]. No one will be able to stand up against us when God’s presence is with us [Joshua 1:5; Rom. 8:31]. What a promise and what an assurance! Surely the Lord will always be with you to protect you and rescue you when you obey him and follow him closely [Jer. 1:8; 19; 15:20].

 

3. PROSPERITY

“GOD look you full in the face and make you prosper” Numbers 6:26 MSSG

The presence of God will bring us prosperity and success. The Bible says, “The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered” (Gen. 39:2).

Again, in Gen. 39:23, the Bible says that the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did. About David the Bible says, “He went on prospering and growing up and the Lord God of hosts was with him” (2 Samuel 5:10) …

Just as Isaac prospered too…

“Isaac received a 100-fold return on what he planted that year in the land he received, because the LORD blessed him. He became very wealthy and lived a life of wealth, becoming more and more wealthy. He owned so many sheep, cattle, and servants that the Philistines eventually became envious of him” Gen. 26:12-14 ISV

Isaac had the promise of God that if he “Sojourn in the land, and God WILL BE WITH him, and will bless him” Gen. 26:3 

The Lord was with Hezekiah and wherever he went he prospered [2 Kings 18:7]. The Lord was with Jehoshaphat and he had great riches and honor [2 Chron. 17:3, 5]. Yes, the Lord will bless the work of your hands and prosper your efforts in this season in Jesus Mighty Name. We must seek His presence and guidance continually in all our endeavors. Reading and meditating in the word of God daily is mandatory in order to enjoy His presence. Only then will whatever we do prosper (Psalm 1:1-3).

It is by the living in and communion with the Holy Spirit that the spirit of wisdom and revelation brings illumination of mysteries and hidden truths [Eph. 1:17-19] so that we can access things that causes us to prosper which are hidden from others who refuse to meditate in the word of God neither do they have fellowship with the Holy Spirit. Daniel opens his windows towards Jerusalem 3 times daily to have fellowship with God, so he encounters God tremendously and he knows the truth that sets free as he understood by books [Daniel 9:2]

4. PEOPLE’S FAVOR AND GOD’S FAVOR

The Bible says, “Large number of people had come over to Asa from Israel when they SAW THAT the LORD his God was WITH HIM” (2 Chron. 15:9). When God is with us, He gives us the people to help us. God was with Asa and when the people saw it, they came to help him; they submitted to his leadership! Asa sought the Lord eagerly and pleased Him by removing what was detestable in the sight of God (2 Chron. 14:3, 4). The Lord demonstrated His presence with Asa in a powerful way.

“And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favor both with the LORD, and also with men” 1 Sam. 2:26 [Also Luke 2:52; Acts 2:47]

Joseph also enjoyed the favor of people because God was with him. The Bible declares that he had favor with his earthly father, with Potiphar, with the prison keeper and finally with Pharaoh (Gen. 39: 4, 23; 41:42). The Presence of God will surely bring the favor of people in your life in this season. [Psalm 142:7]

5. PRUDENCE [WISDOM]

The Bible says that David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the LORD was with him (I Samuel 18:12-15). The Lord will give us wisdom when He is with us. We may face many confusing and conflicting situations but God will give us the wisdom to make the right decisions. God was with David and gave him wisdom to act wisely in everything and it made his enemy Saul to fear him. The Presence of God will make our enemies to fear us because they see that God is with us.

 

6. PLEASURE [DESIRABLE THINGS]

Psalm 16:11 tells us that in the presence of God “there is fullness of joy” and at His right hand “eternal pleasures”. 

“Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.” Psalm 21:6

Yes, the presence of God gives us joy that is unspeakable and full of glory [1 Pet. 1:8]. When the Lord is with us, we can smile in the midst of the storms and sing in the midst of adverse situations in life [Hab. 3:18].

 

7. POWER

“The LORD said, “I’m making my promise again. In front of all your people I will perform miracles that have NEVER BEEN DONE in any other nation in all the world. All the people around you will see how AWESOME THESE MIRACLES ARE, that I will perform FOR YOU” Exodus 34:10 GW

The Lord literarily told Moses, “I WILL BE WITH YOU and display my awesome power in your life” (Ex. 34:10) after Moses asked God for His Abiding Presence to go with the Israelites on the way to the Promised Land. Moses indeed saw the awesome display of God’s power in the last 40 years of his life. He witnessed the mighty deeds of God that were never done anywhere in the world.

God promised and did according to promise before all the people, He did marvelous and great and mighty things. Such as the drying up of Jordan for the people of Israel to pass on dry ground from the wilderness to the Promised Land, God caused the sun to stand still till midnight while Joshua was fighting battle. Bitter water was turned into sweet water, Manna was dropping from heaven for them to eat for 40 years. Their garments did not tear, fade nor get old as they wore them for 40 years; even when they sinned, they were healed by looking at the brazen serpent.

“But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me…” Acts 1:8 

The power to witness and to evangelize in nations of the world come through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Lord is ready to display the same awesome power in us and through us. God will guide, nourish, empower, lead, comfort, heal, provide for, open doors for, remove obstacles and tremendously bless us in miraculous ways in this season and beyond.

“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power and he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God WAS WITH HIM” Acts 10:38

This same power is available to us when God’s Presence fills our lives and He is with us. The Presence of God was with Jesus and He set the people free from sicknesses and satanic bondages. The Presence of God was with the early disciples and confirmed their ministry with miracles, signs and wonders (Mark 16:20). The Lord was with the Apostle Paul and performed extraordinary miracles through him. You will see the display of God’s power as you seek to practice His Presence in the coming days.

“The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou does, except God BE WITH HIM” John 3:2 

The Lord has given “His Presence and Power” unto us through the Ministry of the Holy Spirit [Acts 1:8], we will experience all the blessings if we maintain relationship with Him and walk in holiness and righteousness. Be careful not to allow anything that can remove God’s presence from your life. The Bible says that sin, disobedience, murmuring and slander will take the Presence of God away from your life [Read Judges 16:20; 1 Samuel 16:14; Numbers 12:9]. 

Be filled with God’s PRESENCE AND POWER!

 

PRACTICE THE PRESENCE OF GOD

We must practice the Presence of God to be filled with His Presence continually, these includes reading, studying, meditation upon and becoming a doer of the scriptures, fervent prayers, holy living and righteousness, communion with the Holy Spirit, seek repentance when you fall into sin, worship God in truth and in spirit and become a doer of the things that pleases God.

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common” Acts 2:42-44 KJV

The Anointing and the Power of the Holy Spirit abide in the Christian community where all the characteristics that ensures kingdom of God realities dwells as they continue in the apostolic teachings, unity of faith, holy living, right standing with God, sharing communion and coming together for prayers    

“Every believer was faithfully devoted to following the teachings of the apostles. Their hearts were mutually linked to one another, sharing communion and coming together regularly for prayer. A deep sense of holy awe swept over everyone, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. All the believers were in fellowship as one body, and they shared with one another whatever they had” Acts 2:42-44 TPT

The abiding Presence of God dwells harmoniously in such community and all manner of miracles, signs and wonders are done in the precious name of the Lord Jesus.

“And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch…There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed everyone”  Act 5:12, 16 

Thorough studies of the apostolic community shows us that once the repentance and ingathering started [Acts 2-4], revival sets in and as many as joined this chariot were filled with the abiding Presence of God in the person of the Holy Spirit and great and mighty things were done in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Revival is the breathing of new life again to something that is dead or dying and the way is to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus. Repentance is a turning away in our hearts to do what is right in the sight of God. It is the moving away from a self-focused life to a God focused life which is a life that love and honor the Lord.

Such are the times when the Holy Spirit convict men of sin, judgment and righteousness, they see the evil and sin in their heart, confess their sins and depart from doing evil but now serving God in truth and in Spirit. Continual praise and worship keep the glory cloud in their midst, conviction upon sinners call for repentance among many and many accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior and they experience spectacular miracles, signs and wonders.

There had been severe longing for revival since the God showed His Power and Glory to bring out Israelites from the yoke of bondage in Egypt to the Ezra’s revival where the word of God was rediscovered and the people of God lined up with it. Unfortunately, such revivals were not sustained because sin, lethargy and apathy creeps in and killed the move of God.

In Acts 2:47, we see the Lord was adding to the Church daily those who are saved but there was an astronomical growth to 5000 [Acts 5:14, 6:7; 9:31: 11:21, 24; 14:1, 21; 16:5; 17:12]. This is not just in numbers but evidenced changed lives and great increase in those who mature in their faith.

Two key things that dies off when revival is lost, is the love of God and love for one another [John 13:35]; and the loss of glory due to sin. True enough miracles, signs and wonders bring in unbelievers but it will take diligence to serving God and thorough discipleship to know and become like Christ. We must hold on tenaciously to the ministry of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to keep the revival fire burning. Maintaining what God gave, building upon it and standing on the path of godliness with purity of heart helps also to keep the fire burning. We must not focus on the outward manifestations and display of spiritual gifts as in Corinth to the negation of building our inner man and developing Christ-like attitude, nature and character else pride and ego plus iniquity will hinder the fiery move of God.   

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” 2 Chron. 7:14 

The key to reigniting the fire however is to turn from our wicked ways in repentance and do those things that are pleasing in the sight of God diligently or tenaciously!