By Tony V. Hammack
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We know that God is everywhere so in one sense of the word we’re always in God’s presence.
God is Omnipresent
Psalm 139:8
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
Jeremiah 23:23-24
23 "Am I only a God nearby," declares the LORD, "and not a God far away? 24 Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD.
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them."
The manifest presence of God is a collision of Heaven and Earth where the Heaven’s are opened and change begins to happen on Earth as a result.
Jesus taught us to pray for this collision.
Matthew 6:10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
The Presence of God is literally a tangible interaction of people or a person with the “intangible” presence of God. We reach into the presence of God with faith. If you’re waiting for the presence of God to visit, you may be waiting a long time. This is the only way to deal with root issues. Bible knowledge will help but the presence of God will adjust the core issues of your life.
The first step in experiencing the manifest presence of God is having a relationship with Christ. We must be in right standing with God by grace, through faith, if we’re to experience this presence.
Romans 3:23 tells us that everyone has sinned and as a consequence of that sin no one is able to make it to heaven. God demands perfect holiness.
The Wages of Sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. If we accept the substitutionary sacrifice made by Jesus Christ on the cross for our sins we have eternal life.
Romans 10:9,10
9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Paul had Assurance
2 Timothy 1:12 Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
We can too
Steps to Experience the Manifest Presence of God
A. Discipline
B. Desire
C. Delight
Discipline
The first way you get into the presence of God is through Discipline.
You, with your will, focus your time energy and effort on seeking the Lord. You can do this through a combination of
- Prayer
- Fasting
- Worship
- Bible meditation
- Fellowship
- Service
- Holiness
James 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
1. Prayer
Talking with God honestly
It’s easy to slip into the formula prayers and pray the same thing the same way all the time.
It’s also easy to slip into the fake prayers. Praying the right things but having a heart disconnection.
We must pray honestly
The Prayer of agreement can kick our prayer life into exponential levels when we have someone agree with us.
Matthew 18:19 "Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.
Prayer of Faith
James 5:15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
2. Fasting
Fasting throughout the Bible has been an act of humility that in order to be effective must be accompanied with a heart change. Isaiah 58 is a good place to start if you want to learn more about the attitude of the heart during a fast.
In the new testament the instructions we have about fasting deal with attitude. Not doing it to appear spiritual but doing it secretly for God.
Matthew 6:16-18
16"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
3. Worship
Expressing Love, gratitude, appreciation and revelation back to the Lord helps to usher in His presence as well. The song must be from the heart not just the head.
The tabernacle as a pattern. When we come in we’re in the outer court. There are songs that can catch our minds and hearts even if we’re not focused on the Lord. I consider these outer court songs. They have a fast tempo and usually sing about the Lord.
The Inner Court
Inner court songs are a little slower and use the name of Jesus.
Holy Place Songs are even slower and not only use the name of Jesus but begin to use the word You also as the worshipper sings directly to God.
Most Holy Place Songs are very intimate.
A New Song
Psalm 96:1 Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.
This admonition appears 6 times in the Bible throughout the book of psalms.
That’s not a new one from the box it’s “your song”. An honest and sincere expression to the Lord of what He means to you.
4. Bible Meditation
Joshua 1:8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Notice I didn’t say Bible reading although that can very often lead to Bible meditation.
Meditation means to wrap your mind around the truths of scripture often reading it over and over again trying to extract every drop of meaning from a passage.
And specifically what these verses mean to you personally.
Do you have a favorite Bible verse? If you do it’s because it speaks to you. Meditating on these verses will usher in God’s presence.
5. Fellowship/Koinonia
Acts 2:42-43
42They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
The essential meaning of the koinonia embraces concepts conveyed in the English terms fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, sharing and intimacy.
Intimacy with the body means in-to-me-see. Life groups are a great place for this to happen. Sharing personal things with the body can create a structure where the presence of God is free to flow and manifest.
6. Service
1 Timothy 3:13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
Excellent Standing-People will recognize you and esteem you.
Assurance-Knowing that you know that you are a heaven bound child of God.
Colossians 3:23,24
23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
7. Holiness
Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
2 Timothy 2:20,21
20In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
Holiness is..
separation to God,
conduct befitting those so separated, their actions don’t misrepresent Jesus.
separated from sin and therefore consecrated to God, sacred.
When God’s presence is manifest we experience great joy.
Psalm 16:11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Acts 2:28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.'
In His Presence
Perspective changes
True repentance comes
Reality is brought to light on situations where previously there may have been confusion or darkness.
In His Presence
Your needs are met, emotionally, spiritually, and now you have something to give.
Very often peace comes when you gain God’s perspective on human issues. God says, “I’ve got it under control”.
My experience has been that when I discipline myself to seek the Lord that his presence is better than anything else on this Earth and I desire and ultimately delight in Him.
Everything pales in comparison to his Presence.
Let’s take some time to pray and seek the Lord. We need his presence!
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