Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13).
The presence of God separates the believer from the infectious influences of the world! And the Presence in us that manifests throughout our day has a drawing effect on those around us. They notice something different about us. No other religion can do to a human what Christianity can. Christians in fellowship with God are bearers of the Presence!
Moses cried out to God when he came down from the top of Mount Sinai after he saw that the Israelites had sinned. He asked God not to remove His presence from the people. And notice why Moses asked this: Then he said to Him, if Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here. For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth.
The Presence is not a feeling or emotion. It produces feelings and emotions at times. But it’s much deeper than feeling. The Presence exudes from our human spirit and carefully guards us from the effects of the world and the enemy from without. And the Presence moves us away from the tendencies of the flesh and creates in us a hunger and drawing toward the Father.
Carefully guard the Presence! Don’t allow unconfessed sin to remain in your life. Sin dissipates the Presence! If you miss it in some way, immediately confess your sin and the Blood will cleanse you!
Be careful with your words, for strife filled words can grieve the Holy Spirit who bears this Presence within (see Ephesians 4:29-30).
Time spent daily in the Word, in praise and worship, and in prayer will increase the manifestations of His Presence in your life. I have found that praying in the spirit, because it builds up and edifies the human spirit, will increase the manifestation of the Presence. The tell-tale sign of the Presence in you is joy! In His Presence is fullness of joy, pleasures forevermore!
Walk in His Presence today! Court the Presence! Lift your voice in praise to the Holy One. Thank Him for all that He is. Worship Him. He inhabits praise with manifestations of His Presence. Create change in the atmosphere wherever you are today. Release the Presence!
Friday, July 31, 2009
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"Court the Presence"... Wow... that speaks to me Pastor... it says have a relationship with the presence... nuture and romance the presence... cherish and adore the presence... protect and honor the presence... edify and praise the presence... walk with the presence in covenant and love... Glory!!!
ReplyDeleteQuestion Pastor Mitch,
ReplyDeleteTalking about sin. What happens when a person goes against God's will and word and sins knowing that they should not do whatever they just did to sin. They know it is wrong and a sin, but they have a strong hold on them. They are trying to deal with this issue/problem though.
Besides sinning and the hurt that God feels, what happens when you sin and you know it's wrong?
Thank you
I hope they know what happen's if you sin and don't repent, but I think I understand what they are asking.
ReplyDeleteThere is a stonghold by the enemy and the person is aware of this stronghold and working on it? But keeps sinning in the meantime, I guess is what is going on?
It's one thing to do what you know is wrong and you just could care less.It's another thing to do wrong as a results of an ingrained habit that been with you for a long time.
ReplyDeleteGod has a lot of grace for us all. If He judged our sins, none of us could stand right. So thank God for forgiveness by the blood of Jesus as we confess our sins (1 John 1:9).
A person wrestling with a habitual sin should cry out to the Lord to set them free and then get some help from their pastor or another strong believer. They should meditate on the word in their area of weakness. As they do, the word will begin to form a conviction within them to alter the behavior. Change will eventually come in most cases. Some cases need intervention by others. And all situations need the grace and mercy of God!