IN GOD'S PRESENCE ALWAYS (PART 3)

TEXT:

"But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none." (2nd Kings 5 verse 16, King James Version).

 I think that the prophets of old learned to be in God's presence to be able to receive messages from God. Towards this end, they made it their way of life.

 In 2nd Kings 20, we saw it in Isaiah's life. God had sent Prophet Isaiah to King Hezekiah to tell him to set his house in order because he was going to die. Upon receiving the message, King Hezekiah prayed to the Lord and successfully convinced Him to change his mind. Before Isaiah could leave the middle courtyard, another message came to him from the Lord, cancelling the previous message, and the Prophet had to go back to the King with the latter message (see 2nd Kings 20 verses 1 to 6). Now, you will agree with me that if Prophet Isaiah had not stood before the Lord, even as he was on his way out of the middle courtyard, he wouldn't have heard the latter message from God to the King.

   I had said before that I do believe that as Christians, being in God's presence ought to be our way of life. Truth is, the New Testament supports it. In other words, living in God's presence or abiding in Him always accords with the New Testament realities. In actual fact, what Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah and the other Prophets practiced in the Old Testament time was a shadow of the New Testament realities. By being in God's presence continuously, they had access to His fullness, particularly His Word for the moment. The case of Isaiah in 2nd Kings 20 is clearly illustrative of this point.

    The secret to being in God's presence always is found in God's consciousness. As Christians, God's consciousness should be our way of life. That was the case with the Prophets of old.

   Let's understand that it's not until you go to a designated place like the Church setting before you can access God's presence. In John 4 verses 21 to 24, Jesus told the Samaritan woman that it wasn't anymore in Jerusalem or on Mount Gerizim that God desired to be worshipped, but that God was seeking those that would worship Him in spirit and in truth. In other words, our worship must engage our spirits in the pursuit of truth.

       This New Testament reality is shown by the fact that as God's children, we have been baptized into Christ by the Holy Spirit (see 1st Corinthians 12 verse 13, Romans 6 verse 3, Galatians 3 verse 27) and in turn, Christ has baptized us into the Holy Spirit (see John 1 verse 33, 15 verse 26, Matthew 3 verse 11, Luke 24 verse 49).

    The effect of this is that as Christians, our spirits have been equipped to be in tune with God always, if only we know this and we take advantage of it. We have to understand that at salvation, the Spirit of God came to live in us. By doing so, our spirits have become one with the Lord because according to 1st Corinthians 6 verse 17, the Amplified Version, "... the one who is united and joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him."

       The Good News here is that the Lord God whom the Prophets of old sought-after in order for them to be in His presence always has come to take His abode in us. Under the New Covenant therefore, are we not only standing before God, but are we in Christ and He is in us. In our present dispensation, it's much easier to be and to abide in God's presence always. This is the New Testament reality that we need to know and to take advantage of. When this becomes a revelation to us, no longer do we see God at a distance, but instead we know that He dwells within us, making it easier to fellowship with Him. Hallelujah!

PRAYER:

Father, thank You for dwelling in me by Your Spirit and bringing to me Your very presence. I'm grateful for making it possible for me to live in your presence always, in Jesus name.