Practicing the Presence of God
(Exodus 3:5)
by Bro. James Strait 9/4/2011
And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
I. In the presence of God you can draw even nearer to God.
But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD...
(Jonah 1:3)
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you...humble yourself...He will lift you up
(James 4:8-10).
II. In the presence of God you can hear Him speak words about your life.
Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart
(Psalms 44:21).
And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth (I Corinthians 14:25)
I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out--plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for (Jeremiah 29:11 MSG).
III. In the presence of God there is hope.
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming (I Thessalonians 2:9)?
IV. In the presence of God there is joy and wonderful emotional pleasures.
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Psalms 16:11).
V. In the presence of God there is the possibility of great personal power.
But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin (Micah 3:8)
But ye shall receive power when the Holy Ghost has come upon you & ye shall be witnesses...(Acts 1:8).
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us (2 Corinthians 4:7).
VI. How can you experience the presence and power of God?
A. Show up where He has promised to show up.
B. Give up what He has commanded you to give up.
C. Stand up when He has told you to stand p.
D. Yield up what He has begged you to yield up.
I. In the presence of God you can draw even nearer to God.
But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD...
(Jonah 1:3)
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you...humble yourself...He will lift you up
(James 4:8-10).
II. In the presence of God you can hear Him speak words about your life.
Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart
(Psalms 44:21).
And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth (I Corinthians 14:25)
I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out--plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for (Jeremiah 29:11 MSG).
III. In the presence of God there is hope.
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming (I Thessalonians 2:9)?
IV. In the presence of God there is joy and wonderful emotional pleasures.
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Psalms 16:11).
V. In the presence of God there is the possibility of great personal power.
But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin (Micah 3:8)
But ye shall receive power when the Holy Ghost has come upon you & ye shall be witnesses...(Acts 1:8).
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us (2 Corinthians 4:7).
VI. How can you experience the presence and power of God?
A. Show up where He has promised to show up.
B. Give up what He has commanded you to give up.
C. Stand up when He has told you to stand p.
D. Yield up what He has begged you to yield up.