Knowing the Presence of the Lord


KNOWING THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD

Exodus 33:11-15 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle. And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.(KJV)

Moses had entered into a place of close fellowship with God. God spoke to Moses like a man speaks to his friend, face to face. Moses didn't ask for material things or for something for himself. Instead he asked God how he could know Him. Being in the Presence of the Lord was more important than anything else in his life. I believe that God would be very pleased if we, as Christians would desire to know Him above all else, like Moses did.

In Romans 8:1 the Bible says, There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.(KJV)

Consider this phrase, "walking in the Spirit". How can we explain that in a practical way? Walking in the Spirit is simply walking in the awareness of His Presence.

The Bible says in Psalm 91:1-4 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.(KJV)

David was talking about a place of knowing the Presence of the Lord. Before we are saved our Spirit is dead toward God. We can read this in Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;(KJV)

Before we surrender to Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour, our spiritual mind, and consciousness is dead toward God. When we are born again, the spiritual mind is made conscious of the Presence of the Lord. We become a dwelling place for the Lord.

First we can know the Presence of the Lord in simplicity. We have made the things of God so complicated. Take the plan of salvation for example. Some say we must struggle and strive, do good works, etc. We have made it so complicated. The Bible teaches that salvation can be received in great simplicity though repentance and faith. Even the simplest mind and heart can believe and receive. For decades, some people have made it a complicated process to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They think that one must struggle, strain, beg and then, maybe you can receive the languages of the Spirit. I have seen children receive the Holy Ghost quickly and easily. I received the Holy Ghost when I was seven years old. I guess I received it before I realized it was supposed to be complicated. It is often religion and tradition that makes things complicated. It's always Jesus plus something. Simply dwell in the Presence of God. Reach out your heart, and when you sense His Presence, let the power of the Spirit flow through you.

Some have made the gifts of the Spirit a complicated super spiritual fantasy but I have learned from experience that the gifts of the Spirit and walking in the Spirit is not complicated, it's simple. Day by day, we walk in the awareness of His Presence. God isn't interested in complicated formulas, dogmas and traditions of man but he comes to us in simplicity. You can know the Presence of the Lord in simplicity and no other way. Jesus said to come to Him as a child and you will receive.

Second, to know the Presence of the Lord, we discover He is very practical. Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good. I am convinced that it is in practical ways that we know the things of God and the Presence of God. Some people think that to walk in the Presence of the Lord, we must take leave of common sense. What nonsense! You don't have to go to church to feel the Presence of God; although, it is a pretty good place to go. Knowing the Presence of the Lord is being able to roll out of bed in the morning, look in the mirror and know that the Presence of the Lord is with you. At your work, in spite of the complications, frustrations, victories and defeats, in a very practical way you have the consciousness of His Presence. We can walk in the awareness of the Presence of the Lord in a practical way all day long every day. Our God offers us salvation that works in a practical way.

Third, we know the Presence of the Lord by His grace. I stand in His Presence, not by any works that I have done but by God's grace alone. God is interested in our performance only as it is covered by His grace. His grace can reach down into the darkest pits and take out the worst sinner, then cover them with His blood and forgiveness.

We must have a consciousness of the Presence of the Lord in our local church. A physical body is declared dead when the brainwaves cease. Until that time, a body can be laying in a hospital room attached to life support systems. With modern technology they can keep a brain dead body functioning practically forever. Some churches are like that. They have life support systems attached to them but there are no longer any waves coming from the Head. Although they have the programs, and entertainment, there is no divine infusion of life from Jesus Christ. The body is dead. What we don't need are more life support systems! What we need in the church is a fresh awareness of the Presence of God.

A pastor once said, 'We have a program just in case the Lord doesn't move in the service'. The church of Jesus Christ must experience a consciousness of His Presence and divine life is flowing through them.

Once a man was telling me how he was converted. It was in 1925. There was a group of Christians who were having services in this little wee building that didn't have any screens on the windows. This crazy group of people, who called themselves Pentecostals, were singing and shouting praises to God and could be heard some two miles away. After dark, curious people from surrounding towns would sneak out and peak through the windows of the church to see what was happening. One night this gentleman was just so curious that he had to see what was going on. As he got a little closer he tripped and fell and just about landed on another fellow, who was in the dark right beside him. He climbed up where he could look through a window when some pranksters came behind him, and pushed him right into the service. He was trapped! He heard the message of salvation and was soundly converted to Christ that night! Even though they did not seem to have much sophistication, the folks meeting in that little building did have the consciousness of the Lord's Presence. He was there to touch and change many lives.

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.(KJV)

When Jesus was talking about "this rock", He wasn't referring to Peter or some great tradition. He was talking about the revelation of who He was, the Presence of God among them. We need to have that vibrancy of relationship with the Lord. We need to focus, not on our problems or selfish desires but on knowing the Presence of God in our lives and walking in the awareness of His Presence.

We read David's words in Psalms 63:1-8 O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.(KJV)

This is a fantastic example of a man who was crying out to know the Presence of God. David yearned to walk in the awareness of God's Presence.

In Acts 4:29-31 we read about the attitude of the early Christians who were being persecuted for their faithfulness. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.(KJV)

It didn't matter to them that they were being persecuted or that their lives were in danger. The only thing that mattered to them was that Jesus was their Master, they were His servants and they longed for a visitation from God. Being with Him was more important than life.

You and I can know the powerful, personal, Presence of the Lord. There is a little thing that we need to do. It's called surrender. As we surrender ourselves to Him, then He becomes that all consuming flame within us.

Apostle Paul explained the deepest yearning of his heart in Philippians 3:8-10 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;(KJV)

This is the man who had written half of the New Testament. At one time I thought, wow, if Paul didn't know Him after all he had been through and done for God, then what chance do I have! Paul was a man who had really entered into the Presence of the Lord, yet he said that he wanted to know God. I have realized that knowing Jesus is like walking out into an ocean. The farther you go, the more there is to explore. We don't need to worry about the other guy who is getting ahead of us. Their is plenty of Him for all. We need to jump in and swim for ourselves. You can know the Presence of the Lord, live aware of His Presence and let His fire touch your heart.

You can also know Him in the fellowship of His sufferings. That means to be willing to bear the burdens and the problems, the cross and the difficulties of life in the consciousness of His Presence daily. Do you get it? No matter what the situation, we can live and abide in the consciousness of His Presence. You and I can receive a new touch. We have been swimming close to the shore long enough. Now reach out with a new hunger for Him. Let Him be the Master of your heart. Let every moment be lived in the consciousness of His Presence.