The presence of God is what believers should prioritize in their life. Because it makes the difference between living your Christian life in victory or defeat, although it is of great importance, many believers disregard it or treat it as an option. This is a grave mistake since they end up living their life unaware of the power of God’s presence.
God had enough of the Hebrews’ rebellious attitude as they traveled through the wilderness. He told Moses they could march to the Promised Land and take it themselves. God will send an angel to conquer the inhabitants for them. However, God’s presence will not go with them (Exodus 33:1-3.)
And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.
Exodus 33:15
Moses knew the importance of God’s presence. He knew that without it, they would end up becoming miserable people. Because of this understanding, he told God that they would rather stay in the wilderness with the presence of God than enter the Promised Land without His presence.
With this in mind, material things, financial success, and abundant properties are not evidence of God’s presence. We can have all these things but be void of God’s presence. This is the truth that we need to realize about His presence.
The definition of the presence of God.
The Bible constantly tells us about God’s presence. Sometimes, we overlook it, but the Bible shows us its benefits and implications.
God’s presence brings us His protection.
In Daniel chapter 3, King Nebuchadnezzar commanded everyone to worship the golden image he had set up. However, the three Hebrew boys deliberately disobeyed the king’s command because of their faith. As a result, the king gave them the death sentence to be thrown in the fire.
He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
Daniel 3:25
In Daniel 3:24-27, Nebuchadnezzar saw that the presence of God was with them when he saw four men in the furnace instead of three. The Bible says that not even a single strand of their hair was burnt. This is because the presence of God was with them while they were in the furnace.
God’s presence brings us His providence.
3And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. 4Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.
Deuteronomy 8:3-4
Notice that it was God who led the Hebrews into the wilderness. The wilderness is a place where there are almost no resources for survival. However, God gave them Manna, a water source, guided them with the pillar of clouds and fire, and gave them everything they needed. God provided everything they needed in the wilderness because his presence was with them.
God’s presence brings us His purpose.
The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.
Genesis 39:23
Joseph went through so many difficulties at a very young age. His brothers sold him into slavery, and his master falsely accused and imprisoned him. But the Lord was with him even in the lowest, possibly most depressing points of his life.
In Genesis 37:5-11, God had already shown his purpose to Joseph. And because of God’s presence, Joseph never lost track of his purpose in life. We can only find our purpose in life in God’s presence.
We can only find our purpose in life in God’s presence.
Edifying the saints
God’s presence brings us His peace.
God’s presence does not guarantee that you’ll never face problems and persecution. We’ll still go through a lot of difficulties in life. However, God’s peace will be with us as we go through those things.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Psalms 23:4
As the sheep go through the valley of the shadow of death, the shepherd will always be with the sheep. This is the source of our peace. That no matter what the situation is, the good shepherd will be with us to guide us.
The departure of the presence of God.
2And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: 3Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way.
Exodus 33:2-3
God didn’t want to be with the Hebrews anymore because of their continuous rebellion toward Him. This means God’s presence will be with us if we live in holiness. Sin will cause the presence of God to depart from our life.
God always protected the Hebrew people and provided for their needs. But they always forget about His goodness. And they constantly disobey the laws of God.
If God’s presence is what a believer must desire, then he must also dread the departure of God’s presence. Notice a person who is deprived of the presence of God.
The example of Saul.
But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
1 Samuel 16:14
In the Old Testament, the Spirit of the Lord manifests God’s presence and power to a person. That’s why the Holy Spirit comes and goes in the Old Testament. However, in the New Testament, those saved are sealed with the Holy Spirit. This means God owns those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ. And the seal of His ownership is the Holy Spirit.
So when the Spirit of God departed from Saul, it spoke of God’s presence leaving Saul, not his salvation. Because salvation is eternal, and even Samuel told Saul he would join him (in Heaven) when he died (1 Samuel 28:19.)
God’s presence departed from Saul in the 2nd year of his reign as king. And in total, Saul reigned over Israel for 40 years. This means that a person can serve God yet be deprived of the presence of God. We can preach, attend church, and even evangelize, but God’s presence has already departed. However, those who serve God without His presence will find no joy in service, just like Saul.
The example of Samson.
And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.
Judges 16:20
Samson’s strength did not come from his hair or Nazarite vow. His power came from the presence of God. That’s why his enemies easily defeated him when the Lord departed.
God’s presence departed from him because of his constant rebellion toward God. And he was unaware that he was already void of God’s presence. Therefore, a believer may be deprived of the presence of God without even being aware of it. Sooner, it becomes evident in a life of defeat, powerlessness, and shame.
The desire for the presence of God.
And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.
Exodus 33:15
God said He would give the people the Promised Land, and they won’t have to fight for it. All they had to do was to go there and claim it for themselves. However, God said He would not go with them because he might kill them because of their wickedness.
Moses knew his priorities. He chose the presence of God rather than the Promised Land. That’s why wealth, properties, and material things can never be evidence of God’s presence. The truth is that some have chosen wealth and material things rather than the presence of God. Because they continually rebel against God and worship their money, career, and possessions, God gave them all those things, but His presence has departed.
Moses was more willing to stay in the wilderness with God than in the Promised Land without God. Without the presence of God, the Promised Land is just a piece of land. Is it worth it to have all the wealth in the world without God? Of course not.
Notice that it was Moses who chose the presence of God himself. He didn’t choose the people. We need to realize that the presence of God is a personal choice, just like salvation and spiritual growth.
I hope that we understand the importance of the presence of God in our life. And in that understanding, we will learn to seek it and make it our top priority.
