On Sunday I shared that I believe our greatest need in this life is to experience the presence of God, every day, moment by moment. In Exodus 33:3, God told Moses He would not go with the Israelites after the “golden calf incident.” Moses pleaded and begged for Him to change His mind.
Moses knew what he was without the presence of God. There had been no miracles, no speeches, no authority, no leadership ability. It was God at work in him that made the difference. He didn’t want to move forward without it.
God’s presence reveals God’s favor. Exodus 33:15-16: Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”
God’s presence was the distinguishing mark that God was not only with Israel, but that He was for Israel. It was a stamp of approval. It was a sign to would-be enemies that if they took on Israel, they also took on Israel’s God.
God’s presence rests you. Exodus 33:14: “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” A good shepherd knows when the flock is weary. He knows when it is time to find a cool stream of water, some green grass, and some shade in which to rest.
God’s manifest presence will give us rest. When God is with us, we’ll know not only what route to take, but we’ll know when to stop and rest. The presence of God in our lives helps us to understand our human limitations and helps us know how to pace ourselves. Beyond all the kinds of rest that we think of in the natural God wants to give us a rest from worry, anxiety, the pressure to perform and succeed, and rest from having to be in control.
God’s presence revs you up. We see this illustrated in the life of Joshua in Joshua 1:5: “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
When God is with you like He was with Moses, you can talk to high ranking officials with boldness. You can speak with confidence as God’s mouthpiece making no apology for ending phrases with “Thus saith the Lord.” When God is with you like He was with Moses, staffs become snakes and turn back into staffs again. When God is with you like He was with Moses, He’ll bring helpers and spiritual partners into your life like He did with Aaron to help you carry out your assignment. When God is with you like He was with Moses, you’ll prophesy about things which are to come and watch them come to pass. When God is with you like He was with Moses, you’ll have authority and people will follow you. When God is with you like He was with Moses, He’ll make a way through the Red Sea and cause anything that is pursuing you to be swept into the sea and drowned. When God is with you like He was with Moses, He isn’t merely along for the ride, but He will take you on the ride of your life as you experience His power, walk in victory and own your spiritual destiny.
The neatest thing about God’s presence is you can pursue it personally. Moses did. When was the last time you chased the presence of God? When was the last time you begged God in prayer to be present with you in your circumstance? We spend a lot of time pursuing things, chasing things that will never fulfill us and that we’ll often never attain. But how determined are we to experience the presence of God every day?
Oh, that God will be with us as He was with Moses!
DATES TO KNOW: Saturday, September 21-Prayer and Worship Service at 6:00 p.m. and October 5th-All-Church Campaign Banquet at 5:00 p.m.
Pastor Melissa
