“Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be).”

A dear woman of God used to say, “Practise the presence of Jesus.” I ask you to do the same, because when you practise God’s divine presence, your life won’t be dull or ordinary; instead, it will be filled with amazing and awesome miracles. “How do I practise God’s presence?” you might ask. Well, it’s very easy. You simply live your life everyday with the consciousness that God is with you and He lives in you.

You think, talk, and function as though God is with you, because He truly is! Statements such as, “I’m so lonely,” “There’s nobody to understand or care for me” or ‘I’m scared” should never be uttered from your lips. Rather, say, “The Lord is with me always.” Jesus wasn’t kidding when He said, “… lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). He’s closer to you than your breath. He hears you every time you speak; He loves and appreciates you.
It makes no difference whether or not you “feel” He is close; He’s right there with you and in you! Talk to Him every day like you would your friend. When you’re conscious of His presence this way, you wouldn’t recognize the absence of others or become overwhelmed by the challenges and adversities you face. It’s something you must practise consciously, especially when you’re alone.
And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them (Acts 19:11-12).

A certain fellow, who wasn’t a Christian and obviously hadn’t received the Holy Spirit, spoke in tongues in a meeting. Stunned at this, someone asked, “How could that be?” Well, it happened. What happened to that fellow was an impartation, similar to that on the handkerchiefs and aprons that were taken from Paul’s body to heal the sick.
For example, I can rub myself on you and particles from my own clothes will come on you; I could hug you and my smell will be on you. That doesn’t mean I’m in you. In the same way, the fact that that fellow spoke in tongues doesn’t mean the Holy Spirit was in him. In Numbers 22:28, we read how a donkey spoke with a man’s voice and forbade the madness of the prophet. Was God living in the donkey? No!
The power of God came on the donkey and it spoke like a man, but that didn’t mean the donkey was filled with the Holy Ghost. There are things the Spirit of God causes to happen. For example, when we gather as believers in church, there’s a spiritual presence in the room, not because the Holy Ghost sat there physically, but because of His presence in us. That presence is transmitted to that environment through us. We have, in that sense, and in that way, sanctified the place with the presence of God that we carry in us.

The ultimate thing, therefore, isn’t a rub-off or a smear or an impartation of His presence like the aforementioned examples, which wouldn’t last for long, but His indwelling presence in you. When you received the Holy Spirit, the very source of power came to reside in you. Jesus said you shall receive power when the Holy Ghost comes upon you (Acts 1:8).
You don’t need to seek power from anywhere else, because the very source of power Himself lives in you. Take advantage of His glorious presence in you today. When you’re conscious of this, you’ll certainly walk in the supernatural and live the higher life in Christ.

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you (1 Corinthians 3:16).

As Christians, it’s so important that we’re conscious of who we are and what we have. You know, sometimes, some people come to church and they say, “Lord, we’ve come into your presence today.” And when they leave, they feel they’ve left the presence of God. Some even pray for the presence of God to come down.
But the truth is, as a child of God, you don’t “come” into God’s presence. You come in, and with, His presence! You carry that presence! When you go to church, you go with His presence in you.
You’re the temple of the living God, who dwells in you by the Holy Spirit. When you were born again, Christ took up His abode in the quarters of your heart. He’s in you now, and you’re in Him. He didn’t come into you to leave again after some time; no! He’s with you, and in you, forever! Sadly, a lot of folks don’t know this. But thanks be unto God! We know what we carry. This isn’t an imagination! It’s not a fable. This is reality. The Spirit of God dwells in you, and He’s the conveyor of the presence and blessings of God, and all that’s been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Now, the power of the Word of God works through knowledge and proclamation. If you don’t know it, it’ll not work. Even though it’s been in the Bible, even though you’ve read it, if you don’t have a consciousness of it, it’ll not work. You must have the consciousness that you’re a God-carrying vessel. You carry His presence in you everywhere. When you arrive, God arrives! Glory to His Name forever!
There’s nothing quite like the presence of the Lord. We read in the Bible of prophets, disciples and followers of Christ who have experienced God’s presence, but when you have your own experience, it’s something special.
Spending time in God’s presence is essential to our Christian journey. If you don’t spend time with a person, how can you know them? If you don’t spend time with God, then how do you expect to know Him.
When Paul said, “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death” in Philippians 3:10, he desired to know Jesus. He wanted to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and sacrifice his life if need be. Paul’s desire was birthed from his dedication in spending time with the Lord. The more and more Paul spent with the Lord, the more God revealed to him. But, the only way to have that experience is to stay in the presence of God. (Philippians 3:10, King James Version)

Spending time in God’s presence requires discipline and desire. Everything within you must desire to be with Him. Jeremiah 29:13 says that when we have searched for Him with our whole heart, then we will find Him. (Jeremiah 29:13, KJV)
One of the most beautiful things I’ve discovered while being a Christian is knowing our God is accessible. The Word reminds us in John 4:24, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” Therefore, no matter where you are, God is there also. We can call on God at all times. We can worship Him in our cars, our homes and in the tabernacle because He is an accessible God. We have an all-access pass with the Father. (John 4:24, KJV)
In His presence, He has promised us blessings.

In His word, He said, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” Liberty means freedom. In God’s presence, you are free. You are free over everything that binds you. In God’s presence, you are made whole. (2 Corinthians 3:17, KJV)
In His presence, there is fullness of joy. The scripture reminds us that we will have everlasting joy. Joy supersedes happiness because happiness is fleeting. You can be happy today but sad in five minutes. However, when you have joy, your house could be burning, but you still have joy. This type of joy comes from God because we have a Father who can provide it to us. (Psalm 16:11, KJV)
He reminds us that all His righteousness will be added unto us when we seek His face. (Matthew 6:33, KJV)
In His presence, we find rest. Sometimes life gets tough, but Jesus said, “Come all ye that are weary laden, and I will give you rest.” Let Him be your burden bearer. (Exodus 33:14, KJV and Matthew 11:28)
When we desire to be in the presence of the Lord, He will draw closer to us. When we prioritize drawing closer to God, God will draw closer to us. His promises are true. But in order to receive the blessing, we have to stay in His presence. (James 4:8, KJV)
There is a covering in God’s presence. There is healing, peace, deliverance, spiritual growth and favor in God’s presence.
Start a relationship with Christ and draw close to Him. Begin by opening up your mouth and saying, “Hi Jesus, it’s me again.” Pour out your heart to Him. Start a morning devotion and ask God to use for His glory. Avail yourself to God and watch Him use you.
There’s nothing like the presence of the Lord, and where God is, is surely where we want to be.

Remember the Flight
It is your opportunity to spread your wings and ascend in the Spirit.
Join us on Saturday

-GSW-