Alive to the presence of God.
The word for last year, Habitatation, ties in closely to this year’s word, to be ALIVE TO THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
…” in whom (Christ) you also are being built together for a dwelling place (Habitation) of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:22 NKJV brackets added
It is clear in the above verse that we are talking about being continually in the presence of God. If that is the position we are moving toward, then in the present, what does His presence and our awareness of it bring? There are several relational things that we learn about God and our relationship to Him by the use of the term PRESENCE in scripture. We want to let the Holy Spirit unfold this for us. Let’s look at a few examples of what presence communicates in our relationship with the Lord.
If we first look at the definition of eternal life in John 17:3 we note that it too is relational in nature. “ Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” NIV It is the same in looking into His presence. Presence is personal not impersonal. God is communicating with us as a person. We need to know that His presence is going to communicate something of His personhood in relationship with us.
You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalms 16:11 NKJV
From this scripture we can receive God’s intention to have us experience joy. There is a communication of joy coming from God to His people. Being alive to God’s presence will take us deeper into experiencing joy. How that takes place will be discovered as we engage Him and search the scriptures, but we do know where it takes place – in relationship with Him and in His presence. In Galatians one of the fruit of the Spirit is joy. This fruit comes from abiding (remaining) in Christ according to John 15.
The presence of God also engages us by motivating us. Look at these two verses:
I charge you in the presence of God, who [gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you… (1 Timothy 6:13)
Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to … (2 Timothy 2:14 part)
In both verses the exhortation/charge is grounded and carries force by realizing that we live in the presence of God. In the first case to do something, and in the second case to not do something.
We need to recognize that the presence of the Lord, since God is Light, will bring to light the things in our life that need to change (not to …), and give us direction to enter into the things He directs us to (that you …). It will expose the darkness in order to heal and free us and call us deeper into His will and fellowship with Him. Our hearts need to be prepared for Him to do this work. David said,
Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24NIV)
Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105 NKJV)
The last connection I will raise for us to ponder right now is found in Romans 6 and verses 10-11.
“For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (NASB)
We are to consider (reckon) ourselves alive to God. The statement is a positional statement about our life in Christ. Because we are in Christ and He lives to God, we are, in Him, alive to God. Alive to His presence – Him. Reckoning doesn’t make this true, it is true because of what God has done in Christ. Reckoning takes us into experiencing more of what is true of us in Christ.
Consider the importance of the Lord’s presence in the light of Moses statement: “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. 16 For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of theearth?” Exodus 33:14-16 NAS
It is these truths and others that the Lord wants to highlight for us, have us believe, and experience in 2020.
I am looking forward to the journey together,
Pastor Mac