Do You Know the Presence of God?

When it comes to examples of what true biblical prosperity is, I don’t think there is any greater example than that of Joseph.

During his time in Potiphar’s home and in the prison, the scripture is clear to point out that the LORD made what he did to prosper, and in conjunction with that statement, it says, “the LORD was with Joseph” (Gen 39:2-3, 23).

For that reason, I believe that the mark of true prosperity is knowing the presence of God. This is further borne out in the law of the first mention, where we first read the word ‘prosper’ in Gen 24:40 “The LORD, before whom I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way”. But, this inevitably raises a few questions.

What it is to know the presence of God

What is the ‘presence’ of God? Have you ever known the presence of God, and if you have, how do you know that it was the presence of God and not something else? Is it something we can sense, or is it just seen in its effects?

These are questions which in various forms haunt me, both in a personal level, and in a corporate level when we meet together with other believers for meetings. I mean, is the presence of God something we can simply presume on, or is it something we are to know, or is it both?

The first text which comes to mind in every Christian is, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee” Heb 13:5

But, is that a promise we should presume on, and then live happily in the knowledge of it?

What about corporately? Ah, yes of course, “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” Matt 18:20

Surely we can assume that is for us? I mean, we mention the name of Jesus in our prayers, singing, and in our preaching, so surely He is with us? Surely God’s presence is known?

Learning from the mistakes of others

I wonder if the Laodiceans assumed Gods presence was with them too? I mean, inevitably God was with them, was He not? He had blessed them with heaps of money, and isn’t that a sign of Gods blessing? That’s what we say, isn’t it? God has blessed us with this wonderful building, and with a wonderful program for the children, and with talented musicians, etc.

The reality is, the sign of Gods blessing is His presence (as we have already noted), and the Laodicean church was without Gods presence, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Rev 3:20

Imagine that, Christ isn’t in the church, and they didn’t notice. He knocks on the door, and they didn’t notice, and so He had to send a letter to tell them He wanted back in if they were willing to have Him!

Purging the sham

I don’t know about you, but I feel most of the time that I don’t really sense the presence of God. In my own quiet times it often feels like mere humbug. There’s no awe. There’s no fear. There’s no reality. My Saviour wants to manifest Himself to me (John 14:21), but often I leave without sensing that I’ve really met with God.

It’s the same in corporate worship. I’m not looking for fire from Heaven, or for the sick to be healed, and I’m definitely not looking for people in the congregation to fall backwards, or laugh uncontrollably or bark like dogs.

I suppose my desire is like that of David’s, “Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down” (Ps 144:5) or “that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down” (Is 64:1).

Maybe it’s just me, but I feel that almost every day of my existence is a grievance to the Lord. Where is the glory of the Lord? Where is the right hand of the Almighty? Where is the majesty of His presence?

Alas, perhaps “Ichabod” (1 Sam 4:21) should be written over my life! Perhaps it should be written over the church of the western world?

Hope

Is there any hope for us? Yea, there is but one way of hope, “Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works” (Rev 2:5).

Wouldn’t it be glorious to know the presence of God each day, abstaining from “all appearance of evil” (1 Thes 5:22) and experiencing “the Lord working with them” (Mark 16:20)?

With this in mind, here is my prayer;

Father, thou who art full of grace and mercy, deliver me I prey thee from religious hypocrisy, and from having lips which praise thee, yet a heart which is far from thee. Grant that this unprofitable servant might know a fresh dawning of light which shall drive all darkness away, giving me deliverance from all known and unknown sin. Be pleased, I prey, to bless my soul with a fresh revelation of thy holy child Jesus, who is the Author and Giver of life.

Lord, strengthen me with all might, by the Spirit in the inner man, and fill me with all the fullness of thyself. I prey also that thou mayest anoint me with the Holy Ghost, that day by day I might make known the mystery of the gospel, and preach boldly Christ, and Him crucified. This I prey in Jesus’ name, Amen!

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