Enter In: The Presence of God

What is the presence of God?

We have heard the call many times. “Enter into the presence of God.”

But really, what is the presence of God. Isn’t He already everywhere-present. I mean, the Holy Spirit is everywhere at once. Right? Psalm 139:7 says: “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?” Since the Holy Spirit is always everywhere why do we need to come into his presence? It doesn’t make sense....Wait a minute! I know what the presence of the Lord is. It’s like when you go to camp and you pray and learn God’s Word and worship and have fun and stuff--when you get those “warm fuzzies.” Yeah, that’s it. Or how about when you’re at home studying your Bible and you get excited about what you’re reading. Or when Pastor Kim can’t preach because we spent all morning praying. Or...You could go on and on, but let’s stop there.

So what is the presence of God? Well, it’s not the warm fuzzies you get once a year in November (Youth Convention...duh). It’s not the peace you get when you read about God’s awesome promises. It’s not any of that. The presence of God is not an emotional thing. It’s not an excitement or a peace, or even happiness. It’s not even people being delivered or saved. These things are the result of being in the presence of the Lord.

Some Christians can sense demons, some can see demons, and some can even smell demons. These saints could point out exactly where the demons are. The demons are as real to them as anyone else in the room. It is the same way with the presence of God. The Holy Spirit comes in a way we can experience with our senses. Not our physical senses, but our spiritual senses. Our Spirit discerns other spirits--demonic, angelic or Godly (2 Cor. 2:14).

But how can we experience the presence of God in that way?

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations (Psalm 100).

This shows us how we can come into God’s presence: praise. It also gives us examples of why we should praise Him: for whom He is to us and what He’s done for us. When we recognize his glory and give him credit for who he is to us by singing and thanking him, we can come into his presence.

Why would we want to be in God’s presence?

As we glorify God and recognize His power and greatness in our lives we are actually giving him rule in our lives. Psalm 22:3 says: “But You are holy; Enthroned in the praises of Israel.” Our praise of God sets God up as King of our lives. When God takes the throne he doesn’t just sit there and look pretty, He rules his kingdom with love and grace and power and justice. When God rules out life we will be transformed. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; Mercy and truth go before your face. Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all day long, and in Your righteousness they are exulted.
- Psalm 89:14-16

The presence of God is the kingship of God manifested in our lives. It’s the open door for him to have his way in us.

How Do I know that I’m in God’s presence?

And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
- Exodus 33:14

You will show me the path of life. In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right had are pleasure forevermore.
- Psalm 16:11

For You have made him blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad [joyful with gladness] with Your presence.
- Psalm 21:6

You shall hide them in secret place of Your Presence From the plots of man.
- Psalm 31:20a

As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, and set me before your face forever.
- Psalm 41:12

Come let us return to the Lord; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will [bandage] us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight.
-Hosea 6:1,2

The mountains quake before Him, the hills melt, and the earth heaves at His presence, Yes, the world and all who dwell in it.
- Nahum1:5

...He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God...
- 1 Thessalonians 3:13

When we’re in God’s presence we might be very emotional or we might be very reverent. The presence of God almost always brings an emotional response. Most people think that’s it. But don’t let the emotions rob you of a blessing. Emotions will go away but the work of God endures.

Finally, the presence of God is like a giant dome arena. In the center of this arena is God encompassed by a tall hedge-so tall that anyone outside of the hedge could not see Him. If it weren’t for the light which illuminated the entirety of the dome they would not know God was there (for they know there is a source...and who it is). Every Christian live within the dome of life-always in the light of God. It is not until they enter into the hedge that they are directly affected by the light of God. When they do enter they are face to face with the light and experience all that that light is. Lumination, warmth and every characteristic of light is directly applied to those in the inner hedge. Enter into the holy of holies, the presence of God.