{"id":7904,"date":"2024-10-15T13:30:59","date_gmt":"2024-10-15T11:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/predication.net\/?p=7904"},"modified":"2024-10-15T13:31:27","modified_gmt":"2024-10-15T11:31:27","slug":"what-does-it-mean-to-be-in-the-presence-of-god","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/predication.net\/?p=7904","title":{"rendered":"What does it mean to be in the presence of God?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Adam and Eve had intimate fellowship in the presence of God before the fall (<\/span>Genesis 3:8<\/a>). Since that time, sin has prevented our ability to be in the physical presence of God (<\/span>Exodus 33:20<\/a>). Now only the holy, sinless angels are in the physical presence of God (<\/span>Luke 1:19<\/a>). But Christians have the presence of God within us by His indwelling Holy Spirit (<\/span>John 14:23<\/a>;\u00a0<\/span>15:4<\/a>), and that indwelling presence comes only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

\nWe are aware of the reality of this presence from our obedience to His Word. \u201cWe are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praise of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light\u201d (1 Peter 2:9<\/a>). Note that Peter says that \u201cwe are chosen people . . . belonging to God.\u201d If we belong to Him, will He not be present among us? We never lose the reality of God\u2019s presence, no matter how badly we fail; we never sin so much as to lose our salvation; we never sink so far as to banish the Holy Spirit. We can anger God because of our sin, but true believers never lose the presence of the Holy Spirit. While we will never lose the reality of God\u2019s presence, we might lose the \u201csense\u201d of His presence.<\/p>\n

Every child of God invariably goes through this feeling of losing God\u2019s presence from time to time, like a landlord who has left his house and gone away on business for a while. He has not left the house completely empty, for, if he had, he would have taken all his belongings with him. But because he has left all his furniture and belongings in that house, does it not mean that he will return once again? Any believer knows that there are times of spiritual leanness when perhaps the Lord determines to test our faith. Does He not push us through the winnowing flames of affliction that we might be all the more pure (Job 23:10<\/a>;\u00a01 Peter 1:7<\/a>)?<\/p>\n

But the practical result of being in God\u2019s presence is joy! Many Christians seem gloomy and dejected because they lack this sense of God\u2019s presence. The fellowship is sweet for those who walk with the Lord in obedience and faith. But the sweet fellowship that comes from obedience and trust in the Lord is not a passing feeling. It sustains us, especially during trials, for \u201cthe joy of the Lord shall be your strength\u201d (Nehemiah 8:10<\/a>). James, the Lord\u2019s brother, writes, \u201cConsider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds\u201d (James 1:2<\/a>) because trials produce faith and develop perseverance. When we persevere through trials, proving to ourselves and to others that our faith is real, our sense of God\u2019s presence increases, as does our joy.<\/p>\n

David speaks of a joy that only the righteous can know (Psalm 16:11<\/a>)\u2014a joy that is but a foretaste of a far greater and everlasting joy when we see the Lord\u2019s face in the glory to come.<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Adam and Eve had intimate fellowship in the presence of God before the fall (Genesis 3:8). Since that time, sin has prevented our ability to be in the physical presence of God (Exodus 33:20). 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