The Manifest Presence of God

Exodus 33:15 (Read chapters 32 and 33)

What we need more than anything in our Christian walk is the manifest presence of God! The manifest presence is the awareness of God’s presence in our everyday life. If we were to examine our lives and some of the decisions we have made, we would have to confess that we really haven’t sought Gods leading in certain situations. This only leads us to a life going in circles, never growing in grace and coming to a place of spiritual maturity.

God’s people have just broken the commandments, which is illustrated clearly by Moses throwing the two tablets down and breaking them. Then they made a golden calf as a visible, tangible idol to focus on and worship in the absence of Moses. Aaron the high priest lead them in this falling away and God is very angry, also illustrated in the chastening of Moses towards the people.

Moses, after destroying the calf and smiting some of the idolaters with the sword, goes back up on Mt Sinai and begins to plead on behalf of God’s people. God is appeased, but yet tells Moses that he is going to keep his promise of letting them enter the promised land, but His presence was not going to go before them. An Angel would be the one that would lead them. But Moses said “If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.” Exodus 33:15 What Moses is saying is “If you don’t go before me then I do not want to go.” He recognized the importance of God’s presence and leading in his life and the life of the people.

The lesson for you and I in this is we have been given the promise of the Holy Spirit, who when he came to us that he would abide with us forever. What was just an outward manifestation of God’s presence in the Old Testament, we have the inward manifestation and presence in the New Testament. It is vitally important that we have an awareness of God’s presence not just in our church, but in our homes, at our workplaces, and our places of recreation and pleasure.

I have been reading a book on Revival and one sure indication that revival has taken place is that the presence of God is felt in every place, in every home, and most of all in every life. When God’s presence is manifested then there is joy, peace, and love in God’s people and fear, trembling, and conviction among the lost, with many turning unto the Lord. We need more than just a mere emotion, we need the presence and power of God, that radiates from a church and a people that the community around us will “Take knowledge that we have been with Jesus.” That they would realize that the “Emmanuel, God is with us.”

Not only can it happen, but it needs to happen and the way it comes about is through prayer! Moses prayed that God would go before them and we too need to pray that same simple prayer. Psalms 16:7,8 David said, “I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: My reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the LORD always before me: Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” The simple solution is to put God in front! To put Him first! When we do this then we can say with David at the end of the Psalm “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11 What is going to bring change to our community? Revolution? Politicians? No! Revival and the manifest presence of God!

Pastor Robby