THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN 2009
Sunday AM January 4, 2009
2009! We’ve made it another year. It’s almost hard to imagine another year has come & gone so fast. For those of us of a notable age the years just seem to get faster & faster.
I’m not going to be long this morning! I want to make a few statements in order to make a point.
My text this morning is Isaiah 43:19:
“Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth, shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness & rivers in the desert.”
While praying about what I should share this morning. I thought about how much we needed the “PRESENCE OF GOD” in the last year. I realized just how much we needed the “PRESENCE OF GOD” last year was a direct indicator of how much we’ll need the “PRESENCE OF GOD THIS YEAR!”
Folk, the “PRESENCE OF GOD”, for the Child of God, is “CRITICAL” in the world we live in. As we start a new year, the “PRESENCE OF GOD” should be a “PRIMARY FOCUS” in our lives! I’ve not made a NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION! I’ve made a NEW YEAR’S DETERMINATION: to “FOCUS MORE” on the “PRESENCE OF GOD” than I every have in my life!
We live in a world full of dangers for the Child of God, we live a world full of danger for anybody & everybody. But not everybody realizes the need for the “PRESENCE OF GOD” as the Child of God does or should! Although many Children of God realize the need they don’t act on the need as they should. They become somewhat ambivalent to the concept.
The “PRESENCE OF GOD” should be conceptualized even more importantly than Health Care, Finances, Fellowship, Friendship, Work, Obeying Laws, etc. I could go on & on! Suffice it to say this: THE “PRESENCE OF GOD” IS MORE CRITICAL THAN ALL THOSE I MENTIONED & THE ONES I DIDN’T!
For the Child of God, the “PRESENCE OF GOD” IS "PARAMOUNT & TANTAMOUNT" to everything in our lives! For it is “IN” the “PRESENCE OF GOD” we find that which we need in life! There are a few things to keep in mind as we enter into the NEW YEAR OF 2009 concerning “PRESENCE OF GOD!”
We need to be “AWARE” of the “PRESENCE OF GOD!” We don’t know how many time that we have “FAILED GOD” by not being “AWARE” of the “PRESENCE OF GOD!” How many times would God have used us in order to Minister to someone.
In Luke 1 Zacharias was made "AWARE" by the Angel sent by God. When asked the Angel answered:
“I am Gabriel, who stands in the PRESENCE OF GOD...”
It was important enough to Gabriel to make special mention of the “PRESENCE OF GOD!” Folk, it should be just as important to each and every sinlge one of us as well!
We need to be “CONCERNED” for the “PRESENCE OF GOD!” Showing “CONCERN” for the “PRESENCE OF GOD” shows “ATTENTION” being paid for and to the “PRESENCE OF GOD!” When you show “CONCERN” for the “PRESENCE OF GOD” you’ll experience the “PRESENCE OF GOD” in a greater manner!
What will the “PRESENCE OF GOD” do for us in 2009 if we are more “AWARE & CONCERNED” for the “PRESENCE OF GOD?”
In 2009 the “PRESENCE OF GOD” will,
I. “LEAD & GUIDE YOU” in a greater manner & way than He did in 2008. Not that He didn’t want to in 2008 but if we become more “AWARE & CONCERNED” for the “PRESENCE OF GOD” in 2009 then the “PRESENCE OF GOD” will become more evident & present in your life.
When this happens then you will see the “CHURCH OF ACTS 2" become more alive in YOUR LIFE & in your church!
What is it that we want for our church? We want a VIBRANCY, A LIVING PRESENCE, MANIFESTATIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, HEALING, MIRACLES, MIRACULOUS HAPPENINGS, CHURCH GROWTH! All these things will happen when we “FOCUS ON THE PRESENCE OF GOD” in our LIVES more than just in the CHURCH!
REMEMBER: YOU ARE THE CHURCH! Not this building of mortor, concrete, steel and wood! YOU ARE THE CHURCH! Youir focus for the “PRESENCE OF GOD” should be about YOUR LIFE not just the Church! Being used of God is going to be more prevalent “OUTSIDE” these walls then “INSIDE” these walls.
It’s funny how so many want to be used of God but they want to be used of God “IN” the House not “OUTSIDE” the house! But most of the WORK is found “OUTSIDE THE HOUSE NOT INSIDE THE HOUSE!”
In 2009 the “PRESENCE OF GOD” will, #2. “KEEP YOU FROM CONVICTION!” Wait a minute, you may be thinking! “ I NEED CONVICTION!” Yes, you do but think about this. The closer the “PRESENCE OF GOD” in your life the more God will not have to bring “CONVICTION” to your life!
We need to “PRACTICE THE PRESENCE OF GOD” in our lives! Maintainng the “PRESENCE OF GOD” in our lives will keep us from Destructin, Evil, Sin, Failing and Falling!
In 2009 the “PRESENCE OF GOD” will, #3. “TOUCH & BLESS YOU!” In Mark 6:56 we read “& as many as TOUCHED Him were made whole.” Folk, to be made “WHOLE” also indicates a “COMPLETENESS!”
In the “PRESENCE OF GOD” you’ll find a “WHOLENESS & COMPLETENESS” being made manifest in your life. God is desiring to “COMPLETE YOU!”
Colossians 2:10 says, “...& you are complete in Him...”
Philippians 1:6 says, “...being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will COMPLETE it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
But without the “PRESENCE OF GOD” evident in your life the “COMPLETION” won’t happen! I’m not saying you won’t go to heaven, I’m saying “THE GOOD WORK HE BEGAN IN YOU WON’T BE COMPLETE” & you’ll always have an “INCOMPLETENESS” in your Life & Walk with Him! He wants to complete His work in you but you have to allow that work to be completed and it will be completed in HIS PRESENCE!
In 2009 the “PRESENCE OF GOD” will, #4. “USE YOU & BLESS OTHERS THROUGH YOU!” I don’t have to quote scripture to remind you of how God used the Disciples & Blessed Others Through Them! Some of the greatest words ever uttered by a mere man was when Peter said, “SILVER & GOLD HAVE I NONE, BUT SUCH AS I HAVE I GIVE UNTO YOU...!”
What happened at the moment was a GLORIOUS MANIFESTATION of the “PRESENCE OF GOD!” Not only was Peter used for the Glory of God but that same Glory of God dipped down to earth and God Healed a man!
Folk, in 2009 God desires to “USE YOU” in the same manner! But only when the “PRESENCE OF GOD” is evident in your life in the manner “HE” DESIRES is He able to do that!
HE’S NOT DONE WITH YOU YET! GETTING SAVED & EVEN FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS JUST THE BEGINNING!
Folk, as we enter into this New Year of 2009 we need to establish in our hearts & minds immediately to be “AWARE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD!” Folk, if we’re “NOT AWARE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD!” then we’ll miss “GOD’S PRESENCE” altogether.
We need establish in our hearts & minds immediately to be “CONCERNED FOR GOD’S PRESENCE!” If we have a “NONCHALANT ATTITUDE CONCERNING” THE PRESENCE OF GOD!” Then we’ll not be “AWARE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD!” & again Miss or Lose the “PRESENCE OF GOD!”
BEING “AWARE OF & CONCERNED FOR THE PRESENCE OF GOD” WE’LL EXPERIENCE
HIS LEADERSHIP & GUIDANCE!
HIS KEEPING US FROM CONVICTION!
HIS TOUCH & BLESSINGS!
HIS USING YOU & BLESSING OTHERS THROUGH YOU!
Let me give you a prime example of what happened to me yesterday concerning “THE PRESENCE OF GOD” that I wasn’t aware of!
I went to visit another Pastor’s wife in the hospital in Houston. I parked in the garage only to find out I was at the wrong hospital. Asking for directions I was given the wrong directions or misunderstood them. I walked around & around till I worked up a pretty sweat & got a little frustrated to say the least. But I finally arrived to the right Hospital & room. We visited & I prayed for & with her. But that is not the whole story.
Upon leaving I thought, saving time, I could go back the RIGHT WAY & I got LOST AGAIN! My frustration level was growing after having gone through being lost once already!
I was passing people right & left on the sidewalk & smiling, trying to be polite & friendly! I knew where I was & I knew I was a long way from where I wanted & needed to be in order to find my truck & getting more frustrated by the moment & step. I WANTED TO GET HOME!
I walked by people seeing them but not really looking at them. Nodding my head with a vacant smile & stare. I walked, rather briskly, up to one lady sitting on a bench & she spoke to me as I was approaching her as I smiled. I thought to myself quickly, “SHE’S GOING TO ASK ME FOR MONEY OR A CIGARETTE & I DON’T HAVE ANY CIGARETTES OR MONEY!”
I heard her speak out to me saying, "Sir!" I slowed. But then I heard a word that quickly caught my attention: “MINISTER!” I slowed & heard her say, “ARE YOU A MINISTER?” I stopped cold dead in my tracks as I got hold of myself. I don’t know how she thought I would be a minster the way I was at that moment! A little stunned I said to her, “YES, I AM. I’M A PASTOR.”
She looked at me as I had not looked at anybody else since leaving the hospital room I’d visited 15 long minutes earlier in all my PASTORAL GLORY! She just looked at me for a moment! I saw her face & saw tears welling up in her eyes. I saw her PAIN, her FEAR, her CONCERN, her DESPERATION, her ALONENESS, & the TERROR in her heart showing in her eyes!
She said, with lips quivering, “WOULD YOU PRAY WITH ME?”
I was not only stunned I was ashamed & humbled! I sat down next to this stranger, this lady whom I didn’t know. Others close by were watching as I made my mind, eyes & attention to focus on her. I asked her what he name was & what I could pray with her about & her name. She told me her name and then said, “My little boy is in surgery & I can’t find my pastor. I don’t know where he is. Could you pray with me for my little boy? They’re operating on him because his veins won’t carry the blood to his heart that he needs to live.”
Folk, all of a sudden the world became very quiet & private! With all the cars driving by, horns honking, people walking by talking & laughing, helicopters & planes flying overhead everything got quiet. I took her by the hand introducing myself to her as I gave her my card so she would know without a doubt that I was who I said I was.
I took her hand as I began to tell her “GOD HEALS!” I told her that “GOD KNOWS” the name of her little boy & the numbers of hair on his head. I told her I didn’t know that “GOD PLANNED” my being lost, “GOD PLANNED” my taking a wrong turn, “GOD PLANNED” on my being there at that VERY SPOT THAT VERY MOMENT all for her & her son. GOD’S PRESENCE LEAD ME IN SPITE OF ME!
She began to cry as she said, “I’M SO SCARED!” I told her “I understand your fear, but if God put us together, in the manner that He did, then He had a plan and it was unfolding right before our eyes!
I then began to pray with her. I felt the Holy Spirit come upon me & found myself praying out loud on the sidewalk in front of a huge major hospital. People walking by began to walk more quietly, more respectful. Others close by began to listen & watch as we “PRAYED & CRIED TOGETHER” for her little boy. I told her I’m not a prophet but we were in the Presence Of God and I didn’t believe God would have put us together in the manner He did for her little boy to not survive! I told her I beleive you boy is going to be alright by the providence of a Loving God!
After praying I saw a man standing next to us. She then saw him & introduced me to her husband. I told him we were praying & that his boy was going to be made whole. I knew this because of the “PRESENCE OF GOD” WAS ON THAT SIDEWALK. HOW “GOD PLANNED” THE WHOLE LAST FEW DAYS IN MY LIFE FOR THAT MOMENT!
I felt the “PRESENCE OF GOD” on the sidewalk in front of a Hospital with a mother whose heart was breaking, whose fears were running rampant in her spirit, whose mind was so filled with concern she stopped a stranger & asked in he were a minister & would he pray.
YOU SEE FOLK! THAT WAS SIMPLY THE “PRESENCE OF GOD” THAT I WAS “NOT AWARE OF OR CONCERNED ABOUT!”
I’VE BEEN PREACHING “THE PRESENCE OF GOD” FOR OVER A MONTH & WASN’T “PRACTICING THE PRESENCE OF GOD!’ BUT IN SPITE OF MYSELF “GOD PROVED HIMSELF” TO A SCARED MOTHER & TO A “FOOLISH PREACHER” WHO, SO CAUGHT UP WITH HIMSELF FEELING GOOD ABOUT PRAYING FOR ANOTHER MINISTER’S WIFE, AND THEN BEING INCONVENIENCED, LOST, HOT, TIRED, AND FRUSTRATED “FORGOT” ABOUT THE “PRESENCE OF GOD!”
NOW MY TEXT IN ISAIAH 43:9...
“Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth, shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness & rivers in the desert.”
GOD WANTS TO DO A “NEW THING” IN “YOUR” LIFE! WITH HIS PRESENCE AS YOU ARE "AWARE & CONCERNED" ABOUT HIS PRESENCE IN YOUR LIFE!
IN 2009 START IMMEDIATELY BEING “AWARE OF & CONCERNED FOR THE PRESENCE OF GOD” YOU’LL EXPERIENCE A NEW...
A NEW LEADERSHIP & GUIDANCE!
A NEW KEEPING YOU FROM CONVICTION!
A NEW TOUCH & BLESSINGS!
A NEW USING YOU &
BLESSING OTHERS THROUGH YOU!
A NEW 2009 PRAYER FOR
THE PRESENCE OF GOD!
