DIVINE PRESENCE IN TIMES OF TROUBLE
Study Text: Psalms 91:14 - 16
Introduction:
- One of the greatest promises and assurances given by God to His people is His presence with them in times of trouble.
- The secret of receiving God's attention and protective care in times of trouble is a heart that is intimately attached to the Lord in gratitude and affection.
- God knows who such believers are, and:
a. He will be with them in times of trouble.
b. He will answer their prayers whenever they prayed.
c. He will give them lives full of His divine presence and provisions. John 15: 5-7.
- We shall be discussing the topic under three subheadings:
1. The Promise of Divine Presence
2. The Prerequisite for Divine Presence
3. The Products of Divine Presence
1. The Promise of Divine Presence
- The Scripture is full of the promises of the presence of God with His people at various situations and conditions.
a. God promised to be with His people at all times till the end of the world, as they go about preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom to the lost world. Matthew 28:18-20.
- Jesus is presently with us in the person of the Holy Spirit and through His word. No matter what your condition is: weak, poor, humble, apparently unimportant, and so on.
- He cares for you, watches with concern every details of life's trials and struggles, and gives both the grace that is sufficient and His presence to lead you home.
- This is the Christian answer to every fear, every doubt, every trouble, every heartache and every discouragement.
b. God promised to be with His people whenever they gather in His name. Matthew 18:18-20.
- This is always the case whenever the people of God gather in prayer and in worship. Even when we cannot feel anything strange, we can have the assurance of His presence, because He cannot fail His promises.
c. God promised to be with His people at difficult situations and times of trouble. Isaiah 43: 1- 2.
- When we pass through trouble and affliction, we will not be destroyed for He is with us. We are precious and honoured in His sight because we are objects of His great love.
- These promises only apply to those who are the children of God through faith in Christ. God has created and redeemed us, we belong to Him and He knows each one of us by name.
- His promises are reliable and cannot fail, as long as we are willing to fulfill His words and meet the conditions.
2. The Prerequisite for Divine Presence
- From our text, three things are expected from us before we can be qualify to enjoy the divine presence:
a. To set our love upon Him,
b. To know His name,
c. To call upon Him
- For God to give attention to us and move on our behalf, we must love Him with all our hearts. Proverbs 8:17.
- Nobody can love God, unless he or she first knows Him. 1 Corinthians 8:3
- Knowing God is very deep. It is not just knowing about Him, but knowing Him intimately and living for Him ultimately. 2 Corinthians 5:15.
- The journey to knowing Him begins at our salvation, as we willingly and truly surrender our lives to Him and receive Him as our Lord and personal Saviour.
Our love for God is evident in our sanctification and obedience to His words. Titus1:16, 1John 2:5.
- Our love for God entails our love for our brethren and for everyone around us. 1 John 4:7-8.
- Our love for God also involve our commitment and faithfulness in His service and as vessels unto honour in His hands. John 21: 15-17.
- The other prerequisite apart from knowing Him and loving Him, is to call upon Him in prayer.
- The time of trouble is not the time to be crying or murmuring, but a time to call upon God in prayer. Jeremiah 33:3.
- We are encouraged to bring all matters that should cause us fears and worries to God in prayer and thanksgiving. Philippians 4: 6-7.
3. The Products of Divine Presence.
- In our study text, we have a summary of the outcome of the presence of God with us in the time of trouble. He will show us His salvation and satisfy us with long life.
- There are several blessings that flows out of the presence of God with a man:
1. Victory over the enemy.
- The enemy cannot prevail over our lives no matter how much or how well they tried, if the presence of God abide with us.
- We saw the example of how Harman failed to his own destruction despite every effort and strategy put in place to destroy Mordecai. Esther 7:9-10.
2. Victory over problems, challenges and difficult situations.
- No matter how difficult situations of things may be, when the presence of God is with His people, they can never be swallowed up or be consumed in the situation.
- The three Hebrew men were thrown into the furnace of fire to be destroyed beyond remedy, but Jesus appeared in the fire for their deliverance.
3. Courage and security against fear.
- There are so many frightening situation all around, but one is able to face them all with courage and security without fear because of divine presence. Psalm 23: 4.
- David was able to confront the Champion and defeat him to bring about the deliverance of the people of God from oppression, because of the presence of God with him.
4. Provision of all needs.
- When God is with us, it becomes difficult to lack anything good, because He is the great provider. Psalms 34:10.
- Every child of God must have the assurance of His presence and look up unto Him at all times for the provision of our needs. Philippians 4:19.
5. Help from above.
- With the presence of God with us, we can be rest assured that He will always help us whenever the need arises. Psalms 46:1.
- God is always with us by the Holy Spirit, and one of the ministry of the Spirit in our lives is to be our helper.
6. Outstanding success all round.
- With divine presence with us, failure is not permitted in any are of our lives. Joshua 1:8.
- The righteous is described as a tree planted by the river side, to bring forth his fruit in due season and to prosper in all he does. Psalms 1:1-3.
7. Partaking of the glorious inheritance.
- The presence of God with us make us qualify for all the blessings meant for His children here on earth. 2 Corinthians 8:9.
- Above all, there are eternal blessings and glorious inheritance reserved for us in heaven if we maintain a healthy fellowship and faithful relationship with Him to the end. Colossians 3:24, 1Peter 1:3-4.
Conclusion:
- The word of God assures us of the presence of God with us in the time of trouble, and His word are yea and amen, His promises cannot fail.
- But we must be ready to know Him intimately and love Him dearly, and depend on Him absolutely by calling upon Him in prayer with thanksgiving.
- Several blessings will be given to us as a result of the presence of God with us, both for this world and in His eternal kingdom.
- We are to cherish His presence with us and in our lives by living for Him ultimately, and not allowing anyone or anything to get us disconnected from God at any time.
