CENTRAL THOUGHT
God’s presence in the believer’s life guarantees victory through life’s challenges.
HYMN: I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR
TEXT: Exo 33:1-16; Ps 91:1-12; Isa 43:1-2
INTRODUCTION:
The Chambers Dictionary 20th century defines the word comfort as: to relieve from pain or distress; to strengthen; to soothe; whatever gives ease or enjoyment. The same dictionary defined presence as: Being in a place in question, readily found or existing in the thing in question. The comfort of God’s presence in context of this study therefore is: the strength we have from God, the relief we get by God’s existence in us when we go through life’s huddles, battles and challenges. This is the encouragement the believer gets from God even when no one understands what he/she is going through.
This same presence was what the children of Israel carried on their way from Egypt to Canaan, being evidenced in pillar of fire by night and pillar of cloud by day-Exo.13:21; water flowing from the rock as in Exo.17:1-7, Quail and Manna from heaven as in Exo.16. In contemporary time, there are testimonies of people who have experienced God in His power as the Israelites did. It’s God’s intentions that we all should carry His presence.
The Lord’s presence in a nation, community, church and individual’s life is very vital for victory, security/safety and excellence. In times like this we need to experience the blessedness of God’s presence.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are:
- To understand how we can experience God’s presence and maintain same.
- To understand what it means to be conscious of His presence.
- To know the hindrances to His presence.
- To appreciate the benefits of His presence.
BIBLE TRUTH:
Q1. HOW CAN WE EXPERIENCE GOD’S PRESENCE AND MAINTAIN IT?
The knowledge that God is everywhere as stated in Ps.139:1-
3 is of no benefit until it is appreciated by man. An individual, church and society need the presence of God. This presence is God himself dwelling in man. All must desire this. The following steps that must be taken to experience and maintain God’s presence.
a. Be Born Again: John 3:1-7
A man cannot know God until he repents, forsake his sins and gives his life to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the foundation of man’s relationship with God.
b. Being filled with the Holy Spirit:
God indwells man by the Holy Spirit. The believer must therefore ask God for His
baptism. He is the Comforter. John 14:16-17.
c. Obedience to God and His word:
John. 14:15-18; James.1:22.
God’s presence is guaranteed continually when we live in obedience to Him.
d. Be righteous before God. Ps. 140:13; 15:1-5
God cannot dwell in unholy temple. His eyes are too pure to behold sin.
e. Consistent study of God’s word. 1 Pet.2:2.
The believer must make conscious effort to study God’s word. It’s the word that God will use to comfort when the need arises.
f. Maintain a prayerful life: 1 Thess.5:17; Luke 18:1.
The believer must consistently stay in God’s presence in prayer. If Jesus could not do without prayer, we should follow our Master’s example.
g. Do not forsake the assembly of the brethren. Heb 10:25
Iron sharpeneth iron. There is an aspect of God’s presence you experience from corporate fellowship.
h. Watch the company you keep: 1Cor.15:33
Evil communication corrupts good manners. We must at all times surround ourselves with those who are conscious of God’s presence.
i. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit: Eph.4:30; Ps.91:1.
He is called Holy Spirit because He is holy. The believer has to ensure he is careful about the places he goes to, what he does, what he says, and even what he wears. You cannot carry His presence and argue about basic Bible doctrines e.g. whether sister should put on trousers, make up and the likes. You must be where God wants you to be.
j. Sole dependence on God: Exo.20:1-5
To experience His presence, we must depend absolutely upon Him. The believer must not have any alternative to God.
k. The love of God:
When we love God and do His will, His presence remains with us.
Q2A. HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND IN HIS PRESENCE?
In the Old Testament, God lived in the temple; hence He gave specific instructions as its construction and care. He also gave regulations as regards coming into His presence.
By the death of Christ in the New Testament and tearing apart of the temple’s veil, God’s presence no longer resides in building made with hands alone but from Pentecost, started dwelling in man. Man became His temple. 1Cor.6:19. The following should be our response to His presence.
a. Tremble at His presence. Jer.5:2.
Some Christians today take God for granted when we gather in His presence to worship Him. Some have the habit of chewing gum, answering and making calls, reading magazines, newspaper, books, holding side discussions etc. while service is on. Some of these habits are also exhibited during family devotion in the home. These attitudes are contrary to scriptures.
b. Come to Him with thanksgiving, gladness and singing: Ps.95:2; 100:2.
The scriptures admonish us to enter into His gates and His courts with thanksgiving and praise. We should appreciate Him for whom He is.
c. Be silent. Zeph. 1:7.
This implies reverence, decency, comportment, before Him. The situation in some of our assemblies, where people should shout ‘pastor ride on,’ ‘that is it’ etc. interrupts messages. God demands absolute reverence in His presence.
The class is encouraged to list and discuss others.
Q2B. HOW TO RESPOND TO LIFE’S CHALLENGES KNOWING WE HAVE THE COMFORT OF HIS PRESENCE?
In Acts.14:22 we see that faced with challenges of life, and the believer should see it as a trial of his faith. The admonition in Prov.24:10 is that when faint in the days of adversity your strength is weak/small.
Know that whatever challenge you face is temporary and you will go through victoriously. The believer should have the assurance that he is not alone but God is with him. That even when no one understands, He does and He alone can attend to every problem.
The believer should be steadfast in the faith and confession, trusting God to intervene and give one the desired testimony; it is not a time to run from one church to another, one man of God to another, in search of miracles but to hold on to God and His promises.
Resolve strongly in your mind not to defile yourself before God (Dan.1:8); not to turn to other sources for help, even when those we expect to understand better turn around to give alternative counsel.
Brethren should see it as a duty owed God to rally round, encourage, support and pray with fellow brethren going through life challenges.
Q3. WHAT ARE THE HINDERANCES TO HIS PRESENCE?
a. Sin. Gen.3:8-13, 4:7-16
b. Disobedience. Jonah 1:1- 4.
c. Pride. taking God’s glory. The opposite of all that is discussed in Q1 and 2a.
Q4. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HIS PRESENCE?
The presence of the Lord in a believer’s life is meant to bring comfort, pleasures and the fulfillment of the promises to meet daily life challenges and all through one’s sojourn on earth.
There is the assurance of divine protection from all wiles of the enemy Ps.91:1-12. He is a guarantee to the smallest assembly of believers, He also gives comfort in trials Isa.43:2, He gives courage in life battles Deut.20:1; Rom.8:31; 1 John 4:4.
Guarantee of rest through life’s battles and most important is eternity with God.
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION:
All believers need the presence of God, as living things need oxygen to survive. Life without God’s presence is miserable and a risk. Life is a journey with many hitches, most of which can be avoided when we obey God and maintain an atmosphere of His presence.
MEMORY VERSE
Matt.28:20b
“….. Lo, I am with you always even to the end of age.”
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Monday: God’s abiding presence.
Matt.28:18-20; John.14:13-23
Tuesday: Assurance of divine covering.
Ps.91:1-13.
Wednesday: God is everywhere.
Ps.139:1-23.
Thursday: Beware of the times.
Matt.7:21-23; 2Cor.11:4.
Friday: Take heed to thyself, depart from evil.
1Thess.5:22; 2Tim.2:19.
Saturday: God’s promise of victory in life’s challenges.
Isa.43:1-5.