Walking with God # 5a
We’re going to continue teaching on the series I’ve entitled “Walking with God.” Today’s message I’ve entitled “Walking in His Presence.” Last week we talked about how the mercy of God will operate in our lives; it’s great to know that everything we have need of is found in the Mercy of God, but we also need to know how to receive his mercy and how to operate in it.
I) In (Ephesians 2:4) Paul tells us why God’s mercy has been poured out upon us. It reads from the NIV translation, “Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ.”
A) God’s mercy was poured out upon us because of His great love towards us.
B) We can see that God’s love and mercy has been poured out upon us, but it’s another thing to walk in that mercy.
1) So the big question is, “How do I walk in the mercy of God and lay hold of His promises.”
2) The answer is found in Hebrews 4:15-16 so let’s turn there.
a) This verse is telling us that if we have a problem with sin we need to run to God and we will receive His mercy and find the Grace to help when we’re in a time of need.
b) If our problem is something other than sin, like lack of finances, sickness, oppression, guilt, or even depression; when you go to the throne of Grace you can obtain God’s mercy and find the Grace of God to help you out of that time of need.
II) Now many times we’ve heard messages that teach us the KEYS to success, the KEYS to prosperity, the KEYS to faith, the KEY to healing and many others. All of these are good.
A) But there is ONE KEY that will unlock all of these things. You could call it the MASTER KEY.
1) This MASTER KEY will unlock all of God’s promises and will provide all that we need.
2) This Master key is “THE PRESENCE OF GOD.”
a) Many times we it caught up in all the formulas that we need to do in order to receive. These steps, formulas, and principles that we’ve learned have all been good and they are necessary, but will have very little success if we forget to walk in His presence.
B) When you’re walking and living in the presence of Almighty God, sickness has to go. Disease can not stand in the presence of God.
1) When you live in God’s presence poverty and lack has to go. There is no lack in the presence of God.
2) Every promise that is found in the Word of God is found in the presence of Almighty God and that is the MASTER KEY.
C) One thing that we need to realize about the presence of God is that it isn’t just a place for you to come in visit, but it is a place for you to dwell in, walk in, and God’s presence will go with you wherever you go.
1) Turn with me to Exodus 33:14 (and listen to what the Lord told Moses)
a) Did you catch that? God said to Him, “My presence shall go with thee.”
b) The presence of God, with all the power and peace it brings can go with you wherever you go.
(i) You can carry it to work with you, to school with you and home with you.
(ii) The presence of God should be such a part of you that people will notice there is something powerful about you.
2) In this verse in Exodus that we just read reveals to us something else that can be found in the presence of God, and that is “REST.”
a) So many times people talk about “BURNOUT.” They’re “BURNED OUT” because they’re doing so many different things.
b) There are not very many people that are doing as much as I am.
(i) Between secular work, and the work of the ministry, and trying to work out a few hours a week to stay in shape totals about 80 hours a week, but I don’t know what “BURNOUT” is.
(ii) Sure I get tired and need sleep, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to pull back on all God has given me to do. After a few hours of sleep I’m ready to go again.
c) When people talk about “BURNOUT” they’re usually referring to something that sleep cannot correct.
(i) They’re talking about an overload and they can’t handle it any longer.
(ii) As long as you’re getting the proper amount of sleep, you never have to experience burnout.
(iii) The only way you’re going to avoid burnout and get the true rest and strength you need, is to walk in the presence of God.
D) When you live in the presence of God, you don’t have to be bombarded with worry about how you are going to pay your bills. You don’t have to be tormented by depression, guilt or fear.
1) Look at Matthew 11:28-29.
a) When you get into the presence of the Lord, you’ll find rest and will discover that the struggle is over.
III) But there’s even more that you’ll find in the presence of the Lord.
A) Turn with me to 1st Chronicles 16:27.
1) Many times Christians have the idea that the “GLORY” of God is some mysterious cloud that represents His presence.
a) But the Glory of God even goes further than that. Actually, Glory of God appears any time something promised in the Word is manifested in the physical realm.
b) For instance, when healing which is promised from the Word of God comes into someone’s life, that’s Glory. When supernatural provision is manifested, that’s Glory.
2) Where can you go to see the Glory of God manifested in your life?
a) According to the verse that we just read that Glory comes when you enter into the presence of God.
(i) The Glory brings the manifestation of the miracle and it’s found in His presence.
B) This verse also says that Glory has a partner and that is “HONOR.”
1) What kind of honor? The honor of God. Really honor and glory go hand in hand.
2) Turn with me to Psalms 8:5. (Angels actually Elohim, Elohim is the Hebrew word for God.)
a) Now don’t make the mistake of thinking that you have honor and Glory of your own.
b) It’s only when you dwell in the presence of God that His honor and His Glory are imparted to you.
(i) You can’t be around God without His nature rubbing off on you.
C) In (Psalms 91:1) it says, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”
1) When you’re in that secret place of the Most High, you’re in God’s presence.
2) (Verse 15 of Psalms 91) says, “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with Him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him.”
a) According to that verse when we’re walking in the presence of God, God will honor us and with that honor comes deliverance from trouble.
IV) A Few moment ago we read (1st Chronicles 16:27) which says, “Glory and honor are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.”
A) Strength and gladness are found where God is. I think all of us need that strength and gladness in our lives.
1) When you need strength, you’ll find it in the presence of the Lord.
2) When the feelings of sadness, discouragement, depression, or oppression try to move in on you, you’ll find gladness in His presence, too.
B) That’s why it’s so important for us to spend some time everyday in the presence of the Lord by reading His Word, meditating on it, spending time in prayer and by fellowshipping with Him.
C) You probably all know the verse in (Nehemiah 8:10) which says, “For the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
1) Many know that verse, but few know how to receive the joy of the Lord when they needed to.
2) It doesn’t do you any good to know that the joy of the Lord is your strength if you don’t also know how to access some of that joy when times are tough.
a) You just can’t work up this joy in your own flesh when you don’t have it.
3) The key to tapping into the source of joy is found in Psalms chapter 16.
a) Lets turn there Psalms 16:11.
b) As you may have guessed, in the presence of God you will find the kind of joy that will give you supernatural strength.
4) How much joy can you find in the presence of the Lord?
a) All you can possibly hold. That verse says you’ll find the fullness of joy.
D) If you need the strength and might to pay your bills or to come out of depression or to overcome an attack on your health, you will find this strength abundantly provided in God’s presence.
1) So many times we’re looking for all the answers in all the wrong places.
2) Everything you need, everything you desire, and everything God wants to give you can all be found in His presence.
W. O. L. C. C. Sunday, 2/1/98 from Creflo Dollar’s book “Answers Awaiting in the Presence of God” Chapter 8.