We
need to learn the power of presence. The
presence of God is a big deal, and there are times when simply having some one
with us makes all the difference in the world.
This is seen in the change a parent’s presence makes when their child is
scared. It is seen in the change when
you go from feeling alone to having confidence because your protector and
encourager showed up. I am sure there
are people in your life that bring you a sense of security, confidence and stability. We ought to know the presence of God does
that and so much more.
Let’s
step forward. Take it to another level
with the last words while on the planet.
He had already gone to the cross and the pain of death. Jesus had been in the tomb some 40 days
earlier when He walked about of the grave alive. Jesus is more, and Jesus is ours. Even in His last sentence is vital to that
fact, to knowing that the power of presence, the presence of God in particular,
is life changing personally now and forever.
Read
what we call “the great commission” found in Matthew
28 and notice the facts that God gives us.
Here are a few:
Verse 17 ---
the closest people to Jesus, the disciples, doubted even when they were with
Jesus.
Verse 18 ---
Jesus has all authority. He is God, and
what He says is 100% true.
Verse 19 ---
As we are living life, Jesus said, we are to make disciples of the people we
meet.
Verse 20 ---
Jesus reminded us that He is always with us.
Can
you imagine what it must have been like for the disciples? These were the closest people to people, His
friends. They knew Jesus very well. But they were still men, mere humans with
nerves, fears, joy and passion like we have.
They went where Jesus told them go, and this was not the first time that
they went where Jesus led them and told them to go. Like many of the other times there was
doubt. Doubt that Jesus would be there. Doubt that what they saw once could or would
happen again. I am talking about the
life giving and the passion that Jesus lived out and gave to others. What they heard and experienced would suffice
as proof as well as direction for all the future. For them this was their future, and this is
our future. It ended with here I am, and
I will be with you always. Nothing can
change that fact.
Whoever
confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
You
have the presence of God with you. If
you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, then this is your reality. Jesus said I will be with you. I will always be with you. If we believe that, will it make a
difference? The presence of God with you
gives you life giving confidence because you believe. We should live different, react different.
‘Do
not fear, for I am with you; Do not
anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
That’s
reality, but this reality is not always our reality. Did you hear that? Let Jesus be your reality. He has authority, and what Jesus says is
always correct. Our security and
stability comes from God and is found in presence of God
But
the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one
going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is
with me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on
earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have
overcome the world.”
The
disciples were going to be alone, and for them to know that Jesus took
stability in being with God is a big deal.
Jesus said in me you will have peace.
Here is your strength. But
typically Christians try to isolate ourselves from fear. That is when we remember we are in the world
to win the world. So us being in Christ
has to be more real to us than the world and what the world wants!
Don’t
be obsessed with getting more material things.
Be relaxed with what you have.
Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave
you,”
God
promised he would not leave us or forsake us.
Like the verse above leave means to be let down, and forsake means to
walk away. Did you see and hear the
promise of God? He won’t let you down,
and He won’t walk away and leave you.
That is a big deal.
God
doesn’t say stuff is bad but don’t be obsessed with stuff. The presence of God is practical,
always. We often stop looking for his
presence in the normal every day places like the locker room, or the break room
or the play room, but that is where we need Him most.
Every
day where we are it is vital that we believe in His presence, rejoice in every
situation, lean on God and let Him reign in our lives realizing that God is
always with us. He won’t walk out. He will help you through. God takes the darkness and turns the light on
as we realize that God is with us everywhere.
How
incredible it has been for me to end our series at The Community Fellowship
with this one truth … JESUS IS ____ always with us!!!!
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