The presence of God in the church...a song we sing puts it this way "in the presence of Jehovah, God Almighty Prince of Peace, troubles vanish, hearts are mended in the presence of the King"...that is how it is in the body of believers that I worship with. When the Presence of Jehovah is evident troubles seem to disappear...but when they don't, we have that same mighty presence to help us carry the load that these troubles represent. Hearts are truly mended in His presence. In His presence there is fulness of joy and at His right hand there are pleasures forevermore.
Some may say that there is pleasure in sin as well and that is also true but it is short lived pleasure and in the end it brings sorrow and death; unlike the pleasures forevermore that the child of God will soon know. The church without the presence of God isn't a church at all, oh it may be called a church but the only thing that will identify it as a church is the sign as you enter through the door. It has a name but that is all.
In the church of the Living God(remember He is the head)the presence of God is real and able to deliver all of us. Sometimes we seem to think we have to create an atmosphere for His preseence to come but His presence is always in His church for where two or three are gathereed in His name...He is there. He gives the church life, not the other way around, however as we worship Him who dwells in the praises of His people, that is when we sense His presence. Sometimes we invite Him into our midst ...He is already there. It is us, the church that needs the preparation. And it does bring pleasure, His presence does, but that is only if your heart is surrendered to Him because if it is not, then His presence can be quite uncomfortable. But it wouldn't be the church if it were not for His presence. I am thankful for His presence.
Some may say that there is pleasure in sin as well and that is also true but it is short lived pleasure and in the end it brings sorrow and death; unlike the pleasures forevermore that the child of God will soon know. The church without the presence of God isn't a church at all, oh it may be called a church but the only thing that will identify it as a church is the sign as you enter through the door. It has a name but that is all.
In the church of the Living God(remember He is the head)the presence of God is real and able to deliver all of us. Sometimes we seem to think we have to create an atmosphere for His preseence to come but His presence is always in His church for where two or three are gathereed in His name...He is there. He gives the church life, not the other way around, however as we worship Him who dwells in the praises of His people, that is when we sense His presence. Sometimes we invite Him into our midst ...He is already there. It is us, the church that needs the preparation. And it does bring pleasure, His presence does, but that is only if your heart is surrendered to Him because if it is not, then His presence can be quite uncomfortable. But it wouldn't be the church if it were not for His presence. I am thankful for His presence.
posted by Randall | 1:36 p.m.
3 Comments:
Hi Randall....I just got home from the Hospital after sitting in the OutPatient Dept. for 3 hours with Cindy & Mike while Patti-Jo had Vicky to another Dr. over town.....
P.J. & Mike are still there....hadn,t seen Dr. while we were there....some kid paid another kid to beat him up....Kid did good job.....Mike got bad cut on lower lip looks like maybe broken nose and the whole side of his face is all brused.....funny how thoughts seem to go to God...we were sitting there....all worried about Mike when he asked if he could call Pastor Chad to pray for him.....talk about being touched....there is a little boy in pain....and he wants to talk to his Friend the Pastor....know what his Friend the Pastor was going to come out......what do you think about God`s presence in this situation.....God is Good...All the Time......just seemed like the perfect comment.
PAT
Pat my friend, I have been praying for Mike and I know he will be alright. He's a real trooper and I wouldn't be surprised if one or both of these other boys will find Jesus as a reesult of Mike's commitment as shown by his response, he asked for prayer. The Bible teaches us to love our enemies and by so doing we heap coals of fire upon their heads. This is Mike's opportunity to do that. This other kid sounds like a hit man in the making...he needs Jesus.....RC
hello
As I am thinking about God's
presence I remember the song He's in our midst.Some times we forget that.
When we don't feel His presence it is not because He moved away from us,but we forgot that He is there in every thing we do, both good or bad.
His presence is something we can alway count on,just like the rest of His promises.
It is good to know our young people
are looking for prayer and know that they have pastors that they can count on to be there for them.
C.m/
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