Written by Joel Deacon - Lead Pastor of City on a Hill Wollongong

PRESENCE - PART 1

“One thing I ask, Lord. Let me dwell with you.” Psalm 27:4 (ESV)

A few years ago I lost my voice for three months. I injured my voice box after preaching with laryngitis. And in that season I felt useless as a pastor. I felt distant from people. I felt alone and misunderstood.

But one night someone led me through communion in a unique way. They asked us to close our eyes and picture ourselves at the Last Supper. They encouraged us to imagine the smell of the bread, the taste of the wine, and the emotions in the room that night. And then they asked, “If Jesus could give you one thing right now, what would it be?”

You would think my answer would be my voice! But instead I felt the Holy Spirit place something deeper on my heart - "Your presence Jesus, your presence.”

Elisabeth Elliot: “Joy is not the absence of trouble, it is found in the presence of God.”

A STORY OF BROKENNESS AND RESTORATION

The Bible is a story about humanity being in, being kicked out of, and being restored back to the presence of God. In Eden, God walked with Adam and Eve. Eden was the first temple and Adam was the first priest, called to guard and keep the garden sanctuary. But Adam failed, and humanity was removed from the presence of God.

The rest of the Old Testament is a story of God pursuing his people and revealing his presence to them. In the Exodus he appeared in a pillar of cloud and fire, then he descended powerfully on Mount Sinai, and his glory filled the tabernacle.

Israel longed for the presence of God. David cried in Psalm 27 that the one thing he desired was to dwell with God and gaze upon his beauty. When Israel lost the presence of God, they mourned and when God drew near, they rejoiced.

GOD WITH US

And then in John 1:14 (ESV) we read, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The word dwelt can also be translated “pitched his tent among us.” Jesus is God-with-us. And at the cross, through his sacrificial death, the curtain was torn and access to God was restored.

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit was then poured out so every believer could know God personally and powerfully by the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost the crowd longed for the power and presence of God and so Peter preached, “Repent and be baptised… and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 (ESV)

Deep inside every soul is a longing to know God and have a personal relationship with him. And in 1 Corinthians, Paul teaches that when the spiritual gifts are used in a godly way, unbelievers will fall on their face and declare, “God is really among you!” Think about that. Worship is one of the ways the Great Commission is obeyed and disciples are made. The gathered worship of God’s people with God's presence is a missional, evangelistic moment that draws people to God.

QUESITONS:
1. If you could ask Jesus for one thing, what would you ask?

2. When have you experienced the presence of God in your life and how would you describe it to others?

CHALLENGE:

Listen to the song Pursuit by Harvest.