Promise of His Presence

I have the joy and honor of leading our amazing worship ministry here at True Life. At the beginning of this year, I felt strongly that the Lord wanted our community to take our regular practice time and spend it in worship together as a family with the intention of making HIS Presence first and to love on Him.

If you have been around True Life for even a little while, you will find that we value and honor the Presence of God first and foremost. His Presence is our priority; more than performance, more than a system or project. Jesus is and always will be the focus and the center of our time together in worship. As a worship ministry, we decided that if we say that we value God’s Presence first, then we needed to put actions behind that sentiment. We needed to begin to let our gatherings be centered and focused on Him and what He wants to do. We are seeking to live out what it means to see God move in and take over. We are not just a band, we want to carry God’s Presence and help others become aware of the King that is enthroned among us. His Presence has to be priority, otherwise we don’t want to move forward.

I have been spending time reading the story in Exodus where Moses went into the Tent of Meeting to meet with God. As the Israelites stood at the doorway of their tents, they watched and waited until they saw the cloud descend and they would worship at their own tent. I began to ponder the following questions: Are we settling in our walk so that we are being led from a distance? Are we living from the experience and encounter of another person, teaching, book? Are we living on someone else's worship or do we want a face to face kind of relationship?

Exodus 33:11-17 NIV

The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”

Moses, a friend of God, contended with the Lord. It’s not good enough to have your favor. It’s not good enough to just have the promise fulfilled. We have to have your Presence.

We are at this place as a body. It’s not enough to have an outward sign of approval or favor with God. We have to have the indwelling, real and tangible Presence of God, where we know His ways by being with Him. He needs to be the One leading us into all we do.

What will be the defining and distinguishing factor of your life? I was taken aback in this scripture. The Lord was willing to give the promise to Moses and to Israel. It wasn’t enough for Moses to have the prayer and the promise answered for himself. Many of us are contending for things and we are invited into more.

Is it enough to have what you need supplied? Will you settle for just the blessing of His hand? Let us be a people who are convinced that His presence is everything. Many people, even many in the church, may look like they are walking in promise, but that doesn’t mean they are walking in Presence and relationship with Almighty.

We are meant for intimacy and friendship with God. God is so good! He is the defender, the provider and everything else. Let us draw near to move past just having our need met to knowing the Almighty and carrying His Presence with us. Let walk into our promises being led by His Presence.