God's Presence and Power

Exodus 33:1-3The Lord said to Moses, Depart, go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought from the land of Egypt, to the land which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, To your descendants I will give it.2 I will send an [a]Angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanite, Amorite, Hittite, Perizzite, Hivite, and Jebusite.3 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, for you are a stiff-necked people, lest I destroy you on the way.

In Exodus chapter 32, God's people had made the golden calf and suffered a severe plague. Many of God's people today suffer from plague, disease and sickness because they have molded a golden calf in their hearts. We read the bible and we think the OT saints are from another generation and we the modern Christians are a different type of people. But in reality, we are them. We are Adam and we are Eve. We would have made the same mistake as Adam and Eve. The bible is speaking to us. We are that stiffed necked people.

We must understand the difference between God's presence and His power/anointing. They can be two separate things. Although the power and anointing is the evidence of God's presence, the power/anointing can still operate without God's Presence. We do at first receive HIS power/anointing through HIS Presence. In Exodus chapter 33, we see because of the people's sin, God is willing to let them move forward without HIS Presence. But yet, HE was willing to send an Angel before them to give them victory and power. Many Christians, ministries, and churches operate in HIS power/anointing but God may not even be in the house. Their ability to hear God, their ability to drive demons out, their ability to prophecy, their ability to bring healing, and with signs and wonders is due to God sending HIS Angel before them but still HE may not be with us. The gifts and calling are irrevocable. Many Christians operate their gifts in pride not even realizing God's Presence has left them. 

How do we know God's presence is still around us? We can feel HIS Presence through the anointing and power but if the anointing and power can still operate without HIS Presence, then how can we know? 

Many Christians are zealous for the signs and wonders and Jesus said we are a wicked generation for looking for a sign. Many Christians go to revival meetings to experience something. Very few go to find God HIMSELF and seek God because HE is God. But yet like the prodigal son who had come back home because he was hungry, the Father is very gracious and kind as HE received the prodigal son back even though he had come back for the wrong reason. And for many of us, God out of HIS love still receives us hoping we would grow up to maturity and would seek the deeper things of God which is to have an intimate relationship with HIM rather than what HE can give us. 

We must be zealous as Moses. He said to God that unless His Presence goes with them, Moses was not willing to move. But yet, many Christians, ministries, and churches have move ahead of God without HIS Presence. They are now moving on their own with their own agendas using God's Name as authority but in reality they continue to worship the golden calf. 

Exodus 33:13 Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You [progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with You, perceiving and recognizing and understanding more strongly and clearly] and that I may find favor in Your sight. And [Lord, do] consider that this nation is Your people.14 And the Lord said, My Presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.15 And Moses said to the Lord, If Your Presence does not go with me, do not carry us up from here!16 For by what shall it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your sight? Is it not in Your going with us so that we are distinguished, I and Your people, from all the other people upon the face of the earth?

But God said HIS Presence would only go with Moses. If we have HIS Presence, we have HIS rest, HIS favor, and we are distinguished as HIS people. What is HIS Presence? HIS Presence is HIS Glory. What is HIS Glory. Moses asked God to show him HIS Glory. 

God responded in Exodus 34. Exodus 34:5-7 Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. 6 The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out,

“Yahweh![b] The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy!

I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.

7 I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected even children in the third and fourth generations.”

God's Glory is HIS Character. To be abiding in HIS Presence, we must seek to bear lasting fruit for the Father. To bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit is to now HIM. The bible never says we will know each other by the spiritual gifts. Although many many Christians zealously seek spiritual gifts, we are to zealously seek the fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT. When we have HIS Presence, we automatically have the power and the spiritual gifts. The spiritual gifts can be granted without repentance but to be in HIS Presence, we need to have repented! We cannot enter the Holy of Holies without being cleansed. It is in HIS Presence, we bear the fruit. Without HIS Presence we cannot bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit and many Christians who are not abiding in HIM are bearing the works of the flesh. 

Galatians 5:22-23 (AMP) But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [[a]that can bring a charge].

And this is why many Christians, ministries, and churches who may appear to have much power and anointing, God may one day say to them, "I NEVER KNEW YOU!!"

Matthew 7:20-23 (AMP) 20 Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven.22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name?23 And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].

They through their sin had lost God's Presence but were still operating in the gifts and calling. Their power had become corrupted with pride. Just because you see people with power and anointing does not mean God is around. We must know each other by the Fruit of the Holy Spirit. We must be zealous for God's Presence more than the power. The bible says pursue love and desire the spiritual gifts. Yes, pursue God first for God is love and desire the spiritual gifts to draw more closer to HIM.

Most Christians are hanging around the outer courts of the temple with the money exchangers talking nonsense and wasting time. Then there are the few who may be spending time in the Holy Place. But very very few spend time in the Holy of Holies. And only one can go in at a time. It is a road one must take by themselves. It is a intimate one on one relationship with the Lord. If you desire to be the Bride of Christ, you must seek to abide in HIM to enter the Holy of Holies but it will take sanctification and purification. It will be through much repentance and obedience. 

Psalm 103:7 (NLT) He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel.

Moses had favor and rested in HIS Presence because HE knew the character of God. The people of Israel only knew HIS deeds. Today most of the Christians only know about God. They know about what HE can do but yet they do not KNOW HIM. As a result, most of Israel DIED in their sins. Today, many Christians die in their sins. They die defeated and they die in pain and torment. 

God's people are slumbering and sleeping. Awaken Bride of Christ! Do not be deceived by what you can feel and see. You must grow up to spiritual maturity and die to yourselves. Your carnality and flesh will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God! You cannot praise the Lord and then curse men with the same mouth. You must cry out to God and seek HIM with all your heart, mind and soul and come to know HIM. You must continue to abide in HIM and have reverential Fear of God. 

God bless and Glory to HIM

Fire of God Church 

Pastor Steve Yong Kim