How to Step Into the Presence Of God
The sole reason God created the human race is to have fellowship with us. He wanted people with whom He could share His love and who would also reciprocate that love with their free will.
However, as we all know, Adam and Eve messed up BIG TIME! Okay, we can cut them a little slack since we mess up all the time as well. Either way, sin entered and changed our relationship with God. BUT GOD… Don’t you love the “but God’s” in the Bible? Humans mess up, but God makes a way of escape every single time. And He made the most extraordinary way of escape through Jesus!
We see in the Old Testament that the law was introduced and sacrifices instituted so that God could briefly fellowship with His people. You see, God can’t be in the presence of sin. Therefore, they needed animal sacrifice to be made clean for a while. That, of course, was a band aide over the problem. Jesus, the pure and spotless Lamb of God was needed to restore and redeem mankind.
Hebrews 9:11-14 says, “But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
How to Be In the Presence of God
Thank you, Jesus, for the blood applied! Amen?! He laid down His life – a sacrifice once and for all. But the question remains: How do we take advantage of what Jesus did? How can we enter the Holy of Holies and spend time in His presence? The same way it’s always been done – through sacrifice.
Accept the Free Gift of Jesus’ Sacrifice
Romans 10:9-10 says, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart on believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Jesus was the sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, salvation is a free gift we must receive by confessing that Jesus is Lord and believing in our hearts. It’s that simple!
The Sacrifice of Praise
Hebrews 13:15 says, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” Worship is more than singing a song. It’s expressing your gratitude by thanking Him for your many blessings, telling Him how good He is and has been in your life, and, yes, making a melody in your heart to Him singing of His goodness.
As a young girl in church, I remember listening to one of the head ushers belt out his praise and worship to God. This man’s singing voice could be closely compared to a bleating goat, but I remember recognizing it as true worship. He wasn’t concerned about what others thought about his voice – it wasn’t about everyone else. It was only based on his relationship with his personal Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He showed his love and thankfulness with uninhibited fervency.
Be a Living Sacrifice(Renew Your Mind with the Word)
Romans 12:1-2 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
We are to be a living sacrifice and renew our minds by reading His Word. Before you start reading, pray and ask the Lord for revelation (understanding) of what you are about to read. God’s Word is alive and will speak to your heart through the Holy Spirit. You will feel the Holy Spirit teaching you as words or phrases sort of pop out at you. For help reading the Bible, click here for my journal and devotion guide. I also share our weekly reading plan (which coincides with the month’s topic) in our weekly newsletter.
Sacrifice of Prayer
I know all of these are basic knowledge – Christianity 101. But how many of us are doing the basics consistently? Ephesians 6:18 says, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”
Remember that we can go into the Holy of Holies and talk with God whenever we want, and prayer is the number one way to do that. It’s not just about talking to Him but also learning to hear His voice. When we practice listening for the Holy Spirit speaking in the small things throughout the day, we will know how to hear Him in the big stuff too.
Sacrifice the Flesh (Walk in Love)
God is love. Therefore, to live in His presence, we must live in love. If you’re in a situation and don’t know what to do, go to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and start there. I am living proof that when you do, God shows up in that situation and will turn it around for good. But He can’t do anything if you act and react out of offense and unforgiveness.
Galatians 5:25 says, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” That means walking in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Talk about a check-up list – amiright?
If you feel overwhelmed and like you will never measure up, I have some great news for you. Grace! Grace is God helping us in our weaknesses – you just have to receive it.
Let me know in the comments how you feel the closest to God.