Abiding in the Presence of Go 2-4-1996 Sun AM

2-4-1996 Sun AM

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

2 Samuel 5. And thanks again for being here, everybody. 2 Samuel chapter 5. This is an introductory type of scripture, if you would. And you turn this down just a little bit, guys. Thank you. 2 Samuel chapter 5 and uh in Colossians chapter 4 in just a moment. In 2 Samuel chapter 5, uh look what uh happens in verse number 18, verse number 18. The Philistines, 2 Samuel 5, 18, the Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephiim. And David inquired of the Lord. By the way, that's a good thing to do. What did he do? He asked God when he got faced with some battles there, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? Wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, what are the next two words? Would you say them? Where are they up? What are they saying again? God says, Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand. Look at verse 22, verse 22. And the Philistines came up yet again and spread themselves in the valley of Rephiim. Again, the same type of thing. The Philistines come up the second time. And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, Thou shalt what? Thou shalt not go up. So the first time in 2 Samuel 5, there, he says, when the Philistines come, he says, go up. The second time, when they come, the Lord says, Thou shalt not go up. You know what's difficult sometimes to know the will of the Lord? It is difficult sometimes, and I'm not saying the Lord is difficult. I'm saying it's difficult for us sometimes to know the will of the Lord in specific things that happen in our life. In the first situation here, David was told when he asked the Lord, God said to him, Go up. The second time when he asked the Lord, same situation, same scenario, the Lord said, Don't go up. Have you ever had difficulty in finding the mind of the Lord and the will of the Lord in specific things in your life? Am I the only one? How many in here have struggled with that a little bit? Sure. And if you haven't raised your hand, would you help me after the services and come and tell me how you do that? But I want to show you some things scripturally today. Look at Colossians. Oh, by the way, hold your place in 2 Samuel there. We'll come back to that in a moment. Look at Colossians chapter 4. Colossians chapter 4. Now, in a few minutes, I won't be able to really tell you everything about knowing the mind of the Lord and how to get the Lord's perfect will. But let me just show you a couple things. One he says, thou shalt go up, and the next he says, Thou shalt not go up. Colossians chapter 4, if you would. And look if you would at verse number 12. Colossians 4, verse number 12. And thank you for turning there. Epaphoras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ. Well, what a great title. A servant of Christ saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers. That ye may stand perfect and complete in what? All the will of God. I don't know about you, but my heart's desire for my family is that we stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. My heart and desire for you as a church and for me as an individual is that we stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Now, brethren, we know this. It is the will of God that no man should perish. Is that right? God's not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to what? Repent. We know it's God's will that every man, woman, and child be saved, if you would, uh forgiven from their sins. We know it's God's will, if you would, and God's desire that no man, woman, or child be cast away from his presence at the judgment seat. Would you agree with that statement? We know it's God's will for us to be saved, if you would, to become Christians. And by the way, if you're not born again yet, if you don't know Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, it is God's will for you to know him. It is God's will for you to be forgiven. It is God's will for you to go to heaven. That's God's will. Amen? But every man and every woman has a free will. It's their own choice. It's God's will after that we be saved, if you would, that we know how to possess our vessel in sanctification and honor. We know some of those things, but I'm talking about this morning. How do we know, uh, Lord, uh, should I stay in this job or should I leave this job? Should I live in this house or should I live somewhere else? Is San Diego the place for me? Or I uh met a couple this morning, the Glesby's visiting from Philadelphia. I know it's God's will for me to be in San Diego. Amen. Right now, today. Uh I mean a single person. One of the main things they pray about, Lord, what's your will for me, married or or remain single? Oh, married? Okay, who? Big decisions, amen. I mean, everybody here probably that's a Christian, you're facing decisions even this week. Maybe decisions that you've been waiting on the Lord for a couple of months, a couple of years, a couple of days. We're facing decisions this week that that we don't even know about yet. And you know what we want? We want the complete and perfect, we want all the will of God for our lives. Is that right? I want that for my children too. I want that for you. So David had a situation where he said, Where should I go up? And God said, Go up. The next time he says, uh, go not up. And may I say this, uh, he doesn't answer us all exactly the same way. Now I understand there's principles that he has that he's always going to answer the same in certain things, but he may choose one of his children to live somewhere and another to live somewhere else, one to work that job, and another to work another job. But this morning I want to talk to you about, if you will, just a little bit about knowing all the will of God. Look at Numbers chapter 9. Numbers chapter 9. I've often thought if we would have been living in this time, it certainly would have been helpful because by sight, they pretty well knew when they were supposed to go and when they were supposed to say. Look at Numbers chapter 9. They had other difficulties they faced. I hear Christians sometimes saying, uh, boy, this is a tough time to live it. I don't know if there's ever been a time that hasn't been tough. It's always had some difficulties. Numbers chapter 9, look at verse 15. This is the Israelites here, and notice with me. And on the day that the tabernacle, verse 15 of Numbers 9, was reared up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely the tent of the testimony. And at even there was upon the tabernacle were the appearance of what? Say it, please. Fire, until the morning. So it was our way, the cloud covered it by day, and appearance of fire by night. And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed. And in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tent. And the commandment of the Lord, the children of Israel journeyed. And the commandment of the Lord they pitched. As long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle, they rested in their tents. You know what they were watching? Their eyes were on that tabernacle. Their eyes, and in the midst of that tabernacle was the ark. And they were always looking at that. They'd wake up in the morning, and the first thing they'd probably look at was what? The tabernacle. What were they looking for? Is the pillar of cloud there? At night they'd look, is the pillar of fire there. Why? Because that told them what to do in the will of God, if you would, whether they should move or whether they should stay. Look if you would again at verse 20. And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle, according to the commandment of the Lord, they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the Lord they journeyed. And so it was when the cloud abode from even until the morning, that the cloud was taken up in the morning and that they journeyed. Whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. Whether it was two days or a month or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle remaining thereon. The children of Israel abode in their tents and journey not. You see that pillar of cloud in the day and that pillar of fire at night told them what the will of God was in the way of should they move or should they stay. Look, if you would in Exodus a little bit back, if you would, look at Exodus chapter 14. Exodus 14. Again, we're talking about getting the idea and knowing what the will of God is. Exodus chapter 14. Again, I say to you, if you've never received Christ as your Savior, we know it's the will of God that you be saved. There's no doubt in our minds and our hearts about it. In fact, there were a few of us who prayed for you this week. We didn't know your name. We didn't know that you would be here. God knew you would be here, but we prayed for your salvation this week. Look at Exodus chapter 14, please. Exodus 14. Notice this pillar of cloud. Look at verse 19. In this situation, the Egyptians were chasing after the Israelites. And notice verse 19. And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them. And the pillar of cloud went from before their face and stood behind them. And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. And it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to those, to these, so that one came not near the other all night. The idea here is the will of God, if you would, this pillar, this angel in that pillar of cloud, in that pillar of fire, showed them what to do and was protection unto them. And by the way, brother, the will of God will protect us. That's a no-doubter. The will of God will lead us, and the will of God in this situation, the angel of God is in the midst of the pillar. If you would, God is in there showing them his will. Look, if you would a little bit further and look at Exodus chapter 32, and now it'll make sense why we looked at that last scripture. Exodus chapter 32. In that midst of that pillar of cloud and that fiery pillar at night, the angel was there and moved that pillar behind him. And it was darkness to the Egyptians, the world, if you would, and it was light to the Israelites, those that were children of God. Look at Exodus chapter 32. And notice, if you would, brethren, look at verse 34. Verse 34. Therefore, now go. Lead the people. He's talking to Moses here. Lead the people unto the place which I have spoken unto thee. Hey, you men in here that are heads of your home, or you moms in here are living as single parents that are heads of your home. One of the hardest things sometimes is to get God's direction to lead that family. It's difficult at times. God, what do you want me to do? And how do you want me to do this? And what's the decision I should make on this? He said, lead the people, Moses, into the place which I have spoken to me. Look what he says. Behold mine what? Angel. Do you see it? Mine angel shall go before thee, and everlasting the day which I visit. So the idea here was God, through that angel, capital A there, went before them, and if you would, prepared the weight and showed them where to go. Now, you know, the will of God is actually pretty simple. I mean, to know all the will of God, the complete will of God, the perfect will of God after we're saved, it's it's really pretty simple. All we need to do is keep our eyes on him. Oh yeah, they say, yeah, that's perfect. That's what I'll do. I'll keep my eyes on him. So uh where is he? Did he go this way today for me to go that way or did he go that way? I I know he's in me, but where is his presence? I know God dwells in me as a Christian. I know the Holy Spirit dwells in me, but but where is his presence? Have you ever got to the place, brethren, where you knew God was in you and you knew you were saved, but you just, it's been a long time maybe since you really had a had a type of fellowship where you had his presence, and his presence was so real to you, and he just came and he just maybe spent some time with you and gave you some direction on what he wanted to do with you to do with your life. Look if you were at Exodus chapter 33 and notice what he says in verse 13. Now there are four. Look at it, please. Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now the way, thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight, and consider that this nation is thy people. And look what it is said. And he said, My what? Say it, please. Everybody say it, my what? Presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And he said unto him, If thy what? If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. Let me ask you a question. Do you know when the presence of the Lord is near? I realize if you're a Christian today, God's in you. I realize the Holy Spirit's in you, and in those days they had the angel of the Lord to guide them, if you would. And today we have the Holy Spirit within us that convinces us that we are children of God. Well, let me ask you a question. Have you as a Christian had the type of experience when you knew his presence was close, and he was speaking to you and guiding you and direct you? I mean, when you prayed, you knew he was listening. And when you stopped praying, your spirit perceived there was an answer. And you started praying again, and when you began praying, you you just knew that God on his holy throne was listening to your prayers, and you had the assurance that he was, though you were in his presence. You say, now wait a minute, preacher, I don't understand. I'm always in his presence. God is omnipotent, God is everywhere. Do you know what I'm talking about? The difference between having a close walk with God where you know he's present. Let me illustrate real quick here. Uh Patty, I used you last week. Where are you at, Patty? Would you stand just a minute? Now, you you don't have to come up here, just stand. Last week, if you weren't here, I hugged my wife publicly. I want you to know that. Now look, look up here. I I'm married to this woman. This is my wife. I'm her husband. Is that right? Mary. Mary, married, married, married, married, committed, married. Till death do us part. Even if I get ugly. Amen. It's alright. Truth, I can take it. Now we're not always in each other's presence, but we're married. There are times that I'm on the East Coast and she is here, and I talk to her on her phone, and her presence is there. There are other times, even though we're married, she's somewhere and I'm not there. And then there are times when we get very close to each other, and I'll not embarrass her today. I'll come back to her, amen. Is that okay? And we get very near each other, is that right? And we sense each other's presence. Come on, yes or no? What are you turning around for, Eddie? Look at that. And and and look up here, and we're near each other. And our presence is near each other. Is that right? Now I understand we can be apart from each other and still be, if you would, near each other. In our hearts and in our minds. Is that right? Thinking of each other. Maybe seated Patty. He did a great job. That's worth a dinner later. Whatever you want to cook, I'll be there. Amen. Come on now. Easy, easy, easy. Down, boys, down. A men like that, the women are going, ooh. And by the way, I'm part of the bride of Christ. I'm waiting for the marriage of the Lamb. And I know I'm a spouse to him. But there are days and times when. Even though I was in his presence, it's a little distant. There may be somebody in here you say, I don't even understand this message. If you've ever had the presence of God in your life and knew it, and it was there for a while, when it's not there, you know it. When there's a distance, you know it. And you miss it. You miss him. Oh, I know I walked through this, and I knew he was there, and I read the Bible, and I knew he was omnipresent. I knew he'd never leave me for certain for forsake me. And my works didn't save me, and I'm his working shit created, and Christ doesn't do good work. But his presence. And sometimes knowing all the will of God is following his presence. You say, I don't know if I understand that. Look at 2 Samuel chapter 6. Stay with me. And by the way, there's no way that I could give you all in just a short type of period of time this morning, but look at 2 Samuel 6. How do you know God's presence? I'll show you a couple things. 2 Samuel 6. Oh, may I say this to you? And don't be offended by this, 2 Samuel 6. There's some strange stuff going on. Now I need to say this so you you understand. I mean, in in Toronto last year, they had what they called the laughing revival. Come on now. Maybe not heard about it. And what happened was evidently from their claims at this group, the Spirit of God came in and everybody started, not everybody, but people began to laugh uncontrollably. And they'd even fall on the floor and laugh. And just roll around on the floor and laugh. Some uh, and this is reported as being true, some uh became like animals, and uh a guy got up on his pew and began barking like a dog. Another one, uh, a lady began to cluck like a chicken. Now, this is true stuff. And they believed it was God's spirit. I got a problem with saying that's God's spirit. Or you say you just never experience it. No, I never want to cluck like a chicken. And no, I never want to bark like a doll and call it God. And I'm not playing on rolling on the floor laughing and saying I'm being, you know, swain by the spirit. I I, you know. I don't need that. You say, well, don't condemn them. Well, you've got to be careful because a lot of people are looking for experiences, but they don't know their Bible. They've really got an experience and then try to find it in the Bible to justify the experience where we study our Bible and then judge our experiences. It's a big difference. Try the spirits, whether they be of God. There are many voices going on in the world, none of them without signification. Prove them. Is that right? Come on, yes or no? So we we study our Bible and prove our experiences. In this situation, look what he says about the presence of God. Look at 2 Samuel chapter 6. And notice verse 11. And the verse 11 and the what? The ark of the Lord. That's where that mercy seat was. That's where that pillar pinpointed down to where, if you would, the representation of God's throne. And the ark of God continued in the house of Obadidim. The Gittite, three months. And look at it. And the Lord did what? He blessed Obadidim and all his what? Household. Because his presence was there. Symbolically, maybe, but if you would, the angel of the Lord, the ark of God, if you would, the pillar of cloud, that, that, that presence. God blessed his house. Verse 12. And it was told David, saying, The Lord hath what? Say it? Bless the house of Obed Edom. And all that pertaineth unto him, because what? Of the ark of God. What do you think David wanted to do? He wanted to get that ark of God back up to where it was supposed to be. In the tabernacle, in the center of the camp of Israel. Why? So the blessings of God would be on the camp of the Israelites. One of the things that happens when the presence of God, there can be tremendous blessings. If I was in business here today and I was working in a business, I'd want God's blessing on my work. Don't take this wrong. There's nothing wrong with making a little money. It's the riches and the love of money kept to the hurt of the owners thereof that's a problem. Nothing wrong if you're working as a businessman or a businesswoman. I mean, I'd pray the blessings and the presence of God upon my efforts and my work. And now he might say, Well, I'm going to bless you and give some the missions. I'm going to bless you, provide a little bit better this, or provide a little bit better that. But I don't want God's presence and blessings upon my business. When I was in business, I wanted that. I wanted to know the will of God, all the will of God, even in my business. When the presence of God was there, the blessings of God was there. Now you might say, now, does that mean that if the presence of God is there, that everything just automatically Goes right and there's no adversity and there's never any problems? Oh no, we we we live more in reality than that. Look at 2 Chronicles, please, real quick. Stay with me. 2 Chronicles, chapter 20. Does adversity come even when you're walking in God's will? What do you say? What say, church? Sure. I mean, I could give you many, many illustrations where God told the disciples, you know, go get in that boat and row to the other side. It was God's will that they get in that boat and row to the other side. And when they got out in the midst, there was a great storm, a great tempest. They were right in the middle of God's will. So if you get around people that say, Well, I know when God's will is because if everything goes right, then it must be in God's will, and I kind of think, oh, you've got some things to learn. Because even when you're right in the middle of God's will, walking with God in his presence, that does not mean everything's going to go perfectly right. Do you agree with that? I mean, if you don't read your Bible and see that God brings about adversity sometimes to try our faith and to prove our faith and to test our faith. Look at 2 Chronicles chapter 20. But when adversity comes, here's what happens in the presence of God when his presence is there. Look at verse 17 again. Set yourselves. Stand ye what? Still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Let it says fear not, nor be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord will be what? With you. But if you were used to walk in the presence of God and you're not today, it's a cloudy day. It's a rainy day in your heart. Now, if you've never had the presence of God in your life, may I say to you that it is available? Why would God say to us he wants us to follow his word and hide himself? And when we go over here to try to get God's word, he runs and hides the other way, and he runs and home and doesn't want to show himself to us. I submit to you that God wants to show himself to all of me, one of his children. I don't think the problem's God when his presence is not prevalent in my life. I think the problem is me. Let me ask you a question. Am I communicating this? You're you're quiet today. Are you thinking or you well, I I I tell you, I just watch one for you to think about the presence of God, and and if you don't have it, I want you to miss it. There's so many things out there that can pull us away from His will. I mean, if somebody says, man, these this this theme of the sweetheart bank in 1896, man, if we were living back then, there wouldn't be TV, there wouldn't be movies, there wouldn't be near the entertainment, there wouldn't be near the the you know what they had things too. Ours is just electronic. You see it everywhere. It's hard to drive on the freeways, please look up here without seeing something that could potentially pull you away. We're not supposed to set evil things before our eyes, is that right? Why, they can pull us away from the presence of God, but it's hard to drive down the freeway. You glance, you go, oops, that's not something I want to look at. Is that right? Yeah, I know they didn't have some of those things back then. But I believe that we're living in a day that evil is more prevalent, but would you agree with this where evil is more prevalent, the power of God is available? Don't tell me that God's forsaken us in this generation. You say, well, we ought to have one of those laughing revivals. No, we don't need a bunch of men barking like dogs. We don't need a bunch of ladies clucking like chickens, don't you dare cluck? What we need is some men and women of God falling down their face and say, God, I want to live in your presence. I want to walk in your presence. I know the Holy Spirit of God lives in me, but I want to I don't want to I want to abide is the word. Look if you were with me at 1 John. I'm sorry, look at Luke chapter 5 first. Are we doing okay this morning? I'm watching the time. Luke chapter 5. I'm watching the time. You don't have to. You can glance at your watch, just don't stare at it. I don't mind you glancing at your watch. Just not every five seconds, amen. Look at Luke chapter 5, stay with me. Well, let's contrast two scriptures here. Luke chapter 5. In Luke chapter 5, it says in verse 17, it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem. And here's what you ought to underline. And the what? The power of the Lord was what? Present. The power of the Lord was present. And you know the story, and we won't go into the whole thing. Behold, men brought in a bed, a man which is taken with palsy, and they sought means to bring him in, to lay him before him. And when they could not find by that way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went up in the housetop and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. Look at verse 20. And when he saw their faith, when he saw their what? Wait a minute. When he saw their what? Faith. He said unto them, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. So it was a combination of the power of God present. It was a combination of their faith, and that man got his sins forgiven. I want to contrast that. And would you look at with me at Matthew chapter 13? And let me show you the other side. Matthew 13. Matthew 13. The power of the Lord was present. The man who bore that one man and let him down through the roof had faith. They believed that power was present. And the end result was that man's sin was forgiven. Now look at Matthew 13, verse 57, and here's the contrast. He comes to his own town, and they knew him as the carpenter's son in verse 55. Verse 57, and when and they were offended in him. And they were what? Offended in him. And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without hour, save in his own country, in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there. Why? Because of their what? Let me ask you a question. Was he able to do mighty works? Let me ask you again. I want you to think, was he able to do mighty works? Was he able to forgive sin and heal just like he was when they let the man down through the roof? He was able because he was still God. But he didn't do many mighty works there because of their what? Their unbelief. Because they didn't believe that the power of God was there because they were offended in him. Was he able? Most definitely. Did they allow the power of God to do his work in their life? No. Because they didn't believe he was able. Brethren, let me make a statement. There could be two Christians sitting in here today. Please listen. One, saved, blood bought, born again. Abide, fellowship, obedient, control to the Spirit. Walking in the presence of God, and the power of God is present in their life. Blessings? Oh yeah. Protection? Oh yeah. Adversity? Yeah. Peace during adversity? Yeah. And another Christian. Saved. Bloodbought. Born again. Holy Spirit of God residing in him. But very, very far from the presence of God. Maybe right where they're supposed to be in the geographical location. And it's possible to be in the geographical location where God wants us and not walk with him. It's possible to be, well, God wants me in San Diego. I know I'm supposed to be in San Diego. But even though you're in the geographical location, is the presence of God available? Yes. Is the presence of God prevalent? We could grieve the Holy Spirit of God and be right geographically where we're supposed to be. I could have gone out last night and got drunk, and praise God I didn't. But I don't believe I could have gone out and got drunk last night and so much showed up here this morning and had the power of God like I could have if I would have had a night of prayer and thinking about God and walking in his presence and coming out here and having the mind of God and trying to communicate something to you. I believe that drunkenness would have negated that. Somebody says, uh, I'll do what I want and it won't affect anybody else. It will affect someone else. Yes, it will. If you think you'll just do what you want and only affect you, it'll affect your family. It's true. That's why we've tried to encourage you to come to the sweetheart bank. Why? Sweeten it up a bit. Ah, you know, we've been married for a long time. So doesn't mean you can't be kind to each other. Doesn't mean you can't laugh with each other. Doesn't mean there can't be the presence of God in your marriage. My wife and I have a conflict. I want to get it right very, very quickly. Why? Because that scripture that says if I don't honor my wife as the weaker vessel, no offense. Scripture. That my prayers be hindered. And I've experienced having a little disagreement with my wife and going out to study and pray and all that I can think about without disagreement. I had to call her on the phone and say, Patty, I need to apologize to you right now. I don't understand how a man could ever hit his wife and know these scriptures. I mean, let alone if I don't honor her as a weaker vessel. I mean, if I hauled off and pushed her or tugged on her or grabbed her arm in a negative way and squeezed her or something like that, I know without a shadow of a doubt that God would chastise me. And when you're trying to walk in his presence, you don't want it going anywhere. You don't want him to withdraw that presence, that guidance, that leadership, that communication. I'm not talking about losing salvation. Do you understand that? I'm talking about the power of God being present in us by faith. Utilizing that power. I'm talking about going out and communicating to somebody about the Lord, and while we're speaking to them, the Lord speaks to them too. I'm talking about not knowing what we're doing in our business, but God makes us look good. Do you know what I'm talking about? I'm talking about driving down a street and for some reason we we turn off that street and go another way, and if we look back, probably there was an accident and God just protected us. You say, You believe all that? Yeah, I believe all that. I believe God's able. Brother Fisher, do you always sense the presence of God in your life? No. Do you want to? Absolutely. I absolutely want it. And after a while, brother, you can't fake it. You just can't fake it because you know in your own heart. He used to be close. And he hasn't gone anywhere. It's me, it's me, it's me over. Standing in the need to pray. Now here we are at 5 after 12, and if I asked you to turn to one more scripture, I might lose some of you. But I'm going to do it anyway. So stay in your the presence just for a moment. I just told you the time so you don't have to look. Look at 1 John chapter 2, please. And let's finish this little thought this morning. 1 John chapter 2, please, please. And then John chapter 16. And I won't try to give you any more. Because all I could do maybe this morning was tell you that maybe the message is to try to draw you back to close fellowship with him. 1 John chapter 2. And John chapter 16. I want you to see it, please. In the Old Testament, uh, the Israelites there when they came out, and it wasn't through the whole Old Testament, but in the Israelites when they came out, there was the pillar of fire at night, and the pillar of cloud in the day, and the angel of the Lord showed up. The Ark of God later was where God, if you would, abided, obediened him, and God blessed his house and his household. And later the blessings of Israel. You say we don't see a pillar of cloud, and we don't see a pillar of fire, but look what we do have. 1 John chapter 2, look at verse 17. I'm sorry, verse 27, thank you. Verse 27. But the what? Say it again. The anointing which ye have received of him, what does it do? It abideth in you. Now the question is if I've got the anointing abiding in me, what is it? What is he? Who is he? And ye need not that any man teach you. But as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is what? Truth. And is no lie. And even as it hath taught you, ye shall do what? Abide in him. So there's an anointing that we as Christians are supposed to have that's abiding in us. That anointing is going to teach us. That anointing is going to is truth to us and is no lie. And then the anointing is going to teach us how to abide in him. Look at verse 28. And now who? Little children. And I tell you what, if you ever feel like you're a strong man or a strong woman, God will help you to be like a little child again. And now, little children, do what? Abide in him. Abide means walking close in him. That when he shall appear, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming. So that anointing is the subject of what's going on here. And that anointing abideth, and that anointing teaches. An anointing that's going to guide us, if you would, in the truth. Oh, by the way, it's spoken of again in verse 20. But ye have an unction from the what? Holy one. And by the way, it's not hysterical laughter. It's not like barking like a dog or all the rest of the stuff going on out there. Sometimes you say, Well, how do I know the unction from the holy one? There's a peace of God that passes all understanding. There's guidance in our mind what to do by faith. There's the power of the Lord present when we need it. But that anointing in verse 27 is specifically talked about. It'll teach us, it'll guide us under all truth. And that anointing, and you know what it is. But if you don't know your Bible very well, you want to look with me, look at John 16. And it's very clear on what this anointing is. Well, you tell me, who is it? The Holy Spirit. But look at it scripturally. John chapter 16. Stay with me. Almost finished. And look at verse 13. Howbeit when he, the what? The Spirit of truth is come, he will do what? He will guide you unto all truth. That's the proof text for 1 John 2. And he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, and he will show you what? Things to come. That means he's going to guide and direct our lives specifically. I know this. The Holy Spirit's going to guide me in a direction, probably, in fact, without a doubt in my mind, every day towards something. Look at John 15, last scripture. Last scripture. John 15, every day the Holy Spirit's going to guide me to abide with Jesus. I know that. But he's going to guide me to do something. Look at John chapter 15. John 15, and notice verse 7. If, that's a condition, if you do or if you don't, if you what? Abide in me and my words abide in you. You shall ask what you will, and it will be done unto you. I know this. Every day the Holy Spirit, that anointing, is going to try to direct me back to God's word. But I have a free will. Every day, there's no doubt in my mind, I believe the Holy Spirit of God is going to try to direct God's people back to his words. Why? Because he said to hide his words in our hearts that we might not sin against God. And these words are what guide us and control us and direct us and purify us and sanctify us and lead us in the truth. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask what you will. You see, when his words abide in us and we're following after the Holy Spirit, he puts the desires in our hearts what to ask, and we ask according to his will, and he gives it to us. Now, listen to me carefully. When I woke up this morning, I got on my knees to pray. There's no doubt in my heart and mind that the presence of the Lord was there. But it's not always that way. I'd like it to always be that way, but it's not always that way. If it's been a while since you prayed and the presence of the Lord was there. If I can give you any message today, he's waiting on you. He's waiting on you to be obedient to your conscience. You say, what are you talking about? I'm talking about sometimes there's little idols that pop up in our lives, and there's little idolatries, and there's little things that come up and start taking first place in our life over Him, and He's waiting for us sometimes to say, okay, I'm turning away from that which has pulled me away from you. Come on, Amen. And it doesn't have to be preached on what it is, because even at the mention of it, our heart and our conscience stings us. Sometimes he waits for our obedience. I'm not talking about obedience unto salvation. Salvation is secure, but obedience to abiding. It's been a while since you've had the presence of God. I just want to say to you that God hasn't moved. It's us who've moved away from Him. And we need to get back. If the presence of God is in your life, don't take it for granted. Please. Please. If God's blessing and protection and the peace of God that passes all understanding is on your life today. Rather than taking it for granted, I think it'd be right for some of us to thank Him and praise Him. Because you think about this. The God of this universe has time for you and me. I thought about this the other day. After all I've done to Him, even after being a Christian, you say, you haven't worked perfectly? No. Wow. His mercies are still new every morning, and His forgiveness in the middle of the day, in the afternoon, you can come to Him and just say, Lord, I want you to know. Even though my faith right now is a little weak and it's a little cloudy, I'm coming to you because I know it's right. And I'm going to talk to you because I know it's right. And even though right now I just have to be honest with you, and you know that my life's not what it should be, but I'm still coming to you and I'm asking you, Father, restore unto me the joy of thy salvation. Because when His presence is prevalent, the joy is prevalent also. I don't want to walk through this life without God's joy. Without God's presence. If you know someone today, and they're far, far away from God, they could use your prayers. You say, well, wait a minute, now why should I pray for them? Oh, because of the scriptures we read, and you don't have to turn there. Let me just give it to you. The scriptures we read in Colossians chapter 4, because of this, Epaphoros, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers. How is he laboring? Please look up here that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. Epaphoros was praying for someone else. And there's nothing wrong with we as Christians praying for someone else. If you're in the presence of God today and you know God's presence is there and prevalent, it wouldn't hurt to pray for someone you know that may not be as close. Now I want to make sure you understand this. If you go out of here and say, you know, it just sounds like he was talking about that you could lose your salvation. I don't believe that for one minute. But I believe we can lose his presence and his power and his working in our life the way he wants to. We have to pray one for another. And if the presence is there, we ought to thank him. And be like the one leopard who turned around after he was healed and said, Thanks. If you're not saved today, you don't even have to pray for it. You don't have to even pray, I'm sorry, you don't even have to pray about it. I know it's God's will that you be saved. He's already said that. God drew you to this place, and Christ is lifted up, and all you have to do is look and live. Just like that serpent in the wilderness, and you say, I don't understand all this terminology, man. I'm so confused right now, then you're a perfect candidate for salvation. Perfect. I don't know about you, but just before I got saved was mass confusion. I was such a struggle going on in my heart, in my life, and God was bringing me down, and I needed to be brought down. If you've been going through some struggles, God's drawing you to this place for salvation. We can show you from the Word of God how you can be saved. We can't save you, but we can point you to the one who can save you. And He is still able. Is His power present to save? Oh yeah. Oh yes.

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Yes.

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You say, what does it take? Your free will. Your free will. Giving over to Him and receiving. Christians? I hope today you'll consider His presence and think about it. And it hasn't been around long before. Long before. A little song, draw me what? Draw me near. And then he said this draw nigh to me. And I will draw nigh to you. I think the ball's in our court. I hope you'll consider it today. Oh, by the way, man, I preached 10 minutes longer than I probably should have. I hope that doesn't offend you. Oh, I was doing so great, but boy, I was offended. Don't be like the ones in his hometown. Don't be offended. Let God's presence give you that joy and that power and that. Okay, you stay, brother. I'll preach. No, I don't want to say that to you. You will, brother. I know you will. Hey. If God's presence would come into our marriage and our homes and our lives and our businesses, other people would get saved as a result. There's no doubt. Let's all stand. Now you've been sitting for a while. Please don't leave. Please, just a couple of minutes of courtesy. Please, just a moment. Just look right up here at me for a moment. Please don't leave. Just a moment. And we'll dismiss. I know your body's probably saying, stretch me, feed me, give me air. But keep it under control just for a moment. In our church, we give Christians and those who may not know Christ as their Savior an opportunity to make decisions. Just a moment we have what we call an old-fashioned altar call. And you don't have to be embarrassed or ashamed. You're amongst many, many in here who are God's people. We give you a time that if you like to think about the message, dwell on it, meditate on it, make a decision for the Lord. Maybe the decision is I just need to go back to God and thank him for his presence. Maybe the decision is I've been away. I've gone and strayed afar. I need to come back. Come back home to God. Maybe the decision is I don't know him as my personal Savior, and I'd sure like someone today to kindly take the Bible and show me how I could be saved. He said it was God's will, so I'm going to act on it by faith. If you do that, we would, without hesitancy, let some privately take the word of God and show you. The living God from this Bible. With your heads bowed now, just a moment, your eyes closed. I wonder how many in here would say, Boy, I tell you what, I thank God this morning. I'm already a Christian, already blood bought, born again, sins are forgiven. If that's you, would you hold up your hands? God bless you. You may put them down. Many, many, many. Maybe, maybe. There's a couple in here that would say, you know what? I need to be honest. Pastor, I want you to pray for me today. As you speak, I'm not sure that if this was the last day I live on this earth, I'm not sure that I'd really honestly know God is my Savior. I'm not sure my sins are forgiven. I'd like you to pray for me. You said that Epaphras prayed for others, and even though you don't know my name, I'd like you to pray for me, please. God does know my name. With your heads bowed and eyes closed, Pastor, I'm not sure of my salvation. I'm not sure if my sins are forgiven, honestly. I don't know if I've ever been really saved and experienced the presence of God like I need to. And just pray for me, Pastor. I believe God brought me here, drew me here to encourage me that way. With your heads bowed and eyes closed.