We make room for life-changing encounters with the Holy Spirit, the only source for divine transformation through God’s presence.”

God’s presence is more about transformation that it is about an emotion, experience, or a feeling.

2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV
“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

Exodus 33:14-16
“My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. 16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”

A Christian without His presence is powerless with no Hope to change and a Church without His presence is lifeless and will begin to create substitutes in its place.

2 Tim 3:5 amp
holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them.

1- We were created to be with Him.

Religions of the world instruct you to do good work, then you have a reward. Our God created humanity and the gift was relationship, and walking with him.

2- We will Be with Him for Eternity.

Revelation 21:3-4 ESV
“Behold, the dwelling place[a] of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,[b] and God himself will be with them as their God.[c] 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

3- We have a choice to be with Him today.

Outside of God’ s Presence, our life becomes only about survival.

Genesis 3:8 ESV
8 And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool[a] of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

When we try to live our lives apart from his presence, we will lose focus on His call, His Kingdom, His design and His purpose. The goal will be about survival.

Genesis 4:16 ESV
Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod,[a] east of Eden. went out from the presence of the Lord. Land of Nod.

THE LAND OF NOD: Aimless wandering.

Heb 10:19-22
19 Therefore, brothers,[a] since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

What will you do to recover the dwelling place with God?

Exodus 29:45-46 ESV
45 I will dwell among the people of Israel and will be their God. 46 And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.

Ezekiel 37:27
My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

*Benefits found in His Presence. *

• Where His presence abides His favor rests.

Acts 7:45-46 ESV
So it was until the days of David, 46 who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.[a]

• There is Peace in His Presence.
  Isaiah 26:3 ESV
  You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
  

• Clarity/Understanding is gained.

Psalm 73:16-18
But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.

Discussion Questions.

Who are some people whose presence make such a difference to you? What about them is important to you?

What is your appropriate response when the presence of God comes in?

Describe a time when you felt like you were either literally or figuratively “aimlessly wandering.” How did you get there? How did you find your way?

Why is the ark of the covenant so significant in the Bible? do you recognize what is sacred and holy?

What does that place look like where you can seek the Lord’s face without distraction or hindrance?