The Presence of God

 Bro Koay Kheng Hin

I was very blessed. I feel younger. In school they call me apek. Not because of how I look but how I speak. But today after the worship I feel younger.

I believe the message I have is for all. It's called the Presence of God.

We are one of those people around who often missed a little in what we are looking forward to. Like we look for a home but often we end up looking for a house. And as the house gets bigger and bigger, the home gets smaller and smaller.

The other example is when we come to church we reach a stage where we want God to speak to us. A prophetic word so that we can tell what is going to happen. What he needs is not a prophetic word but an assurance that God is with him regardless of what he goes through.

Or we come looking for a good sermon. But what we need is a word from the Lord. The sermon is a preacher's task but it is only the Lord that can speak to the heart.

Or worship we look for an uplifting service but what we need is the touch of God.

The gathering of God's people means nothing if God's presence is not there.

As Christians we all have God's presence in our heart. But what I want to ask is if you have that subjective awareness that God's presence is with you. Can you on a daily basis sense the presence of God? Can you feel and is aware and conscious that there is a still small voice talking to you.

Many many years ago when my father accepted the Lord, I moved away from the signs of things. I'm a physic teacher so I need evidence. What broke that thinking was my brother who was a pastor in KL who is the complete opposite. When I went with my brother, in prayer he said that this is the day my father will accept the Lord. I say you say but in my heart I felt otherwise. But that day in the room my father cried. I've never seen that because he never cried. And then I cried. My brother cried. Two grown man and one old man hugging one another and crying.

Outside are all the idols. But within the wall I could sense the presence of God. In my head I tell myself even my dad can accept Christ, it is the work of the Holy Spirit. My scientific mind readjusted. I begin to see differently and even when I read the bible I could sense the Lord speaking to me.

As I share today I want to impart this to all of you. Experiencing the presence of God continuously is what God mean for a Christian life. Our eternal life is a continual awareness that God is with us.

I want to quote from one old timer.  Bro Lawrence. He was in the army but the change came to him as he was walking on a country road. It was winter so the trees were botak but he saw that and knowing that when spring comes around, that botak tree will bloom and be lush and colourful again. And he realised that life is in his hands and every life is sustained by God. And so is his life. That is how he was one man of God in the past that brought us these classics that at the end of the day our spiritual heritage is God walking with us and us being conscious of him all the time.

He is one of those men that did not accomplished much in terms of his life but to him any task great or small, if God is there with him it is more than enough.

If you are working a job and you think there is something better, my answer to you is that if you have the presence of God is with you, brother Lawrence is telling you, it is enough.

Exodus 25:23-24

The Table for the Showbread

“You shall also make a table of acacia wood; two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its width, and a cubit and a half its height. 24 And you shall overlay it with pure gold, and make a molding of gold all around.

Exodus 25:30

And you shall set the showbread on the table before Me always.

This is the furnishing in the Tabernacle. The table of showbread is the bread of his presence. The twelve loaves represents the twelve tribes of Israel. The acacia wood represents mankind. That the humanity of Christ is represented by the acacia wood and the deity of Christ by the gold.

It symbolises the desire of God to fellowship with us. We Penangite is famous for our food and we are experts in makan. We fellowship during food. He wants to fellowship with Israel, his prize possession.

That at all times means continuously. The heathens cannot have the presence of God. Only his children. But we compartmentalise his presence. In church we seek his presence. Like today I preach, I seek his presence but after this it's over.

Do we come to God for interest or intimacy. This is what separates from the person who is walking with God. I say this, are we riding with God or taking God for a ride.

In Exodus, the bread of his presence is only available to the priest. The priest representing Israel. But when Jesus says he is the bread of life, it's not only pastor Gideon taking and we watch. We don't do that. We all take the communion. In the NT there is no longer someone partaking of the bread as a symbol representing us but we all partake of it.

The presence of God is available for all of us.

John 15:4-5

4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

The key word is remain or abide in me. When Jesus says that he is affirming that his presence is ours to experience continuously. The continual presence of God is our heritage. That is what bro Lawrence is trying to convey. Do you think often on God?

Bro Lawrence says do you think of God by day or by night? He was talking about a continual thinking and reflection on him. Even in our diversions, like playing badminton or our business. Bro Lawrence says he is always near you. He is always with us and waiting to fellowship with us.

Today if you want to experience the presence of God continually you must desire him and not leave him alone.

James 4:8

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

When you read that he is waiting for us to come near to him so that we can draw near to him.

John connects abiding in him to fruits. A person who draws near to God is someone who will inevitably bear fruit.

To bear fruit we must share the gospel. We are to reap the harvest. That is a fruit but not just that, it also includes the fruit of the Holy Spirit. This year I made a resolution. To be more kind. I think we live in an unkind world.

Yesterday I went to watch Cinderella. I must confess but after I finished my sermon notes. I felt that even at my age as an apek, it still touches my heart. But of course I already have my Cinderella, the mother says take courage and be kind and it touched me.

If you are unkind, or is someone who is bitter, you try sharing the gospel, it won't work. People see through you. Your character and charisma have to go hand in hand.

In salvation God works for you but in sanctification God works in you but in sharing the gospel it is God working through you.

When you exhibits the fruit of the Holy Spirit you are not doing it by yourself. God works in you. But when you share the gospel, you open your mouth but salvation is God's work, not yours.

When you abide in Christ, as in John 15, you have answered prayer, the love of God will overwhelm you and the joy of God will fill you.

Moses went up Mount Sinai for forty days and forty nights. Moses was enjoying the presence of God. But down there the people were enjoying the revelry with the golden calf. God was incensed. But in the next chapter, Moses asked God if he will go with them. Moses says if your presence won't go with us we will not go into the promise land. No wonder Moses is called a friend of God.

David is another instance. David says in the preserve of God is the fullness of joy. In another one, when he committed adultery with Bathsheba, he could not sense the presence of God for one whole year. And after that he cried "do not take your presence from me." 

What is the place of holiness in the presence of God? In the cell we are doing the book of Amos. What exactly was in God's heart in the minor prophets. First, God is a holy God. He says be you holy as I am holy. God cannot have a people that is unholy. So when wayward Israel go from one sin to another, you'll find that all the punishment of God is restorative rather than punitive.

In the presence of God you will become holy and in your holiness you will draw closer to God.

But I what to qualify what I say. The interacting dynamics is that you must have the desire to be led by the Holy Spirit and in it you are purified by God. God only needs you to take one small step in acknowledging God that you need help and his presence is there to help you. A Chinese proverbs is, one small step is the beginning of a thousand miles.

Tell God today you want to experience his presence. I want to end with Enoch. Enoch walked with God and he was no more.  God took him away. But two verses before that, Enoch walked with God. It was recorded twice. Enoch walked with God in a continuous presence and in holiness.

Worship by Grace ELELYON team, Youth Sunday

Testimonies by Nick and Sam