THE PRESENCE THAT COUNTS (4)

THE BENEFITS OF DIVINE PRESENCE – TESTIMONIES

TEXT: Acts 10:38

Today we conclude the series on the inevitability of God’s presence for a triumphant and blessed life with brief testimonies of some Biblical characters. It is true that your life cannot resist change when you carry God.

Taking a scriptural spotlight on Jesus’ life and ministry, the presence of God was so evident in His life that even the unbelievers testified that the results and virtues that streamed from Him on earth could only have been possible by God being with Him:

“For no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him” (John 3:2b).

It is glaring that God’s presence silences doubters and overcomes oppositions. If they doubt you, they cannot doubt His presence. If they refuse you, go and seek for God’s presence and those who disbelieved and rejected you will return looking for you. By this, Jesus, the rejected stone became the chief cornerstone (Acts 4:11).

1)    Divine presence equals divine ability (John 3:2)

Ability is a function of God’s presence. There are things that you do and miles you go, not by your power, but by His presence. His presence is an anti-dote for weakness and laziness. When Samson lost God’s presence he lost divine strength and ability: “And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him” (Judges 16:20).

2)    Divine presence is key to a victorious life

“And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him” (1 Samuel 18:12).

King Saul was afraid of ‘little’ David not because David had guns and bodyguards, but because David carried God. The presence of God is spiritual immunity from the enemies and a source of spiritual authority against them. No devil, demon or witch can cross their limits when you possess God’s presence. Timidity is an offshoot of lack of divine presence. Saul was scared, not because he didn’t have armour bearers and weapons, but because the Lord had departed from him (1 Samuel 18:12b).

3)    True Greatness is a symbol of divine presence

Solomon attained greatness in life, not because of riches or positional status, but by the working of God’s presence:

“And the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly” (2 Chronicles 1:1b).

If you must go far for God, then you must go with God.

4)    Divine presence is the generator of the anointing, power and a life that counts in destiny and eternity

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him” (Acts 10:38).

I pray that you shall not lose God’s presence. Samson lost it and landed in the enemies camp. King Saul lost it and came under demonic manipulation. The most vulnerable man on the street is the man without the presence of God. You may carry the biggest Bible in your hand, if you don’t carry God in your life; you are the cheapest commodity the devil can have.

Beloved, the secret of true greatness is not in struggles or by connection, it is by divine presence. You cannot carry God and ‘carry last’!!! God bless you.