There is NOTHING Like the Manifest Presence of God!

Exodus 33:14 - 16
The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."
Then Moses said to Him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.  How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us?  What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the Earth?"

As you may know, the context of this conversation between God and Moses is that God said to Moses that He will send them an Angel to lead them into the Promised Land from that point on, and no longer would He Himself go with them.

This is an interesting point to take note of.  While theoretically, we know that God is everywhere.  But He is not Manifest everywhere.  Much like water vapour is everywhere, it's strength and power is felt in stronger measures:  Water vapour, condensed water droplets, rain, a river, an ocean, the depths of an ocean.  You get the idea?  In the same way, the Presence of God is everywhere (like water vapour) but is felt in deeper measures where He chooses to Manifest Himself.

Moses didn't want the comfort of knowing God is everywhere all the time (omnipresent).  Nor was he even satisfied with the physical presence of Angel leading him!  (Most of us would have settled for that!)  Moses had already experienced something greater...  the Manifest Presence of God.  And He could no longer live without it.  If God's Manifest Presence was not going to go with the Israelites into the Promised Land, Moses would rather have the Israelites stay in the desert where His Manifest Presence was.

Friends, as children of God we have the privilege of knowing the direct connection to God Himself.  And when we tap into that, even our physical appearance will change!  (See 2 Corinthians 3:13 and 18!)  There is nothing like the experience of being touched by the Manifest Presence of God.  To be in a place where His Presence is there in Glory.  It is life-changing.

His Presence distinguishes us from other people.  His Presence makes us radiate.  His Presence brings joy.  His Presence brings peace.  People can see someone radiating the Presence of God, even unbelievers.

Friends, God wants us to be refreshed in His Presence.  God wants to Manifest Himself among us!  In our meetings, in our times of worship and prayer, in our homes, etc.  It is not a list of to-dos that He is after in order to come.  He is not waiting for us to clean ourselves up.  He is just looking for hunger.  Do you long for the Presence of God?

I don't know about you, I am not satisfied with a few songs and a well-worded prayer.  I want Him!  I want His Presence.  I long for a touch of the Manifest Presence of God!  I find if I haven't experienced His Presence for a period of time (sometimes this is a few days, sometimes a few weeks!), my heart starts to long for Him.  Like a thirst that comes out of nowhere, I start craving Him.  Often, that craving becomes so strong all it takes is one favourite song in the car and His Presence manifests.  That's the power of hunger.

If you don't have such a hunger, don't be condemned!  Next week we'll cover this in further detail.

Until then, may you experience the Presence of God in greater measures!  Especially this Sunday at the church gathering!

The Glory of Provision

Exodus 16:10
While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the Glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud.

Most of us know the story of the Glory of the Lord appearing to the Israelites in a cloud in the desert, even if it is vaguely.  Many of us would remember that the Lord led the Israelites by a cloud by day and by a pillar of Fire by night (Exodus 13:21).  But in this context of Exodus 16 the Lord's Glory appears in a specific context.  It is the context of provision.

The Israelites were grumbling against the Lord that they were going to starve to death.  And God, in His Grace, Mercy, Compassion and Goodness, simply offered a solution to their complaints (not prayers).  He said that He would provide Bread from Heaven in the morning, and quail meat in the evening.  It was when He made this announcement to the Israelites through Aaron that His Glory appeared out in the desert in a cloud.

Now, Exodus 13 tells us that the cloud of the Glory stayed in front of the Israelites every single day and never left their sight.  And in this verse (Exodus 16:10) we see it "appear" again.  I don't believe it disappeared.  I believe the cloud appeared in a different position to where it was.  You see, the Glory Cloud was always in front of the Israelites, but in this instance, It appears out in the desert.  And God was about to provide life-giving food to the Israelites which would manifest in the desert.  So it would seem that as He was announcing this form of provision to His people, He was also showing them it was His Manifest Presence that was going to produce this life-giving food.

Friends, do you know that this incident was a picture pointing to Jesus!?  Have a look at what Jesus tells His followers in John 6...

Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34“Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.”

35Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

Once we have Jesus, there is nothing else we need.  He meets our every desire, from the inside out.  He starts with the biggest desire of all; the deep longing within each man for Love, identity, acceptance and purpose.  And then He begins to provide for everything else.  He promises to take care of us!  (Matthew 6:33)

Do you know that you hold the very Presence of God Himself within you?  You are the Holy tabernacle where God's Presence dwells (1 Cor. 6:19 and Colossians 1:27)!  My friend, the very same Presence of God that provided for the Israelites in the desert when they had nothing now dwells within you!  What an incredible truth!

I want you to believe this Glorious truth, and release it into your atmosphere around you.  Speak Life into each and every situation around you, and don't stop!  Release what is in you.  Release the supernatural provision of God into every situation around you.  Declare it as a Righteous, Royal Prince or Princess of the King.  Declare with authority!

You may say "but James I have!  I have declared so much and nothing is happening."  Well, I don't buy that.  Just stop and look around you.  How much can you be thankful for?  God knows what you need before you ask it.  When we focus on what He has provided for us and not on what He hasn't, it builds faith and thankfulness in our hearts and inspires to continue declaring with joyful authority!

Now, I have based this week's devotional on the Glory Cloud because I watched a video this week of a Glory Cloud manifesting at a meeting in Bethel Church in Redding, California.  As I watched I was deeply inspired by God's promise of His Presence and His Provision.  Because where His Presence is, there too is His Provision.

Just watch this video by clicking on the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VqbVH6SNP4

You will notice the cloud appears above the right-hand corner of the room like a small mist.  Most notably between 1 minute and 1:45.  You will also notice how the cloud shimmers with golden and silver sparkles.  Incredibly, a number of people standing in that very corner received Gold teeth supernaturally!

I watched this video and I felt so strongly God saying that we can see the same miracles that the Israelites saw and even more!  We have the very Presence of God dwelling within us.  The more we believe this Truth the more we will act on it, and the more we will see its effects in our lives.  Just like this group of people who believed this Truth came together and saw a manifestation of God's Presence in the atmosphere where they were worshipping!  I am pretty sure they will have faith that God will provide for all their needs in their daily lives as well!