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The Call of
His Presence
Then
Moses said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up
from here.” Exodus 33:15
Where
does the calling of men and women of God truly lie? Is it in the pursuit of
finances, education, recognition, or acceptance from our peers? Does our calling
lie in meeting the needs of our congregants or in preparing sermons to deliver
to the Sunday members? While all of these things may have their place and be of
importance to some or all, nevertheless, it isn’t what God requires from us.
Whether our parishioners know
what they need or not isn’t a question either. We need to know what their
greatest need is. It isn’t our job to tell them what they want to hear,
although that indeed is the popular thing to do, and apparently is quite
profitable as well. However, the true man or woman of God must tell them and
give them what they need to hear and not what will tickle their ears.
Moses
had quite the large congregation. More than any of us will ever have. Yet, in
his greatest pursuit he realized that what he needed, and what they needed,
wasn’t another sermon, another program, or another “feel good seminar”.
They needed the touch of God upon their lives period. Our personal greatest
pursuit must be the Presence of God invading our lives to the point we are
hosting Heaven on earth!
I
haven’t looked for “sermons” in years. Nor, do I read the word of God to
find a topic to speak on. I read and search for my own personal need, knowing
that unless Jesus comes and personally visits me – any ministry that I could
offer Him or others would be invalid and in vain. My cry is: “Jesus visit me!
Jesus touch me!”
In
the event He breathes upon me yet one more time then I can release what has been
given me to the others who may not realize it isn’t the touch of man you need,
it’s the touch of God! His breath can release the prisoners from their
captivity, their burdens from their shoulders, and open the well within that is
waiting to be uncapped. That is the touch you and I are obligated to give those
who sit in our meetings. Not one time.
Every time!
If we aren’t carrying the
Presence of God to give the next generation an encounter that will last a
lifetime, we have either missed it totally or, we are in the wrong business.
Heaven is waiting for us. It is our duty and mission to stay in His Presence
until we are consumed with the “other worldly fragrance” of the realm
beyond. It’s not unattainable, but it does require work and sacrifice, and
then rest.
2 weeks ago in a Friday night
service at the RAIN Center in LaGrange, Georgia a woman we had just ministered
to regarding allergies, then took two hearing aids out of her ears and handed
them to me. She said, “ I don’t want these anymore.”
What
would the average Sunday-go-to-meeting preacher have done? Made an appointment
for after the service? Tell her God doesn’t do these things anymore? How
about: “It might be His will for you to wear those things the rest of your
life?” Would it make the preacher look bad if he prayed and nothing happened,
simply because he knows he hasn’t seen the touch of God on his own life in
years?
Redundant questions. We
cannot give what we do not possess.
Apostles,
prophets, teachers, evangelist and pastors: We are obligated to give those like
this woman an encounter with God. Our highest calling and pursuit must be His
Presence. Out of His Presence comes
the miracles, signs, wonders, deliverance, joy, or anything else you need. It
comes from seeking His face, not His hands for our needs.
Thank God I could tell this
lady before hands were ever laid upon her, that not only can God heal her…HE
WILL HEAL HER. Fifteen minutes later, lying on God’s operating table (the
floor), her ears opened and fluid drained from both ears to the point it left
wet spots on the shoulders of her blouse. She got up totally healed. Not because
of a good sermon, but because of the touch of God.
Let us be like Moses and
passionately tell the Lord before every day begins, “Unless Your Presence goes
with me. I’m not going.”
My
love and embrace,
Eddie
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