IN HIS PRESENCE
MEMORISE: Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psalms 16:11
READ: Psalms 24:3-6
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
MESSAGE
The presence of the Most High God is the best place anyone can be in. Those who spend time in His presence are always in control of life's situations rather than the other way round. Elijah was just coming from the presence of God in 1 Kings 17 when he commanded that there should be no rain or dew for three years and it was so. If you want to be in control, then what you really need is to be in Gods presence. It's a good thing we have the criteria required for you to be in Gods presence listed in our Bible reading for today. They are as follows:
1. You must have clean hands. In 2 Corinthians 6:17, God said: "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and l will receive you." You have to be careful what you touch with your hands. I've always told my children to be careful what they sign. If a report is wrong or misleading, don't append your signature. Don't steal, don't manipulate reports, watch what your hand touches.
2. Your heart must be pure. Matthew 5:8 says: "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." Be careful of what you let into your heart and what you meditate upon if you truly want to dwell in His presence.
3. Your heart must not be lifted up to vanity. Colossians 3:1-3 says: "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God". You must regularly check what motivates you to do what you do. Are you driven by material or spiritual things? 1 John 2:15 says you should not love the world or things of the world, that if you love the world then the love of the Father is not in you.
4. You must not be a liar. Revelation 22:15 made it clear: "For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie." If you are a liar or someone who takes part in the benefits of other people's lies, God will keep you outside His presence.
REFLECTION
Based on the list discussed today, are you qualified to be in God's presence? If not, make amend today
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Joshua 14-17
HYMN 10: IN CHRIST ALONE
1 In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My comforter, my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand
2 In Christ alone who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground His body lay
3 Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
4 No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand
