Sustaining God’s Presence
In Psalm 51:11, David pleads with God, saying, “Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.”
David’s prayer of repentance to God reveals a sobering spiritual reality we need to understand, which is, it is possible for God to remove His blessed presence from our lives. Let that sink in for a moment. It is possible to no longer experience the intimate relationship, deep friendship, and even family closeness with God that we once knew. And to lose the close fellowship of God’s Spirit is to lose His guidance, empowerment, and the joy of His salvation working mightily within us. No one who once knew God wants to reach a point where they can no longer feel His presence or hear His voice— and, I mean, no one.
What Does Losing God’s Presence Mean?
To be out of God’s presence means to no longer have His spiritual fellowship and blessing over our lives. It means we have forfeited any intimate communion with Him and can no longer experience the comfort, direction, purpose, and power that comes from His Spirit dwelling richly within us. And it’s a lonely, dark, miserable, and depressing place to be.
Tragically, in the book of Judges 16:17-20, we see this described in Samson’s life. Though freakishly strong, Samson lost the blessing of God’s presence and power to work through him as a leader over Israel because of his lust and sin. And his lack of obedience to God’s standards of holiness, along with his blatant disregard for God’s purpose in his life, resulted in his tragic public downfall.
Samson’s sad example warns us not to presume upon God’s abiding presence to always be with us, irrespective of how we choose to walk before Him.
Keys to SUSTAINING GOD’S PRESENCE – Exodus 33:1-14
- Obedience – I will reference Pastor Adeboye’s testimonies in the Open Heaven devotion book, 10th April 2025. From our text in Exodus 33, the Israelites lost God’s presence to disobedience and a hardened heart, just as it is today. God delights in obedience more than burnt offerings and sacrifices – 1 Sam 15:22
- Continual fellowship- Waiting upon the Lord – Isa 40:31, Psalm 25:3 – Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame. Moses secures the promise of God’s presence through continual intimate fellowship (Exo 33:7 – He pitched the Tabernacle of congregation a little distant from the camp to encourage the people to seek God, contrast to what Aaron did by making the people naked – Exo 32:25)- this is the only time God’s glory reflected through Moses face after encountering God on the mountain. Moses ascended the Mount about 8 times – Exo 19 and 33,34
- Holy & righteous living – Ps 15:1-5. Remember, sin and disobedience have consequences, both in this life and in the life to come. And our unrepentant and persistent sin and rebellion can, and will, easily quench and grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph.4:30), putting a great gulf between us and joyful fellowship with God (1 Thess. 5:19).
I mean, why should we expect to relish in the joy of His approval and presence when our actions show our complete rejection of His standards and ways? It just doesn’t work that way. Romans 6:1-2 shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid!
