“Faith is the substance of things hoped for,
The evidence of things not seen.” Heb.11: 1
Not all living things are visible. God is a Spirit, Moses endured as seeing Him who is invisible. Invisible to the eye but His presence is manifested in many ways, the awesome presence of God can bring fear, wisdom, faith or peace, joy, revelation, understanding, light, compassion, humility, leaving no doubt of His presence.
The fear of God is unique to all other fears. True fear of God is not found by your casual seeker.
My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments. Pr. 2: 1 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. Pr.1: 5 The presence of God will be revealed to those who honor His commandments but the light-hearted efforts of many may soothe their conscious possibly bring temporary comfort, or a fuzzy feeling. However, only those who have been in His presence can understand the fear of God.
Those who have known His fear are endowed with wisdom and find the knowledge of God. And unto man he said, “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” Job 28: 28
The presence of God brings faith because He is the author of faith. (Heb.I2: 2) Faith is fruit of the Spirit. Gal. 5: 23 The one who knows that God is with him, fears nothing else. “Because, greater is He that's in you than he that's in the world.” 1 John 1: 4 His presence brings peace that passes all understanding. Ph. 4: 7 Fear of our circumstances and the lack of peace assures a need for seeking His presence.
Joy
The joy of the Lord is our strength. The joy of the Lord can only be found in His presence. The one who walks steadfast in His presence will maintain the joy and strength of God.
The joy of the Lord is the mark of the one who has been spending time with our Lord and Savior.
Revelation is given by the Holy Spirit; Jesus said that the Comforter ( Holy Spirit) would teach us all things. See John 14: 26
Like Philip, many are professing to have been long with Jesus and still not knowing the Father. This should not be, because for this very purpose Jesus came to manifest the Heavenly Father, in order to reconcile us we had to come to know the Father. See John 14: 1
To often the knowledge of God has been taught by man, and not by the revelation of the Holy Spirit. This is very serious because our hope of salvation depends upon it.
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17: 3 Jesus came for this very purpose.
Teaching can sound good, even reasonable, beware of the wisdom of man. Paul brings out the importance of comparing spiritual things with spiritual rather than the wisdom of man.
“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man‘s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God.” 2 Cor. 2: 13,14
A good example of man's wisdom is his reluctance to minister the cross of Christ. They don't want to offend anybody. Grant you, It is not good to bring offense because of our wrongdoing and we will be held accountable if we do. However, the preaching of the cross is not foolishness for the believer.
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Cor. 1: 18
Believers are called to preach, Christ Crucified. That means obviously CHRIST is not the only one who is to be crucified for He did no sin. Of course, His death alone pays the penalty of our sin, because He gave a perfect sacrifice. Then He graciously gave the opportunity for us to repent of our sins and to follow Him. “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, for what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” Ma.16: 24-26
Today people are preaching a gospel where they are willing to accept that Christ Jesus needs to be Crucified. Much like the ones who demanded for Jesus to be crucified.
“Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified!” Ma.27: 22
There seems to be an allowance for sin that is contrary to sound doctrine. For example, Paul wrote to the Galatians,
“And they that are Christ‘s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Gal.5: 27
Paul had a testimony that he was crucified with Christ.
“ I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live, yet not I but I live by the faith of the Son of God who died and gave himself for me.” Gal.2: 20 How about you? Do you have this testimony? If you do I encourage you to preach the gospel of Christ Crucified, Paul said; “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.” 1 Cor. 9:16
LIGHT
The Apostle John wrote under the anointing
of the Holy Spirit.
“These things write we unto you that your joy me be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1: 5
I also sincerely desire that your joy may be full. As stated before the joy of the Lord is only found in the presence of God Almighty. The Holy Spirit wants us to know, with no doubt, “ that God is Light, and in him is no darkness AT ALL”
That is spoken simply and to the point. Then the next verse is equally clear and to the point. “ If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.” Paul said: “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” Comparing spiritual things with spiritual we can understand. For us to say we are having fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth. Notice it says and do not the truth, it doesn't say and knows not the truth in this age many may know the truth but fail to live it.
Thanks be to God the Holy Spirit doesn't end the Epistle here. Because He finds it important for us to know how we can have our sins forgiven. He goes on to say:
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1: 7
The word walk in Greek is (peripateo) tread all about, that is to walk all around (especially as a proof of ability)
It does my heart good to see the professing believer walking IN the light.
I am sure many of you will remember this next verse.
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1John 1: 8
I truly thank God for this verse because as you know all of us have sinned. But we never should think it's ok to continue to sin. The wages of sin is death and death is separation from God. Therefore it is impossible to be in sin and be In fellowship with God.
What do you do if you fall into sin? The same as we did when we first heard the gospel believe His word and repent.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” John 1: 9
Our wonderful Savior knows how to deliver us He will cleanse us of our filthy ways. Giving us a new heart that loves righteousness and holiness.
The presence of God is amazing, once He is truly in charge. He changes things. He takes the sinner and makes him a saint. The mysterious, invisible, creator of mankind is magnificent in all of His ways.
”To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Col.1: 27
“Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus “ Col.1: 28
Compassion
“And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them because they were as sheep not having a shepherd and He began to teach them many things.” Mark 6: 34
Here he is teaching sinners the way. Good and upright is the LORD.
“The LORD is gracious and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.” Ps. 145: 8
Jesus always demonstrated the love of God. “Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.” Lu.4: 44
Jesus is the same today and He still heals all that we bring unto Him.
God commendeth his love toward us; “In that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
The three and half years of His presence on this planet, the attributes most demonstrated above all are love and humility.
The greatest demonstration of love and humility, that has ever been or ever will be seen in this world took place at Calvary. Jesus Christ the Son of God, the Creator of all that is created, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, came and was made in the likeness of men. He not only came as a man but came as a servant of all, demonstrated so effectively in the washing of the disciple's feet. Obedient to the will of His Father even unto death and even the cruel death of the cross. This act of humbling Himself to this degree, simply because of love, outshines all other noble efforts made by man. In doing this He overcame the devil, death the grave and made it possible for us to do the same but you and I know we can only do it in Him. His PRESENCE is my greatest desire.
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