Experiencing God’s Presence 3

God is spirit.  As there is the Trinity Father, Son & Holy Spirit, we have 3 parts:   1. Body, 2. Soul (Mind, Will, Emotion), 3. Spirit

Our body is temporal, just an earth suit.  The soul is eternal, our personality and helps us to interact with the physical world. Because Adam & Eve brought sin into the world, we are spiritually dead. Only when we receive Jesus as Savior does our spirit come alive.

#1 Working for God’s approval doesn’t necessarily bring us into God’s presence. (He’s not a genie.)

Luke 10:41-42 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,  but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

#2 Uninhibited worship brings us into God’s presence.

The correct position of our mind allows us to experience God’s presence. Psalm 100 is a psalm of giving grateful praise. “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. ² Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before Him with joyful songs. ³ Know that the Lord is God.  It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture...”

#3 Overflowing gratitude brings us into God’s presence.

Acts 16:22-25 is the story of Paul and Silas’ imprisonment. Verse 25 tells us how they reacted:  “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”

 What this looks like from God’s perspective when one of His kids chooses His presence:

Luke 15-24 is the story of the Prodigal Son and reveals how God reacts when one of His children chooses His presence. Verses 20-24 “...he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off,  his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. ²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it.  Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”