WOW LG - March 14, 2019

Practicing the Presence of God – PART 1

A. Introduction
 Pray for Dimaranan family & healing for the kids
B. Main Points

Vision 2020
- Strategy: Train to Win, Win to Train
- Purpose: To Win in Life (Maturity, Christlikeness, Fruitfulness)

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 New International Version (NIV)

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get
the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will
not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running
aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so
that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Run to win - You don’t want to lose in this life

Jesus won in this life - Showing what it means to be fully human and alive
Not a life of sin - He showed us the way
God’s original design
But, the struggle is real

Strict training (V25), Not by chance, Intentional

Training every qtr –
1st Training - Presence of God 


Practice of the Presence of God

Goal: People walking and filled with the Holy Spirit

Omnipresence
He is everywhere

Psalm 139
1 You have searched me, LORD,

and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue

you, LORD, know it completely.

5 You hem me in behind and before,

and you lay your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me

and the light become night around me,”

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you.

13
For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place,

when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

16
Your eyes saw my unformed body;

all the days ordained for me were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

17
How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!

How vast is the sum of them!

18
Were I to count them,
 they would outnumber the grains of sand—

when I awake, I am still with you.

Manifest presence
Gen 28 Jacob
Bethel

Genesis 28:10-22 New International Version (NIV)

Jacob’s Dream at Bethel

10
Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. 11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because
the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream in
which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were
ascending and descending on it. 13 There above it[a] stood the LORD, and he said: “I am the LORD, the God of your
father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your
descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and
to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. [b] 15 I am with you and will watch
over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have
promised you.”

16
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” 17 He
was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of
heaven.”

18
Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil
on top of it. 19 He called that place Bethel,[c]though the city used to be called Luz.

Jacob’s Dream – The Gate of Heaven

 Jacob was fleeing his brother and had deceived Isaac
 Jacob went from being unaware of God’s presence, to vibrantly aware of God
 “Gate of Heaven” A gate is a transition place, in this case a connection point
between heaven and earth, where heaven’s activity touched earth and God’s
presence changed the spiritual and natural realm.
  God is intently interested in making clear to us who we are, ahead of the priority of what He wants us to

do.
 It was important to the Lord that Jacob encountered and trusted God for
himself, not just because his father (Isaac) and grandfather (Abraham) knew
God.

v 16 Surely the Lord is in this place

First hand experience
Jacob became aware

V17 Fear of the Lord

Bethel - house of God

Why you can’t feel His presence

1. Ure not saved 

2. Sin 

3. Anhedonia - pleasures 

Thorny ground - So many things competing for the word
Numb

Bored in prayer or worship?

Try talking in the phone with no one on the other line
No reality that God is there

The moment event is done we leave his presence - Walk away from His presence

<From Jeremy Bridges – Practice of Godlineess>

Desire for God

Devotion to God

Fear of God Love of God

We are responsible for our walk with God while being dependent on God
Focus is on our relationship with God

From Brother Lawrence. The Practice of the Presence of God the Best Rule of a Holy Life (p. 6). Kindle
 Edition.

Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection (c. 1614 – 12 February 1691) served as a lay brother in
a Carmelite monastery in Paris. Christians commonly remember him for the intimacy he expressed
concerning his relationship to God as recorded in a book compiled after his death, the
classic Christian text, The Practice of the Presence of God.
Brother Lawrence was born Nicolas Herman in Hériménil, near Lunéville in the region of Lorraine,
located in modern-day eastern France.[1] His parents were peasants, so his schooling was limited at
best. Young Nicholas Herman grew up during the calamitous Thirty Years War, which devastated
central Europe between 1618 and 1648[2]. As a young man, Herman's poverty forced him into joining
the army, which guaranteed him meals and a small stipend. During this period, Herman claimed an
experience that set him on a unique spiritual journey.[3]
He fought in the Thirty Years' War and following an injury, left the army and served as a valet.[4] In
1635, Nicholas fought against Swedish infantry and French cavalry at Rambervillers, not far from his
home village. He was taken prisoner by German troops on the march and was treated like a spy.
They even threatened to hang him. He fearlessly answered that he was not what they suspected.
In June 1640, Nicolas joined the Discalced Carmelite Priory in Paris.[6] He entered the priory as a lay
brother and took the religious name, "Lawrence of the Resurrection". He made his solemn
profession of vows on August 14, 1642.[7] He spent the rest of his life with the Parisian community,
where his primary assignments were working in the kitchen and, in his later years, repairing sandals.

Despite his lowly position in life and the priory, his character attracted many to him. He had a
reputation for experiencing profound peace and visitors came to seek spiritual guidance from
him.[9]The wisdom he passed on to them, in conversations and in letters, would later become the
basis for the book, The Practice of the Presence of God[10]. T

That his prayer was nothing else but a sense of the presence of GOD, his soul being at that time insensible
to everything but Divine love: and that when the appointed times of prayer were past, he found no
difference, because he still continued with GOD,

"Men invent means and methods of coming at God's love, they learn rules and set up devices to remind
them of that love, and it seems like a world of trouble to bring oneself into the consciousness of God's
presence. Yet it might be so simple. Is it not quicker and easier just to do our common business wholly for
the love of him?”

"In the way of God," he said, "thoughts count for little, love does everything. And it is not necessary to
have great things to do. I turn my little omelet in the pan for the love of God; when it is finished, if I have
nothing to do, I prostrate myself on the ground and adore my God, who gave me the grace to make it,
after which I arise, more content than a king. When I cannot do anything else, it is enough for me to have
lifted a straw from the earth for the love of God.

"During my work, I would always continue to speak to the Lord as though He were right with me, offering
Him my services and thanking Him for His assistance. Also, at the end of my work, I used to examine it
carefully. If I found good in it, I thanked God. If I noticed faults, I asked His forgiveness without being
discouraged, and then went on with my work, still dwelling in Him.

God in The Kitchen

 Brother Lawrence retreated to a place in his heart where the love of God made every detail of his
life of surpassing value. "I began to live as if there were no one save God and me in the world."
Together, God and Brother Lawrence cooked meals, ran errands, scrubbed pots, and endured
the scorn of the world.

He admitted that the path to this perfect union was not easy. He spent years disciplining his heart
and mind to yield to God's presence. "As often as I could, I placed myself as a worshiper before
him, fixing my mind upon his holy presence, recalling it when I found it wandering from him. This
proved to be an exercise frequently painful, yet I persisted through all difficulties."

How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will
distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth? (Ex. 33:16)

Why God’s Presence is Important:

1. God’s presence is an indication of God’s pleasure. When people sense God’s presence, they perceive that
something good is happening in that church or ministry. God will not bless that which displeases
Him. Because He is sovereign, God will work all things for the good (Rom. 8:28) but that is different from
putting His stamp of approval on it.

2. God’s presence is an identification mark of being God’s people. There are a lot of individuals and
organizations doing good things in this world who are not Christian. What makes us different from them?
— God’s presence. With God’s presence comes a power to make an eternal difference, not merely a
temporal one.

Genesis 26:28 NLT

[28] They replied, "We can plainly see that the LORD is with you. So we want to enter into a sworn treaty
with you. Let's make a covenant.

Can people plainly see that the Lord is with you. The presence of God is not some weird mystical thing
that we cant explain. No. It is something plain and obvious that people can see in our lives. And when they
see it. They recognize it and are attracted to it.

People will be more prone to getting involved if they believe God is present in it because it will be going
somewhere, making an eternal difference.

Exodus 33:12-16 New International Version (NIV)

12
Moses said to the LORD, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know
whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If
you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.
Remember that this nation is your people.”

14
The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

15
Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will
anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will
distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”
 The Means of Acquiring God’s presence
1. Salvation - The first means of acquiring the presence of God is a new life, received by salvation
through the blood of Christ.

Eph 2:8
8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not
by works, so that no one can boast.

Rom 3:23
23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Rom 6:23
23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[b] Christ Jesus our Lord.

2. Faithfully practicing God's presence. This must always be done gently, humbly, and lovingly,
without giving way to anxiety or problems. Slow down, be willing to listen
<From Celebration of Discipline>
Discipline of Meditation
Noise, Hurry, Crowd
Hurry is not of the devil, it is the Devil – Carl Jung
Why? Bec it robs us of our intimacy with God

God spoke to them not bec of special abilities, but bec they were willing to listen, and to
obey
Samuel, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jesus, Moses

3. Focus on God - the soul's eyes must be kept on God, particularly when something is being done
in the outside world. Since much time and effort are needed to perfect this practice, one should
not be discouraged by failure. Although the habit is difficult to form, it is a source of divine
pleasure once it is learned. It is proper that the heart — which is the first to live and which
dominates all the other parts of the body — should be the first and the last to love God. The
heart is the beginning and the end of all our spiritual and bodily actions and, generally speaking,
of everything we do in our lives. It is, therefore, the heart whose attention we must carefully
focus on God.
4. Converse with God - Then, in the beginning of this practice, it would not be wrong to offer short
phrases that are inspired by love, such as "Lord, I am all Yours," "God of love, I love You with all
my heart," or "Lord, use me according to Your will." However, remember to keep the mind from
wandering or returning to the world. Hold your attention on God alone by exercising your will to
remain in His presence.
5. Grace of God - Finally, although this exercise may be difficult at first to maintain, it has marvelous
effects on the soul when it is faithfully practiced. It draws the graces of the Lord down in
abundance and shows the soul how to see God's presence everywhere with a pure and loving
vision, which is the holiest, firmest, easiest, and the most effective attitude for prayer.
The next question, then, is
“What are indications of God’s presence?”

P - eace
R - est
E - ncouragement
S - helter
E - nlightenment
N - earness
C - ontentment
E - ndurance

1. Peace (Rom. 15:33; Phil. 4:9)

Romans 15:33 NIV

[33] The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Psalm 23:2 NLT

[2] He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.

John 14:27 NLT

[27] "I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So
don't be troubled or afraid.

John 16:33 NLT

[33] I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.
But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

Isaiah 26:3 NLT

[3] You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

When you know His presence, you can have an inward calm despite chaos around you because He is the God of
peace.

He is the Prince of peace

In a world full of worry and anxiety
Deadlines, Reports, Exam, Tensed world

John 14:27
Peace not this world can give

Experiencing calm in the midst of peace

Anxiety and worry cannot live in the presence of God

Toxicity
No longer conscious of his presence

Isa 26:3
 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Isaiah 26:3 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.26.3.NLT

Jesus and disciples on the boat

Wind and waves contrary
When Fishermen panics, its bad!
Jesus was sleeping

2. Rest, Refreshment (Matt. 11:28; Acts 3:19)

Matthew 11:28-30 NLT

[28] Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. [29]
Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your
souls. [30] For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."

Acts 3:19-20 NLT

[19] Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. [20] Then times of
refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.

Psalm 23:3 NIV

[3] he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake.

Psalm 23:3 NLT

[3] He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

When you acknowledge God’s presence, you can “cease striving” because He is God (Ps. 46:10, NASB).

Matt 11:28-30
Come to me all who are weary

We live in an anxious , Tiring , Driven, World

At rest - Surrender

Ex. Discipleship
Traffic
Being late

Acts 3:19-20
Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. Then times of
refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed
Messiah.
Acts of the Apostles 3:19-20 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/act.3.19-20.NLT
 When u repent, Times of refreshment will come

Picture of feeling refreshed

Cool drink
Not tiresome but refreshing

Ps 23

Isa 40:30
Wait in the Lord

3. Encouragement (Ps. 16:11; 21:6)

When you are aware of God’s presence, you can’t help but be full of joy and gladness because with Him come
eternal blessings.

Psalm 16:11 NLT

[11] You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you
forever.

Psalm 21:6 NIV

[6] Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.

4. Shelter (Ps. 16:8-11; 31:20)

When you acknowledge His presence, you can feel secure because when you are with the all-powerful One you
know you are protected.

5. Enlightenment (Ps. 89:15; 90:8)

When you get in touch with His presence, you can know which way to go as He lights your path.

6. Nearness (Ps. 145:18; James 4:8)

When you bask in His presence, you can feel a sense of warmth and comfort because you know He accepts you
and you belong to Him.

7. Contentment (Heb. 13:5)

When you experience His presence, you can be satisfied because you know you have all you need.

8. Endurance (Ps. 46:1; Isa. 41:10)

When you spend time in His presence, you can feel renewed as you find His strength and help to keep going,
knowing you are upheld by Him.
What a difference it makes in our individual lives and in a church or ministry characterized by these
qualities. Likewise, what a difference it makes when they are absent

By David Santistevan
How to Practice the Presence of God:
 1. Begin Your Day With Intentionality – It’s been proven that your morning routine sets the tone for the rest of the
day. Rather than being stressed and rushing around, begin your day with God. Start with a prayer, “God, this day is
from you and for you. Use me to bring glory to Your name.” 6
It’s amazing how this perspective can set the tone for a God-centered day.

Psalm 63:1 KJV

[1] O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and
thirsty land, where no water is;

Proverbs 8:17 KJV

[17] I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

Isaiah 26:9 NLT

[9] In the night I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek you. For only when you come to judge the earth
will people learn what is right.

My most useful method is this simple attention, and such a general passionate regard to GOD; to whom I find
myself often attached with greater sweetness and delight than that of an infant at the mother's breast; so that, if I
dare use the expression, I should choose to call this state the bosom, of GOD, for the inexpressible sweetness
which I taste and experience there.

Morning routine sets the tone for the rest of the day
What do u do at the start of ur day
Masama gising mo buong araw na

I beat my body - Paul

It doesnt just happen!

Presence of God and the practice thereof

Ps 63:1
Early will I seek thee

Luhod agad Pagkagising

Prov 8:17
“I love those who love me; And those who seek me early and diligently will find me.
PROVERBS 8:17 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/pro.8.17.AMP

Isa 26:9
In the night I search for you; in the morning I earnestly seek you. For only when you come to judge the earth will
people learn what is right.
Isaiah 26:9 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.26.9.NLT

Rate urself
1 lowest, 10 highest of God
7

2. Turn Complaints Into Cries Of Praise – When you find yourself complaining, train yourself to praise instead.
Rather than focusing on what’s wrong with your situation, find something you can be grateful for. Truth is, a
thousand eternities wouldn’t be sufficient to express our gratefulness to God. His worth far surpasses our ability to
praise Him.

Psalm 84:6 NLT

[6] When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains
will clothe it with blessings.

Use this for an advantage

Like a switch

God bless u ka!

Ps 84:6
When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will
clothe it with blessings. They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in
Jerusalem.
Psalms 84:6-7 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.84.6-7.NLT

Valley - dark and gloom

Despair, death

Place of spring

Time is short
Stop complaining

Rate yourself

3. Turn Suffering Into Surrender – There’s nothing that rocks the boat more than a prolonged season of intense
suffering. When I walked through my 15 months of physical illness, I wasted a lot of time being angry that could
have been spent communicating with God. Eventually, I pressed into a deeper place of worship.

Suffering will always be a part of your life on earth. Draw closer to Jesus.

Matthew 26:42 KJV

[42] He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me,
except I drink it, thy will be done.

Spend the time communicating to God

Ex. Sickness, traffic, mrt

4. Turn the Mundane Into A Holy Moment – There are mindless moments to your day. Boring tasks at work.
Routines you could perform with your eyes closed. Rather than just “getting it done,” invite God into your
experience.
Use boredom as a catalyst for worship.

Ordinary things
Bro Law - in the kitchen

Ex. Laba, aral, routines, boring

Subukan mo mag aral na kasama mo si Lord

Rather than just getting it done

Invite God in ur experience
Use boredom as catalyst for worship

Personal Examples:

Sensing God’s presence

Meeting with Clients
Taking Care of the Kids

5. Lead Yourself In Worship – Don’t ever become such a worship superstar that you stop leading yourself. When
you’re alone or with a group of friends, maintain a sensitivity to God that allows you to worship with abandon.
Don’t ever hold back.

Practicing the presence of God can become a habit for you. It just takes some intentionality. And I’m sure your
worship leading will never be the same again.

When was the last time u worshipped by urself

Ure missing out if u dont worship God when u r alone

The Lord wants to be with u

Sense of awe
Not exclusive to church setting

Prayer
Ministering
Jacob's Dream
Jason Upton
Jacob really longed to be a hero
All I really wanted was a friend
I'm the way, the life, the truth
So tell Me Jacob when will the lying end?
And does the striving make you strong?
Because when I came to love on you
You fought me till the dawn

Finally Jacob's lying down

And while he sleeps I will dream
Of a generation not known for their crowns,
Or success, but a King...
Who was not so much as interested in crowds, or
Pleasing men, but knowing Me

CH:
I have given Jacob's generation the key of David, intimacy
To open up the doorway to the nations, and release
Revelation, of intimacy, with me

Jacob had a dream for all the ages

Jacob had a drive to build a nation
But the fighting is in vain
If your only aim is to build your own great name
Because My dream's not what you do
Jacob will you dream for me
The way that I have dreamed for you

CH:
I have given Jacob's generation the key of David, intimacy
To open up the doorway to the nations, and release
Revelation, of intimacy, with me