One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food. And she said to her husband, "Behold now, I know that this is a holy man of God who is continually passing our way. Let us make a small room on the roof with walls and put there for him a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp, so that whenever he comes to us, he can go in there."
We do not know what this woman or her husband knew about Elisha prior to meeting him but one thing became apparent to the wife was that Elisha was a holy man of God. There must have been something different about him that caused her to recognize him as a man of God and as a result opened her home to him. It is interesting that it was the wife who made this observation, her husband did not say anything. I don’t want to make any broad based conclusions but it is often women who are more perceptive to spiritual things. She sensed that Elisha was man of God. I believe that Elisha carried with him the presence of God that was noticeable to those who have spiritual perception. Elisha lived in the presence of the Lord and that presence was noticeable to others.
This is something that I believe all of us want to experience more of in our lives, the noticeable presence of God in our lives that will impact others. We read of examples of God’s presence being visibly present in several parts of the Bible.
Moses spent an extended time in the presence of God on Mt. Sinai. When he returned to the people his face was shining with the glory of God such that he had to have it covered. Ex. 34.30
Exo 34:29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.
Exo 34:30 Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.
The one thing that would distinguish God’s people from the others was his presence that would go with them.
Exo 33:16 For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?"
When Solomon dedicated the temple, the presence of God was like a cloud that came over the people and caused them to fall to the ground.
1Ki 8:10-11 And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.
When the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies to offer the sacrifice of atonement, the presence of God filled the room.
When Jesus was on the Mt. of Transfiguration, he was in the presence of God and there was a physical manifestation that happened that was noticeable in his body. The three disciples who were with him did not have the same experience but wrote about what they had seen.
Mat 17:1-2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.
When the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost, there was a physical manifestation of the presence of God through the sound of the rushing wind and the tongues of fire that were visible.
Act 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
When Stephen was on trial and was about to be stoned, there was a manifest presence of God that was evident in his face and noticeable to those around him.
Act 6:15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
Peter carried the presence of God to the degree that even his shadow would transmit the power of God to bring healing to the sick.
Act 5:14-16 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
Paul had such a presence of God about him that even his handkerchiefs that were saturated with his sweat carried the presence and power of God to bring healing.
Act 19:11-12 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.
There are many today who reject the manifest presence of God and feel that it is not something that is real or is necessary. Some believe it is all fake, just physical or fleshly things that people do to pretend that God through the Holy Spirit is manifesting his presence through them. We are called to be discerning of the spirits but we must be careful to not put the Holy Spirit in a box and place limitations on the way he will manifest his presence.
Jonathon Edwards was greatly used of God to bring the gospel in the Great Awakening Revivals in 1740-42 in the USA. His messages were literally read to his audience with very little emotion. Some commented that he spoke in a monotone yet the Holy Spirit and the presence of God was apparent as hundreds of people came to Christ. Many responded with different manifestations. Some people cried out to God for mercy, others laughed, wept and fell down with no bodily strength left: There were some instances of persons lying in a sort of trance, remaining perhaps for a whole 24 hours motionless, and with their senses locked up; but in the meantime under strong imaginations, as though they went to heaven and there saw a vision of delightful things. It was a very frequent thing to see outcries , faintings, convulsions, and suchlike, both with distress and also admiration and joy…Some were so affected, and their bodies so overcome, that they could not go home, but had to stay all night where they were.”
Edwards acknowledged that God may be working in greater ways that we realize and that we must not limit God where he does not limit himself.
Charles Finney was a lawyer who came to Christ and was powerfully used of the Lord to preach the gospel and bring many to salvation. God’s presence was strongly manifested in his life.
One of the greatest stories of the power of God’s presence was when he visited a factory filled with young ladies working on their weaving machines, looms, and spinning devices, two in particular stood out to him. They looked a bit agitated, but seemed to cover it with laughter. He said nothing, but walked close, noticing that one was trembling so badly that she couldn ‘t mend her thread. When he got to within about 8 to 10 feet they burst out in tears and slumped down. In moments nearly the whole roomful of workers was in tears. The owner, who was yet unconverted himself, recognized that this was a divine moment and ordered that his factory be shut down to give his workers a chance to come to Christ. A mini-revival broke out, which lasted several days. Nearly the entire mill was converted during this time. It all started with a man upon whom the Spirit of God loved to rest. And so without words a room full of workers came under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and a revival was born. (Hosting the Presence: Unveiling Heaven’s Agenda, Bill Johnson)
Another incredible person God’s power and presence were manifested through was Mary Woodworth Etter. She ministered in the early 1900 and was conducting evangelistic crusade where thousands attended when she was 69 years old! God’s presence was powerfully demonstrated in her meetings in which not only were there physical manifestations and miraculous healings but also people went into trances. In her diary she wrote about the meetings she conducted in New Corner.
“Nearly all who were saved during this revival, when the Spirit of God came in their hearts, they fell under the power, or sprang to their feet, shouting the praises of God. Those who fell would lay, some fifteen minutes, some half an hour, some one or two hours, some a day and night, and others longer. They would all come out praising God. I commenced the meetings at nine o’clock in the morning, and continued till twelve at night. We could not close, there were so many outside; when one went out, one came in. Sinners were struck down at their homes, and along the highway. They were saved for miles around.”
Kathryn Kuhlman was greatly used of God in a healing ministry. She was known as a woman who carried the presence of God and was sensitive to him during her meetings where hundreds were healed. One of the remarkable healings was of a four year old girl named Amelia. She had developed a horrible rash that progressed into sores all over her body. She was in constant pain and she screamed if anyone came near her. Her head was covered with sores. She had no eyebrows and her eyelids had been eaten away with sores. Her ears were rotting away, and one ear was literally falling off. They could not take her out in public. The family agreed to let the grandmother take her to a Kathryn Kuhlman service. During the singing toward the end of the service, Kathryn heard a voice calling out, “Look, Grandma, I see Jesus up there, “followed by , “Up there! At the side of Miss Kuhlman! Look at him-Jesus up there! And see- he has his hands out!” Amelia had been completely healed and later told Kathryn that Jesus stood there for five or ten minutes. God’s presence was manifested in her meetings.
Kathryn always said that anyone could have the anointing that she had. She said she was an empty vessel for the Lord. Her favorite expression was, “You pay the price.” She said it will cost you everything, but if you pay the price, you can have what she had. She was only afraid of two things in life-she was afraid of losing the anointing and she was afraid of grieving the Holy Spirit. (God’s Presence: Revival and Miracle Workers Vol. 1, Ryland)
One final example of God’s presence being manifested through us is recounted by Mahesh Chavda in an experience he had in a hospital waiting room.
“With me were three people who had brought me to pray for a young girl who was dying of cancer. I said, “Well, while we wait, let’s just invite the Holy Spirit to come,” There were eighteen other people, all strangers to us, in the waiting room. I simply said within the hearing of my three companions, “Welcome, Holy Spirit.” The next thing I knew, everyone in the waiting room-all eighteen plus my three-were on the floor. If a glimpse of God’s glory is enough to do that, and we are carriers of His glory, we should expect the unexpected.” (The Power of the Cross: Epicenter of Glory)
These examples are not meant to make us feel like we have not arrived or that our lives are nothing compared to these people but they are meant to show us what is possible and available to us today. We serve a God who is supernatural and we have to believe that he is the same yesterday, today and forever. Prior to WWII a group of three missionaries went to a remote area of SW Ethiopia in Wallamo Province, to work among a tribe of 35 people that had never heard the gospel. After working for four years with the people, they had to leave the country when it was being invaded by Italy during WWII. They left behind the only book of the bible they had translated, the gospel of John. One of the missionaries returned 5 years later after the war and discovered a church of 10,000! God had been doing miraculous healings among the people. This shook him because he was of the belief that miracles ended when the last of the Apostles died. The people of the tribe believed what the Word of God taught about Jesus the Healer and God’s presence filled the village and miracles were a regular part of their daily life.
What he has done in the past is simply stepping stones to what he will do in the future. We go from glory to glory and the greater works are yet to be done. God’s presence is with each one of us. Jesus said he would never leave us or forsake us. He is Emmanuel, God with us. We can count on his presence to go with us as we walk in faith and obedience to him. We have to have a hunger for his manifest presence in our lives. We cannot be satisfied with where we are at, there is always more of God available to us if we like Kathryn Kuhlman stated are willing to pay the price. What is required of us?
We must have a sincere love for God. A love not based on what he does for us but who he is. We can love because he first loved us.
1Jn 4:19 We love because he first loved us.
It is his love for us that gives us the capacity to love him. Our love for him increases as we grow in our knowledge of him. In this love we grow in our trust in him. We learn to lean upon him and not our own understanding. We acknowledge him in all our ways, we surrender to his ways because we know that he loves us and always does what is best for us.
Pro 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
As we grow in love and trust God’s presence will be more evident in our lives.
We have to earnestly desire his presence. God is a rewarder of those who seek him and when we seek him with all of our heart we will find him.
Jer 29:13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Bill Johnson, pastor of Bethel church in Redding, California has experienced the presence of God in very unique and powerful demonstrations. He hungered for more of God in his life, to have his presence and power manifested in his relationship with the Lord. God answered the cry of his longing heart one night while he was in bed.
“Once in the middle of the night, God came in answer to my prayer for more of Him, yet not in a way I had expected. I went from a dead sleep to being wide-awake. Unexplainable power began to pulsate through my body, seemingly just shy of electrocution. It was as though I had been plugged into a wall socket with a thousand volts of electricity flowing through my body. My arms and legs shot out in silent explosions as if something was released through my hands and feet. The more I tried to stop it, the worse it got.
I soon discovered that this was not a wresting match I was going to win. I heard no voice, nor did I have any visions. This was simply the most overwhelming experience of my life. It was raw power…it was God. He came in response to a prayer I had been praying for months-God, I must have more of you at any cost!” (Hosting the Presence: Unveiling Heaven’s Agenda, Bill Johnson)
God may not meet you in the same way but he will answer the cry of your heart.
We must walk in obedience to his Word (John 14.15). Through his Word we are cleansed, renewed and transformed. Our disobedience lifts God’s anointing off of our lives until we come to repentance and full surrender to him. Repentance must be a regular part of our life. We fail and fall but repentance puts us back on track with God. David prayed,
Psa 51:10-11 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
He had witnessed the Holy Spirit leaving King Saul and how insane Saul’s life became. David’s own sin against Bathsheba and Uriah must have also caused him to feel distant from God. The joy he had once experienced was not there.
Psa 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit
David had experienced the presence of God in his life and he did not want it to be removed.
Psa_16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Repentance is required to maintain God’s presence in our lives.
Surround yourself with others who are in harmony with what God is doing and have a passion for his presence.
Act 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Get plugged in with others who are plugged in to what God is doing. God often manifests his presence when his church is gathered in worship. Angelic visitations, visions, the presence of fire, gold dust, speaking in tongues, being slain in the Spirit are just some of the unique ways that God may manifest his presence among his people. We are not to seek for experiences but seek the Holy Spirit who is the presence of God and if God decides to manifest his presence in some way we simply get to enjoy it.
Daily pray for the Holy Spirit to fill you .
Eph 5:18-19 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart
Pray to be overflowing in the Spirit so it spreads to others.
Pray in the Holy Spirit to build up your faith (Jude 20).
Jud 1:20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
Learn to be led of the Spirit
Rom 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Don’t be afraid to do something prompted by the Spirit that seems illogical or out of the box. Remember the story of Elisha recovering the ax head that had fallen in the water. He threw a piece of wood into the water and the ax head floated to the top.
2Ki 6:5-6 But as one was felling a log, his axe head fell into the water, and he cried out, "Alas, my master! It was borrowed." Then the man of God said, "Where did it fall?" When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float.
Spend time in worship and praise.
Psa 22:3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
We become like the person we worship.
Spend time in prayer with Him rather than praying to him. Wait upon the Lord. Be silent and allow God to speak to you through the thoughts and ideas that he gives you. Remember we are co-laborers in the Kingdom.
1Co 3:9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.
We are working together with God. God is not working for us but with us and we too are working with him to accomplish his work.
As we spend time in prayer, God can release his creativity in us to give us fresh ideas, new solutions, new approaches to accomplishing his work.
God’s presence is the most precious thing we have as believers. It is his presence that sets us apart from the world. It is his presence that brings change in our lives and the lives of the people we are with each day. His presence brings healing and joy. His presence should be our greatest longing and we must do everything we can to keep his presence with us.
