Cgeneration devotional

Revelation‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭ERV‬‬

”..People say that you are alive, but really you are dead. Wake up! Make yourselves stronger before what little strength you have left is completely gone. I find that what you do is not good enough for my God.“

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This was God’s verdict concerning the church in Sardis but can this also be God’s verdict concerning you?

As New Testament believers the bible tells us that God’s presence is on the inside of us through the Holy Spirit. The way we respond to the Holy Spirit will determine how active God’s presence is.

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬ ‭AMP‬‬ says:

”Do not quench [subdue, or be unresponsive to the working and guidance of] the [Holy] Spirit.“

John‬ ‭15‬:‭5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

”I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.“

Without God’s presence, we cannot bear the right fruit and we can do nothing. When God’s presence is lost, purpose is lost!

Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬ ‭AMP‬‬

”No man will be able to stand before you to oppose you as long as you live. Just as I was present with Moses, so will I be with you; I will not fail you or abandon you.“

The one thing that made Isreal special, spectacular and separate from all other nations that we read about in the bible is the presence of God. With the presence of God came God’s glory which was their ‘S factor’.

1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

”We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.“

One of the grave dangers of losing God’s presence is that our spiritual covering is removed and we become spiritually exposed.

1 Samuel‬ ‭4‬:‭22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

”And she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”“

A lot of things go terribly wrong when God’s presence departs. The story of Eli and his sons is a great example.

1 Samuel‬ ‭15‬:‭22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

”..What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.“

Saul was a king that had a problem with obeying God’s instructions and it robbed him of God’s presence.

Judges‬ ‭16‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

”Then she cried out, “Samson! The Philistines have come to capture you!” When he woke up, he thought, “I will do as before and shake myself free.” But he didn’t realize the Lord had left him.“

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Samson was born a Nazirite which means that he was set apart and consecrated to God. God’s presence was with Samson but he took it for granted until God’s presence left him.

Joshua‬ ‭7‬:‭12‬ ‭ERV‬‬

”..I will not continue to help you or be with you unless you destroy everything I commanded you to destroy.“

The ultimate experience that anyone can have is to have God’s presence while the worst is for God’s presence to be absent. What happens when God’s presence departs?

Psalms‬ ‭16‬:‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

”You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.“

We find joy, divine provision and so many amazing benefits when we stand and abide in God’s presence!