Contents
Introduction
Step One—Entering God’s Presence
Step Two—Staying in God’s Presence
Step Three—Operating in God’s Presence
Step Four—Carrying God’s Presence
Step Five—God’s Presence Unlimited
Walking in God’s Presence—Unlimited Healing
Walking in God’s Presence—Unlimited Deliverance
Walking in God’s Presence—Unlimited Miracles, Signs and Wonders
Walking in God’s Presence—Unlimited Prayer and Worship
Walking in God’s Presence—His Unlimited Love
About the Author
Other Works
Introduction
“You will show me the path of life: in your presence is fulness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalms 16:11 KJV modernized, italics are mine
KJV modernized is a King James Version Bible quote in which I have changed the old English endings, and thee and thou to you and your.
The first little book, “You Can Walk with God—Step-by-Step,” gives us the steps of coming into and maintaining our walk with God. This second little book gives us the steps of entering into and living and operating in His manifest presence. The Lord’s manifest presence is His supernatural operation in and through our life so He can actually accomplish His work by His Spirit here on earth on a day-by-day basis. His manifest presence is for us both personally and corporately i.e. in and through the church.
The church is the body of born-again, blood-washed believers in Christ, in operation on the earth today. Christ means the Spirit-anointed One. His Spirit-anointing is to rest in, upon, and operate through the church. Jesus is the Head; we believers are the body. We, the church, are the extension of Him on the earth—His hands, mouth and feet.
Jesus is the Word, and by faith in Jesus Christ, we are spiritually born of the Word. The Lord is “that Spirit,” and by faith in Jesus Christ, we are born of “that Spirit.” He is the Rock; we are the living stones—we are of the same substance as that Rock. He is the Vine; we are the branches—we are of the same faith substance and with the same life in us as is in the Vine. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18; Matthew 16:18; 1 Peter 2:5; John 15:1-8
We are all different, in different stages of our walk with God, but we are all unified by our mutual commitment to the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. With all the religions and of all the denominations in the world today, there is only one resurrected, living person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Of all time, in all the world, there is only one resurrected Jesus. By faith in Him, by faith in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, believers are all one in Him. Outside of Him, there is only religious division, strife and confusion.
Our differences are not for division. In the differences that exist, we are to look for and find our common ground and completion in Him. We do that by seeing, following, and knowing the Lord Jesus Christ by the Spirit (Ephesians 4:1-7). That which is according to, in harmony with, the Lord Jesus Christ is to be held on to. That which is not according to, in harmony with, the Lord Jesus Christ is to be let go. “Eat the fish, spit out the bones.”
One person or one group does not have it all. In position, by faith in Christ, yes, we each are “complete” in Him (Colossians 2:10). In experience, there is always room for more; there is always room for change and growth of understanding. There is always room for more working together and sharing in the Lord. There is always room to help and assist other parts of the body to grow in the grace that is in Him. He is full of grace and truth—one particular group is not. The hand needs the foot. The heart needs the lungs. We need the grace and light that are in each other in order to not just know about the Lord, but to experience the fullness of Him. John 1:16
God’s goal is that we all behold the Son of God, the person of the Lord Jesus Christ revealed by the Spirit, no matter what group of which we are a part. As we all see Him, we are all changed into His image, even as by the Spirit of God. It is His Son in whom God is well pleased (Matthew 3:17). Experiencing Him, being in His presence, is as though He, as a living person, is now standing here in our midst, and moving and operating among us. As we experience His presence, a supernatural thing occurs—we are progressively being changed into His very image! As we see Him and yield to Him, we are changed into His image! Something we cannot do for ourselves; He does in us by His power!
“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 1 Thessalonians 2:19 KJV modernized, italics mine
God’s will is for us all to be in the very presence of the Lord Himself. Together, in reading this book, our first step is to actually enter His presence. Then, we will be taking steps to stay in and operate in and carry His presence everywhere we go. Then, we will be taking steps in His unlimited presence and power for the manifestation of His glory. All the glory goes to God. So, let’s start walking together right now, in the very presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, step-by-step.
Step One—Entering God’s Presence
When we go to see a doctor, we first make the appointment, and we go to that place where he is. We recognize and acknowledge who he is. He is the authority. He is our source of help. He will give us direction. So, we give place to his person and to his knowledge. By our respect and reverence to him, we are there to receive from him.
Jesus offered Himself in death as the eternal once-for-all-blood sacrifice that takes our sins away, and gives us right-standing with God. The blood of Jesus gives us the position of having a relationship with the living God. Seeing what Jesus did for us and turning from our sin and self, and totally surrendering our life into His hands, is what gives us the experience of peace, and of having a real, living relationship with God. The blood of Jesus, and faith in His blood apart from all religious works, is the basis by which we experience entrance into the eternal presence of God.
Can we, together, commit our life into the hands of the Lord right now? There are no better hands in which to place our life. We can do that right now. The Bible says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). Let’s talk to God. Let’s give Him our sin, our past, our future, and all our life. By this commitment to God, we place our life in His presence. Let’s stop right now and commit our life into His loving hands. Let’s say out loud, “Yes, Lord, I give you all my life.”
Okay, now, let’s continue our walk in His presence.
After three and a half years of being in bodily presence with His disciples, Jesus went back to heaven. He told them He was going away, but He would send the Comforter, the person of the Holy Spirit, to be with them. Paul conveyed this same truth when he said “the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.” He went on to say that as we see the “glory of the Lord,” we are changed into His image. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Regardless of what stage we are in with our walk with God, there is only one way we all enter His manifest presence—by reverencing Him, by giving place to Him. Calling upon Him, truly worshipping Him in spirit by yielding all our life to Him, will usher us into the courts of His presence, the presence of the KING. John 4:23-24
Regardless of our personal beliefs and practices, and regardless of what group of which we are a part, to enter His presence requires reverence, which means to be giving place to His Spirit. He is that Spirit, so, to enter His presence, we must give place to the person of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit shows us our life, who we really are, and what we need, and He shows us the Lord Jesus Christ, who He really is, and what He has already accomplished and provided for us.
In faith, let’s just stop and pray, and say this out loud: “Lord, I submit to you, and I receive your Holy Spirit, your manifest presence in my life right now. Fill me with your Spirit according to your Word, and I give you praise in Jesus’ name. Thank you, Lord.” By asking and continuing to yield all our life to Him, we experience the presence of God, the answer to our prayer.
There is an old hymn that says, “Where He leads me, I will follow.” One thing God does not need from us, and that is for us to dictate to Him what needs to be or not to be. We don’t program God to fit our plans, programs, practices or doctrines or experiences! We are to be followers of God, not leaders of God. “We are in sales—not management!” Coming into God’s presence and following Him starts with bowing to Him in true reverence and surrendering all to Him and being yielded to Him.
Reverence is not just a somber submission and countenance with tears, or a quiet demeanor in repentance and calling on the Lord. That is part of it. Reverence to God is also giving place to thanksgiving and worship, seeing Jesus, and expressing free and liberated praise, and speaking and singing or shouting out from our innermost being. After repentance, then it is time for praise and thanksgiving to God.
“Come before his presence with singing…Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise.” Psalms 100
“Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms…let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.” Psalms 95:2,6
Jesus did not dictate to His Father what was to be. He came before the Father and submitted Himself to the Father, giving place to the Father. He gave Himself to hear from the Father and follow the desires of the Father. In this place of prayer, worship and submission, it was all about the Father. Jesus stayed in this place with the Father even unto the cross, then, it was the Father who raised Him from the dead to live forevermore with eternal fruit.
This is the pattern. We enter His presence by giving ourselves unreservedly to God and the Lord Jesus Christ. We enter His presence with it all being about God and the Lord Jesus Christ. We enter His presence by reverencing and worshipping and exalting God and the Lord Jesus Christ. We enter His presence by seeing who God is and who the Lord Jesus Christ is, and giving praise and thanksgiving to God and to the Lord Jesus Christ. Then, where He leads, we will follow. So, let’s walk on.
To be in His presence, we refuse to quench the Spirit. We receive and are filled with the Spirit. We express the language and song of the Spirit. We wait upon and follow the lead and guide of the Spirit. We rely upon the Spirit to pray and sing with the Spirit. We rely upon the Spirit to pray and sing with the understanding. With fear and trembling, before the Holy God Almighty, we rely upon the Holy Spirit for all we speak and do and need in that hour and beyond. God’s Holy Presence fills this place of reverencing Him, as we give place to His Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 14:14-15
By His presence, the needed work in His people is accomplished by His Almighty, miracle-working power. By His presence, we are changed into His image, into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is “even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” By yielding all to the Spirit, by worship in the Spirit, we are reproved as needed, and we are built up in Him as needed. What we can’t do for ourselves, just the very presence of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, brings about the change into His image. It happens as we open our life to Him and submit to Him, and allow Him to have His way. It is a supernatural spiritual transaction. Just by our entrance into His presence, the changes begin taking place on every hand. 2 Corinthians 2:17-18
Step Two—Staying in God’s Presence
By communication with the doctor, we receive understanding of what needs to be done. Our next step is to allow him to administer what needs to be administered, and to allow him to operate in the way that only he knows how to operate. In this way, we receive from his hand exactly what we need in that time for healing, strengthening, and direction.
To stay in the presence the Lord, we must be open to His daily ministry to us from all different sources. He is speaking to us and nurturing us constantly to walk with Him. Our life-style is that of looking to, listening to and hearing from, and being yielded to, Him—fellowshipping with God Himself.
The diversity of the body of Christ is a beautiful thing—so different in appearance, yet so perfectly functional for the good of the whole. The fingers look different from the ears, but they each serve a unique function that is essential to the safe and effective operation of accomplishing what needs to be accomplished. With the ears music is heard, and with the fingers it is reproduced on a piano keyboard. The ears hear danger, and the feet take us to safety. The ears, fingers and feet are ineffective in themselves to accomplish all this. But as the body works together the music is beautiful, and we are taken to a safe place.
This function of the body can take place in normal, every-day activity and conversations, in things we see or hear in the media before us, or in meetings with believers. The presence of the Lord Jesus teaches us each day, through both “secular” and “spiritual” sources and events. His operation is constant, and it is always to build us up, give direction and comfort, and to strengthen us in His power—to set people free.
When two believers meet together in the name of the Lord, we have the promise of “there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). Jesus, as though He was there in body with those believers, is there in just as real a way by His Spirit. He is there to speak, to heal, to reprove, to encourage, and to bring about miraculous deliverance and change. Only one thing on our part is required for Him to operate in this way—with our eyes on Him, yield to Him in faith.
“Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). Living faith requires action. Sometimes that action is waiting silently. Sometimes that action is to study. Sometimes that action is to repent and renounce some things in our life. Sometimes that action is to open our mouth and speak with fear and trembling, not knowing what our next words will be.
Sometimes faith is expressed in unbridled praise and thanksgiving to God. Sometimes faith is voicing prayers with the Spirit, sometimes it is voicing prayers with the understanding. Sometimes faith only groans or weeps before God, looking unto Him. Sometimes faith acts quickly, in prompt obedience (Luke 19:5). Sometimes faith is measured by prolonged, cautious, watchful obedience, maybe doing nothing for a time— “he that believeth shall not make haste” (Isaiah 28:16). In all, faith is a continual reliance upon God, upon His Word, and upon His Spirit, in all that we do or don’t do.
One thing the patient does not do with the doctor, and that is to dictate to the doctor what to administer and how to operate. If you dictate how the doctor should operate on your own body, you could lose a limb, cause a stroke or heart attack, or bleed out, or, never even touch on the real problem. You could cause all kinds of complications. No, you stay in a place of submission to and in reverence of the person of the doctor and his knowledge and ability, trusting him to do what needs to be done.
The Spirit of God carries different ministry offices and different gifts and operations. To continue and advance in the presence of the Lord, we need to be open to these operations of the Spirit in the Body of Christ.
There are offices of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. There are manifestations, gifts, and operations of the Spirit. These are word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. These offices and manifestations of the Spirit are the presence of God invested in and operating through people for the edification and advancement of people to be in the presence of the Lord. Ephesians 4:7-16; 1 Corinthians 12:7-11
If these offices and supernatural manifestations of the Spirit are not recognized and given place to, if they are not “reverenced,” then the benefit of the presence of God in them is greatly limited, or missed completely. If the mentality is “our four and no more,” then we have God boxed in to the four walls of our perspective and in the four walls of our particular religious group. If we are not open to more, then we quench and deny His presence that will go beyond our perspective and our particular group. Without the manifest presence of God operating, it is just fleshly religious man doing his own religious programs apart from the unlimited presence of God. This is antichrist, which means anti-anointing, which is simply flesh working in its own power instead of working in the anointing and power of God. Revelation 13:18
When these offices and manifestations of the Spirit are recognized and given place to, the Spirit of God is allowed to have His way in a greater way; the presence of God fills the place, and the desire of God is accomplished for the good and benefit of all the people.
The key to staying in the presence of God is to stay in that place of prayer and humble dependence on God. In this place we are continually cleansed by the blood through repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (1 John 1:7-9; Acts 20:20-21). In this attitude of prayer and submission to God, we are to recognize, respect, and allow the ministry offices of God to operate, and allow the Spirit to have His way to manifest in any way He so desires.
Prayer and praise make us sensitive to the Spirit, and in prayer, by the Spirit, we can also exercise authority and dominion over opposing religious or non-religious spirits. Real prayer opens the way for us to move with the Spirit, so real prayer, Spirit-directed prayer, is foundational to the move of God and staying in His presence.
It needs to be said, that the ministry offices of God do not require a title. A ministry office is simply the operation of the calling and anointing of God on a person’s life to accomplish God’s purpose. Also, it needs to be said, that the offices of God are not gender-based. The offices of God are based on the calling and anointing of God, not on whether you are a man or woman. Again, this is so God can accomplish His purpose.
The manifestations of the Spirit of God are based on God’s moving and God’s anointing on the vessel of His choosing according to His purpose. God can anoint a donkey if He wants to. Numbers 22:28
It also needs to be said that the anointing does not validate a person’s personal relationship with God. Just because a person can preach and teach well and move in the gifts and power of God does not mean he or she is pure and right with God. God uses imperfect vessels, so, we are to always just follow the truth and the Spirit of God Himself instead of the vessel. Paul was an example of this, who said follow me as I follow Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1
Giving place to God—giving place to the Word of God, giving place to the Spirit of God, giving place to the operations of the ministry and spiritual gifts of God, is how we stay in the presence of God. Just know God is all in all, working in the midst of all things, so that He might fill all things.
Acknowledging Him and hearing Him in all things, and yielding to Him with a heart of ready obedience to His Spirit, keeps us in His presence. Ephesians 1:23; 4:6,10
Staying in the presence of God comes by repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:20-21). It comes by faith. It does not come by emotions or knowledge or by striving in our own strength. It comes by surrender and submission to God, by quick repentance and prompt obedience in faith.
By persisting in this lifestyle, we are in the birthing position to move with the Spirit to bring forth that which the Spirit conceives in us. That which the Spirit conceives is the Son of God, the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. We travail by the Spirit, and we become the vessel through which He is made manifest in this world. True revival, the revelation of Jesus Christ, comes by the intercession of the Spirit through yielded, believing vessels.
By staying in His presence, we are the vessels through which Jesus is made manifest to the world on a global scale.
God’s basic desire is to fellowship with man. He gave His only Son in order to do this. God was seeking man in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:9). He seeks for man to worship Him in Spirit and in truth. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). And He stands at the door of the self-sufficient, spiritually blind lukewarm church, seeking, knocking, saying, let me in so we can fellowship together! (Revelation 3:20). He wants to share His Almighty presence with us! His Son made the way so we can have His presence in our life each day! But it is up to us to open the door of our life to Him, so He can share His unlimited life and presence with us.
Step Three—Operating in God’s Presence
When we put our life into the hands of the doctor, we must lay aside any reservations, fears, inferiority, pride, the shame of nakedness, and our personally supposed greatness. When we lay on an operating table having been totally stripped naked and unconscious, we are totally in the hands of the doctor, for him to accomplish whatever he wants to accomplish with our body.
Pride, self-promotion, fear, timidity, unbelief, lack of relying on God, perverse legal religion, the ways, programs, and the control and traditions of man, inferiority, insecurity, rejection, and shame are all idols that must be laid aside in order to have the on-going operation of the holy presence of God. We must choose to refuse to bow down and worship any one of these idols. Again, it is in the place of prayer and true worship and submission to God, that we can see and be rid of these personal and corporate hindrances to the manifest presence of God. Daniel 3:6; Daniel 6:10; See also Genesis 35:1-15
God will use us and work through us as much as we allow Him to. He is able, but we must open the door; we must give Him permission. He does not force Himself on us. Our cleansing and consecration to God, and our opening the door to allow Him to have His way, is where much prayer, repentance and exercise of submission is required. Only as we exchange our life and our ability and our authority, for His life, ability and authority, are we able to operate in His presence. We make this exchange through repentance, faith and submission. We receive and maintain the operation of His life, ability and authority in our lives in the spiritual realm, as we maintain this humility before Him of just believing His Word.
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup [have fellowship] with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20 my bracketed note added
The Lord gives gifts unto men that He might dwell among us. This is more than a visit. He dwells among us by His gifts given. Gifts must be received if we are going to benefit from them. The gifts, both of the ministry offices and of the supernatural manifestations of the Spirit, are for the good and benefit of all mankind. “That He might dwell among us” is His manifest presence being here and continually working in our personal life and in the midst of our assemblies, by His Spirit. Psalms 68:18/Ephesians 4:8
Wherever we are now with God, we must understand, there is always more. There is yet more land to possess. There are millions of believers, and thousands of assemblies of believers, who need the liberty and power of the Holy Spirit. There are millions in the world who need the light and ministry of our resurrected Lord Jesus Christ. The needs are as the sand of the sea and the stars in the sky—unlimited. And for that, the riches in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ are also boundless and unlimited. Ephesians 2:7
We are the conduit to either bind that unlimited grace, or release that unlimited grace for the edification of the Body of Christ and for the salvation of the world. In other words, God will work in our life as far as we allow Him to work. For Him to do that, we are to receive what He has to offer and pursue Him for more.
Again, much prayer and feeding on His Word and submission to His Spirit is required in order to lay aside our unbelief and other hindrances, just so we can receive the gifts of grace from Him. We “labor” because of our unbelief and distractions, until we “rest” in the experience of the purchased, freely offered gifts of God, which are all in the person of the Lord Jesus. We are just the conduit. Conduit does not work. It is just the vessel through which the living water flows. We cease from our own works so the works of God can be seen or manifested. Hebrews 4:10-11
With this, we need to realize along with the apostle Paul, that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body…whether good or bad.” He went on to say that knowing the “terror of the Lord,” we persuade men by the constraining love of Christ. We must realize that if He died for all, then all people are spiritually dead until they know Him. For this reason, from henceforth, we should not be living for ourselves, but unto Him who died and rose again.
Paul was motivated (1) by the realization of the plight of man, (2) by the personal responsibility to reach men for Christ, and (3) by his reverence for what Christ has already accomplished for all of mankind. With this multi-faceted motivation, he sought to live holy, with a clear conscience in the manifest presence of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He did this in order to effectively carry out God’s assignment for him. Let Paul serve as our example to follow. 2 Corinthians 5:5-15; Acts 24:16
We see in his Corinthian letter that Paul, unlike some, was not out to put on a religious show just to please religious palates and tickle religious ears. He was dead serious, living before God’s judgment. He was intense. If people thought he was crazy and “beside himself,” he could care less. He refused to bow down to the idols of self and the social pressure of men and women that would hinder him from operating in the Spirit and having the presence of God. Accountability to God and eternal souls being at stake were uppermost in his mind. He knew if he failed to yield to God, God would be displeased, and, someone would suffer eternally for it. The love of Christ that constrained him was first, love to God, and next, love to his neighbor. Luke 10:27
So, if we are going to effectively operate in the presence of God, we must allow God to prune the aforementioned idols from our life. It doesn’t happen all at once. The land is taken city-by-city. We can make this walk an eleven-day journey, or, it can take forty years of wandering in the wilderness (referring to Israelites wandering in the wilderness). It depends on our response. It is our response-ability—our ability to respond to God with right choices. We can go as far with God as we want to go. He will meet us where we are and walk with us, and go as far with us as we want to go with Him—Unlimited.
We are just the vessel upon which and through which the doctor himself operates. God is the Doctor. God’s operation is on His body of believers. God calls, God operates on the vessel, then God turns it around and operates through the vessel. The vessel He uses is just that, a vessel, a tool, which He sharpens and uses. And that is an on-going operation. Beginning to end, it is God. No flesh can glory in His sight. Walking with God, in His unlimited presence, means more of Christ, and less of me.
To operate in the presence of God, it is no longer I but Christ— “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 modernized
Operating in God’s presence is this: I am “always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” Operating in God’s presence is, “I believed, and therefore have I spoken…all things are for your sakes [always for the benefit of the people] …for which cause we faint not…the inward man is renewed day-by-day.” By constant dependence on Him we speak and act, doing God’s work in His renewing power. 2 Corinthians 4:10-16 KJV modernized, bracketed note and italics mine
Operating in the presence of God is a pouring out and a receiving in. It is a crucifixion of the flesh man and a resurrection of the spirit man. It is the person of the Lord Jesus Christ living in and through our flesh body.
The operation and authority of the presence of God does not come by any striving or effort of the flesh. It is not worked up. It comes by alignment with God’s Word and Spirit. It comes by submission, surrender and prompt yielding in obedience. It comes by opening our mouth wide and trusting God to fill it. If He does not fill it, it remains empty. When He fills it, when righteousness fills it, there is the fruit of peace, and release, and deliverance, and this leads to joy. And joy is the overflow of the abundance of grace in our life that is the demonstration of God to the world.
The operation of the kingdom of God is not in meat and drink. It does not operate in the realm of the flesh. It operates in righteousness (alignment with the Word and Spirit), which produces the fruit of peace, and it overflows in joy by the power of the Holy Ghost. This happened on the day of Pentecost and all through the book of Acts in the early church. It started in persistent, travailing prayer, and ended up in the lives of the people who were overflowing with praise in the holy presence of God.
Step Four— Carrying God’s Presence
The doctor and his team are mobile. They can carry their healing, delivering team to different locations and perform their work. When the medical team comes our way, we need to be open to their services offered. Not only can they bring healing and deliverance, but by example, they can also train others to engage in the same healing, delivering ministry.
The presence of God is tangible and transferrable. God’s “new thing,” starting with the day of Pentecost, is that He has chosen to pour His Spirit out upon “all flesh.” Sons and daughters are called to prophesy— “to speak under inspiration” of the Spirit and “exercise the prophetic office” in the kingdom of God (Greek meaning of “prophesy” in Strong’s Concordance G4395). God’s “new thing” goes beyond what God was doing in the Old Covenant of pouring His Spirit out upon a select few. Now, the fullness of His Spirit and His operation is for every believer in God’s kingdom. Isaiah 43:18-21
Every assembly of believers is to be filled with and carry His presence. In His presence is love, truth, justice, righteousness, and unlimited power. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. This is liberty to minister in the multi-faceted grace of God that can meet every person’s need. Jesus, in the flesh, met various needs ranging from turning water to wine, to supernatural financial provision, to feeding five thousand, to meeting all kinds of spiritual and physical healing and provisional needs. It was all activated by believing and yielding to the Spirit of God.
The body of believers who He first trained were with Him, were in His bodily presence, as He met these needs. It is the same today by the Spirit. As we as believers dwell in His presence, we are with Him as He operates to meet all kinds of needs. Then, wherever we as believers go, His presence is there to be imparted to others and to train others in the way of the Lord Jesus Christ. By example, by demonstration, His presence trains people to seek, receive, and allow His presence to meet the needs of the people.
A team of believers who have His presence, can go into a region and impact that region through the power of the gospel. The gospel is to be preached and practiced in supernatural ways, and in practical ways, meeting every-day needs. The key to healed, transformed lives, is to carry His presence to the people. When we dwell in His presence, we carry His presence wherever we go.
Jesus instructed us to take the gospel to the ends of the earth and preach the gospel to “every creature.” God is all about missions—from the neighbor next door to the nations of the world. God is all about outreach. He said to carry out this mission work in the supernatural power of the Spirit. He wants us to carry the supernatural presence of God to the ends of the earth. He said supernatural signs would follow believers so they would cast out devils, speak with new tongues, take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them. He said “they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Mark 16:15-20
After Jesus went back to heaven, those first disciples set the example. It is recorded in the Bible for us to read and follow. They went everywhere preaching the Word. God worked with them, confirming the Word they preached with signs following. They were walking with God, in obedience to God, carrying the presence of God, and bringing about the manifestation of God in the lives of the people who had needs. Mark 16:15-20; Book of Acts
We have the promise from the Lord Jesus Christ that He will be with us and not forsake us, even until the end of the age. “All the promises of God in Him are yes, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (2 Corinthians 1:20 modernized). We have the promise of His very presence being with us! That is His Word! He won’t go back on His Word! It is not our ability! It is His promise, and it is His power. It is His love and His faith. It is His forgiveness and His fullness of the Spirit. It is all to His glory. By faith and yielding to His Spirit, we become carriers of His presence.
This is the way God does His work on the earth today. It is not by the might, power, or ability or devising of man. It is by the individual man, woman, or team, just being the “donkey” to carry the presence of the King into town. We are the vessels to carry His presence, His anointing and His glory to the people. His presence is to be experienced in both the spiritual and practical, every-day things. Matthew 21:1-11
You Can Carry His Presence and Ministry
If every believer has the realization that we each carry the presence of God, then the presence of God will be in the corporate setting. Effective ministry does not depend on any one minister. Each person can play a part. The presence of God is in the team of believers as each person is relying on God and seeking to hear from God and obey God. 1 Corinthians 14:26
A large part of being led by the Spirit is listening to the Spirit. We are well trained in the speaking, praising, and thanksgiving, but too often we are uncomfortable in the listening. It is important to listen before we speak. If we will all be in a worshipful mode of listening as we praise and give thanks, then we will have things to say that come from the Spirit.
A lot of random religious talk will quench the anointing and presence of God. The Spirit will be grieved if we are talking without the direction of the Spirit. If we humble ourselves and lay aside our discomfort to clearly hear what the Spirit is saying, then we will be vessels individually and corporately through which the presence of God can accomplish the work of the ministry. If we are too busy “having a meeting,” our much talk can cause us to miss God. If we are willing to humbly worship and depend on God and listen, we each can contribute to the overall ministry.
Step Five—God’s Presence Unlimited
A mobile medical team might have all kinds of resources to meet the needs of the people. However, there are limitations on what a mobile medical team can do. There are no limitations on what God’s presence can do.
The presence and unlimited power of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ have been throughout the Old Testament. Just one instance was the fourth man in the fire manifested in the book of Daniel. Not only did the presence of the Lord supernaturally protect and preserve and give great favor to the three Hebrew men, the Lord’s presence also brought King Nebuchadnezzar to the place of confessing “there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.” The Lord’s presence radically impacted the whole kingdom, from the king on down and across the land. Daniel 3:25
There is a prophecy in Habakkuk 2:14 that says “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” The promised blessing to Abraham was that his seed would be as the sand of the sea and the stars of the sky—unlimited fruitfulness.
The Apostle Paul received abundance of revelations. With these revelations, he offered prayers asking God to show believers the Lord Jesus Christ, whose name is “above…every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.” He prayed that we see that “all things” are under His feet, and He is head of the church, who is His fullness who fills “all in all.” We are talking about no limits. Ephesians 1:17-23
Paul also prayed that we, as believers, know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that we might be “filled with all the fullness of God.” Do you see that? We are talking about no limits! Paul realized that God would do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” in harmony with the power that works in us. “In us” is the same power that raised Christ from the dead. No limits! Ephesians 3:19-21 italics mine
Paul saw that by the operation of the Spirit of God revealing the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are changed into His image. He saw that we go from glory to glory by the power of the Spirit. God’s operation, and God’s presence changes us into the very image of Jesus Christ Himself! That is what happens when we allow the liberty of the Spirit to operate in our lives and in our assemblies. We are “in Christ” and “in His name” by faith, and, His name is above all names, and all things are under His feet! In Christ, we are in the position of no limits! 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Paul saw that the believers in Christ are built together through the Holy Spirit to be a “habitation of God.” Believers are God’s dwelling place! Can we believe the very presence of God is in and with us? Ephesians 2:22
Jesus said believers would do the same works that He did and greater. That’s you and me, right? We are believers, right? God’s plan is to fill the earth with His glory, right? Jesus, and what He accomplished, is to be glorified in all the earth by His loving, healing, delivering, manifest presence. God does it through believers! He is looking for believers, who will allow Him to glorify the name of Jesus through their yielded lives. Are you a believer? God wants to work in and through you in an unlimited way, all to His glory. Hear His Word. Worship Him. Let Him have His way in your life personally. May we share this understanding and allow Him to have His way corporately, in the church! John 14:12-13
“We” in ourselves have limitations. But the Word declares “we” are dead with Christ, and “we” are resurrected in His new, resurrected life. By faith, by believing the Word of God, it is not us anymore, with our limitations. By faith, it is Christ in us the hope of glory. By faith in Him, we have the joyful, confident expectation (the hope) of glory, because in Him there are no limitations! Romans 6:1-12; Colossians 1:27
Our part is to just believe what He said and yield to the prompting of the Spirit to do what He said to do.
Jesus is the Word (John 1:1,14; Revelation 19:10-13). Until the Word is truly our Lord, until the Word is the authority who rules our life, until the Word rules us, then we are our own lord. In our own lordship, here is what governs us: our mind, our thoughts, our emotions, our lusts, our self-desires, and our motives of prideful self-promotion, self-justification and self-righteousness. But when we start believing the Word of God and repenting and receive the Spirit and do what the Word says to do, then indeed, Jesus is our Lord. “No man can say Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Ghost” (1 Corinthians 12:3). His Lordship is not by our intellect, works, or ability of ourself. It is by faith in the Word and yielding to the Spirit. It is by the presence and anointing of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Living by faith in the Word of God is living in the presence of God. Living by faith in the Word is living in the realm of the unlimited. “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). This is living in the presence of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is where the glory of God dwells—in the presence of Jesus by the Word and Spirit of God, even as though He was standing right here among us in the flesh!
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Living by faith in the Word of God is living in His glory. By allowing God to operate in our life personally, and corporately, in the life of our assemblies, we go from faith-to-faith, strength-to-strength and from glory-to-glory, both personally and corporately (Romans 1:17; Psalms 84:7; 2 Corinthians 3:18).
God is faithful. The work He has begun in us, He will complete (Philippians 1:6). Our trust is in Him. Our pursuit is to live more and more in the presence of the Lord. In His presence, there is no limit as to what He will do. Flesh has nothing to do with it. Flesh is laid aside, put to death. No flesh can glory in His sight. We are just there as it unfolds and as it happens, and all the glory goes to God.
Having stepped into His presence, which puts us into the realm of the unlimited, now, we can start walking in His unlimited operation.
Walking in God’s Presence—Unlimited Healing
“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him” (Acts 10:38).
Where the presence of the Lord is, there is healing. That is not a particular denominational doctrine. That is Bible. That is the presence of a loving, compassionate person. The one consistent mark of the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout His ministry was healing—teaching the Word and healing the people; turning the tables over in the temple, and healing the people, receiving “great multitudes” of people, and healing all the sick people. Luke 5:15; Matthew 21:12-14; Matthew 12:15
All through the New Testament, you will never find Jesus saying in regards to healing, “I won’t.” He always said, “I will” (Luke 5:12-15). The heart of the Father is to heal, to deliver and to make whole in spirit, soul, and body. This is clearly evident in scriptures. Let no man, using certain scriptures and human reasoning and human experience, lead you astray and hold you in bondage. By the teaching of the anointing of the Spirit of truth, renew your mind to the plain, straightforward Word of God and the presence of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is always a healing Jesus.
God’s heart has always been to bring freedom to people. Abraham prayed to God and God healed Abimelech (Genesis 20:17). The Israelites were brought out of the bondage of Egypt, with none of the diseases of Egypt upon them— “for I am the Lord who heals you” (Exodus 15:26 KJV modernized). In God’s guidance of the Israelites to the promised land, He said the Angel of His presence would guide them. By them turning from serving idols, God said “I will take sickness away from the midst of you. There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in your land: the number of your days will I fulfill” (Exodus 23:20-26 KJV modernized).
Idolatry is an open door to the devil who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Submission to God and bowing to Him and worshipping Him alone brings blessing. There is healing by repenting and walking away from idols and walking in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And conversely, being healed by the presence of Jesus will cause people to turn from their idols and follow the Lord.
There are other instances of healing in the Old Testament, but the Prophet, King, Psalmist David summed it up, telling how God desires to heal all and bring wholeness and well-being to all our lives. Psalms 103:1-6 KJV modernized:
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord executes righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
I italicized “all” for emphasis. His presence benefits us in all ways—in spirit, soul, body, family, financially, socially, and eternally. This corresponds with 3 John verse 2 that says, “Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers” (KJV modernized; italics mine). Where the presence of the Lord is, there is healing and wholeness in every realm of life.
Unto you who “fear” the name of the Lord; unto you who reverence the Word and give place to the Holy Spirit; unto you who live in the presence of the Lord; shall the “Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings.” You will grow up and go forth with His authority and tread down wicked forces, being free and setting the captive free. This is the operation of the presence of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Malachi 4
“He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty…with long life will I satisfy him, and show him my salvation.” Being in His presence gives a satisfied long life. Psalms 91:1,16 modernized, italics mine
“My son, forget not my law…length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to you…in all your ways acknowledge him…it shall be health [Hebrew: medicine] to your navel [core being] and marrow [Hebrew: moisture, refreshment] to your bones…find wisdom…length of days is in her right hand…She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retains her.” Proverbs 3:1-18 modernized, excerpted, italics mine, bracketed notes added
Jesus is at the right hand of the Father with all authority, having accomplished full redemption—spirit, soul, and body, for every person. The price is paid for every person to have a full, peaceful, happy, long, life—abundant life. Until God says our assignment is complete and it’s time to go home, we fight the good fight of faith to honor all for which our Lord Jesus Christ has suffered. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is God’s will to heal all until that day comes. Our part is to believe; God’s part is to save and heal.
Scripture teaches that our Lord suffered to both remove our sins, and to heal our sicknesses: “He was wounded for our transgressions…with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Inspired scripture also explains that when Jesus cast out devils and healed all who were sick, it was a fulfillment of that same scripture in Isaiah 53:5. Matthew quotes it like this: “Himself took our infirmities [Greek: feebleness of body or mind, malady, moral frailty], and bare our sicknesses.” Matthew 8:17 bracketed note mine
Walking not after the flesh but after the Spirit, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus makes me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1
From Genesis to Revelation, we see God’s heart to heal. In the last chapter of the Bible, we see the healing water of life proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb for the healing of the nations. Seeing this, someone dares to ask the question, “Is it God’s will to heal?” Only our blindness to seeing why the Savior suffered, would even ask such a question. In the same last chapter of the Bible, it says the Spirit and the bride say “Come…let him who is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.” Believers in the presence of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, offer healing and abundant life. Revelation 22:1-2,17
Walking in God’s Presence—Unlimited Deliverance
“And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils.” Mark 16:17
We live in a day when demonic oppression and possession is at an all-time high. The devil adapts to society. He can appear smooth and logical in order to continue hiding in the recesses of a person’s mind, emotions and body. He hides behind all kinds of religious, medical, mental and emotional labels, practices, procedures and therapies. But the bottom line is that he is still there, in the background, operating to oppress. First, we need to deal with the spirits, then take the remedies and do the therapies.
The presence of Jesus will cast out demons. We are His hands, mouth, and feet on earth, so Jesus told us to cast out demons. Believers are to cast out demons. As we carry the presence of Jesus, we are to discern and cast out demons. We are to confront and command to leave, any oppressive demonic forces.
When the gospel is heard and believed and a person gets saved, that is a wonderful spiritual transaction. But that does not automatically get rid of all stubborn, oppressing demonic powers lodged in and against that person’s soul (mind, will and emotions). As the Lord shows us, we are to bind up and cast out spirits in the name of Jesus. This is part of the Biblical injunction to “Save yourselves” from this wicked and perverse generation. Acts 2:40
Therapy and medication are good. But that does not cast a demon out of your mind and flesh. Discern it, confront it, and cast it out in the name of Jesus.
Renewal of the mind with truth is good. Strongholds in the mind are to be cast down. That is good. But a demon hanging on to and whispering logical trash in your mind opposing the truth, needs to be confronted and cast out in the name of Jesus. This applies medically, emotionally and religiously.
With trauma and a wounded heart, receiving inner healing is good. But a demon, exploiting these events and conditions and tormenting you, needs to first be discerned, confronted and cast out in Jesus’ name. Then, receive the healing power of Jesus. “Forgiveness disinfects the wound; deliverance removes the bullet.”
Renouncing the past and renouncing what has happened is good and necessary. But a constant demonic reminder of the past, with accusation and condemnation, needs to be discerned, confronted and cast out in the name of Jesus. The blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony, and turning from and making a total surrender of our life to the Lord will overcome the wicked one. Revelation 12:10-11
Rely on the power of God in the name of Jesus to discern, confront and command any demons to come out. This is how Jesus did it—with God’s Word and by the power of the Holy Spirit. No hugging, medicating, counseling, therapy or arguments will cast a demon out. Deal with the spirits first, then receive and exercise the benefits from the other things.
Everywhere Jesus went, He cast out demons and healed the sick. Matthew 8:16; Mark 1:34; Luke 13:32
He didn’t make a show of it. With calm, quiet authority, He just did it. Follow Jesus. In His presence see unlimited deliverance.
Walking in God’s Presence—Unlimited Miracles, Signs, and Wonders
God approves, endorses, and validates the presence of His Son, Jesus of Nazareth among the people, by doing “miracles wonders and signs.” (Acts 2:22). He also validates Him with “gifts of the Holy Ghost,” the manifestations of the Spirit (Hebrews 2:4). All of this issues from the loving heart of God. All of this is His lovingkindness and tender mercies operating in order to set people free from the bondage of sin, sickness, Satan, and sorry circumstances.
It is by the presence of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ that God is still bringing people out of the oppressive bondage of Egypt, out of the oppressive bondage of the fallen world religious system, and into the liberty and blessings of the promised land (Exodus 6:1-8).
His presence is still overturning the tables in the temple of the greedy religious hucksters, in order to bring healing to the people (Matthew 21:12-14). His presence is still casting demons out and healing the brokenhearted and the hopeless (Luke 4:18-19). His presence does it with signs, wonders, miracles, and with supernatural operations of the Holy Spirit. God’s heart has always been, and still is, to set people free. The person of the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth expressly for that purpose (Luke 19:10). He went back to heaven. Now, the Holy Spirit is here for precisely the same purpose. John 15:26-27; John 16:7-14
“There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early,” Psalms 46:4-5 italics mine
Notice the “city of God” is feminine. God “in the midst of her” is like the Lord Jesus Christ conceived in Mary by the Spirit, and birthed into the world for salvation in every way. The presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, conceived in believers by the Word and the Spirit, and birthed from the midst of the church, the bride, is for the salvation of the world in every way, spirit, soul, body and circumstantially.
This river is the holy presence of God, Emmanuel, God with us, the Holy Spirit, in the midst of His people. “He that believeth on me…out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” Jesus said those who are thirsty and believe, can come to Him and drink and receive the Spirit. The Spirit is the presence of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ operating in and upon and through our very life! Awesome! Absolutely awesome! John 7:37-39
Everything we need is in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the Lord, the Ruler over all with all authority. He is Jesus, Emmanuel, which means, God is with us in our flesh (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:20-23). Our identity is in Him, here, now, in our flesh body. He is Christ, the anointed Messiah-Deliverer, who by the power and person of the Holy Spirit, who by the Spirit of truth and liberty, sets us and all people free by His presence moving and operating through our lives as believers.
“For in him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And you are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power…” (Colossians 2:9-10 KJV modernized). As with Paul in Philippians 3, we should have only one pursuit—to know Him, the Christ, the anointed one and His anointing. Our one pursuit is to “live and move and have our being” in the presence and the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. And, we need to realize this: it is by this man that the world will be judged in righteousness. That will happen just as surely as God has manifestly raised Him from the dead. It is the full revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 17:28-31
Jesus is all in all. He is the I AM (Exodus 3:14; John 8:58). His presence is all we need—the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the flesh, by the power of the Word and Spirit of God, in and through our flesh. Isaiah 32—This is God operating in and through His people.
There is financial provision and provision in the natural from the presence of the Lord Jesus. In the presence of the Lord, the disciples were blessed with great catches of fish (Luke 5:6; John 21:11). In the presence of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, loaves and fishes were supernaturally multiplied to feed a multitude (Matthew 14:19). Tax money was paid to the government that was supplied supernaturally from a natural source—a gold coin in the mouth of a fish (Matthew 17:27). Even a local wedding party was supplied by supernatural provision—water was turned to wine (John 2:1-11). In the presence of Jesus, there is provision—unlimited provision. He is the fulfillment of the name of God, Jehovah-Jireh—The Lord Will Provide! Everything we need comes out of His presence.
By the manifest presence of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, through the miraculous power and person of the Holy Spirit in and upon His people, shall the glory of God cover the earth as the waters cover the sea—Unlimited!
Walking in God’s Presence—Unlimited Prayer and Worship
In the Lord, by His blood sacrifice and His blood covenant, we are not beggars; we are believers in a position of authority. As we bow before God, in total surrender to and dependence on Him, we are exalted into an “above-all” divine position and connection with God Himself. This is solely though the righteous sacrifice of Jesus Christ and nothing, absolutely nothing, of ourself. This is solely by the mercy and grace and purpose of God. By Him, we are to pray big. Ephesians 1:21; Ephesians 2:4-9
This place of prayer and worship is where we lay aside our limited plans, programs and performances, and we give ourselves to the mind of God by the direction of the Spirit of God. With His mind, we can then open our mouth and release words of God. This is praying words in our known language, and praying with “tongues” (1 Corinthians 14:2,14-15). By yielding to the supernatural operation of His Spirit in the earth here and now, we can accomplish the exploits and works of God that He planned before the foundation of the world. Daniel 11:32; Ephesians 1:4 / 2:10
We, as His body of believers, are called the house of prayer (Matthew 21:13-14). He has promised to make us “joyful in my house of prayer.” This is His “house of prayer for all people” (Isaiah 56:7-8). All of God’s works on earth commences, is carried on, and consummates with prayer, with two-way communication with God. With God, by communicating with and cooperating with God, all things are possible (Mark 10:27). Prayer with obedience that believes God, is the key to the move and manifest presence of God.
Jesus taught us that as we abide in Him and His words abide in us, we can ask what we will and it shall be done to the glory of God (John 15:7-8). Prayer that issues from the presence of God, in line with His Word, always accomplishes that to which it is sent. Isaiah 55:11
The place and importance of prayer, worship, and getting into the presence of the Lord cannot be over-emphasized. When I say “worship,” I am not referring to a planned program. I am talking about bowing down in submission to God with any repentance as needed, and receiving the cleansing blood, and seeing what God and Christ has done for us, and responding with liberated thanksgiving and praise. I am talking about bowing down before the greatness of God, and seeing the greatness of God, and having nothing to offer Him except an empty vessel to be filled with His Holy Spirit to accomplish His divine purposes.
This kind of prayer and worship should be foremost in our life personally, and as a body of believers. When we get together, it should be, “Here we are, Lord. All that we are and that we have, are Yours to have and use in Your time and manner.” Then, wait upon Him and move with Him, yielding to Him, depending on Him to have His way. This kind of prayer and worship will bring about His manifest presence. Then, issuing from His presence will be His prayers, His direction, His power manifested, all to His glory.
Elijah, a man subject to like passions as we are, but living in the presence of God, prayed, and he governed the weather (James 5:16-18). He did this under the old covenant. How much more can any-one believer of the Body of Christ, or any group of believers in the new covenant, living in the presence of God in prayer and worship, bring about global changes in the earth. We are talking about unlimited things coming out of worship and prayer according to the Word and Spirit. We are talking about the unlimited works of God that issue from the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. In His presence, we can pray big, and operate in the realm of the unlimited. In His presence, we trust in Him for His operation. We bow in submissive worship, relegating through prayer and praise, the works and power and glory to Him.
Unlimited results are normal with this manner of prayer and worship. Unlimited is normal in the kingdom of God. Unlimited is normal in the manifest presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We need to let our perspective be lined up with the Word of God instead of with our natural perspective. By faith in Jesus Christ, we are seated together with Him in heavenly places, in the throne room of God, in the place surrounded by an emerald rainbow (Revelation 4:3). That is our position in Christ Jesus the Lord. He is the Ruler over all, and we are in Him, and all things are under our feet (Ephesians 1:17-23; 2:6). We can put our green Son glasses on and look at things from a heavenly perspective with an expectation of the unlimited.
We overcome the accuser of the brethren by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony, and by loving not our life unto the death of self. This is being aligned in agreement with the Word and Spirit of God, and refusing to hold to the natural. We hold to God Himself. We submit, surrender, and yield to God Himself who is unlimited, and we offer ourselves to Him for His plan and His purpose. The burden of miracles and manifested power is placed on Him. We are here to simply worship and obey Him.
As we give ourself to Him in truth and in Spirit to worship Him and Him alone, His presence fills our life according to His plan and His ability. Our prayers and our praises issue from the throne to accomplish all He wants to accomplish, all to His glory.
Walking in God’s Presence—His Unlimited Love
To walk with God is to walk in love. God is love. Love casts out fear. There is no fear in “perfect” or mature love. If we are fearful, we are not matured in His love, so God is drawing us to more of Him. 1 John :16-21
Jesus said the supreme commandment is to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourself. All the religious law, sacrifice and ritual is fulfilled in one word—love. Luke 10:27
Paul said the love of God is shed abroad in our heart by the Holy Spirit, and by walking in the Spirit, we won’t fulfill the lusts of the flesh. We can walk in the love and perfect will of God. Romans 5:5; Galatians 5:16
So, there you have it. The key to walking in the unlimited presence of the God who never fails, of Emmanuel, of God with us, is to receive and be filled with the Holy Spirit, and walk in that Spirit.
Paul said love never fails, and without it, we are like an irritating, clanging noise— “as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.” He stated this right in the middle of talking about the operation of the manifestations and operations of the Spirit of God in the church assembly. 1 Corinthians 12-14
For a summary of walking in the unlimited presence of God, let’s look at one of Paul’s prayers for the church:
“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ that passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.” Ephesians 3:14-21, modernized, italics mine, bracketed note mine
Notice that it is love, beyond knowledge, that fills us with the fullness of God’s presence. Notice that God operates in an unlimited way beyond our way of thinking and asking. It is by His Spirit. And notice, this is to operate for His glory through the church “throughout all ages, world without end.” This is talking about how God wants to work through believers from here on! We are talking unlimited!
Do we want to walk in the presence of God? Then let’s take the religious “lid” off our thinking and receive from God! Let’s kick the “walls” out of our religious box! Let’s shake off the religious “shackles” that are holding us back and keeping us down! Let’s get our eyes off of man and off of ourself and get them on the Lord Jesus Christ and the Father of glory!
Good gracious! We are missing so much!
His love meets us where we are and never condemns us! Trust Him! Jesus has done the work for us! His blood has taken all our sins away! He has taken away all the evidence before God of our guilt. Now we stand innocent until proven guilty—and we submit to the Judge Himself trusting Him to show us any guilt. When we acknowledge it and turn from it, He takes it all away! Free! We stand free in Him! We continue free in Him!
He wants only good things for us! Yield all to Him!
He has put everything in place for us to rise up in Him and fly with Him in the heavenlies. So, let’s get on board and let Him fly us to new heights in Him!
“The Lord has taken away your judgments,
He has cast out your enemy…The Lord is in the midst of you:
You shall not see evil anymore…Fear not…
the Lord your God in the midst of you is mighty,
he will save…he will rest in his love,
he will joy over you with singing”
Zephaniah 3:14-20 KJV modernized, italics mine
“Lord! Give us your heavenly perspective of this life, so we don’t have our gaze on the evil and on the natural. Give us the perspective so that we see YOU, in all your glory, and REST IN YOUR LOVE AND JOY henceforth and forever! Amen!”
By the blood of Jesus and the Word and Spirit of God, we can now walk in and operate in the holy presence of Almighty God!
Let’s join together in Christ Jesus our Lord, and walk in and operate in the presence of an UNLIMITED God, and take the land before us! Let’s get together in HIM, and be vessels unto HIS UNLIMITED GLORY! FOREVER! YES! AMEN!
Other Works
For more copies “You Can Walk with God” books please email me at
jackiecalhoun@gmail.com or message at 870-403-2211
“What is God’s Answer for Me (And the Rest of the World)?
Available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble
About the Author
Jackie L. Calhoun, age 75 at this writing, has loved and shared the Word of God since he was 14. He has held positions as pastor, has held many home meetings, and has done much street ministry throughout his life. He was part of a church planting team in Russia in 1995, and he taught in a Bible school in India in 2003.
Jackie worked in home repair and remodeling and other phases of construction for many years, from which he is now retired. He has four grown children of whom he is very proud.
For many years, Jackie has been active in prison ministry and has written a weekly article for The Southern Standard, a regional newspaper in southwest Arkansas. The articles appear in the newspaper column entitled “Downhome Deliberations.” Jackie maintains a website for his writings at www.gotoallnations.org.
He is currently co-pastoring Lighthouse Church in Benton, Arkansas, with his wife Barbara, who pioneered the church. The church maintains a website at www.lighthousechurchbenton.com and also live-streams their meetings on Facebook.
