Norm McLeod Presence of God 23/03/14
Sunday, 23 March 2014 9:07 am
Introduction
Great presence of God here….Norm experienced oil on hands as worshipped
Church destined to carry life of God to community
God has plan for every house of faith…we have unique calling to our city
Denominationalism is dead….key is relationships
Law of first mention
Gen1‐3 God speaks about relationships….this is his heart
First mention of relationships Gives key insights
God intended us for relationships not programs…gather to His presence
Solomon built a house for God…not for people…God inhabited it
House is an empty building until someone is present….
…people don't visit a house they visit a house in which there are people present
…the presence of people attracts others to the house
People gather to the presence of God..programs must facilitate presence of God
Gen.3 daily God walked with Adam…where are you?...relational question
God knew where Adam was physically…his question was about relationship
God still is asking…where are you?
Divine Design
1. Designed for relationship…
Every person is created for relationship with God daily…design for fellowship
When we encounter God we gain perspective on our identity, who we are…
We better than animals…we are part of gods family…made in his image to relate
Key Purpose…connect with God daily….Honour God daily…
eg 2Sam.6:10‐12 Obed Edom…presence of God in house for three months and not in
Israel ……God blessed and everyone heard of the blessing in his house
Respected God when there was no respect for God in the nation
What was he doing that cause God to manifest his presence in such a way
Great honor and respect for God…..and worship daily, honored His presence
2. Designed for purpose…dominion
Eph.2:10 We are created for good works
When Adam lost sight of Gods perspective he feared the presence of God
Must make time with God the number 1 priority
People make other things their priority.. Lose perspective on who they are
What we gather to becomes our perspective daily….overflows to all of life
Achieving does not give a sense of significance…comes from relationship with God
People fill their lives with activities as a substitute for relationship with God
Works are the overflow of relationship with God
God loved us from the beginning
"God, what do you love about me." ….good question to ask
He loves your unique personality
Don't try to find significance in what you do
Significance is a state of being
Achievement is a state of doing
Norms Experience
1991 God called norm to Gisborne to build a church…people came to the presence of
God….result miracles, salvations
Exod.25:8 Moses built a house for God
2Chron. 7:1 Solomon and the people… let us build Him a house. House is for God
God filled it with glory of His presence
Acts2:1‐4 God doesn't dwell in buildings anymore…lives in people
We are the house of God individually and corporately….to be filled with his Glory
They communed with God….their focus first was on God not on mission
Waited on God and became…filled with His presence and 3000 people gathered
Church must be a place where presence of God is there….draws people
Gen.26:19‐20 Philistines filled the well Abraham had dug with dirt and stopped the
flow of water…blocked the life giving waters
There is a well of god within us…it can easily be blocked up and filled with dirt
Must unblock the wells of God…get the dirt out of our heart
There is a new day here for BayCity..unlock the wells from within and let God inhabit
Gisborne..people gathered to the presence of God….not programs, but life
Testimonies of people healed in presence of God abounded…people drawn
God is in our midst…people healed in the service….Holy Spirit is the Anchor of soul
Heaven….place of worship…free will offerings to God 24 hours a day
Rev.4:10 Elders cast down crowns..accomplishments…and worshipped the Lamb Jesus
We need to worship God daily…casting down crowns and focussing upon Him
God loves gratitude, worship……builds the house
Build a life that attracts God….worship, gratitude, appreciation, love, communion
Build a church that God seeks out to inhabit.
Is.66‐1‐2 heaven is my throne and earth is my footstool, where is the house you will
build for me? And where is the place of my rest?
Do something for God no one else is doing…intimacy, personal, private
Worship in secret and God shows up publicly during week and when we meet.
Gisborne have focussed on presence of God….now having great miracles weekly
Eg. Terminal cancer in pancreas healed without prayer…
Keep focus on God and his presence……warfare and worship
Connect, commune, carry his presence! Perspective…who you are
Col1:27 Christ flowing through you to touch lives…focus on relationship
Obed Edom….honored God daily…attracted the presence of God
If want new things in God…must do something different daily
Don't do the same things…do something different!
Focus on God first…not on needs, or Intercession
Agenda free, uninterrupted time alone with God…time allocated to each member of
the godhead….Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Make pursuit of God the passion of life
Spend time on God…can get spend money and get it back…..but can never get time
back, most precious thing you have
Allocate specific time to be with God and stick to it
Adoration, thanksgiving, ….become a friend not just a follower
God has many followers few friends…eg only one leper came back to thank ..1 in ten
Do a 1 in 10 meeting with God daily…..build daily with God a deep connection that
attracts the presence of God
Norm…..Beginning to see many miracles as have encouraged the church to practice the
presence of God daily in private lives
Make God number 1 in life and honor His presence daily.
2Sam.6:5‐10 David made big mistake when he carried ark on a cart…disrespect for
presence of God, not following the way God had prescribed
2Sam.6:12‐ He heard of the blessing on the house of Obed Edom who hosted the ark
and honored the presence of God along with his family
David returned honoring God…6 steps and then sacrifice
Thanksgiving , praise and love for God passionate and uninhibited
Presence of God manifested powerfully
Make your daily priority….time in intimacy with God, worship, gratitude, love,
Listening
Time to launch forth again…new season of destiny being fulfilled
Personal Application
1. How would you describe your relationship with God currently?
2. Read Gen.3:8‐13
How did Adam and Eve respond to the presence of God?
What are the fig leaves and trees you use sometimes to conceal yourself and
hide from the presence of God?
What changes do you need to make to deepen your relationship with God?
3. Read Gen.26:19‐20
Why do you think the Philistines filled in the wells Abraham had dug?
How did Isaac respond to the contention he experienced over the wells?
How freely does the life and presence of god flow out from you Jn.7:38.
What could you do to increase the flow of the presence of god through you
4. Read Is.66:1‐2
What does God reveal in these verses that He desires from us?
What qualities can we develop in our life that attracts the presence of God
Which of these qualities do you most need to cultivate and could you do to
develop it?
5. Read 2Sam.6:10‐16
What was the outcome in the life of Obed‐Edom of hosting the Presence of God?
How would he have experienced this in practical ways…use your imagination!
How did David express his love and devotion for The Lord?
In what ways do you hold back from wholehearted worship? Why?
Why do you think Michael was a spectator, refusing to participate in the revival
that was taking place?
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you about your personal relationship with him?