Presence Driven
Presence Driven: Understanding the Glory and Presence of God
There is a pattern, a blueprint, and a template that pleases God. Many churches today are run by people pleasers with the motto "let's just make people happy." But the truth is, you will never be able to make everybody happy. The real question is: can we make God happy? Can we do things His way?
What Does It Mean to Be a Carrier of God's Glory?
God has called us to be carriers of His glory. It's not a stationary experience but a moving feast where the presence of God saturates you and travels with you. When you walk into a room filled with God's presence, you affect change. You should be so full of God that when you walk into a room, demons recognize that Jesus just entered with you.
The Psalmist David was driven by the presence of God. He wrote: "I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids till I found a place for the Lord, a dwelling place for the mighty one of Jacob" (Psalm 132:4-5). David was so committed to building a temple for the Lord that it consumed him.
Why Are We Missing the Presence of God in Our Churches?
There's a famine in the land for truth. When people don't have truth, they'll eat anything—they'll swallow whatever comes through their TV or internet, regardless of how vile or divisive it may be.
Many churches operate with demographics, marketing strategies, fundraisers, and image branding. But God still uses witnessing, discipleship, prayer, fasting, deliverance, and revival. The question is: will you build it His way?
What moves God is:
A heart for the lost
Love for those in prison and who are poor
Caring for widows
Being a blessing in your community
Showing God's love everywhere you go
How Do We Become Presence-Driven Instead of Purpose-Driven?
David Ravenhill once said, "God is not looking for a purpose-driven church. He's looking for a presence-driven church." Without presence, a church lacks purity, passion, and power.
While purpose is important and necessary, when purpose is elevated over presence, you begin to operate without the touch of God. You'll have a form of godliness that denies the power of God—laying empty hands on empty heads while speaking empty words.
Purpose is easy to train people for. We can get people involved in programs and good works. But we can do all that with people who aren't transformed by God. What God wants is for everyone in the church to be set free by His power—healed and transformed, walking in purity and righteousness.
What Happens When God's Presence Truly Manifests?
Imagine if in churches across America, spiritual leaders became so sensitive to the Holy Spirit that they could pause, freeze, and wait on God's timing. What if worship leaders became so wrecked by God's presence that they couldn't lead but could only worship? What if preachers were so overcome by God's glory that they couldn't speak?
In such moments, others in the congregation would have permission to react to God's presence—shaking, trembling, running to the altar to repent of things God is revealing in their spirits.
This is the protocol of heaven: "Where you go, I go. What you say, I say. What you pray, I pray." It's about asking, "What now, Father?" and being willing to be a vessel, even in weakness.
How Do We Position Ourselves for God's Presence?
There are three key steps to positioning ourselves for God's presence:
Set the stage through repentance: Acts 3:19 says, "Repent and return that your sins may be wiped away in order that times of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord." It starts with us examining our hearts and positioning ourselves to petition a living God.
Divine alignment with God and the right people: Align yourself relationally and spiritually with men and women who walk in the presence of God, who love God more than their own lives.
Embrace your priesthood: Every believer is called to be a priest unto the Lord. In Zechariah 3, we see how God restores the priest Jeshua despite his imperfections. God wants to renew your mind and restore your spirit, no matter how far you've gone.
What Does It Mean to Carry God's Presence?
In the Old Testament, priests were trained to bake the "bread of His presence"—12 loaves that would be brought into the inner chamber of God. Now, we carry the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ. We're called to prepare in God's presence and allow Him to transform our lives into something that will change people's hearts because we carry His testimony.
When Moses came out from God's presence, he was radiant and glowing. Similarly, when we spend time in God's presence, we are changed. We become carriers who usher in His presence wherever we go.
Life Application
This week, I challenge you to become more intentional about carrying God's presence. Get yourself so full of Jesus that when you walk out of your home, you bring life everywhere you go. Begin praying for people in restaurants, at stores, or while pumping gas. Allow the Holy Spirit to give you words for people you encounter.
Ask yourself these questions:
Am I more focused on pleasing people or pleasing God?
What areas of my life need to be surrendered to experience more of God's presence?
How can I position myself to be a carrier of God's glory this week?
Who are the people I need to align with who will encourage my spiritual growth?
Remember, you are called to be a priest unto the Lord—to walk in His presence and abide in Him. As you do, you'll find yourself transformed, and through you, others will encounter the living God.
