By Ryan Shaw

What does the “presence of God” mean to you? What does it mean to live with God’s presence resting upon us continually? Have you experienced the powerful presence of God in your life and ministry lately?

One of my mentors, a man who has studied Biblical leadership by looking intently and deeply at the lives of those God called, states that one of the key characteristics of all those used by God to accomplish His purposes was His powerful presence in their lives. In fact, he states that this is the key ingredient for true ministry. Without it, we cannot move forward according to God’s purpose and plan for our lives. We can have all the giftedness in the world, but without His presence and power clothing us, we are sunk.

In Joshua 3 we find a Biblical model to follow. The background of this account is Joshua leading the Israelites into the promised land. Finally, after many, many years and 2 generations, the people are responding obediently to God to take the land that He had promised would be theirs. The model of how Joshua goes about crossing the Jordan River and officially moving into the land is what I want to focus on.

Verse 6 tells us that Joshua spoke to the priests telling them to take the Ark of the Covenant out in front and to move into the waters of the Jordan before the people. These priests were then to stand in the middle of the Jordan on dry ground and allow all the people (about 2 million) to cross over. The Ark is a Biblical symbol of the presence of God. In the Old Testament it was where God placed the fullness of His presence. Wherever the Ark went, the presence of God went. This is why throughout the Old Testament we find the central place given to the Ark of the Covenant and its habitation (the Temple). The Ark was continually given the highest priority by the Israelites.

In the New Testament we find that through the Cross and the redemption that Jesus brings, the model has changed. We, as followers of Jesus, carry the presence of God within us and there is now no need for the official “Ark”. What we do need, however, is total surrender to the will and purpose of God and a complete allowance of the Holy Spirit (God’s presence) to be in absolute control of our lives. Does He control you or do you control yourself?

Even as Joshua and the Israelites gave a special place to the Ark and to the presence of God, we too are invited to give special place to His presence in our lives. Joshua 3 clearly communicates that the presence of God is to lead and guide us and make a way before us. Often this will be done in difficult circumstances and situations. God’s presence did a pretty good job overcoming obstacles in Joshua’s situation. Here the people stood with a great and rushing river between them and the promised land. They couldn’t even begin the journey God had called them on unless they trusted in His extraordinary power and presence to go before them (the Ark) to get across the Jordan.

As we prepare to be involved in global, cross cultural ministry, we need to know God’s powerful presence more than ever. Does it mark you?

Most of us in our honesty have to answer, “No, not really!” God is so merciful and gentle with us and He invites us to ask Him to fill us and to control our lives with His presence. He knows our weakness and actually says that it is in our weakness that He is able to make us strong. Let’s cry out to Him together for a greater measure of His presence to consume us and guide us in every decision, every conversation, and every situation we find ourselves in that has no natural way out.

Prayer:  “God, I come to you in humility and through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. I recognize that you long to show forth your great power and glory through my life. You do this by surrounding me and filling me with your presence through the Holy Spirit.  You guide and lead me by your presence. I hunger for more of your presence in my life and ministry. Forgive me for not creating an environment to abide in you, allowing you to encompass me with your presence. Teach me to draw nearer to you daily knowing that when I do you will also draw near to me with your presence. I long to be marked by your presence!”

If any of you want to chat or correspond with me please feel free to send me a shout at (519) 268-8778 or ryan@SVM2.net. 

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