Greg X Volz – In God’s Presence

As I finish off my reading in Exodus and come to the construction of the altar, I am reminded of a New Testament reading in Hebrews where it states that there is no entrance to God’s presence except by blood. While the altar was a key component of worship, when Jesus came, He offered, once and for all, Himself as the sacrifice and His blood was spilled, once and for all, so that we may enter God’s presence anytime we desired. This is the good news that we were sent into the world to share with everyone.

Prayer is introduced right away in the Book of Acts to describe how the early followers of Jesus came to present their needs to Jesus and how they asked Him to be involved in their lives. Not so much a prayer of vengeance against their enemies, but a prayer that asked God to so something good out of the circumstances, something constructive to be the final outcome. In their case, God’s presence showed up with healings and miracles to confirm the word so that people would believe it.

Act 4 is the first time we see persecution and opposition. Here I see an example of how to pray to a God who is all-powerful and how I have the same privilege in prayer. Jesus will walk with me through my trials.

Ultimately, I need to come to a place where I understand that even my enemies are under God’s control – God is always in charge. I love this section of the prayer most:

For truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. – Acts 4:27-28  ESV

Free will and predestination are brought together without any attempt to reconcile them.  I used to pray like this and then stopped. Need to start again.

Very often I pray for people knowing that God allows them to make their own choices. So I wonder whether or not God is in control. I know that God sets the stage and sends His Spirit to persuade people to do His will. As a result, many people do yield to the will of God. Sometimes they do not. However, I know that, no matter what decision they make, God will weave all things together for good.

I also need to pray so that I can speak the Word with confidence. While I speak the Word, I need to believe that God will extend His hand to heal and work signs and wonders. A promise that God gave me many years ago and here I read it today as if I had never seen it before. It is God’s Word that penetrates the hearts of people. When proclaimed, the Word brings changes in lives and transforms those who hear.

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. – Acts 4:31  ESV

Love reading how God continues to fill the disciples with His Spirit, with a purpose of course – to be bold in our witness. Can you imagine praying for boldness and the Holy Spirit shows up in such a tangible expression! The Holy Spirit enables our spirits to soar and He inspires all who hear. He is the one who stands in the pulpit with us to proclaim the Word of God.

What comes of such a walk in God’s presence? Do I not come to a place where we love one another? Was that not Jesus’ prayer for us? Does that not in fact make me dead to the world? Look at the early followers of Jesus – they did not take anyone’s property, they were indifferent to it. They did not call it their own because that gave everything up to follow Jesus. One heart and one soul because they chose to lose everything in this world. This is our introduction to Barnabas at the end of the chapter. As one designed to be a preacher of the gospel, he disentangled himself from the affairs of this life. What a testimony!

The heavens declare the glory of God,
    and the sky above^[a] proclaims his handiwork.
 Day to day pours out speech,
    and night to night reveals knowledge.
 There is no speech, nor are there words,
    whose voice is not heard.
 Their voice^[b] goes out through all the earth,
    and their words to the end of the world. – Psalm 19:1-4  ESV

God’s message has crossed every culture and broken every language barrier. God wants everyone to enter into His presence – He is concerned for this world of ours. Lord, as I enter freely into Your presence, may I be concerned for this world too. I am challenged today – thank you!