"Get Into His Presence"

Scripture: "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." -2 Corinthians 3:17

If truth were told out there, we all have our favorite singers, actors, actresses, television show hosts/hostesses, and sports stars. Since we all have our favorites, there are times where we will do anything to get near our favorites. Within the DMV area, this month brought Maxwell to Verizon Center in DC and to Baltimore, Maryland. I had a co-worker who bought their ticket early in advance because she wanted to be near Maxwell. Another friend of mine spent a nicer piece of change to be by the stage to watch Maxwell. At the end of the day, both of these ladies were pleased and happy to be in his presence. If we hit the switch on this thing spiritually, we ought to want to get in God's presence just like that. We ought to put our hair appointments on the backburner, our nail appointments on the backburner, and any other appointment on the backburner that we may be able to get into the presence of God. Why should we get into the presence of God? I'm glad you asked. Today's text will provide an answer.

Today's focal book is found in the New Testament book of 2 Corinthians. This book was written by the Apostle Paul as his second installment/epistle to the church at Colossae. In this chapter, Paul discusses the preference of the Gospel over the Mosaic law and how his apostolic preaching was suitable to the evidence and excellency of the Gospel through the power of the Holy Ghost. Within this chapter, Paul gives us clarity why we should get into His presence.

Paul begins our text with the following statement: "Now the Lord is that Spirit". In verses 3 and 8, Paul uses the term "Spirit". In one case, he calls it the Spirit of the living God and the other case is just the Spirit. What He does here is makes it crystal clear that the Spirit inside of you is the Lord. The Spirit that should be inside of you is the Lord. One thing I love about God is the fact that He is a Spirit and He sits high and looks low and He has a way of coming to our rescue when we need Him. How can one know God is that Spirit? By praying to Him daily, by reading their Word, by giving Him praise, glory, and honor, by worshipping Him in spirit and in truth. He wants to be the dominant Spirit in your life! These things I just mentioned means you have to get into His presence! What's the benefit of getting into His presence?

Paul provides us the answer here in the closing of the text. He says, "and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty". Wow! When you get into the presence of God, and His Spirit is present, liberty is available. The word in the Greek for liberty is "ejleuqeriva", meaning "the liberty to do as one pleases". In other words, when you are in God's presence, you are free from your financial problems! You are free from your mental problems! You are free from your emotional problems! You are free from your spiritual problems! You are free to dance in His presence! You are free to cry in His presence! You are free to love in His presence! David lets us know that he had to get back the Ark of the Covenant because it represented God's presence! Paul links it together because where God is, there is liberty and the liberty is of one to do as you please! There's no need to sit there on "Boo-Hoo" Boulevard when you can get into His presence and be free! Many of us have received His power and His deliverance from things, but until you stay in His presence consistently, you will never walk fully in your deliverance! God is calling you out today, get into His presence so you can be free!

In closing, it's nice to see your favorite star in concert or favorite star in a movie. It's cool to pay good money to watch your favorite sports star. At the end of the day, it's even greater to be in the presence of God. When you get into His presence, there's liberty, there's freedom, and there's an opportunity to get loose from the chains that are holding you! Are you going to stay bound or are you going to get free? The choice is yours!