God's PresenceSpeaker: Dr. D.G.S. Dhinakaran Gist: We, one of the master creation of God are weak by flesh. Our flesh is weak but our spirit is active and fresh. It is the Spirit of God who destroys the activities of the flesh and makes us to get closer to God. When we kneel down to pray, many unwanted thoughts, doubts and unbelief arise in our hearts and we wonder whether our prayers will go before the merciful and loving throne of God and whether God will listen to them; sorrow and anxiety grind our hearts. On such occasions do not we feel, "How good it will be if the Lord will appear before my eyes, if I could only know Him as He is!"
Look at devout Job. All his ten beloved children died at the same time. All his property and possessions were blown away by the whirlwind and was consumed by fire. He was stricken with painful boils from the very crown of his head to the very sole of his foot. Blood dripped from them as he scraped himself with a potsherd. Job's three friends came and sat down with him on the ground and mourned with him for seven days and comforted him. On the eighth day they began to blame him. Broken-hearted Job cried to the Lord, "I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God" (Job 13:3). The Lord heeded his plea and brought Job out of the whirlwind. He recounted all the marvels of His creation (Job 38-41). He comforted Job saying that He knew of all his trials and tribulation. Yet, he was not beyond God's release and restoration. His hand had not been shortened that it could not save. His power had in no way been weakened. Yes, Job saw God face-to-face and confessed, "I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You" (Job 42:2). "And the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before" (Job 42:10).
Some years ago, I lay seriously ill in a foreign country. We spent several months together in tears. There was darkness everywhere. Then the first of July came my birthday. A pastor came and spoke to me for some hours to encourage and cheer me up. He prayed and went home at eleven o'clock in the night. After that I knelt down along with my wife and my son, much exhausted and sad, for a short formal prayer before retiring to bed. Just then the Holy Spirit filled all three of us mightily. My eyes were opened to see Jesus, the Son of God, standing in our midst. I was enthralled by His bewitching smile. For five minutes He spoke to me, explaining why and how such trials and tribulations overcame me. He said something more, "My beloved son! Today is your birthday! Today alone more than a thousand prayer requests have reached My presence that I should heal you and send you back to India. How great is the people's love for you! So, I have resolved to release you from all your ailments and send you home. You may go now!" Accordingly, in His great compassion, He restored me to good health, fit again for His ministry.
Dear friend, The Holy Spirit brings the Lord of lords in our midst. He makes our prayer time so delightful. The devil may bring us so many afflictions, poverty, disease and problems. But when we kneel in prayer and allow the Holy Spirit to fill us, the Son of God will appear to hear our prayers, to release and cheer us up. His gentle smile will turn all our tears into great joy. We may not see Him with our eyes of flesh, but in spirit we can sense His presence by our side. The Holy Spirit will help us to see Jesus as He is.
Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father,
Have mercy on me and graciously forgive my shortcomings. I am not able to come out of my sinful life by my own efforts. Strengthen me by Your Holy Spirit and guide me. He alone can make my failures and defeats into triumph and great success. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and anoint me with his heavenly gifts. I give You all the glory. In Jesus' matchless name, I ask.
Amen. |