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Calling All Contenders - Mike Muzzerall

The Pleasure Of His Presence

There’s nothing like being in the presence of the Lord. Songs have been written, lives changed, and sermons had their genesis in the presence of the Lord. There is nothing like the pleasure of His presence.

WHERE IS HIS PRESENCE?

Under law there was a specific geographical location where God met with His people. He told Moses, “I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims” (Ex. 25:22).

In Exodus 29, it is worded slightly different: “at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee” (42). Of course God was still omnipresent but for man to come into His presence, the tabernacle was the established place.

LIMITED ACCESS

However, that meant limited access to His presence. Not every human on the face of the earth could come to the door of the tabernacle. Furthermore, only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies and approach the mercy seat.

Even then, it was only permitted once a year on the great Day of Atonement. Even then, it necessitated the atonement sacrifice. Without the required blood, the mercy seat became the judgment seat. In other words, without sin being atoned for, death would come upon any who would dare enter into the presence of a thrice Holy God.

LET US COME BOLDLY

Under grace we are invited to go into the presence of God. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (4:16).

Before we can “go boldly,” we need to understand where this confidence to enter into the very presence of God comes from. Previous to this verse we are told that Jesus went as a forerunner.

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:14-15). It is because Jesus passed into the heavens that we can boldly experience the pleasure of His presence.

REST AND RELATIONSHIP

No man has ever been granted access into the presence of the Lord based on his works or his religion. Access is only available through rest and relationship: resting in the completed work of Calvary and relationship with Jesus Christ. Our heavenly High Priest made the way so that whosoever believeth could have access into His presence. Through faith in the completed work of Calvary, we can have the assurance that we are acceptable to God.

BOLDLY NOT ARROGANTLY

There’s a difference between coming into His presence boldly and coming into His presence arrogantly. Are you coming on the basis of your faith in the blood of the Lamb or are you coming into His presence trusting in your own merit? You will notice that we come into His presence boldly for the purpose of obtaining mercy. We enter boldly believing that access into His presence will be granted based solely on our profession that the blood of Jesus Christ makes us acceptable to our heavenly Father.

FULLNESS OF JOY AND PLEASURES EVERMORE

Once in His presence, we can experience what the psalmist spoke of. “In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16:11). Amen! To what do we owe for the pleasure of His presence? Our hearts.

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