BRINGING BACK THE PRESENCE OF GOD

Pr. James Victor Lubwama

Exodus 33:15-16 (AMPC)

“And Moses said to the Lord, If Your Presence does not go with me, do not carry us up from here! 16 For by what shall it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your sight? Is it not in Your going with us so that we are distinguished, I and Your people, from all the other people upon the face of the earth?”

We often wonder why we do not see certain things happen in our lives yet they happen in other people’s lives. This can sometimes can be attributed to the absence of the presence of God in our lives - which if it is present, is manifested by His works in our lives like transformation, healing, provision, abundant grace and mercy as seen in the scripture above

The Presence of God is what makes a difference in our lives. When you see miracles, it means that the Miracle maker and Creator of heaven and earth is present and at work within us. However, there are certain things that drive away the presence of God and as such we do not see his works in us. God - Holy Spirit desires to dwell within us (Romans 8:9) because we are His temple (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), but he is driven away by certain deeds and character.

Factors that drive away the Presence of God

1. Sin: This is unintentional rebellion - missing the mark or falling short. This is the number one factor that drives away the presence of God. The Bible says in Isaiah 59:1-3 (NKJV) that;

“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. 3 For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perversity”

2. Compromise: This means to expediently accept standards that are lower than is desirable. Compromise is when you fail to act on the truth of the word of God that you know in order not to offend others (2 Corinthians 6:14-15) or to satisfy the desires of your fresh (Rom 13:14). This drives away the presence of God. Romans 13:14 (NLT) cautions;

“Clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.”

3. Words of your mouth: Words carry immeasurable significance: The universe was created with a word; Jesus healed and cast out demons with a word; rulers have risen and fallen by their words. Words are powerful, they can create and destroy, build and burn down, save and condemn. A lot is at stake in what we say – (Proverbs 18:21). There are certain words that grieve the Holy Spirit. The Bible says in Ephesians 4:29-30 (NKJV) that;

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption”

4. Anger: Normally anger upshots when we are disappointed, discouraged, or hurt. It might be because of a repetitive interpersonal conflict;  feeling trapped in a challenging, painful, or apparently dead-end situation; or a betrayal that has left you suffering; seeking God’s guidance on a decision and he just seems quiet. 
Anger is a destroyer - it separates friends, breaks marital bonds, crushes families and drives away the presence of God. Decisions made out of anger are always wrong. Ephesians 4:26 (NLT) says;  
“Don't sin by letting anger control you. “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry”. 

5. People and Places: The Places you visit and the company you associate with or the people you rub shoulders with. 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NLT) says;  
“Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”

6. Quarrels and Strife: What causes quarrels and conflict in the world today among friends, family and the church? James 4:1-2 (NLT) says;  
“What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2 You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them”.

From the scripture in James 4 above, we quarrel and strife because we covet - we are covetous. We are driven by desires, so we lust, crave and we become quarrelsome and eventually fighters. We fight because we want the wrong things and we are emotionally numb. Our quarrels and fights are spurned by our coveting desires to be satisfied in the world. 

7. Jealousy: this is envious resentment of someone or their achievements, possessions or perceived advantages. It is a feeling of unhappiness and anger because someone has something or someone that you want. 
Jealousy is catastrophic; it is harmful. It feels controlling and you cannot escape – its intolerant rivalry. The fire of jealousy burns away the hidden curtains to show us the things we treasure and what is within our hearts. Proverbs 14:30 (NLT) says; 
“A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body; jealousy is like cancer in the bones” 
And  Song of Solomon 8:6 (KJV) also says: 
“for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave”  

Relation-wise, jealousy knows no self-control; it is dictatorially exacting and un-accepting of moral reasons. Proverbs 6:34 (ESV) warns: “For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge”.

Proverbs 6:16-19 (NKJV) lists a number of things that God considers detestable;  
“These six things the Lord hates, 
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 
17 A proud look, 
A lying tongue, 
Hands that shed innocent blood, 
18 A heart that devises wicked plans, 
Feet that are swift in running to evil, 
19 A false witness who speaks lies, 
And one who sows discord among brethren.”  

How to Keep the Presence of God

- Die to self, die to worldly pleasures, learn to control your body and present it as a living sacrifice to God (Romans 12:1-2). Self loves enjoyments, pleasures, but Paul  says in Galatians 2:20 (NLT) that; 
“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me”. 

You always need to see things in Jesus’s perspective. Ask yourself;-  If it was Jesus, what would be his response?

- Keep your altar alive: Pray unceasingly (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer takes us into the presence of God. It is our direct communication line to God. That’s why the bible tells us that; “For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved” - Romans 20:13

- Attend Church service regularly (Hebrews 10:25). Church is a place that services, nourishes and revives our souls, hearts and mind. When we come to church, we come to God's sanctuary. Hebrews 12:22-24 (ESV) says; 
“You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” 

- Believe the word spoken by God over your life. We have numerous examples of people that held onto their faith in God and his Word like Abraham who;“in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall thy seed be.” - Romans 4:18 (KJV)

If the presence is not with you, you can’t see the hand of God. The presence of God is the shield that can keep us from harm; it is the wall that can protect us and guard what He has given us. If you have a relationship with God and you have fellowship with the Holy Spirit, then you can ask anything in Jesus’ name and it shall be granted unto you.

PRAYING RIGHTFULLY

Pr. James Victor Lubwama

Matthew 7:8 (NKJV) 

"For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” 

Prayer is an appeal of the things you need unto the Lord; it is a mode of communication by which you speak to God - dialogue between man and God;: In prayer, we go straight to God the source only source of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17) Prayer is the power that propels you to your desired destination; it's the fuel that drives your life forth. In salvation, if a person cannot pray, then that person cannot receive; it is only after you ask that you receive (Mathew 7:8). 

Anyone who doesn't pray is food for the devil. A prayerless Christian is limited in achievement in any of his or her ventures; his or her life is stifled and a strain, there is no breakthrough and everything just drags with a lot of struggles. A family that doesn't pray together disintegrates but a family that prays together is cohesive!

Prayer is very vital in every Christian’s life, if there is one thing the devil hates, it is prayer; before he robs you of anything, he will first rob you of your zeal to pray. You must therefore guard your prayer life jealously. Prayer in a family is the weapon that guards us against the enemy, and when the devil wants to weaken you, he disarms you and takes your weapon.  

Authentic prayer is communication between your heart and God! Until your heart has spoken, you won't have prayed genuinely because God dwells in and checks the heart. Praying is a heart matter not logic matter - God honours prayers that emanate from the heart not from your mind. When we pray, we are pursuing fullness of joy, pleasure and abundant life in God, and to also experience his strength, mercy and grace 

Who Qualifies to Pray?

Mathew 6:9 (NIV) 
“This, then is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven......."

In the book of Mathew, Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, but at the beginning He mentioned who we refer to in prayer – Father. For anyone to pray and the requests be granted, there should be an existing relationship between the person praying and the one being prayed to - God. This implies that there must be a relationship i.e Father-Child relationship. It is only a child (son or daughter) who can pray or claim anything from his or her father. Its only sons and daughters with unlimited access to a parent; it's only sons and daughters with the right to inherit wealth from their father not friends, not admirers or neighbours.

Prayer is a language of a family; a medium of communicating unto the father. Your requests through prayer may not be granted if you are not a child, but will be granted if they are presented to the Lord by a son or daughter because a child has unlimited access to the father. 

How do we Become Children of God?
We become children when we get born again. John 1:12-13 (NLT) says; 
“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of GOD. 13 They are re-born not with a physical birth resulting from Human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.” 

Everyone was created by God but everyone is not a child of God! You therefore need to establish a relationship between you and your creator because prayers are only meant for God's children.  

How do we Pray?

The directions on how to pray are broken down in Mathew 6:5-8 (NLT) below;

“And now about prayer. When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who pretend piety by praying publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. Truly, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, all alone, and shut the door behind you and pray to your Father secretly, and your Father, who knows your secrets, will reward you. 7-8 “Don’t recite the same prayer over and over as the heathen do, who think prayers are answered only by repeating them again and again. Remember, your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!

What Hinders Our Prayers?

Rebellion brings about miscommunication between a father and a child, and it eventually takes away God’s presence. You may ask yourself, why is life so difficult? Why are my prayers not answered? The answer is summed up in one word - rebellion. We all rebel against God and choose to do our own things. Isaiah 53:6 (NLT) says; “All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God’s path to follow our own paths.” 

Rebellion against God falls into these three categories.

•      Sin - unintentional rebellion. The word “sin” is an archery term that means missing the mark or falling short. Romans 3:23 (NIV) says; “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” We sin when we fall short and don’t measure up to God’s standard and when that happens, He departs from us i.e. we become hollow because the Holy Spirit is no longer in us.
•      Transgression - intentional rebellion. Transgression is the opposite of falling short. It means to go beyond the boundary of something, or to be deliberately disobedient. We commit a transgression when we deliberately choose to break God’s command or law.
•         Iniquity - intentional disobedience intended to harm. It is caused by anger, resentment, envy, hatred, pride, or bitterness that creates a need for revenge or a need to intentionally hurt someone. It is hateful rebellion.

David used all three terms when he made this confession to God in Psalm 32:5 (NIV) that; “I acknowledged my sin to you, and did not cover up my iniquity. I confessed my transgressions and you forgave my guilt” 

He committed all the above in 2 Samuel 11 when he slept with Bathsheba and then after conspired to kill her husband - Uriah. Like David, we have broken God’s laws in all three of these ways which takes away God's presence. But find hope in this; no matter which one it is, whether you don’t measure up, or you intentionally went beyond the law, or you deliberately hurt someone, God will still forgive you if you confess to Him and repent (1 John 1:19)

For God to be referred to as our father means that He has responsibility and authority over us! Just like how any earthly father cares and provides for his children, God too caters for his children with a great measure more than a human father. Matthew 7:11 (TLB) teaches; 
“And if you hard-hearted, sinful men know how to give good gifts to your children, won’t your Father in heaven even more certainly give good gifts to those who ask him for them?”  

God is not limited by time, season or economic instability. He is an all round father; He has an obligation towards humanity and his responsibility is evidenced in His names that bring out his responsibility to us His Children.

i) JEHOVAH-JIREH - The Lord Will Provide (Genesis 22:14) 
He provided a sacrificial lamb to Abraham as a substitute for Isaac.  It is a name that assures us that our Heavenly Father is able to provide any need we have. Trust Him for that!

ii) JEHOVAH-RAPHA -  The Lord Who Heals (Exodus 15:22-26) 
He restores, he heals the physical and emotional needs of his people .Exodus 15:26 says; “.....for I am the LORD your healer." Literally, I am Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord who makes bitter things sweet. We live in a stressful world and society. Every day new problems confront us and we bend under the load of seemingly unsolvable problems, then Jehovah-Rapha brings healing to a sick world. 

iii) JEHOVAH NISSI -  The Lord My Banner (Exodus 17:8-16) 
The Banner under which Israel defeated the Amelekites. This name has to do with warfare. In this instance, the warfare involved God's very own. Our Father is willing to wage warfare on our behalf. One area of great battle has to do with our carnal nature. The Lord Our Banner desires to give us victory.

iv) JEHOVAH-RAAH - The Lord My Shepherd (Psalms 23) 
The my shepherd implies God watching over you day and night; the God who reveals himself unceasingly, feeds and leads you safely in the way of righteousness - his flock to pastures.

v) JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH  - The Lord is There (Ezekiel 48:35) 
The name indicates that God has not abandoned Jerusalem, leaving it in ruins but that there will be a restoration

vi) JEHOVAH-SHALOM - The Lord is Peace (Judges 6:24)

Shalom is translated as "peace" or "absence from strife." Peace expresses the deepest desire and need of the human heart; It represents the greatest measure of contentment and satisfaction in life. Shalom is the word used in "peace offering" where blood was shed as an atonement on which reconciliation and peace were based. Jehovah-Shalom is the name of an altar built by Gideon in Ophrah. 

Guard your life with prayer!

2020 – YEAR OF NEW CHAPTERS

Pr. James Victor Lubwama

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NKJV)

“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

In a vision, I saw a big book and its pages suddenly flipped once.  I wondered what it was, but after a while, a scripture came to my spirit at once and it was Isaiah 43:18-19. The scripture gave me a revelation of what I had seen in the vision - the opening of the book meant; the beginning of a new chapter.

God was telling me that He is opening new chapters in our lives – for He is doing a brand new thing. And for this reason, have faith in God, be hopeful in His word and seek Him diligently because when you draw close to God, He draws close to you. Don’t look at the facts of life, don’t look at the surrounding situation, do not consider the contradictory and negative circumstances (debts, unemployment, lack etc.), but have faith in the truth – word of God and be like Abraham who had faith and hope amidst a hopeless situation. Romans 4:19-20 (GNT) says;

"He was then almost one hundred years old; but his faith did not weaken when he thought of his body, which was already practically dead, or of the fact that Sarah could not have children. 20 His faith did not leave him, and he did not doubt God's promise; his faith filled him with power, and he gave praise to God." 

Road in the Wilderness

Isaiah 43:19 (NKJV)

“I will even make a road in the wilderness"

Wilderness means a wild and uncultivated region, as of desert, uninhabited, or inhabited only by wild animals; an empty or pathless area.  Precisely a wilderness is an expansive desert with no water, flora and roads.

If you were thrown in the wilderness you will be puzzled and get lost because the entire place is an empty pathless ground. But God told Isaiah that He was going to make a road in the wilderness. A road provides direction and leads one to the purposed destination; without roads people would get lost and never reach where they ought to go. If you have been in the desert stranded, confused and not knowing how to reach your destination or desired goals, God is going to lead you and direct you to your purposed destination – He is going to make a road in the wilderness. But the road is for the wise and obedient who understand that life has a purpose that unfolds if you believe in Jesus who is the way, truth and life (John 14:6)

Some believers have been and some are in the desert. God always takes us through the desert before we reach Canaan – our promises. The desert is training ground where we are humbled, our faith is stretched and character tested (Deuteronomy 8:1-5). Desert life is a life of faith – you live one day at a time. But God is going to make a road so that you move from the desert to Canaan - fullness of his promises.

The road can be a person or a situation. God uses people (Ezekiel 22:30); He can bring one person in your life to fulfill his purpose and your life changes forever. Isaiah 46:11 (NIV) says,

From the east I summon a bird of prey;
from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.
What I have said, that I will bring about;
    what I have planned, that I will do.

Value the people that come into your life; someone could be a road now or in the future – some people are roads that connect or lead you to God's desired purpose for your life. People come into our lives for a reason and season, so never take them for granted. The road could be a new job that pays better and enables you to achieve all your goals.

When in the desert you eat by faith – one day at a time. God made manna in such a way that it went bad by evening. It came each morning, except on the Sabbath day. It could be collected each day for that day alone and only as much as could be eaten in one day. If a person tried to collect more than needed or store it for the next day, it would grow wormy and stink (Exodus 16:14-21). 
A time comes and you exit the desert, and when you reach Canaan - into your promises, manna ceases, and then you live a purposeful and productive life. God is going to make a way in the wilderness and the more you travel, the  better your perspective of His purpose for your life. 

Rivers in the Desert

We all know that water is life. In the desert there are no streams or rivers and water is gotten from oasis and deep wells which are found in very few places. Getting water in the desert is a real struggle because it’s very scarce in such a dry environment. God is telling us that struggling is going to be no more. It’s very easy to draw water from a river than from a deep well. Struggling is not our portion. People have been struggling to make ends meet, and God has seen the struggling and He is going to change it – He is going to do a new thing. God is going to change your life. We have seen him changing seasons. God is declaring what is going to happen before we even see it or feel it, so anchor your faith. Isaiah 46:9-10 (NIV) says;

Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. 10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’

Before God does anything, He reveals it to His servants (Amos 3:7). God declares through His servants the end before the beginning. For God’s promises never fail and his counsel always stands, so believe God and have faith in His word that He is going to open a new chapter and transform your life. No one can hinder what God promised or purposed (Isaiah 14:27).

If you have promises or prophesies upon your life but confused about how they will come to pass given the current circumstances, status and background, take heart  and only believe God and have faith in His word. God is going to make a way in the wilderness that will lead you into His purpose for your life, and as He directs you, He will also make rivers of provision and remove all staggering and struggling

A life in Christ has new roads of purpose and new rivers of provision and along the way roads of purpose always lead to rivers of blessings. God is closing the old chapters and opening new chapters in our lives, so believe God and have faith in His word because He is going to do in your life in this year.

Happy New Year!