Pastor John’s Blog

To have God’s presence manifest itself at church requires that we show up before the service starts in order to pray, and that we have an attitude of praise as we walk through the doors. But it also requires that we live a life of obedience to God. Leviticus 9:6 tells us that Moses addressed the Israelite community that was standing at the gate of the tabernacle, “This is what the Lord has commanded you to do so that the glory of the Lord may appear to you” (NLT). This verse tells us that there is a direct correlation between our level of obedience and the extent to which God’s presence is felt throughout a church service. If we remove the foul language from our mouths while on the way to church, and purge our bad thoughts while on the way to church, and make nice with others while on the way to church and adjust our bad attitude while on the way to church we are not going to feel much of God’s presence because He wants obedience all week long so that “the glory of the Lord may appear” to us. Then, as a result of not experiencing God’s presence we leave saying “I don’t feel anything in that church!” When in reality it’s not the church but the people that attend the church!

So if you are hungry for God’s presence start living in obedience to God now. Commit to following his ways. If we do this, plus show up early to pray and enter through the doors ready to praise God, something powerful is going to happen!