The Manifest Presence of God

Believers understand the omnipresence of God. But how much do we really understand His manifest presence?

The manifest presence of God is Him actually being physically present in the place where humans are together. This is God stepping into time and space to be present with His people.  God purposed to do this in the Old Testament with the nation of Israel. 

His manifest presence demonstrated the difference between Israel and the nations around them. Israel served a God that could see, hear and act, unlike the idols of the nations around them which were blind deaf and mute (Ps.115:1-8, Deut.4:28). Many times we see in the Pentateuch the manifest, physical, presence of God. Genesis 18 describes Abraham meeting God.  The pillar of fire at night and cloud by day as the nation of Israel traveled in the desert are examples of the manifest presence of God. Moses asks for the manifest presence of God to go with them into the promised land (Ex.33:12-16).  The nation of Israel experienced the manifest presence of God in (2 Chron.7:1-3) when Solomon dedicated the temple. We get to the New Testament and Jesus is present with us as humans until his ascension. This an example of the manifest presence of God.

When the Church worships in unity, the Holy Spirit comes and is present. He hovers like in the waters over creation. His presence is tangible, it can be felt physically and spiritually. When the Church experiences this manifest presence of God, in united worship, it is easy to hear the Lord and prophesy and receive revelation from God. The Scriptures tell us that the testimony, or witness, of Jesus is the spirit of Prophecy (Rev.19:10). When the Church of the Living God gives testimony of the glory and majesty of Jesus, when we lift up His name for all that He has done for us, the Holy Spirit comes to hover it is the manifest presence of God. Then that worship, testimony, and praise creates a spirit of prophecy for the people of God to hear our God and be directed by Him in accomplishing His will.

Acts.13:2 tells us that while the "disciples ‘ministered’ to the Lord and fasted the Holy Spirit said…." So while the Church was in worship, (ministering) the manifest presence of the Lord in the Person of the Holy Spirit gave direction, or revelation, about what the Church should do.  These are the elements of church service prophecy, yet they cannot be created by us, there just must be: unity, worship, fasting, praying and open ears.