The sweet presence of the Lord...

Today' 90 day NT challenge reading is Matthew 13 - 15.

This week I am in Manila, Philippines holding nightly services at the Cathedral of Praise. I always feel so privileged, and nervous, to be asked to come and minister at Churches that have played such a huge impact in my life. Thank you Pastor Sumrall for having me this week.

I opened the service last night with reading Psalms 1: 1-6....... 1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. 4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

After that reading we began to pray through this Psalms. During this time of prayer the sweet presence of Jesus began to grow stronger and stronger as we pressed in. The people around the auditorium began to get touched by the presence of God as we patiently, without any music, sought the Lord. When we sense faith rising in our hearts and the presence of God increasing upon us we need to just *go for it*. Going for it may mean to crank up, out loud, the prayer that is bubbling forth from our belly. Going for it might mean to begin crying out in song or groans and utterings. Going for it might mean to speak forth prophetic words or tongues or the interpretation. Last night people in the House of God were experiencing all the above and it was glorious!

At first the fire of God began to touch people. I asked if anyone felt the fire of God upon them to stand up right where they were. Slowly people began to reply and one after one the people began to stand and experience Jesus as the touch of the Holy Spirit upon them grew stronger. Then this touch of God began to spread from one person to the next because the touch of God is transferable and is contagious. Once you truly see and feel God at work you will certainly desire to know and experience more of Him. Church was intended to be a place where we experience God through worship, prayer, the preaching of the Word, the moving of the Holy Spirit and patiently waiting upon God to have His way. We should be able to leave the House of God knowing that something happened in our life today.

I pray that you would get hungry for the reality of God in your life. Seek Him daily in prayer and daily devotion. Cry out to Him to make His presence known to you. Do not get satisfied or complacent with anything less than experiencing, knowing, talking and walking with Jesus every day.

For such a time as this, PJ