His Presence Must be Our Pursuit by Shane Idleman
Although God is everywhere, or what theologians call omnipresent, there is a marked difference between a believer who is dry spiritually and dead inside compared to one who is full of passion, desire, and fire.
(The sermon by the same title is a must-hear; the link is here.)
The corridors of church history are filled with stories of Christians being spiritually dead but then coming alive.
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What changed? What happened? In short, they pursued God like never before. They abandoned their idols, repented of their lukewarmness, and sought God — His presence was their pursuit. When you seek God, you will find Him (Jer. 29:13).
Are You Thirsty?
The pursuit of God is what holds everything together — from finding peace and joy to overcoming the enemy and finishing strong. Sadly, many believers do not finish well because their pursuit of God gets pushed to the side.
Seeking the presence of God must be your all-consuming passion.Moses cried, “Show me Your glory!” Joshua lingered in the tent with the presence of God (Ex. 33:11), Isaiah said that he saw the King (Isa. 6:5), and the Disciples waited in the upper room for His presence (Acts 1:13).
These were life-changing moments, and you can have one as well. Are you thirsty? It all begins here: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me and drink” (Jn. 7:37).
The Cost of Intimacy
Mark 14:3 tells us that Jesus was at Bethany reclining at a table when a woman with an alabaster flask of very costly ointment broke the flask and poured it over his head. It is here, and in many other places in Scripture, that we realize that intimacy has a cost.
God must be a priority even when we don’t feel like pursuing Him.Pursuing His presence doesn’t always mean that we feel His presence. That’s why Hebrews 11:6 is so important: “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Your perseverance will eventually be rewarded.
