Mary Jo and I were touched by Pastor Kevin’s messages on the Presence of God. I wrote a book, The Presence of God, and how to come into a dynamic dimension of fellowship with God. Somehow, I had forgotten the principles I had taught others about creating an environment the Holy Spirit loves. 

Psalm 103:2
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

I knew the things Pastor Kevin was talking about, but I wasn’t practicing them. Hurts, wounds, rejection, abandonment, and other painful things seemed to veil my memory of God’s manifest presence. I was doing everything in a mechanical way.

The Superintendent of a large district invited me to minister at a conference to teach on end-time events. My book, Hope in the Last Days, had just been released. He wanted ministers to understand and teach prophecy accurately. My intercessors were there. We prayed together extensively prior to the meeting. I prepared my messages with the help of the Holy Spirit and felt excitement in my belly.

John 7:38
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

The worship leader led hymns; then the Superintendent introduced me to the room filled with pastors, missionaries, and evangelists. I taught difficult eschatological truths, and I felt the Holy Spirit helping me to make it simple to understand. I felt the Presence of God. The ministers were taking notes; ears seemed tuned, faces seemed filled with awe. Afterward, the superintendent walked up to me and said, “Dave, as you taught, I could see the manifest Presence of God on you!” I don’t remember any comment during my 45 years of ministry that blessed me more than that comment. I knew it was true because I felt it too.

Now, there is a general presence of the Lord because He is omni-present (everywhere at the same time). But there is another dimension of His presence known as the manifest presence of God. That’s where you actually feel His presence, and He speaks to you one-on-one. There is something bubbling up from your belly; an anticipation that something good is about to burst on the scene. I’ve heard spiritual people criticize feelings. I used to do the same. And when it comes to faith, feelings have nothing to do with believing. But at the same time, St. Paul told that us some have gone “past feeling,” and it led to a very messy future.

Ephesians 4:19
Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

Pastor Kevin quoted from The Message Bible:

Psalm 100:4-5
Enter with the password: “Thank you!” Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him. For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever.

The password to the manifest presence of God is “Thank you!” I am thankful for you, partner. I pray that 2023 will bring more encounters with the manifest presence of God than you have ever experienced. Thank you, Jesus, for the person reading these words right now—be healed, be delivered, be filled with God’s joy…and walk in His presence.

You’re not a hypocrite. You just forgot. I wondered why I kept hearing a song go through my mind. It was a song by the Rambos, and I hadn’t heard it since about 1975. “Remember I’m human, and humans forget…So remind me, remind me dear Lord.”

No wonder Peter said three times he wanted to remind believers of the things that are easy to forget.

2 Peter 1:13 NLT
And it is only right that I should keep on reminding you as long as I live.

I pray the Lord will now remind you of all the benefits of walking with Jesus.