Hosanna Restoration Church

We have all read this scripture many times both here in Isaiah, and when Jesus declares it fulfilled in the New Testament. There has been great hunger spreading in the body of Christ and an increased desire to experience the presence of God. There have been huge conferences and people running all over the world to feel God in greater ways. People have been slain in the Spirit by the thousands and tens of thousands. There are hundreds of books that tell about the experiences and how to experience the anointing of God. Needless to say we all love the feeling, but are giving the proper attention to the purpose.

I know that some do some of the time, but few do all of the time. The purpose of being in God’s presence or experiencing the anointing is for us to go and do what God has called us to do. I think that we are often guilty of just enjoying the feelings and the manifestations that occur in His presence and not allowing it to change us more into His image. But God is so patient; He just keeps His promise to be among us even though we resist the change that is available to us.

Before I came to know the Lord, I really liked to party because I liked the effects. At the time I did not realize that I was searching for God. As far as I knew, I was just looking for a feeling that seemed to make nothing else matter. The problem was that it only lasted for so long and then everything was the same as it was, except I felt worse of course. As Christians, we need to be careful that we are not same way about our “feel good times” with Jesus. If we just go for the effects and nothing changes in our lives we can end up just wasting our spiritual lives. We end up just going to get what we can get when what God wants us to do is take what we get and give it away.

The first purpose God mentions is for us to bring good news to people. Now there is absolutely nothing wrong with experiencing God in greater and greater ways, but if we do not share that good news with people we have missed the purpose. But you say, “what if someone does not want to hear about what God did or said?” How will you know whether they want to hear or not if you are not willing to share it? It should be just as natural to talk about how good God is as it is to talk of our children or our work or our neighbor. If we talked more about what God was doing we would not have to be talking about our neighbor as much, if you know what I mean.

Times in His presence also prepare us to comfort those who are troubled, and encourage those who are trapped in one way or another. Those special times with God should so fill us with confidence that we can declare the good times and God’s favor all the time. We can encourage people not to be bitter or unforgiving by letting them know that God has everything under control and that He will take care of the enemy.

When we seek His presence with His purpose in mind, we will find that we don’t have to travel anywhere to find it. Then, even though we continue to go here and there seeking greater experiences with God we will also be confident that He is the same everywhere that people seek Him. His presence is intended to make a difference in our lives and empower us to make a difference in the lives of others. So lets continue to hunger for His presence and as we do let’s keep in mind His purpose for visiting us.