Word of the year - Presence - I believe God wants us to focus as a church on the presence of God this year. - Our heart, our commitment and our pursuit is living in the presence of God.

1. Living in the presence of God is possible

Omnipresence of God - God is everywhere
Inner presence of God - Holy Spirit within you
Manifest presence of God - When He makes His presence known to us.

Manifest Presence - Genesis 3 This is how the scriptures starts…manifest presence of God
Original intent was for us to live in His presence.

It is possible to leave His presence - not possible to leave omnipresence - but you can leave the manifest presence.

Sin causes us to hide from God’s presence

Jesus came as Immanuel, God with us, to pay for that sin…that separates us and causes us to hide…so that we could be restored to relationship with Him. In HIS presence. Because of what Jesus did…we are the temple that houses God, we are the tent

2. God wants to SPEAK WITH you in his presence
- v 11 Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.

- God speaks to us in His presence through different ways:

- The Word of God - Worship - Prayer

Take advantage during 21 days of prayer - Start the pattern, press in more…let’s start the year with the focus on the presence of God, and hearing God’s voice.

The inner presence of God - through the Holy Spirit - Speaks to us.

3. The presence of God is greater than the promises of God

15 And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here."

Moses was saying - I don’t want the promised land, if you’re not with me - I’d rather stay in the wilderness with your presence…then go alone.

Too many want the promise of God whether the God of the promise is there. - we can want him to make our life better…whether His presence is with us.

The presence of God is worth more than the promises of God. - We cannot be a people who are simply after the gifts of God, the promises of God without His presence.

His presence sets us apart. It’s how the world knows we are different. - People in the world can have a lot of good “stuff” - Blessed from the outside - But they cannot live with His presence.

The greatest blessing isn’t what we get FROM God but the fact that we can be WITH God

We can often be after the benefits - health, blessed finances, long life, marriage, children, great job, etc. - All GOOD things..gifts from God…but not meant to replace the presence of God.

There are many benefits found in the presence of God

• Rest - Exodus 33:14 - And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
• Refreshing - Acts 3:20 NLT - repent of your sins 20 Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord
• Peace - Colossians 3:15 - Peace of Christ rule in your hearts - Presence of a person
• Joy - Psalm 16:11 - You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

This year...let’s choose to pursue His presence over His promises.