The "here and now" and God's presence

The "here and now" is the only "time and place" we experience the manifest presence of God because the here and now is when and where we exist and have our being.

Hebrews 4:7 He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS.”

To recognize God's presence, you must be conscious of the here and now. It means more than just occupying space in a given situation but actually paying attention. It means being fully engaged in the now. Not distracted by memories of the past or worries of the future.

Being led by the Holy Spirit

What does it mean to be led by the Holy Spirit?

Romans 8:14 All that are led by the Spirit of God they are the children of God.

Deuteronomy 31:8 The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

Isaiah 45:2 “I will go before you and make the rough places smooth;
I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars.

Deuteronomy 1:30 'The LORD your God who goes before you, will Himself fight on your behalf.

Psalm 37:23 The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

What does "you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink" mean?

Can we be led by the Holy Spirit without following? What does it mean to follow?

Is walking by God's principles the same as walking by the Spirit?

Does 2 Chronicles 16:9 have anything to do with being led by the Spirit?

For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is fully devoted to Him.

Faith is not...

trust, or belief, or confidence, or conviction, or credence, or reliance, or dependence, or optimism, or hopefulness, or hope, or expectation, or any attitude or principle you can put into practice.

John 5:39-40 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40. yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (CEV) With all your heart you must trust the LORD and not your own judgment. 6. Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.

FAITH IS A RELATIONSHIP! With God the Father, by the Holy Spirit, because of the sacrifice His Son Jesus.

In this relationship, we grow in;  trust, belief, confidence, conviction, credence, reliance, dependence, optimism, hope, expectation, and anticipation.

The Present Moment

I call it the Here and Now.

The present moment is "where" and "when" we exist and have our being. Our understanding resides with our thoughts in the present moment. Our experience is informed by our "perspective" which is derived from a combination of our five senses, our memory of the past that validates the present moment, and our ability to reason, which anticipates the future. Because of this, each individual has a "unique" and limited perspective.

Our perspective, is limited by the laws of physics and the nature of our inertial frame, which is our physical body. This is why the truth of Proverbs chapter 3 verses 5 and 6 is so important to understand. And why being Spirit-led is an essential aspect of every believer's walk.

If we are born again, we are conscious of the Holy Spirit's presence. According to His will, the Holy Spirit "informs" our perspective and therefore increases our understanding so that if we trust and obey, we can participate in what He is doing in the present moment (Revealing the Kingdom).

The present moment, the here and now, is the only place where a child of God is led by the Spirit of God. It's where the Holy Spirit reminds us of His leading in the past: John 14:26. It is where He speaks prophetically to us about the future. John 16:13 

The present moment is the only place where we can exercise Biblical Faith as we trust and obey the Holy Spirit's leading in the here and now!

Jesus said, "I assure you: The Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees, present-tense, the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does these things in the same way. Jn 5:19

Jesus also said, "The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Jn 14:10

MIND boggling - Daniel 3:16-18

16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.

He is able, He will, and even if He doesn't...

They knew what to do. "NOT BOW DOWN". Their trust was in an "Able God" that had the power to save them. Yet. They acknowledged His Will not their own as reason to obey, instead of a desired outcome for themselves.

This is the faith that Jesus revealed on the cross as he cried out in Matthew 27:46...
"ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?"

Mind boggling

THE LORD, A COVENANT GOD

Deuteronomy 7:9 
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, 

Hebrews 11:6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently search for him.

Hebrews 3:1. Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. 2. This is why the ancients were commended. 3. By faith we understand that the universe was formed by God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

By Faith we understand...

Matthew 9:20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” 22. Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

Matthew 8:5. When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” 7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” 8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. "But just say the word, and my servant will be healed." 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith... 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.

By the Holy Spirit we hear the promise. In hope we believe it's truth. In obedience we trust His Guidance. And in joy we proclaim His faithfulness.

BIBLICAL FAITH in its basic form...

God Initiates - We Respond

Prayer?

I don't understand intercessory prayer. Isn't God already doing all that He can do?

Then it hit me. Jesus said "I have come to destroy the works of the devil". Intercessory prayer should not be to ask God to do something. It should be to come against the enemy that tries to thwart God's will.

He has given "us" authority to do something. Intercessory prayer is needed to get our marching orders.

What does God want "us" to do?

Hallmarks of Biblical faith

Anticipation and expectation are hallmarks of Biblical faith. They indicate the presence of hope that comes from even the smallest glimmer of understanding.

Not hope based on wishful thinking. But on a promise embraced. Not on a scripture verse claimed, but on a personal word spoken by the Holy Spirit that bears witness to Biblical truth and relates to our situation. Faith comes by "hearing" God's voice and hearing God's voice comes by knowing the written word of God. (Two witnesses)

"Developing an ear for His voice seems to be at the heart of this issue, for faith comes by hearing, not having heard (see Rom. 10:17). Faith implies a present tense relationship with God. What we know can keep us from what we need to know if we don't stay childlike in our approach to life and ministry." Bill Johnson

Valid

1 having legal efficacy or force; especially : executed with the proper legal authority and formalities
2 a : well-grounded or justifiable : being at once relevant and meaningful b : logically correct