As a peculiar people of God, the distinguishing mark of being known as a Christian is His presence. As agents of change we are the gateway for heaven to touch earth. It is His presence in us and through us that reveals the spiritual reality that we are partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light (Col. 1:12-13). Our dual citizenship encompasses both our natural life on earth and the spiritual realm of heaven.
Jesus revealed a life of dual citizenship. As our model for New Testament life, while He walked the earth He was also in heaven. Jesus displayed that man was created in God’s image to be clothed in glory while inhabiting the earth. He came carrying another realm, the realm of the atmosphere of heaven. He was not ruled by the things of this world or by the things that came against Him. Thus demonstrating that the Kingdom of heaven is superior to the realms of this earth. Your call is not to imitate Him, but to be as He is – A victorious Son of God, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Ro. 8:14).
Jesus is life. To be like Christ is to walk in the Spirit being filled with the life of His presence. As a person, Jesus is the living Word of God. To be the light of world is not just an exhortation for others to see our good deeds and works, but the reality of the penetrating glorious light of His presence that shines in the darkness. The same light that transformed Christ garments on the Mount of transformation is the same light of God’s presence that shined in the darkness. The light that shines in you!
In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shined in the darkness and the light comprehended it not (John 1:5-6).
Light is Greater than Darkness
Our call is not only to persevere in these times, but also to prevail as over-comers walking in the resurrection power of the victorious one who sits on the throne far above every name, principality and power. Jesus won the victory over darkness upon the cross when He declared, “It is finished.” At the sound of His voice the earth shook and the veil of the temple was rent, thus providing the way to come directly to the throne of God. There will never be a greater expression of God’s love than that revealed on the cross. What was forbidden by the priest during Jesus time to enter into the Holy Place but once a year is now our privilege at any time.
It is the expression of God’s love on the cross that demonstrated that light is greater than darkness. This is why Jesus said, if we want to follow Him to do the works that He did, we must take up our cross daily (See Luke 9:23). The power of sacrifice works by love. We must not only deny ourselves but consciously rise and shine putting on the armor of light that is our inheritance in Christ. Christian maturity requires a sacrifice for the glory set before us. The path to maturity always leads us closer to the Father who clothes us in His light, where we shine brighter and brighter each step of the way. The barometer of our growth should reflect our lives increasing with God’s presence that reveals His love with signs and wonders.
But the path of the just is as the shinning light of the Sun, that shines more and more unto the perfect day (Proverbs 4:18).
To echo the words of Isaiah that is most pertinent for our times, “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord will rise upon you, and His glory will appear upon you. And nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising” (Is. 60:1-3).
The light of Christ will prevail. Even during the times when great darkness is covering the earth, the glory of the Lord will rise in His people to the place where His glory will become visible. You are called for such a time as this to shine with a new dawn with the light of His glory. The result will be that nations will turn to the light of your rising. It will not be our events, programs or special services and guest speakers that will attract the nations but the Lord Himself “Which is Christ in you the hope of Glory” (Col. 1:27).
The light of Christ always wins, not the darkness. This will happen through those whose have built their lives upon the foundation of Christ and His Kingdom, which cannot be shaken! The strongest Christians will be those that dwell in the secret place abiding under the shadow of the Almighty. Just as God overshadowed Israel in the wilderness as a cloud by day and a fire by night, the Lord’s people will not only host His presence, but also become His dwelling place (Eph. 2:21-22).
While the religious spirit will offer theological reasoning, and the carnal mind will see your weakness with the need for perfection, the one walking in the Spirit will demonstrate the Father’s love, His mercy and His goodness. God is a Spirit and those who live in the Spirit abide in His presence. Because God is love you cannot separate His person from His love. This is why all of the judgments of God are aimed at the very areas that slay love. Seek His love and you will find Him. Find Him and you will find love. Abide in His love and you will be filled with His life.
The Call to a New Place of Worship
King David was known as a man after God’s own heart. He was a worshipping warrior who recognized God responds to worship with His presence. When God comes He always comes with His presence. I believe the reason why David was known as a man after God’s own heart, was because David found God’s heart, from which He penned the Psalms in song. Born of the tribe of Judah, which means praise, David was a worshipping warrior with the heart of a lover.
There is a call today to enter into a new place of worship where our lives are passionately on fire for His presence. The devil is afraid of a people who are passionate worshippers. Show me a person whose heart is sold out in worship, and I will show you the one whom the devil fears. He knows worship is the pathway to God’s presence, for God inhabits the praises of His people. With God’s presence comes the light of His glory, which destroys the strongholds of his fortress.
The secret place David knew was the light of God’s glory that overshadowed Him. David knew that God’s presence was his refuge, His strength and his fortress. David well understood that worship is a weapon of war (Psalms 91). It was here at the Lord’s Table where David dined the Lord anointed Him with oil in the presence of his enemies. From the place of fellowship, his cup ran over with the joy of the Lord, which was his strength. (Psalms 23:5) Even during your greatest battle, God has a prepared a table for you to dine with Him in the midst of your enemies!
It is in this place that the joy of the Lord comes over me that breaks every curse, stronghold and weapon formed against me. As I sit in the heavens with the Lord, He laughs which causes me to laugh being filled with His joy that comes from the place of abiding in Him for “He that sits in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have (His enemies) in derision” (Ps. 2:4). This is why the joy of the Lord is our strength, and as David declared, “In your presence there is fullness of joy” (Ps. 16:11). It is His joy that is also a weapon of war that makes your heart merry and lighthearted.
We are changed into the very image of the One that we worship. As we bask in His presence, we are changed into the same image simply by the light that transforms us to be as He is – full of glory! Jesus said God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit. True worship is not just an event, or that which takes place during a worship service, but the heart of a lover that worships the Lord in all they do. God is attracted to those whose affections are set on things above, which is why the adversary’s main target is the heart of God’s people. He knows that love never fails. This is why we are admonished to,
Keep your heart with all diligence: for out of it are the issues of life (Pr. 4:23).
It’s All About Him
Our destiny can fail to materialize if we insist on something spiritually happening right where we are, or that takes place within our time frame and reason. Because our western culture is based on convenience that requires little effort on our part, God is expected to meet our hunger. To see God as our waiter to serve our needs is foolish. Worship has a complete focus with devotion – it’s all about Him! It’s all about His presence. God is after our hearts, the path that works by love.
The joy of life is to abide in the Lord’s presence, which is the passionate desire of the Lord’s heart. Jesus loves His bride who gave Himself for her. We cannot however, get to a new place in the realm of His glory until we come to a new place in God – the personal place of intimacy where two lovers become one in heart. In His presence a fresh fire is being poured out to ignite hearts ablaze with the fire of His love. In His presence, a fresh impartation of Psalms 92:10 is taking place,
But my horn shall you exalt like the horn of a unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.”
While many are looking for a fresh impartation or a blessing, the Lord desires for us to rise and shine with the light of His glory. While many are waiting for His glory to come, the Lord is first coming to reveal His glory in His people that comes with hosting His presence. They in turn will reveal His glory to the world. It is from the place of His presence that we minister His life. While many focus on ministering in their gifts, a higher level of anointing is to minister the gifts from the place of His presence. As Isaiah saw during our time, the Lord as the “I AM” has risen and His glory has come! God is a God of NOW and He lives in you!
The Fullness of God
Jesus said those who drink of the waters that He gives shall never thirst again. Something is evidently wrong when we have received so much, but fail to release the power that transforms our lives. Friends, whatever comes from God is eternal and without waste. His life is without boundaries and without end. The life that I am speaking of is the life of His presence that works by love. The living waters that Jesus gives is the love of the Father that flows like a river. It’s time to jump in!
The pathway to fullness is “to know the love of Christ” that fills us with all the fullness of God. (Eph. 3:3:17-19). The more of His love you experience and abide in, the more of His glorious light will increase within until you shine brightly like the noonday sun. Jesus provided the way to the throne through the cross. All we need to do is to draw near to Him and He will draw near to us. Take every opportunity to love on Him. Sing praises and make melody in your heart to the one who adores and loves you.
God loves to be with you and in His joy, He sings over you for “The Lord your God is in the midst of you is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over you with you joy: He will rest in His love, and He will joy over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17).
It’s time to rejoice with thanksgiving with gladness of Heart. God is on our midst! He has come and He has risen as Lord of Lord’s and King of Kings. It’s time to rise up in Spirit and worship the one who sits on the throne. He is worthy of all honor, glory and praise. In doing so, your heart will rejoice with the light of His response for God inhabits the praises of His people. Make worship a way of life and soon, you will be overflowing with the life of His presence (See Eph. 5:18-26).
In closing, rise and shine for your light has come. Be filled with the light of His presence and in doing so, “You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace, the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the fields shall clap their hands (Is. 55:12). This is the more abundant life that is ours in Christ.
In His heart with fullness of joy,
Roy Roden