The Presence of God in Worship
Reflecting on the North American Christian Convention’s regional conferences, the author argues that what truly distinguishes God’s people is not programs or polish but the manifest Presence of God. He calls believers and churches to pursue a deeper encounter with the Lord through thanksgiving, praise, humility, and time spent with God.
- The church’s defining mark is God’s Presence, not organization or style.
- Scripture points to more than omnipresence: a personal, evident encounter with God.
- Thanksgiving, praise, humility, and unhurried time with God nurture this pursuit.
By Howard Brammer
Three regional conferences instead of one national gathering were history-making events for the North American Christian Convention. There has been, and there will continue to be much evaluation of this experiment. Attendance, offering, speakers, flow of the service. And occasionally at a North American there are couple of comments about the music.
But the true evaluator and the most important one is this: Did God show up? Did we encounter the Presence of the living God?
After bringing the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage, Moses was concerned about the Presence of God. He had a face-to-face encounter with God in the Sinai desert. He said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. . . . Remember that this nation is your people.” The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you.’ Then Moses said to him, ‘If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here’” (Exodus 33:12-15).
Then Moses raises another crucial issue. “How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” (v. 16).
Moses knew his people were not the biggest group or the strongest nation. “Lord,” he wanted to know, “what is to be our identifying characteristic if not your Presence”
What is it today that should distinguish God’s people from all the other people on the face of the earth? Civic groups meet weekly, sing, and have a speaker. They are good people, caring and doing good things for others. What makes us different from them?
Moses says it is the supernatural Presence of God.
Manifest Presence
But isn’t God always among us? One of the great attributes of God is his incredible and indescribable omnipresence—he is so awesome he can be everywhere at the same time.
The psalmist asks, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me”
Author: Christian Standard
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