It is my greatest prayer on this day, the last Sunday, the 28th day of the year of our Lord 2025, that the precious non-negotiable presence of Jehovah will be with you. The Lord will go ahead of you to prepare the way before you in all the places of your activities in the New Year, which is just a few days before us, in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Presently, I’ve been having a great physical and spiritual rest with wonderful time in fellowship with the Lord in Nigeria; God’s faithfulness is great and his hand is so strong upon me.
Recently, precisely two weeks ago, the Lord gave me a revelatory word from the book of Exodus chapter 33, verse 14, reassuring, reaffirming and declaring that his presence shall go with me, and I will give you rest in the new exploit to take up a new and uncharted territory for the Lord for which I've also been praying in a great anticipation of it. This came as a sudden audible voice and not from the reading or meditation of scripture. Isaiah 30;21. Note: If we are led by his Spirit, seeking to do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride [Philippians 2;3], laboring and engaging for the Lord in the world and in the church serving him in humility and obedience, his presence is designed to keep us in God's present rest for his people [Hebrews4;9], Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. Isaiah 26.12.
Planting churches with the Lord has been an amazing experience for me all these years in the ministry. The grace, goodness and faithfulness of the Lord facilitate church plantation, notwithstanding its many challenges, the patience it requires and the miraculous growth by the hand of God [for God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 2 Corinthians 4;6-7], but the testimonies always stem from the presence, power and guidance of God. I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with my eyes. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Psalms 32;8-9.
The Lord is in control of the ways and steps of his saints [a man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16;9], and his care and goodness would not release or send them out without adequate preparation if it was God's unique glory they seek after and would not walk in their own ways for self-exaltation or glorification. John 7;18.
If you have to possess your soul in patience according to the scripture [Luke 21;19], why then should the King's business require haste? Why are you in haste or in a rush? Are you not commanded to run the race before you in patience, looking unto Jesus, who is the author and finisher of your faith? Whosoever hastes with his feet sin. Proverbs 19;2 b.
Satan should not be fought nor blamed for every delay we experience. We must wait before the Lord to be fully certified by him [now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers, such as Barnabas, and Simeon, who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work where unto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So, they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John as their minister. Acts 13; 1–5] before we venture in mission to take the battle to the gate of the enemy, and by doing so, the Lord shall be your strength for victory in the battle for souls gathering into his kingdom [Isaiah 28;6.] for you shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rearward. Isaiah 52;12. Note; those who would not wait enough to be convincingly led by the spirit of God into his assignment for them, but would rather hasten to engage for him by false emotion and reasoning or any other motive like Saul did trespass into the office of Samuel, shall find themselves as rebels against his Spirit and as an intruder into other’s ministry, not only to suffer effectiveness and shame, but to lose the presence of God like Saul did, and like a bird that has wandered away from his nest by going where they are not led by his Holy Spirit, also by doing what has not been assigned to him by the Lord. Proverbs 27;9.
Sometimes, the trust and opportunity lost by despising instruction in divine guidance may never be regained. Sometimes, the gravity of such an action before God could result in the departure of God’s presence from the offender, as we learn from scripture that God’s spirit [presence] departed from Saul and the evil spirit sent from God troubles him. 1 Samuel 16;14.
When, or if you lose divine guidance for whatever reason, you must spiritually reroute yourself back to God’s presence by seeking his face in waiting upon him to be led again by his Spirit. Hosea 6;1-3.
If you lose divine guidance, you lose divine presence. Walking away in separation from the presence of the Lord is not advisable because you would be exposing yourself to the enemy’s fiery deadly attacks. You are on your own without divine presence.
Where ever you are, God sees you like he knows the whereabouts of the running away prophet Jonah, who was sent to Nineveh but took another route to Tarshish, the opposite direction, attempting to escape the Lord's attention, but God be praised, a whale was prepared to reroute his way back to his original destination, not without his painful terrible experience and humiliation at sea.
What can you do in separation from God? Divine guidance demands promptness. Do you expect the Lord to be with you in a place he has not led or asked you to be? You might hope in vain. Numbers 14;42.
If God bid you to go, his divine presence has gone ahead of you for victory. 2 Samuel 5;24. Certainly, he will be there with you, but you must ask and wait for his permission, either in favor or against such request. Always acknowledge him in your ways to direct your path. And David inquired at the Lord, saying, shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. 1 Samuel 30;8.
In salvation and regeneration, we become the habitation of God through his Spirit. Ephesians 2:22.
God welcomes us into his presence by his Spirit, indwelling us as the temple of the Most-High. The converted believer is now the Ark of the divine Covenant. He is now a sanctified vessel bearing the epistles of Christ. He bears the fire and the glory of God, being baptized of the Holy Ghost and fire. A regenerate believer carries the presence of God within him. Anywhere he goes, if being led by him, God is there with him; for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 2 Corinthians 6:16.
The wind blows where it wants, and you hear the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. John 3;8.
This signifies absolute sovereign authority of God's ownership over those he has given grace of fellowship and inheritance in him. The believer lost his autonomy in the world when he accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The born-again believer can no longer be self-directed, but by the Spirit of God. He can no longer be self-reliant. Without Christ, he could do nothing. He can no longer be self-sufficient, his sufficiency is now of God. He can no longer attribute anything for himself to taking any credit for the things done by God who is at work in him, both to will and do according to his good pleasure but to acknowledge divine power through the Spirit which works mightily in him. His liberty in Christ Jesus is his freedom from sin, self and the world. Galatians 5;13.
Moses expressed his preference for divine presence with the understanding that embarking on any journey without God's presence is futile. He says to God, it is better for us to die where your presence has brought us so far, if it will not continue with us. We cannot risk going out without your presence. This was Moses' reasoning before God and the justification of his request that he would have divine presence and be further be led by God. Exodus 33;13-17.
As a new creature in Christ Jesus [2 Corinthians 5;17], there are now new principles, new affections, new aims, new directions, new manners or character of the Spirit borne from the Spirit of those who are led of the Spirit, new pursuits and new goals of a life to be lived in the Spirit of God by the walk in the spirit of God from those who are born of above. It is called life and love in the Spirit. Colossians 1;8.
In his love, God intentionally draws us into his presence, but we must sanctify ourselves to keep the presence of God, like Joseph paid the price in Egypt against promiscuous life. Though he was cast into prison for sin not committed, the presence of God was with him for favor, preservation and elevation. Otherwise, sin shall cause us to lose his presence, as Samson betrayed the holiness and covenant of God upon his life. And when Samson awoke to Philistine attackers and tried to shake himself free as usual, he didn't realize the Lord's presence had left him. Judges 16;20.
Though Moses was physically living in the palace of Pharaoh in Egypt as an adoptive son to Pharaoh’s daughter, he was equally dwelling in the secret place of God in abstention from sin to keep the presence of God in his life: by faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. Hebrews 11:24-26.
God’s presence with Moses in Egypt brought his awareness of divine calling and purpose in his life. His error was his hasty spirit, being ill-informed of divine timing and guidance for the commencement of his ministry; hence he made himself a killer minister of God. He erroneously thought his Hebrew brethren would understand God would deliver them by his hand, but they understood not, being not the fulness of time to enter into ministry, leading to his rejection and flight from Egypt. Acts 7;25.
The presence and guidance of God are inseparable. It is a two-way relationship, not a passive co-existence. The two are nonnegotiable in spiritual welfare and relationship in walking with God. God’s presence and guidance are not to be taken for granted. The Lord is with you while you are with him: if you seek him, you'll find him, but if you turn away, he will withdraw his presence from your life. 2 Chronicles 15:2.
The Philistines could not stop Isaac’s success and progress because God was with him. The divine presence in you made it impossible for no man to be able to stand before you. The presence of God is power, supernatural, safety and boldness and victory. His presence brings guidance and his guidance secures his presence. And there was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech, king of the Philistines, unto Gerar. And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of: sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I swore unto Abraham thy father. Genesis 26.
The consciousness of divine presence should embolden your faith to drive any fear, threats or uncertainty of tomorrow away from you because he will take care of any trouble. Acts 27;23.
The children of Israel in the wilderness had the presence of God among them, but they failed to enter into the promised land. The presence of God was withdrawn because they made the breach of divine promise in the failure to follow divine guidance accurate for the fear of the inhabitants of the land which they ought to engage in battle before they could possess the land, but drew back from fighting. We see that fear is one of the factors which caused the children of Israel to lose the presence of God against their possession of the promised land.
The children of Israel despised the presence of God among them, breached his promise, and he swore against them in his wrath, that they shall not enter into his rest. Moses also, because he failed to sanctify or reverence the presence of God before the congregation, spoke unadvisedly and harshly to the people and smote the Rock in anger against the instruction to speak to the Rock was equally denied access to the promised land - And the Lord spoke unto Moses and Aaron: because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. Numbers 20;12.
Like David, those who know in themselves to have the presence of God with them shouldn't fear any evil though walking in the valley of the shadow of death. The presence of God is the assurance of our safety, but we must allay fears by resting in the promised safety of his presence [when thou pass through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walk through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Isaiah 43:2], not like the disciples of Christ, though the Lord was physically present with them in the boat, yet they cried for fear of safety because of their little faith in the presence of the raging sight of sea and wind. Matthew 8;26.
Moses' flight from Egypt was his desperation to seek after God, not to know his will [for he knew he had a calling], but to have power and instructions. By faith, Moses forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Hebrews 11:27.
Moses had the presence of God in Egypt but was without spiritual power to do the work of God. The Lord instructed the disciples not to depart from Jerusalem until they receive power from heaven for their respective ministries. Can we have the presence of God without power? The answer is yes if we don’t constantly stay in the secret place where power, revelation and guidance can be obtained.
While Christ was with his disciples on earth, they were unable to deliver the boy who was possessed of a spirit with a hearing disability due to their powerlessness and prayer less life and the lifestyle of slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine. Let us eat and drink, tomorrow we shall die. Isaiah 22;13. Matthew 17;21.
The disciples had fellowship with the word and feasted daily on it, but unlike Jesus, who usually woke up before the dawning of the day or before the cook crow, they kept a very weak and little communion time with the God of Israel who gives strength and power for his people in prayer. Psalms 68;35.
Servants wait for their master for the next instruction and assignment of duty. Believers as servants of God must learn to wait for instructions and guidance from God as his servants and children. For as many as are led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:14. Those who are walking with God must be led by him. Hireling must wait until assigned work, either by 9, 12, 15 or 17 hours of the day. Matthew 20;1-16.
Show me your ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day come. Psalms 25:4-5. Those that sincerely design and endeavor to do their duty may in faith beg for God's direction and strength for the doing of it. God is not your Father and your God if you are not led always by his Spirit doing his will; for this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. Psalms 48;17.
Believers with a full knowledge and understanding of scripture would realize that their involvement in spiritual warfare from the time of their spiritual naissance [born again] until they die on earth would necessitate their pursuit of guidance for his presence in battle for an unending victory in Christ Jesus. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keeps the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12;17.
Some battles require just praise and worship songs to be won, but you must be led into such praise and worship. In the guidance is found the presence of God to fight on your behalf to defeat your enemies as you offer the sacrifices of praise. 2 Chronicles 20; 17-19.
Other battles require just the avoidance of certain places and God will be with you to give victory as you obey the voice of his Spirit in spiritual guidance. 2 Kings 12;6.
You will be led to run away from certain battles because it is not your call to stand your ground to resist Satan in that particular situation. It is not because the God in you is not mighty, but because you don’t need to fight the battle if you know how to hear his voice. 1 Samuel 23:12.
Some battles require fasting and prayer as being led by the spirit of God for victory, as Christ was led into the wilderness to fast and be tempted by the enemy, overcome his temptation by the preparedness of his fasting and prayer ahead of the confrontation with the enemy.
In some battles, you don’t even need to say anything. Your silence becomes the weapon and means to victory if you know how to be led by the spirit of God, allowing God to do the talking on your behalf. Isaiah 36;21.
Constant spiritual sensitivity, discernment, consciousness and attentiveness are required for guidance. We should focus on the Lord; it is all about him. Those who are always led by divine timing, shouldn’t expect the praise, relevance or applause of men, but can be sure of his favor to make their enemies at peace with them by his presence if they please him in their way of spiritual guidance. Galatians 2;2.
In the wilderness, the children of Israel were taught patience and readiness, obedience and trust to follow God at any time, anyway or whenever he beckons on them to move or stay. If you are not spiritually minded and conscious, you cannot be responsive to divine presence and guidance.
A believer's life should be a life lived in total dependence on God for direction. True fulfillment and walking worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing comes from aligning our lives with His perfect will, moment by moment. We are saved and called to follow the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit rather than our own understanding from the wicked and deceitful heart of man; And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning. So, it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abodes, there the children of Israel pitched their tents. At the commandment of the Lord, the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the Lord they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle, they rested in their tents. And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the Lord, and journeyed not. And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the Lord they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the Lord they journeyed. And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed. At the commandment of the Lord, they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed: they kept the charge of the Lord, at the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses. Numbers 9; 15 -23.