'He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
How do you manifest the presence of God?
You know, it seems like there’s so much confusion around this topic, and I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed that there are certain ministers, people, or believers that just seem to manifest the presence of God more powerfully than others. They’ll be ministering and teaching, and the presence of God is so tangible, and the anointing feels so strong.
What is the difference between someone like that and someone who is not manifesting the presence of God?
That’s what we’re going to be investigating today. Let’s start by taking a look at two different songs, “Holy Spirit” and “Open Up the Heavens.” The lyrics from the chorus of “Holy Spirit” begin like this: “Holy Spirit, You are welcome here. Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere.”
Now, again, I love this song, and I actually sing it with modified lyrics. But the thing is, when we say “Come,” we’re actually saying to the Lord, “I want You to come because I’m not sure You’re here. So, would You come?” And isn’t it interesting that almost always when we’re singing these kinds of songs, we’re saying this about the Holy Spirit. Rarely do we ever say this about Jesus or the Father.
So, in our minds, we begin to think that the Holy Spirit is something different than the presence of God.
Yet the reality is, the presence of God and the Holy Spirit who is within us are the very same thing.
Now, let’s look at the lyrics for “Open Up the Heavens.” They go like this: “Open up the heavens. We want to see you. . . . We’re looking to the sky. Descending like a cloud, You’re standing with us now.”
Well, what exactly does “Open up the heavens” mean? I have to admit, when I first heard this phrase, I thought to myself, Okay, who closed the heavens?
So, where does that phrase even come from?
It comes from Isaiah 64:1, which says:
Oh, that you would rend [or tear open] the heavens! That You would come down.
This Isaiah passage is where we get this Old Covenant idea of opening up the heavens and coming down. Isaiah was saying, “Lord, I just wish you would open up the heavens and come down.”
Well, Jesus already did that!
God’s already given us what we need—to not only be born again of the Spirit of God but to literally be the place of His presence, to be so filled with the presence of God that out of our innermost being flows rivers of living water. Not just a “river” of life, but “rivers” of life.
We’re not waiting for the presence of God or the manifestation of the presence of God to be given. First Corinthians 12:7 tells us it has already been given. And it has been given to each one of us, as believers, to not only bless us but to bless those we’re going to be ministering to as well.
Since we’ve already been given the Holy Spirit as born-again believers (1 Cor. 6:19 and Gal. 4:6), we don’t have to ask God to show up.
God is asking us to show up
And when we show up, we show up with all that God is and all that He has. But it’s up to us to partner with that finished work, what’s been given to us in Christ.
God has so much more for us. He wants to help, equip, and encourage us in our generation right now so we can be a crucial part of this third great awakening.
Let’s be worshipers
Let’s be the ones who realize the value of the Word of God in every area of our lives, including when we gather together to worship in a public setting or even when we’re worshiping privately in our prayer closet with the Lord. What’s in us needs to come out from us.
Dive deep with Daniel as he covers the presence of God in depth (omnipresence, the abiding presence, and the manifest presence). Watch the full Charis Daily Live Bible Study teaching and discover how you can start manifesting the presence of God in your daily life.
Daniel Amstutz, Director of Healing Ministry
Daniel is a seasoned ordained minister and has served as a pastor and worship leader. He loves to teach the Word of God and see people healed and set free. His sense of humor along with his relaxed style helps people receive the life-changing message that God wants them to be in health.
