God's Presence In Worship
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A.W Tozer: wrote:
That in the last days the doctrine of justification by faith has been: interpreted by many in such a manner as actually to bar men from the knowledge of God. The whole transaction of religious conversion has been made mechanical and spiritless.
He gets “saved” but he is not hungry and thirsty after God. In fact, he is specifically taught to be satisfied and is encouraged to be content with little.
In Proverbs it says to trust in God with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…
We were created to dwell with Him in reality, not theory alone. Until we experience the fullness of this we should never be satisfied.
Why have so many resigned themselves to an intellectual relationship only? Why have we settled for Christianity void of the presence of Christ?
We have taught Christianity in a way that does not build passion in people to draw them near and abide in the His presence?
Tozer continues:
God wills that we should push on into His presence and live our whole life there. This is to be known to us in conscious experience. It is more than a doctrine to be held, it is a life to be enjoyed every moment of every day.
Jesus died to remove the veil that separated us from the presence of God.
Psalm 84:2–4AMP
2My soul yearns, yes, even pines and is homesick for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out and sing for joy to the living God.
3 Yes, the sparrow has found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young—even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
4 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who dwell in Your house and Your presence; they will be singing Your praises all the day long. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
Psalm 84:4AMP
4 Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who dwell in Your house and Your presence; they will be singing Your praises all the day long. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
• This is the goal of those who love God!
• They hunger and thirst for His manifest presence.
• The closer we are to Him the stronger it becomes, and the more we are affected.
Eerdmans Commentary on the Bible Psalm 84
To dwell in the presence of the LORD and to trust in him are sources of joy, or pinnacles of contentment.
David longed and had a heart for the presence of God more than anyone in the Old Testament.
Whenever you see the word presence in Hebrew “panim” it means Face. When we are talking about he presence of God we are not talking about a abstract force that fills the air..
Its face to face encounters with God.
David longs for God’s presence and brings the ark of the covenant to Jerusalem.
Ark symbolizes God’s manifest presence, not merely His omnipresence.
God is everywhere, but He does not manifest everywhere the same way
The Ark carried:
God’s covenant
God’s authority
God’s glory among His people
2 Samuel 6:1-5
Be Restored 5. David Relocated the Holy Ark (2 Sam. 6:1–23; 1 Chron. 13:1–13; 15:1–16:3)
God had given specific directions through Moses how the tabernacle was to be erected, dismantled, and transported (
The presence of the Lord is to rest on the priest not on the machinery that man makes. It never rest on organizations and ministry. It always rest on people.
David had the right passion, wrong Order
God had already given clear instructions for how His presence was to be carried
Verse: 6:6 The ox stubbled and Uzzah reached out to steady the ark and God struck him dead. Why?
Be Restored 5. David Relocated the Holy Ark (2 Sam. 6:1–23; 1 Chron. 13:1–13; 15:1–16:3)
When it looked like the Ark would fall from the cart, Uzzah presumptuously took hold of it to steady it, and he was killed. But God had warned about this in the Law of Moses, and every Israelite surely knew of it
15 And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, as the camp sets out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry these, but they must not touch the holy things, lest they die. These are the things of the tent of meeting that the sons of Kohath are to carry.
20 but they shall not go in to look on the holy things even for a moment, lest they die.”
God truck Uzzah dead for manhandling the presence of God. The presence of God should never be manipulated and controlled. We are always to be in His control.
Uzzah died not because God is cruel
But because familiarity replaced reverence
When the presence of God is treated casually, it brings danger.
God’s presence responds to honor.
When it is honored rightly, it releases joy, blessing, and transformation.
We learn passion does not replace obedience.
Being on fire for God should lead us to obedience and holiness.
As you can imagine this struck a holy fear in David.
2 Samuel 6:7-10
David becomes afraid—not of God’s absence, but of His nearness.
Times when I have experience a unusual manifestation it brought a holy fear in my life.
Be Restored 5. David Relocated the Holy Ark (2 Sam. 6:1–23; 1 Chron. 13:1–13; 15:1–16:3)
During the early days of the New Testament church, Ananias and Sapphira were killed for lying to God and His people
2 Samuel 6:11-12
he Ark stays in the house of Obed-Edom—and everything flourishes.
When God’s presence is honored, blessing becomes unavoidable.
He did not perform
He hosted - God’s presence is not managed—it is hosted.
Application
Your home can be a dwelling place for God’s presence
Your workplace can be marked by God’s favor
The presence of God affects:
Finances
Family
Peace
Fruitfulness
Presence changes atmosphere.
David parked the art at Edom’s house for 3 months and tried again to bring the Ark to Jerusalem.
(On the way David was dancing before the Lord.)
2 Samuel 6:12-15
This time:
The Ark is carried on shoulders
Sacrifices are made every six steps
David dances with abandon
2 Samuel 6:16-23
Davids wife despised her husband.
Religion and political spirits want worship to be measured, controlled, and reasonable.
These mindsets resist, reject, and despise extravagant worship.
Sacrifice is step beyond convince. Its vital that we step in the realm of sacrifice on a regular basis. Beyond what comes natural or normal.
When the Lord says lift up a shout of praise in scripture. He didn’t say only for those who are outgoing. Those of you with only a aggressive personality this is your moment.
For the quite one’s think good thoughts and I’ll be quit satisficed. Well that’s not my personality. We actually are believing a lye.
David worships without self-consciousness.
Michal represents:
Religious pride
Image-conscious spirituality
Worship restrained by fear of people
David’s response:
“I will be even more undignified than this.”
23 And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.
One who despised worship.
1 “Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married,” says the Lord.
One who embraced worship.
Michal’s barrenness is not punishment—it is illustrative.
The presence of God produces fruit
Resistance to presence produces sterility
Conclusion
Conclusion
Church, God never saved us to keep us at a distance.
Jesus tore the veil so we could live face to face, not satisfied with theory, tradition, or familiarity—but alive in His presence. Passion without obedience leads to danger, but reverence with hunger leads to joy, fruitfulness, and transformation. Like David, we are invited to carry His presence God’s way, host Him with honor, and respond with wholehearted worship. Christianity without presence is empty—but a life anchored in His presence is blessed, alive, and full.
Application
Application
Refuse to settle for an intellectual relationship with God—cultivate hunger for His manifest presence.
Lets honor God’s presence through obedience, holiness, and reverence, not convenience or control.
Host His presence daily—in your home, your work, and your worship.
Worship without restraint, free from fear of people or image-conscious religion.
Choose honor over familiarity, sacrifice over comfort, and presence over performance—because what we honor, we inherit, and where God’s presence dwells, fruit always follows.
Prayer:
Father, forgive us for settling for knowledge without intimacy. Stir a fresh hunger in us to seek Your face and not be satisfied with anything less.
Teach us to honor Your presence with obedience, humility, and reverence. Let our lives, homes, and worship become dwelling places for Your glory.
Jesus, thank You for tearing the veil and inviting us to live face to face with the Father. We offer ourselves to You again—have Your way in us.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
