Presence

Series Title: In His Presence.

Sermon Title: There Is A Song.

Sermon Text:

Greetings to all of you my brothers and sisters in Christ. I greet you in the strong name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I personally thank each of you for coming with me on this journey to explore what it means to actually be in, or live in the presence of God. With the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit we will discover what God has said in his word about standing in his presence.

is our foundation scripture because I love the way Zephaniah sings his way to helping the children of Judah understand that God will never leave nor forsake them. Now Zephaniah is considered my many to be what we call a minor prophet; however there is absolutely nothing minor about his message. Zephaniah’s message is simple - God is not just sitting back waiting for you to come to him. But according to Zephaniah This God we serve He actually gathers himself and comes to where you are.

If you are in depression, He’s comes there.

If you are in despair, He’s come there.

If you are in danger, He’s comes there.

If you are in a dilemma, He’s comes there.

Now, The beauty of this text is not in just what it says; but the beauty of the text is also found in how it is presented. Zephaniah presents this prophesy in the form of a song. Its been set to music. Much like the Negro Spirituals of our ancestors during slavery, Zephaniah’s song carried with it more that the ability to make you feel good. It also was a song full of instructions and insight. In verse 14, He said “Sing, O Daughter of Zion; Shout, O Israel; Be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.” That’s instructions. In verse 15, he said “The Lord hath taken away thy judgements, He hath cast out thine enemy: The king of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: Thou shalt not see evil any more.” That’s insight. As i’ve said this is not just a feel good song, but this is a song full of insight. And the insight we gain this morning is that this Almighty God. This unlimited God. This All knowing God. This all loving God. He is WITH US.

You can’t run from him because when you get there He’s already there. You can’t run over him because He’s too high and lifted up. You can’t run under Him because He abides in the vally’s depth. You can’t run through him because His love is impenetrable. And finally, You can’t run around Him because He’s already in your circle. The only thing reasonable to do is run to him. Zephaniah said if you run to him you won’t see evil anymore.

Oh my friends, when times are hard; when things around you have become too difficult for you to bear along thats when you need a song. But not just any song. You need a song that pushes you. You need that song that symbolically grabs you by the throat and shoves you back in place where God is. I am of the belief that every child of God have a part of their born again spirit that is like a song that pushes them to want for God that is uniquely theirs.

That’s why Zephaniah song.

That’s why David sang.

That’s why Solomon sang.

That’s why Paul and Silas sang.

And That is why I sing.

Because when nothing else pushes me I have a built-in song that keep pushing me and telling me to run on and see what the end gone be.

The Question we raise in this text is What does this song DO to push me closer to God?

The Song SOLIDIFIES your walk with God.

BY HELPING AID YOUR PRAYERS. One of the things you can be assured of on this journey with Christ beloved, is that you are going to have to walk it out. There is no way around it my friend. In order for you to get to the place where God want you to be and where you are designed to be; you are going to have to step your way into it. And here’s a new flash for you my friend, as you are stepping into your destiny, as you are walking along the path that God have designed for you; you are going to see some danger along the way. That’s why prayer is a weapon that you must always keep loaded. And my friends nothing aids a good prayer life like a good gutt-wrenching song. In fact, sometimes when you don’t have a prayer if you got a good some you can still make it through. You remember which says “at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God.” All i’m trying to help you see beloved is that a good song can aid your prayers.

One of the things you can be assured of on this journey with Christ beloved, is that you are going to have to walk it out. There is no way around it my friend. In order for you to get to the place where God want you to be and where you are designed to be; you are going to have to step your way into it. And here’s a new flash for you my friend, as you are stepping into your destiny, as you are walking along the path that God have designed for you; you are going to see some danger along the way. That’s why prayer is a weapon that you must always keep loaded. And my friends nothing aids a good prayer life like a good gutt-wrenching song. In fact, sometimes when you don’t have a prayer if you got a good some you can still make it through. You remember which says “at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God.” All im trying to help you see beloved is that a good song can aid your prayers.

BY HELPING YOU ALLUDE THE PREDATOR. says “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Then look at what God said to Israel in . He said, “It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome; but the noise of them that sing do I hear.” God is saying if you can find the energy to keep singing your song in troublesome times I will help you allude the predators. The modern day church has to understand that the old church had it right when they said “When Praises go up Blessings come down.”

The Song SUMMONS you to do the work of Praising God. You know what that word Summons means don’t you. It simply means (to confront). When you have been summons to something you have basically been called to confront it. When someone have been summons to court they have basically been called to confront a matter before the courts. So beloved, whenever you are in the presence of God there is a song that God put in you to confront the work of praise.

You know what that word Summons means don’t you. It simply means (to confront). When you have been summons to something you have basically been called to confront it. When someone have been summons to court they have basically been called to confront a matter before the courts. So beloved, whenever you are in the presence of God there is a song that God put in you to confront the work of praise.

BY ALIGNING YOUR POINT OF VIEW. I don’t know about you all but sometimes my whole point of view is off. Sometimes I see things too narrow and I need something to broaden my perspectives. There are times my friends when my point of view is off and I don’t think like i’m on the winning team. That’s when I need Rev Timothy Wright to ask me, Where do you stand? Who is on the Lord side? That’s when I need my song to remind me that I’m on the Lord’s side. You may remember David in after he had defeated the Philistines. The bible says he pitched a tent for the Ark of God. He called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites. He reminded them that they were the chief of the fathers of the levites. Then he instructed them to sanctify themselves and follow Moses instructions on carrying the ark to its rightful place in the tent. But the real beauty in the text is verse 16 where David appointed some brethren to be singers with instruments of music. Then the glory of the text in in chapter 16:7 where it says, “Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the lord into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.”

1 Chronicles 15 KJV 1900

And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent. Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the Lord chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever. And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the Lord unto his place, which he had prepared for it. And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites: Of the sons of Kohath; Uriel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twenty: Of the sons of Merari; Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty: Of the sons of Gershom; Joel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and thirty: Of the sons of Elizaphan; Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred: Of the sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore: Of the sons of Uzziel; Amminadab the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twelve. And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab, And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. For because ye did it not at the first, the Lord our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order. So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the Lord. And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy. So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan the son of Kushaiah; And with them their brethren of the second degree, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the porters. So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass; And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth; And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel. And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful. And Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark. And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow with the trumpets before the ark of God: and Obed-edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark. So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the house of Obed-edom with joy. And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams. And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen. Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps. And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart.

1 Chronicles 15 KJV 1900

And David made him houses in the city of David, and prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent. Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the Lord chosen to carry the ark of God, and to minister unto him for ever. And David gathered all Israel together to Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the Lord unto his place, which he had prepared for it. And David assembled the children of Aaron, and the Levites: Of the sons of Kohath; Uriel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twenty: Of the sons of Merari; Asaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred and twenty: Of the sons of Gershom; Joel the chief, and his brethren an hundred and thirty: Of the sons of Elizaphan; Shemaiah the chief, and his brethren two hundred: Of the sons of Hebron; Eliel the chief, and his brethren fourscore: Of the sons of Uzziel; Amminadab the chief, and his brethren an hundred and twelve. And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites, for Uriel, Asaiah, and Joel, Shemaiah, and Eliel, and Amminadab, And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it. For because ye did it not at the first, the Lord our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order. So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel. And the children of the Levites bare the ark of God upon their shoulders with the staves thereon, as Moses commanded according to the word of the Lord. And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy. So the Levites appointed Heman the son of Joel; and of his brethren, Asaph the son of Berechiah; and of the sons of Merari their brethren, Ethan the son of Kushaiah; And with them their brethren of the second degree, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the porters. So the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were appointed to sound with cymbals of brass; And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth; And Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, and Azaziah, with harps on the Sheminith to excel. And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skilful. And Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark. And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow with the trumpets before the ark of God: and Obed-edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark. So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the house of Obed-edom with joy. And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams. And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen. Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps. And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart.

BY AFFIRMING YOUR POSTURE. See beloved I need that song in me at times because it is the only thing I have that affirms my position with God. Songs like which says, “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved He uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”

God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed,

And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,

Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God,

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved He uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.”

THE SONG SOOTHES YOUR PAINS. Beloved, in the presence of God, there is a song. That song is placed there by God to first, solidify your walk; secondly, That song is placed there by God to summons your praise. And finally, that song is placed there by God to Soothe your Pains.

The holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved:

God shall help her, and that right early.

6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved:

By awakening your potential. I once heard it said that the best way to get over a broken relationship is to realize the potential of a new one.

He uttered his voice, the earth melted.

7 The Lord of hosts is with us;

By attacking the problem. my friend what God is doing in you is something special. He’s not soothing your pains like a mother soothes her child. He’s not soothing your pain like you’re a little spoiled kid. Naw God is sooting your pain by attacking your problems. My friends because most of the time you are wearing the problem (sin) God has to attack you. But whats beautiful about this attack is that He’s not attacking me like He attacks my enemies.

The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

He attacks my enemies to annihilate them. but He attacks me to Answer me.

He attacks my enemies to annihilate them.

He attacks my enemies to bruise them. but He attacks me to bless me.

He attacks my enemies to crush them. But He attacks me to change me.

He attacks my enemies to defeat them. But He attacks me to bless me.

He attacks my enemies to extinguish them. He attacks me to elevate me.

There is nothing like a song that reminds you that God is soothing you. Beloved have you ever come to the close of a really tuff day? and just before you give up you turn the radio up and hear Marvin Winans singing, “Ain’t no need in worrying about what the night is going to bring. It’ll be all over in the morning.”

Or have you ever wonders where you bless will come from and heard Norman Hutchins sang, “Makes no difference what you’re going through. You’re gonna make it. God’s gonna see you through. Hold your head up. Put a smile on your face. This is another test. It won’t last always. So get ready for your blessing. Get ready for your miracle.”