Making Room For God’s Presence
Now There Was Room
In a world that often feels chaotic and unpredictable, there's a stirring in the spiritual realm that demands our attention. Just as meteorologists can forecast storms while we're still standing in sunshine, there's a spiritual forecast on the horizon that promises to shake the very foundations of our faith.
The Bible tells us of a time when Jesus entered Jerusalem, and "the whole city was shaken." This wasn't just a minor tremor; it was a seismic event that left people asking, "Who is this?" It's a powerful reminder that when God truly shows up, things don't stay the same. The question is, are we ready for such a shaking in our own lives and communities?
For too long, many of us have been content with a form of godliness that lacks true power. We've learned how to "do church" without necessarily experiencing the transformative presence of God. It's time to change that. It's time to enlarge our expectations and make room for God to move in unprecedented ways.
The story of King David provides a compelling example of what it means to pursue God's presence wholeheartedly. When David assumed the throne of Israel, his first priority wasn't political reform or military conquest. Instead, he asked, "Where's the ark?" David understood that without the presence of God, represented by the Ark of the Covenant, all other accomplishments were ultimately hollow.
This pursuit of God's presence wasn't just a personal quest for David; it was a national priority. He recognized that when the Ark resided in Obed-Edom's house, everything there was blessed. David wanted that blessing for all of Israel, and he was willing to do whatever it took to bring God's presence back to the center of national life.
There's a powerful lesson here for us today. Are we content to run our lives, our churches, and our communities without the tangible presence of God? Or are we, like David, willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that God's presence is central to everything we do?
The Psalmist echoes this sentiment when he writes, "Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in" (Psalm 24:7). This isn't just poetic language; it's a call to action. We need to lift up the "gates" of our hearts, our minds, and our expectations. We've downsized our understanding of what God can and wants to do. It's time to enlarge our capacity to receive from Him.
Jesus Himself demonstrated the importance of making room for God's presence when He entered the temple in Jerusalem. His actions there weren't just about righteous anger; they were about clearing out everything that was hindering people from encountering God. The money changers and merchants had turned the house of prayer into a "den of thieves," and Jesus wasn't having it.
This cleansing of the temple wasn't just a historical event; it's a picture of what God wants to do in our lives today. What tables need to be overturned in our hearts? What distractions or misplaced priorities are keeping us from experiencing the fullness of God's presence?
The beautiful thing is that when Jesus cleared out the temple, it wasn't just about getting rid of the negative. The Scripture tells us that after He drove out the merchants, "the blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them" (Matthew 21:14). When we make room for God's presence, miracles happen. Lives are transformed. The impossible becomes possible.
This is the heart of what God is calling us to in this season. He's inviting us to experience a level of His presence that goes beyond anything we've known before. It's not about creating a spectacle or chasing after spiritual experiences for their own sake. It's about allowing God to shake everything in our lives that can be shaken, so that only what's unshakeable remains.
The challenge for us is to not become satisfied with "good enough." The church in Laodicea fell into this trap, becoming lukewarm and complacent. God is calling us to something more. He's calling us to be a people who are on fire for Him, who are willing to step out in faith and believe for the impossible.
This renewal starts with us. It starts with a willingness to examine our own hearts and ask, "God, what needs to change in me?" It's about recognizing that the Holy Spirit isn't just a symbol or a theological concept, but the very power of God available to us today.
As we move forward, let's commit to being a people who are hungry for more of God. Let's be like David, who danced before the Lord with all his might, unconcerned about what others might think. Let's be like the early church, who waited in the upper room until they were filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered to change the world.
The promise is clear: when we make room for God's presence, He will come. And when He comes, nothing remains the same. Lives are healed. Relationships are restored. Communities are transformed. This is the power of the Gospel, and it's available to us today.
So let's lift up our heads. Let's raise our expectations. Let's clear out anything that's hindering us from experiencing the fullness of God's presence. The King of glory wants to come in. Are we ready to receive Him?
In a world that's crying out for hope and meaning, we have the opportunity to be carriers of God's presence. Let's not settle for less than all that God has for us. The greatest days of the Church are not behind us; they're ahead of us. But it starts with us making room for God to move in power and glory.
Are you ready for the shaking? Are you ready for revival? It's time to prepare the way for the King of glory to come in. The world is waiting to see what happens when God's people truly make room for His presence. Let it begin with us, here and now.
Apply The Word
God is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and immutable.
We need to enlarge our capacity and expectation of God's presence.
The church needs to prioritize the presence of the Holy Spirit above all else.
Jesus cleansed the temple to make room for healing and miracles.
Our worship and praise expand our understanding of God.
