James W. Goll: The Brilliance of His Great Presence!

Our primary text for this teaching is Exodus 33:13-23:

"'If You are pleased with me, teach me Your ways so I may know You and continue to find favor with You. Remember that this nation is Your people.'

"The Lord replied, 'My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'

"Then Moses said to Him, 'If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that You are pleased with me and with Your people unless You go with us? What else will distinguish me and Your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?'

"And the Lord said to Moses, 'I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.'

"Then Moses said, 'Now show me Your glory.'

"And the Lord said, 'I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim My name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,' He said, 'you cannot see My face, for no one may see Me and live.'

"Then the Lord said, 'There is a place near Me where you may stand on a rock. When My glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove My hand and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.'"

My Personal Testimony – An Invitation

One time when I was "resting" in the Lord's presence, the Holy Spirit said to me, "I want to teach you to release the highest weapon of spiritual warfare." I continued to listen, as I knew there must be more. I was eager to hear what He had to say on this subject as I had studied it for years. He continued, "I will teach you to release the brilliance of My presence." In a moment, it seemed all theological debate on the issues of spiritual warfare was answered. What is the highest weapon? Why, He is! He is the highest weapon of spiritual warfare. He wants us to be gatekeepers so we can release the brilliance of His great presence!

A Day In Your Courts

Yes, once you have truly tasted the goodness of the Lord's presence, nothing else will satisfy you! You are ruined for the rest of your life! It is true! Oh, how I have found it to be true! A day is better than the best this world could ever offer! Tell the Lord now that you want to be a gatekeeper – a gatekeeper of His presence.

Psalm 84:10-12 Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in You.

NEEDED: A Hunger For His Presence

We need His presence more than anything in this life! This is to be the outstanding, distinguishing characteristic of God's people in all generations – His presence among us!

1. Exodus 33:12-23 says God gave Moses his request and revealed His glorious Presence to him.

2. Exodus 25:30 shows the bread of His Presence (or showbread) used by the priest in ministering to the Lord.

I want to tell you a dream that gripped my soul. In January 1999, while I was resting in the Lord's presence, the Holy Spirit visited me with a piercing dream that has helped to set my course of direction and I believe is a clear word to His people wherever they find themselves in life and ministry.

In this dream, I was holding long loaves of bread each wrapped in their own individual napkin. I was holding these loaves of bread close to my chest right over my heart. Then I got our youngest child's (Rachel's) blanket she had since birth. I now wrapped these loaves of bread in her dear baby blanket. I held the bread close to my heart and just kind of rocked the bread as you would a newborn child.

Then I heard the words, "When My people will care for, cherish, nurture, and love the 'Bread of My Presence' like a parent does its newborn child – then revival will come." I then found myself awakened out of the dream only to find my arms were held out as though holding and rocking something. I heard myself prophesying out loud in the bedroom the same words I had just heard in the dream as the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit was lingering over my body. The Lord was emphasizing these words by having them be repeated twice!

This I know – He wants us to cherish and care for His Presence. Pray for His presence. Love His presence. Nurture His presence. After all, isn't this what you have longed for all your life? Isn't this what you were made and created for – to be a carrier of the most brilliant presence?! Isn't this the answer to the Church's cry for help? We need more of Him!

When will revival come? When will a societal transformation occur? You got it! When we get up in the middle of the night – do the night feedings, hold the child close to our bosom, and wash the child of new beginnings with the love and compassion – then revival will come! Let His presence come forth!

It's All About Jesus!

Hebrews 13:8 states Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. The bottom line is that healing comes as a result of the completed work of the Cross of Jesus Christ! What He did yesterday, He will do today and in the future. Why? God has not changed!

Let us believe and see in our day the following verse activated:

"You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him" (Acts 10:38).

So, let us continue in actions of praise, prayer, worship and intercession together and see the fullness of the ministry of Jesus be restored in our day in our cities, states or provinces, and nations!

For such a time as this – let pure worship arise!

James W. Goll
Encounters Network • Prayer Storm • Compassion Acts Team
Email: info@encountersnetwork.com