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Hello. My name is Dottie Freeman and I have no fancy titles or degrees, I am simply a blood bought saint like you. God has recently called me to preach and I am willing to accept that call. He has also provided this opportunity on this site to share the Good News about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
HIS PRESENCE
Today's message is short and sweet, but it is powerful. I have been reading in Luke quite a bit this week. I have been drawn to Chapter 10 where Jesus sent out the 70 disciples. He gave them detailed instructions on how to go ahead of him into other towns and how to minister to the people…but only the people who were receptive. He told them to go two by two, stay in homes where they were welcome, eat whatever was put before them and to heal the sick. I have read this passage of scripture many times. It was only this week that the Lord showed me something very important.
When the 70 returned they were full of joy and they reported to Jesus that "even the demons obey us when we use your name." (Verse 17) Oh, the name of Jesus! How wonderful and how powerful! Jesus went on to tell them that He had given them authority over all the power of the enemy (verse 18).
However, the Lord has shown me that it was more than just the name of Jesus that empowered them. These men had been in the very presence of Jesus. They knew him. They had been following Him. They had been listening to Him, and they obeyed Him. But, it was the presence of Jesus more than anything that empowered them, and they were able to go out and speak blessings, heal the sick and cast out demons. Jesus is speaking to us today. We are no different from those disciples. The key is to be in His presence and from there we are empowered to do all things. When we follow the Master's example and walk in His ways and obey His every command, we can do all things through Him—using His name.
How do you get into his presence? Simple. Spend time with Him in prayer. Spend time in His Word. Spend time with Him in praise and worship. Call upon his name at all times. Get as close to Him as you can get. His word says that He who dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty (Psalms 91:1). That shadow is His presence. You can get there and you can dwell there. Just get on your knees and lift your prayers and praise to Him and you will enter into His presence. In His presence is power, healing, peace, joy, strength, love…whatever you need is there and He will be faithful to impart it unto you.
There were many others mentioned in the Word that experienced miracles while in His presence…the lepers, the demon possessed, those needing forgiveness…the list goes on and on. Wherever Jesus was, these miracles happened. Let me tell you something, if the Holy Spirit lives inside of you, you can do anything Jesus did. Jesus says in John 14:12 that He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do. Did you get that? He said that we could do even greater works than He did! We need to get to a place where we obey His every command, stop playing around with sin and dwell in His presence and then we will see His perfect will ruling and reigning in our lives. That is where we are supposed to be and where He has called us to be.
I am reminded of the paralyzed man in the fifth chapter of Luke. His friends were carrying him on a stretcher to see Jesus--to be in the presence of Jesus. The problem was that they could not get through the vast crowd carrying that stretcher. They had to climb onto the roof (stretcher in tow), remove a portion of the roof and lower the stretcher down into the room and into the very presence of Jesus. Now THAT is wanting to get close to the Lord. You will notice that Jesus never physically touched this man. He merely forgave his sins and told him to get up and walk out of there. The man was instantaneously healed. Let me tell you something, when you get into the presence of the Lord and allow Him to speak to your heart, you are going to see the miracles in your life. All you have to do is drop to your knees (as opposed to being dropped through the roof).
Whatever your need is today, I encourage you to get into His presence and you will have more than you need. I want to leave you with one other parting thought…Always remember that Satan cannot stand (or exist) in the presence of the Almighty God. You stay in His presence and Satan cannot touch you.
Until next time, may the presence of the Lord be with you at all times.
Don't forget, I stand ready to pray for you. Simply click my address below for your prayer request. freeman5@friendlycity.net.
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