The Abiding Presence!

Hebrews 11:1 says:  "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." How blessed it is to walk by faith and live by faith!  God's Word tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please Him!  "Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."  Hebrews 11:6

I read a little article by Dr. John Church that was a blessing to me.  I wanted to share some of it with you, and I trust that it will be a blessing and encouragement to you also.

     "One of the greatest troubles with many of us is the fact that we have never come to see the difference between the constant 'abiding presence' and the 'manifestations' of the blessed Holy Ghost.  Many people have the mistaken idea that He can't abide without manifesting Himself all the time.  If the Lord is not blessing us all the time, we think we don't have anything.  He just gives us manifestations as we need them and as He sees fit.  He wants us to learn to walk by faith and not by sight.

      Some years ago our youngest son was stricken with a tumor of the brain.  He was an invalid for five years before he went Home.  During those years, I would hold a lot of meetings in my own state.  Sometimes it would be very late when I would reach home.  While the boy was still alive, I would go in as quietly as possible.  I would slip into the bedroom and get into bed as quietly as possible so as not to wake him.  I was so close to him that I could reach out and touch him, but I did not manifest myself to him.

      The next morning when he would awake, then we would have quite a manifestation.  Sometimes I would get in the bed with him and talk.  Hiowever, I had been abiding with him long before that.  Now, if the house had caught on fire during the night, then I would have manifested myself to him, but he did not need any manifestations, so I did not give him any.

      The same thing is true with the Lord and us.  He will manifest Himself when we need it, but He abides all the time.  You may go to bed shouting happy and get up in the morning with a splitting headache, but the blessed Holy Ghost still abides.  Learn to count on Him whether you feel like shouting or not.  He will give you the power you need when you need it.  He is not going to give you the power to preach or witness until the time comes to use that power.  You may feel as weak as water and wonder how you will ever accomplish the task, but if you have Him, never worry!  He will supply the power at the right time."  Praise the Lord!!  'Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world'!

     "I'm rejoicing night and day as I walk the narrow way,
for the hand of God in all my life I see.
      And the reason of my bliss--Yes, the secret all is this,
that the Comforter abides with me!

      He is with me everywhere, and He knows my every care;
I'm as happy as a bird and just as free (praise the Lord).
      For the Spirit has control---Jesus satisfies my soul---
Since the Comforter abides with me!

      He abides!  He abides!
Hallelujah!  He abides with me!
      I'm rejoicing night and day as I walk the narrow way;
For the Comforter abides with me"!