Topic: In His Presence
Text: Esther 5:1-3

I have come face to face with international celebrities, heads of governments, and captains of industry, highly respected religious leaders, traditional rulers, great achievers, university professors and a lot of V.I.P’s. However, the presence of God is much more important to me. Those close to me know that I do not joke with the hours, days and weeks that I regularly devote to seeking the face of God. His presence means a lot to me. That is why I call Him ‘my daddy’. Many people desire the gifts of God but do not aspire to possess His holy nature. If you become sanctified or holy, you will be amazed that the gifts of God will become easily available to you.

There is the example of Paul in Acts 19:11-12. Paul was sanctified. God performed special miracles by the hand of Paul that, from his body, handkerchiefs and aprons were taken to the sick and they ere healed. How did he get these special gifts from God? It was because he was closed to Jesus than many of the apostle. Being a major exponent of the doctrine of sanctification, h himself was holy. Those who are sanctified are readily very close to the One who will answer their prayers so that, even before they ask, the answer comes. In Psalm 34:17, the Bible says, “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of their troubles.” Nothing blocks the way of the prayer of those who are sanctified. Many prayers are not answered because they are not heard. They are not heard because sin has blocked the way.

There is a very classical example in Esther 5:1-3. The Bible tells us that Esther’s husband was such a powerful king that you dared not go into his presence unless he invited you. If you went into his presence without invitation, all he had to do was keep silent and the soldiers would understand that you should be killed. Esther went into his presence without invitation but, instead of killing her, the king welcomed her and was even willing to give her whatever she wanted, up to half of his kingdom. This shows that she was a favourite wife.

There is a also the joy of communication. This is the joy of being in His presence. This is the joy of feeling His embrace. Many of us have never felt the embrace of Jesus Christ. The first time you hear Jesus speak to you, you will experience the type of joy that money cannot buy. When you have been with Jesus long enough, people would begin to see Him in you. Gradually, He would begin to translate you from glory to glory. Your life would begin to slow who you are when you are sanctified. Somehow, a little bit of His glory would begin to rub off on you and people would look at you and see that you have been with Jesus.

Memory Verse: Psalm 34:17 - “The righteous cry, and the LORD hearth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.”