Cultivating the Practice of the Presence of God

((music playing)) >> Finding the right realm for the practice of God's presence. I want to talk to you about that. I began yesterday and I want to continue today and thank you for being with me. Dearest Jesus, we come to you today because we're so hungry for you. Our hearts are longing for you.

Know your presence daily and continually. Your love continually, Lord, to love you with intensity. To love you eternally. The fire of love for you will never die in our hearts. To you be the praise, all the glory, all the honor. And Lord, I pray open our hearts and our eyes that we might see your work today in a beautiful way.

In Jesus' name and God's people said, "Amen and amen." And thank you for being with me. You know, I I I've I've taught on the practice of God's presence before. I I'm seeing it differently as I get older in Jesus and in age. And today, after all these wonderful years of serving the Lord, I've come to see the Bible in a beautiful way, in a different way, in a glorious way.

So, like I said yesterday, you know, I've read Matthew 7 7 and 8 for years, as you have. Ask it shall be given, seek you'll find, knock it shall be opened. But for years and years, you know, you you see it on a natural level and then one day it changes.

So, ask you shall receive. But what what what are we asking for? When I was young, you know, I thought, "Well, to ask for things I need for my daily living and so on." Today, it's a different world for me. Today, what I'm asking for is, "Oh, dear Jesus, I want I want to know you." "Oh, dear Jesus, I want to love you." "Oh, dear Jesus, I want to walk with you." "Oh, dear Jesus, I want to finish strong for you.

I want to glorify your name. I want to know your deep presence in my life." That's what I'm asking for today. I'm not asking for anything else. My natural needs are still there, but I don't even pay attention to them anymore cuz they're so little. And uh and now you come to seek and knock.

And all of that is connected. They're connected to each other. Because I believe it talks about asking for heavenly things more than asking for earthly things. Seeking [snorts] heavenly rather than earthly. Knocking for the heavenly rather than earthly. And once you see that, it changes everything. Because it says, "They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing."

So, when you seek him and find him, all the natural things come automatically. No, seek you first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. So, when you're young, you're thinking on a different level. And then as you get older in the Lord, I mean in the Lord, you you you see it differently.

So, today I see it differently because I'm at the end of my race in ministry. I'm at the end of my race in my life. And I see things totally different now. And the practice of God's presence is so important for us, especially especially as we get older in the Lord.

It becomes more and more and more important and I been talking about that and if you missed yesterday, please go and and and watch yesterday cuz I want to continue from where I left off. But I talked to you yesterday about how when you begin seeking the Lord for his presence, the flesh will oppose you all the time.

In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul talks about that beginning at verse 25. I talked about this yesterday. And then David in Psalms 42 talked about how he was looking for the Lord's presence and he could not even find it among the people going to church in the in the even in praising the Lord, he could not find it God's presence.

And and finally, he had to find it in that place of solitude because he talked about it in Psalm 39. And then I finished with Isaiah 40 and Psalm 40. Uh of course, we all know Isaiah 40, you have to wait in solitude to find the Lord. But then in in Psalm 40, this is when we begin to be delivered.

Uh and and and now we are we have plowed the land. We've cultivated the land like Hosea talked about it and I shared that all that yesterday. So, please make make make sure to go back and and listen to the teaching if you have not. But today, I want to go on from there.

Because I I stopped with Psalm 40. Let's go back to Psalm 40. Psalm chapter 4 0 40. Verse 1, he said, "I waited patiently for the Lord." Which means, you know, it it didn't happen in five in five minutes or 10 10 minutes. It took time. "And he inclined on to me and heard my cry."

The word incline means to bend. "And he brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the mighty clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings. And he has put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God. Many will see it and fear and trust in the Lord."

And this is where we closed yesterday's teaching. And basically, when you get to that place, when you are in solitude, seeking the Lord's presence, hungry for the Lord's presence, thirsty for the Lord's presence, you want that presence to permeate your being. You want to love him deeply. You want to love him intensely.

You want to walk with him closely. And at that moment, something will happen where a song will arise in your spirit that will not quit. You'll go on continually day long all day long. But you have to wait because uh waiting is the is really the the place of deliverance.

Because David makes it very clear that how God brought him up out of a horrible pit, out of the mighty clay, and set his feet upon a rock. So, now, let's go on from there. In Psalm 80, verse 18, and I have talked about this so many times, but I see it with new eyes today.

It says, "So will not we go back from But how, Lord? You and I never want to leave the the presence of God. We don't want to ever walk back. Quicken us. I need your quickening, Lord, to stick close to you. And we will call upon thy name."

In other words, we'll continue to call upon your name. We'll continue to seek your precious presence. "Turn us again. Restore us again, oh Lord of God of hosts. Cause your face to shine and we shall be saved." What a beautiful cry from David. So, here we see that in waiting, there's quickening.

As we wait, the presence of God comes and that presence quickens us. It's the Lord who quickens us to keep seeking him. Now, I want to take you and I'll show you a lot from the Psalms right now. Let's go to Psalm 59. Let's go. Let me just get out.

Okay. Let's go to Psalm 59. And let's read together verse 9. And the Lord is going to really use this to bless you and help you. It says, "Because of his strength will I wait upon thee. For God is my defense." So, the minute you you you you are in God's presence, you've waited.

You are there, as Isaiah 40 says, they that wait upon the Lord. And you're waiting patiently on the Lord, just like David said in in the Psalms. And as you wait, His presence manifest, always manifest, and you'll know it, I promise you. You will know it. You will know it.

And when it when when His presence manifests, His His own strength is what caused it. His own strength is what enabled you to even wait and stay that long. And then in in in Psalms 63, verse 8, and how I love that, too. My soul followeth hard after thee.

Thy right hand upholdeth me. The safest place to be in is His presence. The safest place. When Jesus said, "Come unto me, all you who labor," He didn't say, "Come and visit." He was saying, "Come and stay." Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavily laden, I will give you rest.

It's a present tense come. It's a present tense give that continues to be present tense. Come unto me, all you who labor. Matthew 11. Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavily laden, I will give you rest. He that dwelleth He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High, not he that visits.

So, will abide under the shadow of the Almighty. That place of staying, it says, "Your right hand upholds me." My soul followeth hard. I'm I'm I'm everything in me wants it. But without your hand holding me, I cannot do it, Lord. Cuz I'll give up so easily. God seeks to be sought.

God longs to be longed for. And when you're in that presence, He's the one keeping you there. Now, remember and I said that yesterday, that Matthew 7:7 and 8 gives us the three realms of the presence of God, where ask, seek, knock. And I believe it's also like the Tabernacle.

Outer court, holy place, holy of holies. So, the asking realm is the outer court. And really, that's the place of sacrifice. That's the place where we give up the self and the flesh, and we turn away from the world. We say, "Lord, I need you. I want you.

I'm you know, I don't want the world anymore. I I I don't want the sin of the world. I want the I do not want the pollution of the world. I want you, dear Jesus, and only you, right now, in my life and forever." And that's the place of sacrifice.

The holy place is the place of praise. Because remember in Psalm 40, God has put a new song in your heart, even praise. Many will see it and fear and trust in the Lord. We just saw it. But I believe that you come to that to that holy of holies, a place of protection in the presence of God.

And we we we come there because He held us. He kept us. And let me I want to say something about uh the the outer court for a moment before we go on, because I didn't have a chance to say it. I believe the outer court, also, is not just a place of sacrifice.

It's a place where we find peace with God. Because let your request be made known, and the peace of God will fill your heart and mind. It's the place of asking that will result in peace. And the holy place, that is a place of strength and protection. Um If you If you also look carefully at it, it's not just a place of peace.

It's also a place of strength in the holy place. So, peace in the outer court, protection in the holy place. And the holy of holies, thank you, Lord. There's more than protection in it, and I want to talk about that in just a little moment here, because I want to say something uh that I haven't really said yet.

Because I want to I want to make make make sure I get you ready. The place of deliverance, the the outer court, the place of deliverance, is where God establishes our goings. Let me take you back very quickly to Psalm If I can take you back, let's go to Psalm 59 real quick.

And I wasn't planning on showing you this, but I really want to. Okay. Um verse 9, because of His strength will I wait upon thee. It's a place of strength. It's a place of protection. And God will establish your goings. Let me take you one more time. There There's so much in here, and I I I I want to get into I do want to get into uh Okay.

Let Let's go back to uh Psalm 40. I waited patiently for the Lord. He inclined unto me and heard my cry. He brought me out of a horrible pit, out of the muddy clay. He set my feet upon a rock, and He established my going. So, that place of beginning, God establishes your goings.

Your fellowship. And when He does, He's the one doing it. You're in that place. Now you go into the holy place of praise, of strength, of protection. Now you're ready. What are you ready for? Ah, this is beautiful. Let's go to Psalm 46. I want to begin dealing more and go deeper in the holy of holies with you.

But I'm sorry about the back and forth a little bit here. But I had to say these things, cuz I want you to get everything. Verse 10, be still and know I'm God. I will be exalted among the heathen. I will be exalted in the earth. Now, that is in Psalm 46, verse 10.

But in Psalm 42, and I want to read verse 7, cuz remember I had read that earlier with you, but I didn't read verse 7. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts, or waterfalls, all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. And then it's where the Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, in the night His song will be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.

This is absolutely incredible. You come to a place of such depth, of such stillness, not silence, not quietness, but stillness. And I will deal with it more tomorrow, because I don't want to get into it today, because I'm running out of time. There's a big difference between quietness and stillness.

Elijah heard a still small voice. He didn't hear a quiet voice. He heard a still small voice. Now, that is something different than a quiet whisper. No. In Psalm 89:15, it talks about the light of God's countenance. The light of God's countenance Lord, let them see it in the glorious name of Jesus I pray.

Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound. They shall walk, oh Lord, in the light of thy countenance. What is that joyful sound? You know, it says in the presence of the Lord is fullness of joy. But is that is that joy loud? Is that joy an earthly sound?

What is that joy? Or is it an inner joy that cannot be explained in the natural? Mary said, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my savior." When she came to Elizabeth, her cousin, she said, "My soul magnifies, and my spirit is rejoicing." "My soul doth magnify."

That has to do with sound. "My soul doth magnify the Lord." I'm magnifying. I'm saying something. "But my spirit hath rejoiced in God my savior." It is possible to have joy and sorrow at the same time. Because joy is spiritual. Joy is not natural. And no one says much about that.

In the presence of the Lord is joy, unspeakable and full of glory. There is glory in that joy. He is the glory of God. He is the joy of the Lord. It says in the scriptures, "I will sing over them with joy." So, is joy a feeling, or is joy a person?

Aha. Joy is a person. He is the joy of our life. He is the joy of our life. He is everlasting joy. It says, "Everlasting joy shall be upon their head." They shall obtain gladness and joy. And sorrow and mourning shall flee away. It's in the Psalms. It's in the book of Isaiah.

The redeemed of the Lord will come. And joy and gladness will fill their hearts. Who is our gladness? Who is our joy but the Lord? And in his presence there is everlasting joy. Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound. They shall walk, oh Lord, in the light of your countenance.

He [clears throat] is the joy. >> [snorts] >> He is the light. His countenance gives us joy. I remember the nights in the '70s when I would lay in my bed worshipping him, and the joy was so deep I thought I would die. I wanted to go home. I wanted to go home.

There were times in the crusades I would feel such joy. I would turn and look at my sound man, Don Boss, who's with the Lord today. He [snorts] actually died young. And I'd say to Don, he was such a dear friend to me. I said, "There's nothing like it.

There's nothing like" I would be weeping. "There's nothing like it." I wanted to just stay on that mountain top and go home. The joy of his presence. The joy of his presence. There is no way to describe it. And in the practice of the presence of the Lord, there is joy forevermore.

We need that. >> [sighs] >> This is a dark world. A dark world. This world is so dark. Getting darker. Very ugly darkness out there. Hateful. Hateful. >> [snorts] >> People attacking everybody else out there. They They They attack you, don't even know your heart. They just attack you. They make a living out of it.

People inside the church criticize each other and attack servants of God without even knowing their hearts. That's the world we live in. But you know what? It just reassures us of something amazing. That God really called us. Cuz if if if God didn't call us, they would not bother with us at all.

But today I'm here to tell you, it's Jesus. You seek him. Don't worry about them. You seek him. You look for him. You come to him and stay in his presence. You'll find joy, unspeakable and full of glory. And you keep your affection on things above. You keep your affection on the Lord himself.

I'm going to continue tomorrow talking about the presence and the practice of God's presence, cuz I have a lot to say, and I can't just rush it in half an hour. Dear Jesus, I thank you for what you've shown us and where you're going to take us tomorrow and the day after.

Take us deeper, Lord. Take us deeper. Take us much deeper in your presence and in this teaching. Take us deeper. In your precious and holy name, give you the praise. And God's people said, "Amen and amen." Well, thank you for being with me, my wonderful family, my wonderful partners, >> [snorts] >> God's precious saints.

You are God's precious saint. Remember that. You're his beloved. Thank you for your love and support. This is going to be an awesome year, by the way. Already it's starting to be a glorious year. And uh a lot of invitations today. I've had three more from Africa, and I don't even have time to do it this year.

We We said, "No, we have to do it in 2027." And now we're at We We just added Brazil. And uh we I didn't know how I could do that. But it all starts in March because I told our staff I said, "I just don't want to do um anything overseas in January and February.

Let's just, you know, stay at home and minister in the US here." >> [snorts] >> And that's what I've done. And uh I'm glad, by the way. My body needed it. I was in three countries in December. Three countries, not just one. That's a lot. It's It's, you know, I'm 73.

I'm not, you know, 29 anymore. But March, that schedule is going to be even busier than 2025. Dear Marie Don, the head of our events is in on her way to Ethiopia. In fact, she's there by the time you see this. And uh Africa's been calling. Nations are calling all over the world, but especially Africa.

Some of them are actually begging, literally begging, saying, "Please, please, when can you come?" Well, it's the Lord's doing. It's wonderful. In my eyes, I asked the Lord. I said, "Lord, why did you wait till I am I'm older?" "Why didn't this happen with Africa when I was younger?"

He said, "Had I given it to you when you were younger, you would have messed it all up." I think he's right. So, I'm glad the Lord waited. So, help me go to Africa, will you? And the world And the world. So, thank you for your love and kindness and thank you for the support and loving the Lord like you do.

So, you can give. The information's on on the screen. And uh I'll see you tomorrow. And please tell your friends uh you know, share this teaching with your friends. And those that follow you on social media. And then uh I'll see you tomorrow. And I'm I'm tomorrow and the day after I'm going to teach only on the on the holy of holies.

I'm going to teach what does it mean to know the stillness of God's voice. And to be still and know him. Be still and know I'm God. Cuz that is that practice that is so deep, there's no words to it. It's just hard to explain that. But I'll give you all I can to help you.

And I believe God will reveal the rest to you. Okay. Much love. I'll see you tomorrow. I'm sitting on the platform, and the Lord says to ((music playing)) me, "I will give you Africa if you want it." Just like that. I I didn't even expect it. And I to weep.

And I said, "Yes, Lord. ((music playing)) Yes, Lord. I want it." Within seconds, Pastor Robert Kayanja, our host, turned around and looked at me. He said, "We're putting a a demand on your anointing for Africa. Will you say ((music playing)) yes?" And I said, "The Lord just asked me. The Lord just told me.

Of course it's yes." Pastor Benny Hinn, Musumba Benny Hinn, Uganda and Africa is putting a demand on your anointing and we want to see God move. I can't believe ((music playing)) you have walked all the way from there. Praise you. They're still getting healed. They're still getting healed. ((music playing)) Somebody shout hallelujah. >> ((music playing)) >> This morning was his first time to walk.

To you belongs all the glory. Look at all those healings that that that long line right there. When I was in Africa in ((music playing)) in Zimbabwe, Pastor Kayanja said this to me. He said, "The pastors are asking me to tell you this. They're ((music playing)) telling me to tell you this.

They need to hear more about the Bible. They need to hear more about the cross. And they need to hear more about the Holy Spirit. Jesus died. WILLINGLY DIED. GAVE HIS LIFE for you and me willingly. And rose from the dead by his glorious own power. If you want to have longevity in ministry, preach the cross and the resurrection.

I want to do more for the Lord. I want to finish even running faster. Running faster. Finish even stronger than when I began. Greatest miracle is salvation. I can give you prophecy after prophecy proving to you that Jesus is the Messiah. But this same Jesus says to you right now, "Come on to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden.

I'll give you rest." Tonight, you can be free because Jesus said, "Whom the Son sets free is free indeed." But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord. You cannot receive eternal life without giving your life to Jesus Christ. The word of God says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you'll be saved."

Now, that word on is the Greek in. Believe in the Lord Jesus means you surrender. Only He can keep us. Only He can be trusted with your soul and your life because He died on the cross for you. And you have to remember the most precious thing in the sight of God is the human life.

For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son. That's what the Bible says. >> ((music playing)) >> God is not willing that any should perish, but that all come to the knowledge of life eternal through His Son. So, now I make you one promise that I've made to the Lord.

I will give ((music playing)) Him the glory. I will give Him the honor. This is not for Benny Hinn ((music playing)) or anyone else. This is for the honor and glory of the Son God, Jesus, >> ((music playing)) >> wonderful, precious Jesus, the Son Almighty. That's it. And His name ((music playing)) will go to the nations.

His gospel will go to the nations for souls to ((music playing)) be saved. >> Lives will be changed. The church will grow and be strengthened and the gospel will ((music playing)) go forth with power. God bless you for standing with Pastor Benny ((music playing)) at this crucial moment.