How to live in the presence of God. Pt 6 (Hindrances)

Devotional

Day 1: Abide daily in Christ to remain fruitful.

Come into his presence every day; start early and stay connected — abide in Jesus like a branch in the vine so God can prune and produce fruit in your life, surrendering habits that choke your walk and choosing quiet time to talk with the Father each morning and all day long. [36:39]

John 15 (KJV)

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you;
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

Reflection: Tonight, set aside 10 minutes to read John 15 and name one habit you will surrender so you can abide more deeply — what will you do first tomorrow morning to make that change?

Day 2: Envy and strife block God’s presence.

Envy, jealousy, contention, and gossip shut down the move of God in families and churches; when hearts carry hurt and keep replaying offenses, the presence will be stifled — instead choose to forgive, put the hurt into God’s hands, and refuse to let gossip or bitterness control your words and worship. [09:24]

James 3:16 (KJV)

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

Reflection: Who is one person you need to forgive or reconcile with this week, and will you contact them within 48 hours to begin the conversation asking to make things right?

Day 3: Reconcile before worship; resolve conflict first.

If you bring your gift to the altar and remember offense, leave the gift and first be reconciled — God wants offerings and praise from hearts free of strife, so examine yourself, seek out the person you’ve offended or who offended you, and take the initiative to restore fellowship before coming into the Lord’s presence. [15:00]

Matthew 5:23-24 (KJV)

23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Reflection: Before the next time you worship, who will you reach out to this week to ask for forgiveness or to offer it, and will you schedule that conversation now?

Day 4: Respond to God’s presence with heartfelt praise.

People react differently in God’s presence — some shout, some cry, some are quiet — but the focus must be on Jesus, not on criticizing others’ expressions; whether loud or still, let your response honor the Lord and refuse to draw attention to yourself as the thing that quenches the Spirit. [18:07]

Luke 19:37-40 (KJV)

37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen,
38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

Reflection: When you come to worship this week, will you intentionally close your eyes for five minutes and fix your attention on Jesus, choosing praise over criticism when others express their worship?

Day 5: Holy Spirit guides truth and glorifies Jesus.

The Spirit of truth guides believers into all truth and does not draw attention to Himself but points to Jesus; learn to walk with the Holy Spirit, receive the revelations He brings from Jesus, and allow Him to change your thinking so you live in the supernatural, not the natural. [28:33]

John 16:13-14 (KJV)

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Reflection: Ask the Holy Spirit right now to show you one specific truth about Jesus that you must obey today, write it down, and do that one thing before the day ends.

Sermon Summary

God made this day, and I will rejoice in it. I urged us to live every day in the presence of God—not just Sundays—by seeking Him early, preparing our hearts, and staying focused on Jesus all day long. Jesus modeled this by withdrawing to be with the Father. Each day is fresh, so I called us to deepen our prayer life and learn to “tune” our hearts to Him like a favorite radio station, keeping our attention fixed on the right frequency.

I addressed what hinders His presence: envy, strife, unforgiveness, and a focus on people instead of on the Lord. Churches—and families—get stuck when we center the hurt, the gossip, or the conflict. Scripture tells us to reconcile before we bring our gifts, to examine ourselves, and to deal with our hearts so we can give, worship, and live joyfully. The tongue tells on us; if bitterness still flows from our mouths, forgiveness has not yet taken root.

I also talked about how people respond differently in God’s presence. Some are quiet; some shout; some dance. Loud praise is biblical, but drawing attention to ourselves is not. The Spirit glorifies Jesus, not Himself, and God’s order is never cold like a cemetery; it’s living, joyful, and focused. Close your eyes if you must, but stay centered on Jesus.

Paul and Silas show us that places of pain can become places of praise. They didn’t let the prison set the atmosphere; their worship did—and God moved. I invited those who don’t know Christ to come to Him, and I prayed for healing and deliverance. For believers, I urged repentance where there’s strife or bitterness. Nothing is better than abiding in Jesus. Walk in His presence; forgive; reconcile; and let the Holy Spirit guide you into truth as you fix your eyes on Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. Tune your heart to God daily When I intentionally focus my attention on Jesus, I begin to notice His presence in ordinary moments. Like setting a radio preset, the soul learns which frequency brings life. Trials try to retune us to fear, but steady attention brings clarity and peace. Keep returning to Him, again and again. [07:32]
2. Unforgiveness blocks the flow of grace God calls us to reconcile before we offer, because reconciliation reopens communion with Him. Our words reveal whether we’ve truly forgiven; lingering poison in the mouth means poison in the heart. Forgiveness is not denial—it’s transferring the case to God’s court so we can be free. Obedience restores joy. [15:00]
3. Freedom in worship; focus on Jesus Scripture welcomes loud praise, quiet tears, and holy dancing, but warns against drawing attention to ourselves. The Spirit glorifies Jesus; when I do the same, my soul comes into order. Joy without humility becomes noise; humility without joy becomes a graveyard. True worship is alive, reverent, and Christ-centered. [18:07]
4. Praise changes prisons, not just moods Paul and Silas didn’t worship because the dungeon felt good; they worshiped because Jesus is Lord. Their praise altered the atmosphere and unlocked what chains could not. When I sing in the dark, I’m agreeing with a greater reality than my circumstances. God meets me there with power and purpose. [25:28]
5. Stop focusing on people; behold the Lord Strife thrives where eyes are horizontal; peace returns when eyes are vertical. I’ve lived bitter and I’ve lived surrendered—the presence of God only rests on the latter. Look beyond the offense, address what must be addressed, and return your gaze to Christ. Attention is allegiance; give it to Him. [12:27]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:12] - Global missions testimony
[01:53] - Living in God’s presence review
[02:31] - Go deeper in daily prayer
[03:09] - Hindrances to His presence
[04:22] - Knowing Jesus vs attending church
[07:32] - Tune your heart to God
[08:46] - When strife silences worship
[10:00] - Forgive and guard your words
[17:31] - Loud praise and biblical freedom
[19:18] - Decency and order in worship
[24:52] - Praise changes prisons
[28:33] - Spirit glorifies Jesus
[34:46] - Healing and deliverance prayer
[36:39] - Closing blessing: abide in Him

Bible Study Guide

Study Guide — Living in God’s Presence (based on the sermon)

Bible reading (ESV)
- John 15:4–5
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

- Matthew 5:23–24
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

- Acts 16:25–34 (selected)
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken... Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Observation questions (3–4)

Read John 15:4–5. What are the concrete markers of “abiding” that the passage names (what staying connected to Christ produces)?
Matthew 5:23–24 says to be reconciled before you offer. What practical steps does that require from someone who realizes they are holding a grievance? ([15:00])
In Acts 16:25–26, what sequence of events connects worship/prayer and God’s intervention? How does the jailer’s question and conversion fit the outcome of that worship? ([25:28])
The sermon lists envy, strife, and unforgiveness as hindrances. How does James 3:16 (as quoted in the message) describe the fruit of those attitudes, and how would you recognize that fruit in a church or family? ([09:24])

Interpretation questions (3–4)
(Third-person, objective)

What does “abide” in John 15 likely require of a believer’s daily rhythm (time, attention, speech) rather than a one-time event? Consider the pastor’s idea of “tuning” the heart. ([07:32])
How should Matthew 5:23–24 shape the way a church handles conflict—does the passage suggest private, immediate effort to reconcile, or something broader? Give specific examples. ([15:00])
When Paul and Silas worshiped in prison, did their praise primarily change God’s disposition, the spiritual atmosphere, or the physical situation (or some combination)? How should that view affect a believer’s response in suffering? ([25:28])
John 16:13–14 teaches the Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus. What criteria might a church use to test whether expressive worship is God-honoring (Spirit-glorifying) or self-seeking? ([28:33])

Application questions (5–7)
(Be specific and personal)

Tuning your heart: pick one simple morning practice you will do every day this week to “tune” to Jesus (time, place, short prayer or Scripture). When and where will you do it? ([07:32])
Reconcile before you worship/give: is there one person you need to contact this week to begin reconciliation? Name the person and one concrete first step you will take (call, meet for coffee, write a note). Set a day. ([15:00])
Watch your mouth: next time a memory of offense comes to mind, what specific three-step response will you train yourself to do instead of repeating the offense (for example: pause, pray 30 seconds, speak a short blessing)? Try it this week and report back. ([10:35])
If expressive worship triggers judgment in you, what will you do this week to re-center on Christ rather than on other people’s behavior? (Example: close your eyes for 3 songs, speak a short prayer asking God to show you what He is doing, or thank God for the person who is free.) ([18:07])
Praise in hard places: identify a “prison” (season of pain, fear, or waiting) in your life. What will you do daily this week to worship or praise (sing, pray, read Psalm 34 or 42, speak Scripture aloud) to open yourself to God’s movement? Commit to a specific time and length. ([25:28])
Root out envy/bitterness: name one person or situation that still stirs envy or bitterness in you. What is one practical step you will take this week to transfer the case to God’s hands (pray for them, fast one meal and pray, journal and then burn the resentment, ask a friend to hold you accountable)? Set a date to act. ([11:08])

Notes for group leaders
- Start the group by reading one of the Bible passages aloud (John 15 is a good opener).
- Encourage honest, specific answers—this sermon focuses on concrete change (habits, conversations, words), not abstract ideals.
- If people ask for confidentiality when naming relationships, allow private sharing or ask them to bring a general plan without naming names.

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