Pursuing His Manifested Presence.
(February 16, 2009)In the beginning God created man in His image, or in His likeness (Gen.1:26). So we could say that we were created to live like God, not like the devil as some seem to think. Then we read that God would come down in the cool of the day, to fellowship with Adam. Yet, after Adam disobeyed God, Adam hid from God's presence when God wanted to fellowship with him (Gen.3:8).
In the beginning, Eve was also called Adam (Gen.5:2), being half of Adam, and also his mirror image. Gender wars did not exist, but perfect balance and equality.
Every person's purpose was, and is, to walk in daily fellowship with his or her creator. This is the reason for which we are created, to walk and talk with God. We will never be fulfilled or happy outside of this purpose.
What separated us from God was Adam's sin, when he disobeyed God's instructions, and that is why Adam hid from God's presence. Yet, God had a backup plan and He spoke to the devil: "her seed, it shall bruise thy head" (Gen. 3:15).
So Jesus made a way back into the presence of the Father, by grace through faith!
Since God's dwelling tangible presence, or Shekhinah, cannot be explained with human reasoning or logic, it is a stumbling block for many Christians in the western world.
However, I can see that the developing nations, where people are relying more on their intuition than their intellect, seem to have an easier time understanding God's presence. This was the same presence that filled the temple when they were all unable to stand and serve in their own strength (2 Chron. 7:1-2, 1 Kings 8:11). See video footage of God's presence manifested in Central America.
Artists also have an easier time to flow with the Biblical concept of His presence. For how can the most brilliant mind explain a spiritual phenomenon like love and joy, or fear and hatred? What are they, and why?
The Word of God says: "For the natural mind receives not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor.2:14).
It is like trying to explain what art is. If we could explain it, then it would no longer be art. True art is a reflection of the Creator with His presence and His glory.
His presence, just like love, is not to be explained, but to be enjoyed!
So when people say that they want God's presence in their lives, but walk only by their own human reasoning, then their actions are contradicting their words. It is as if they were trying to drive their car with the breaks on, it does not really work.
And it will never work, because God is a spirit, and they that worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth (John. 4:24).
This is our desire and goal as prophetic artists, and the main reason for our prophetic artists conferences, namely, to teach and to learn how to better glorify God through our art by including God's presence and allowing for a release of our divine destinies.
Roger Wågsjö