Transcription
[Music] The presence of God, God's presence. Presence of God, God's presence. Listen to me, listen carefully. Presence, presence. Power, there is power in the presence. We are crying for power. Some people get the power. Some receive the power they got, use it, and then lose what they used. Then they get the power and misuse it. Then they go and have an accident, finished. We have seen the most powerful people, and we have seen those who fell powerfully. So, what's the reason? It has nothing to do with the power. They received the power. Some people, but some. I have seen many people. Some people have wonderful Bible knowledge. But that Bible knowledge doesn't help them. Some people, they do more. They read the Bible. But the more they read the Bible, the more rigid they become, like the Pharisees. And they criticize everybody. But the Bible has no room for that. The Bible has power. The Bible has God's presence. But sometimes, the presence in the Bible doesn't help you. So, even in some callings, people don't use it. Now I understand. The most important thing. We all know it. We all know it. But we need to refresh our minds. We need to renew our minds. We need to see in a new life. That's the presence of God. Everybody say, "The presence of God." Everyone say, "God's presence." It encompasses everything. Presence of God, the source of every blessing. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah. One thing, having Ezekiel Francis's CD and listening to it is one thing. It's another thing to receive Ezekiel Francis's letter and read it. It's another thing to hear Ezekiel Francis's phone call. It's another thing to see Ezekiel Francis's VCD. But it's totally another thing to have Ezekiel Francis's presence right by your side, in front of you. That is a different experience. Some people are satisfied with the ministry. Some people are satisfied with the gift. Some people are satisfied with their calling. But they don't, they don't, they don't look for the presence all the time. They don't love His presence. They don't enjoy His presence. They don't take hours to enjoy His presence. To say, "Oh Lord, I love You," they don't take time. That's the problem. That's where the problem is. See, when a little child is born, the child doesn't need anything. Father's shoulder, mother's lap. Just put the baby on the lap. The child will enjoy. When you are a child, nothing excites you like your father's presence. Mother's presence. In the early days of your Christian life, think about it. No church, no ministry in those days, no invitation, no family problems, no marriage problems. You are in love with Jesus. Only excitement for you was Jesus. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus in my mind. That was the excitement. That's the presence. Love for the presence. Cherish that presence. Because of the presence, invitations came now. From Africa, from Germany, from Dubai. Because of the presence, that presence opened doors for you. Everyone say, "Presence of God." God's presence opens doors for you. Say, "Presence of God." God's presence opens doors for you. Immediately, they call you. You go to Dubai. See, the presence blesses people. People run to you. Everyone gives 100 dirhams. Wow, wow. Dirhams. Now dirhams. The presence gave you. See, that dirham, the money, what gave it? God's presence. The presence gave you money. The presence gave you an open door. First, the presence gave you an open door. Then what happens? Slowly. Then, slowly, what happened? The enjoyment of the presence, the excitement about the presence, went down, down, down. Dubai, Dubai, Dubai, Dubai, Dubai, Dubai. That excitement. Now the presence of Dubai has increased. The Lord's presence has dissolved. You went to Dubai, and then the rupee came. Now you went to Dubai, and now you are standing in rupees. Wow, wow. Two lakhs. Two lakhs. Then you come and buy a nice car, with loan and all. BMW. Now BMW brings excitement. Slowly. Slowly, people from Bahrain will call me. Oh, have people from Bahrain called me? Lord, open the door of Bahrain. Oh, Lord, open the door of Bahrain right now. Open the door of Bahrain, Lord. Then you go. Then you keep going, going, going. Because of the presence. Because of that presence, all the ladies look at you with a smile. When there is no presence, even a dog will not look at you. Now you carry the presence. And they look at you. They will come. You will seek gifts. You will leave the one who gave the gifts. Then you will fast for 40 days, wanting a lot of power. If you have a lot of power, you will be invited. Listen to what is said. Everything you have, everything you are, from where you came, to the extent you have come, it is because of the presence. Everyone say, "Presence." Because of the presence. Presence. Because of the presence. But what happened? David was enjoying the presence while he was behind the sheep. He was enjoying God's presence. No, Jesus. [Music] Hama, Jesus, Zachariah, Jesus, Zachariah, Jesus. [Music] Zachariah. You know what happens? The greatest blessing, the blessing that comes, everything comes from the. Whatever blessing it is, big or small, it comes from God's presence. See, now all of us must ask God. Until I die, let me be excited in Your presence more than my husband, more than my wife, more than my children, more than my open door, more than my ministry, more than my anointing, more than my popularity, more than my health. Your presence, Lord. We must say, "Lord, until I die, I love Your presence more than my wife, husband, brother, sister, mother, father, my children, my property, my fame, everything." Everyone put your hand on your chest and say, "I love Your presence." Your presence. This position. This gives me this qualification. Say, "Your presence opened doors for me." Your presence made me great. Your presence gave me family. Your presence is the secret of my ministry. So, when we settle this issue, all the other gifts will automatically flow. Say "Hallelujah" once. Let's see. Say "Hallelujah." Jesus. I don't know what his gift is. I don't know Paul's gift. All the gifts were flowing in them. When Jesus cast out devils, I don't know how he cast them out. But one thing I know. The scripture says, Mark 3:11. Listen to me very carefully. Wherever Jesus went, wherever He went, the scripture says, as soon as the devils saw Him, everyone say, "Saw Him." Whenever they saw Him, they cried out. There is no technique. There is no great gift for casting out devils. Who understands this, raise your hand. Understood. Please. When Jesus stepped out of the boat, as soon as he comes out of the boat, a person from a long distance, seeing him, the legion-possessed man, he came running to Jesus. Why? I like it. The 12 disciples came out of the boat. The 12 disciples also came out of the boat. Chapter 5, Mark. You can see. Mark, chapter 5. Have you all seen? Have you seen? Listen, listen. As soon as Jesus stepped out, the demons started screaming. Now you tell me. Is it His gift or is it His presence that makes the devil tremble? He didn't even open his mouth. He didn't say, "In the name of Jesus." He didn't shout. He didn't say, "Blood of Jesus, Blood of Jesus, Blood of Jesus." He didn't study five points to cast out the devil. He just simply walked out of the boat. The demons cried out there. That is deliverance in the presence. Everyone say, "Presence." That presence. Hallelujah, Hallelujah. 10 lepers came. They came from a long distance. And Jesus didn't call them. When they were there, He said, "Go. Go. Go back. Go and show yourselves to the priest." As they were walking to show themselves to the priests, all were healed. Is it the gift of healing or the presence of healing? Tell me, madam. Tell me, sir. Is it the gift of healing or the presence of healing? Were they healed by the presence or by the gift? Tell me. He was going. His shadow was there. Acts 5:14-15. People, all the sick people were brought to Jerusalem. All were healed. Just by the shadow. The shadow touched them. Is it the gift of healing or the shadow of healing? Healing shadow. Is it the gift of healing or the shadow of healing? Everyone open your mouth and see. The shadow healed. Is it a gift of healing or a shadow of healing? Why was Peter's shadow so powerful? Because of the presence. The presence of God. Prophecy. Is prophecy a gift of prophecy? Yes, sir. Is it the presence of prophecy? Yes, sir. What is it? You are confusing me. What is what? I am praying for 40 days for the gift of healing. Sir, praise God. You will receive it. Because God said, "Desire spiritual gifts." Desire them. When you desire a gift, constantly, you will be given. Whatever you desire, when you pray, it shall be given to you. I like it. But I want to take you to another level. I desire the gifts of the Spirit. More than that, I desire the presence of the One who gave the gift. I want to encourage you today. It is in this that I want to encourage you. Those who say, "I want to join this group." When you are so full of His presence, gifts flow. Hallelujah. Did you understand what I am talking about? The Bible says prophecy should be coveted more than other gifts. 1 Corinthians 14. One, two, three, 39. The whole chapter. See, to prophesy. It says, "Desire to prophesy." It is a very special gift. It is a special manifestation. But I want to encourage you. There is also the presence of prophecy here. When that presence overflows, even if a donkey comes in, the donkey will prophesy. Even a backslider will come inside and he will prophesy. That's what happened in 1 Samuel. Chapter 10, verses 9 to 10. The sons of the prophets came. When the sons of the prophets came, they were playing music. They came down from the mountain, playing the harp. And Samuel told Saul. Saul was not a prophet then. He didn't even come to Samuel for anointing. He came to seek a lost donkey. Saul came to Samuel. He came to ask about his lost donkey. But Samuel said, "You have come seeking a donkey, but the whole nation is looking for you." You came just to receive a word. India is looking at you. All your relatives are looking for you. Nations are looking for you. The sick are waiting for you to be healed. The demon-possessed are waiting for you to be delivered. But Samuel said, "Oh, the whole nation is looking for you, but you have come worried about your lost donkey." He poured the oil on him. Then he said, "When you go back, a group of people will come down. Everyone say loudly, 'A group of people.'" Everyone say, "A group of people." A group of people. They are called the sons of prophets. They are called the sons of prophets. Can I tell you good news? All of you are sons of prophets, or daughters of prophets. Everyone say loudly, "I am a son of a prophet." "I am a daughter of a prophet." Hallelujah, Hallelujah. Then Samuel said, "When you go back, you will see a group of people coming. They will be playing music in their hands. They will be worshipping with the harp. When you go near them, everyone put your hand on your chest and say, 'When you go near them.'" Near them. When you go near them, the spirit of prophecy will come upon you. You will become a different person. And you will begin to prophesy. He was not ready. He was not ready. He didn't fast. He didn't even pray. He was only ready to find a donkey. But you tell me now. When Saul went there, the spirit came. He became a different person. He began to prophesy. And people said, "Oh my, oh my, Saul also is a prophet." Now I want to ask you. Now I will ask you a question. What came upon Saul? Is it the gift of prophecy, or the presence of prophecy? Tell me. What came? The gift or the presence? [Music] Lovely answer. When you are full of His presence, prophecy comes. [Music] Even as a teenager, I never studied about gifts. Even in those days, if I joked, that would be a prophecy. Sometimes, when you are conscious of the presence, sometimes even if you talk normally, for someone, it will become a prophecy. Say "Hallelujah" once. Say "Hallelujah." So, we have gifts. But more than that, we must love the presence. Cherish it. When you are full of His presence, it becomes a different story. I will explain to you. You don't have to cry for that presence. That presence is within you. But you need to learn how to rejoice in that divine presence. That treasure is within that presence. Man was created not for his talent, but to be in loving fellowship with the Father. Take Genesis. Let's start from the first verse. The more you understand the Bible, the more you will enjoy the presence. The more you know the truth, the truth will set you free. That truth will lead you into the presence of God. [Music]