“Practicing the Presence of God”
Learning to Live a Lifestyle of Worship
1. Introduction: Worship as Our First Ministry
Romans 12:1 (KJV)
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service of worship.”
Worship is not merely something we do—it is who we are called to be. Before ministry, service, or calling, our first and highest ministry is worship.
What is Worship?
- Greek – Proskuneo: “to kiss toward,” expressing reverence, devotion, and intimate adoration.
- Hebrew – Shachah: “to bow down, to prostrate oneself,” indicating humility and surrender.
Worship, therefore, is both:
- An act of deep humility before God
- An expression of intimate love and devotion
True worship is not passive. It is a deliberate, outward response to the worthiness of God. When practiced both individually and corporately, it invites the manifest presence and glory of God among His people.
2. The Ways We Practice His Presence
Practicing God’s presence is not confined to a moment—it is cultivated through intentional habits and heart postures.
A. By Knowing the God We Worship
1 Thessalonians 5:17 — “Pray without ceasing”
To worship rightly, we must know God rightly.
Worship is the act of ascribing worth to God—but we cannot assign worth to One we do not truly know. This requires:
- A growing understanding of His character and ways
Fact Over Emotion
Emotions are part of worship—but they are not its foundation.
True worship is anchored in truth, not feelings.
If we rely only on emotion, our worship becomes unstable. But when rooted in truth, our worship remains steady—even in difficulty.
Understanding God’s Holiness
Our depth in worship is directly tied to our understanding of who God is.
Isaiah 6:1–5 - 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
When Isaiah saw the Lord:
- He immediately became aware of God’s holiness
- He also became aware of his own unworthiness
“Woe is me… for I am a man of unclean lips…”
Revelation of God produces humility in us.
And humility is the foundation of authentic worship.
B. By Surrendering to God’s Will
Worship must be offered on God’s terms—not ours.
We live in a culture that often asks: “What did I get out of that?”
But true worship asks: “Was God honored?”
Isaiah 66:2—"This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.”
The Model of Christ
Matthew 26:39—"Not as I will, but as You will.”
Jesus demonstrated that true worship is submission.
To practice God’s presence, we must:
- Submit daily to His Word and Spirit
C. By Making Room for God
Worship requires intentional space.
An illustration:
“I'm having a tea-party, Daddy”
A father who was away from his family for an extended time called home to check on his 5-year old daughter. He asked, "What are you doing honey?" She said, "I'm having a tea-party Daddy". He said, "Well, would you set a place for me, so we could pretend like I'm there?" She said, "I already did, Daddy. I set 5 places for you, because I didn't know where you'd rather sit".
Question:
Have we made a place for God—or have we left Him no room?
- Is He truly enthroned within us?
Or is our devotion divided among:
God does not compete for space—He desires total lordship.
D. By Making Room in Corporate Worship
Is God truly the center of our gatherings?
Or are our services dominated by:
We must move beyond symbolic moments (“the holy hush”) and cultivate gatherings where:
- His presence is prioritized
E. By Cultivating Private Worship
Private devotion fuels public expression.
If worship is absent in private, it will be shallow in public.
2 Samuel 6 13-15 - 13 When those who were carrying the ark of the Lord had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. 14 Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, 15 while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.
David danced before the Lord publicly—but that expression was born from years of private devotion.
Principle:
What you practice in private, you will release in public.
F. By Living a Daily Sacrificial Life
We must offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, every single day.
Romans 12:1—“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service of worship.”
This means:
- Daily offering of ourselves
- Worship Beyond Circumstances
Our lives should be lived continually exalting the Lord, blessing Him and praising Him, no matter what our circumstances might be.
Habakkuk 3:17–18—“Though the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation”.
True worship declares:
“God is worthy—even when life is not favorable.”
God-Centered vs. Self-Centered Worship
We must guard against conditional worship.
Worship is not based on:
It is based solely on God’s worthiness.
G. By Living in Continuous Gratitude
Gratitude fuels authentic worship.
Consider just a few reasons:
- Salvation through the cross
- The very breath we breathe
Psalm 79:13—Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will proclaim your praise.
Gratitude transforms worship from routine into overflow.
3. The Benefits of Practicing His Presence
A. Transformation
2 Corinthians 3:18—And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Worship does not change God—it changes us.
As we behold Him:
Worship is spiritual formation.
B. Cleansing and Restoration
- Isaiah 6:6–7 — The coal from the altar cleansed Isaiah
- Luke 7 — The woman who worshiped received forgiveness
In God’s presence:
C. Renewed Purpose and Direction
Encountering God realigns our lives.
After Isaiah’s encounter, he responded:
“Here am I, send me.”
Worship clarifies:
D. Empowerment
Worship reconnects us to our source of power.
The presence of God is what distinguishes His people.
E. Release of God’s Anointing
Worship invites:
- Manifestation of God’s attributes (peace, healing, provision)
- Shifts in spiritual atmosphere
Acts 16 (Paul and Silas) demonstrates that worship can:
- Bring divine intervention
F. Revival and Spiritual Awakening
John 12:32—"And I, when I am lifted up[a] from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
When God is exalted:
Worship prepares the ground for harvest.
G. Victory
Throughout Scripture:
- Corrupted worship leads to defeat
- Pure worship leads to victory
2 Chronicles 20 shows that when God’s people worship:
- God fights on their behalf
4. The Perceived Costs of Worship
True worship often requires sacrifice—but every cost yields greater reward.
- Dignity – David worshiped without restraint
- Pride – Isaiah was undone before God
- Future – Abraham surrendered Isaac
- Agenda – Personal plans yield to God’s will
- Treasure – The alabaster jar was broken
- Position – The three Hebrews risked everything
Principle:
What appears costly in worship becomes gain in God’s kingdom.
5. Conclusion: A Life of Worship
Romans 12:1—"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."
This reminds us that worship is a living sacrifice.
2 Samuel 24:24—But the king [King David] replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”
True worship costs us:
But it is a worthy exchange.
Final Thought
A life of worship is a life lived in:
- Awareness of God’s goodness
And when we live this way, our lives become an invitation for others to encounter Him.
