Never Alone

We need to recognize that we are never alone. Elijah took the low road when Jezebel threatened him because he thought he was alone. The original text is in 1 Kings 18:20-45; 19:1-5 but Paul also referenced it in the book of Romans.

2-6 Do you remember that time Elijah was agonizing over this same Israel and cried out in prayer?

God, they murdered your prophets, They trashed your altars; I’m the only one left and now they’re after me!

And do you remember God’s answer?

I still have seven thousand who haven’t quit, Seven thousand who are loyal to the finish.

It’s the same today. There’s a fiercely loyal minority still—not many, perhaps, but probably more than you think. They’re holding on, not because of what they think they’re going to get out of it, but because they’re convinced of God’s grace and purpose in choosing them. If they were only thinking of their own immediate self-interest, they would have left long ago [Roman 11:2-5 - The Message Bible].

Elijah’s cowardice starkly contrasts with his boldness and miraculous feats when his water-laden sacrifices were burned up by the fire that fell from heaven, after which he slew all the prophets of Baal. I do not mean to castigate him. This scenario could happen to anyone overwhelmed by fear and feelings of isolation. Elijah was no different from us. In fact, with the indwelling Holy Spirit, we have an advantage.

Jesus made a promise to His disciples before His crucifixion that He reiterated after His resurrection, before His ascension. Let us explore these in turn with the following scriptures.

16In my prayerful engagement with the Father, he will gave you another close companion to be with you - in such an intimate way that my immediate presence will continue to be seamlessly one with you in timeless ages.
17Your eternal companion is the Spirit of truth who cannot be grasped by the world order since their visual horizon is veiled and they are not able to understand what they cannot see. But you know because you are already acquainted with the Spirit in me and this same Spirit will reside within you.
18At no time will you be orphaned or abandoned by me; I come to abide face to face with you.
19In yet a little while and the world will no longer see me but I will be tangibly visible to you in the very life we share together.
20In that day you will know that we are seamless union with one another! I am in my Father, you are in me and I am in you [John 14:16-20 - Mirror Study Bible]!

2Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me [Acts 1: 2-4 -King James Version].

We know that the promised comforter is the Holy Spirit. We also know that He came as promised on the day of Pentecost. Peter, in explaining the phenomenon, referenced the prophet Joel when he declared emphatically:

16But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams [Acts 2:16-17 - King James Version].

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Besides the promised Comforter, Jesus in John 14:16-20 says something relevant to this subject. I particularly love the Mirror Study Bible’s notes associated with verse 20. He describes with words what can be visualized by the following figure.

What is the point that is being made?

17.. he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit [1 Corinthians 6:17 - King James Version].

We are never alone. We are in seamless union with the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, and the body of Christ.

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God’s Presence Brings Rest

Moses and God once had a very instructive conversation relevant to this subject.

11The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.

12Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 
13If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

14The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

15Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here [Exodus 33:11-15 - New International Version].

In response to Moses’ request to be taught the ways of God, the reply was, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Here, we see God’s presence linked to learning His ways and living from rest. On a superficial level, it is comforting to know that we are never alone. But God’s omnipresence is also true for those who do not discern His presence. The question is, “How can we translate His omnipresence into learning His ways and entering into rest?” The text itself gives us a clue. Verse 11 talks about God speaking to Moses face-to-face in the tent (of the Tabernacle). Part of acknowledging God’s presence is having an ongoing relationship and fellowship, including conversations and sometimes supernatural experiences with Him. The verse states that after Moses would leave, his young aide (and mentee) would remain behind. It is not surprising that God chose Joshua to lead the Israelites into the promised land after Moses disqualified himself. There is so much that can be gleaned from this, but let us limit our focus to one thing: Joshua intentionally remained in the Tabernacle, in God’s presence, beyond what was required based on his duties as Moses’ aide. What am I saying? Joshua could have left the Tabernacle whenever Moses left, but he did not. We benefit from God’s presence when we intentionally and diligently seek His presence (Hebrews 11:6).

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We also benefit from God’s presence when we acknowledge Him in all things.

5Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;  6In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths [Proverbs 3:5-6 - New King James Version].

Joshua lived by this principle, for the most part. In fact, scripture records that there was only one time that he was fooled, in the matter of the Gibeonites, and that was because he did not enquire of God (Joshua 9).

The other significant thing concerning the Moses and God conversation is “rest”. In Genesis 2:2 we learn that after God had finished creation He rested on the seventh day.

9There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His [Joshua 4:9-10 - New King James Version].

Rest is not the cessation of activity. Instead, rest is the cessation of striving. Our entering into God’s rest is about always living in love, joy, peace, and gratitude. Living from rest is about fully abiding in the “I am.” God’s rest is about refraining from one’s own works and words and about doing the works of God and speaking His words. God’s rest is related to the Finished Work. God has already done all that needs to be done in the realm of Spirit for His will to be accomplished materially. And so He rests and invites us to join Him in this posture. Those at rest need not fear, panic, or strive. God does not panic when things do not immediately occur according to His will. In the posture of rest, God is patient. As we join Him in the posture of rest, patience must have its perfect work in us so that we will be complete and mature (having learned His ways, our ways (James 1:4).

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Many Mansions

In John chapter 13, Jesus is conversing at the Last Supper. He is communicating with His disciples about His impending betrayal and crucifixion. Naturally, they are troubled. The story continues in John chapter 14. Let us look at the passage using the familiar King James version.

1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also [John 14:1-3 - King James Version].

Traditionally, this scripture is a favorite of those who support the rapture and the heavenly mansions that await those privileged enough to make it through Heaven’s pearly gates. Whether or not that is true is not the focus of this lesson. Instead, I want to focus on the text within the proper context. Some relevant questions should be?

• What was Jesus’ intent when He spoke these words?
• What is Jesus’ Father’s House?
• Many mansions (dwelling places) refer to heavenly homes or people indwelled by the Holy Spirit?
• Has Jesus already fulfilled His comforting promise to His disciples?
• Was the work of the cross not the means by which He went to prepare a place?
• Was the message Jesus conveyed to them relevant if we in contemporary times are still awaiting its fulfillment?
• Is not where He is where we are also or are we awaiting a future fulfilment of this promise?

Given the context of this topic, I believe you know where I personally stand on these questions. Let us now look at the Mirror Study Bible’s rendering of these same three verses.

1Set your troubled hearts at ease by letting your belief conclude in God as you rest your confidence in me.  2What makes my Father’s house home, is your place in it! If this was not the ultimate conclusion of my mission why would I even bother to do what I am about to do if it was not to prepare a place for you? I have come to persuade you of a place of seamless oneness where you belong. 3The proportions of what I will accomplish are astonishing! I will prepare a highway for you, just as in the Oriental custom, where people would go before a king to level the roads to make it possible for royalty to journey with ease and comfort. Then I will personally come to escort you on this royal highway, guiding you to be where I am, in seamless, face to face oneness in the Father's embrace. [v 20] By fully identifying myself with you I have mirrored you in me so that you may be completely at home where I am [John 14:1-3 - Mirror Study Bible]!

The conclusion is clear. We are never alone. We are in seamless union with the Trinity and each other. That is the first “P”: Presence.