River of Life Church
Pastor Greg Temke
Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026
www.rolfamily.com
HOSTING THE PRESENCE OF GOD
WHAT IS HOSTING GOD’S PRESENCE? “Hosting God’s presence means actively inviting, becoming aware of, and responding to God’s nearness through devotion, worship, prayer, and obedience, creating an internal and external environment where His Spirit can manifest, and transform us to experience deeper intimacy with Jesus.”
It’s about prioritizing God’s will, yielding to the Holy Spirit, and cultivating a lifestyle that honors Him above all else.
Psalm 27:4, “One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord, All the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.”
Psalm 91:1-2, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’”
Psalm 84:10, “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”
Zephaniah 3:17, “The Lord is in your midst…”
PRAYER IS UNDERSTOOD IN 3 CATEGORIES
- Communion – Worship is the heart of God. (FOUNDATIONAL)
- Petition – Making supplicational requests to God. (LEGAL)
- Intercession -The middle position of praying for others, and the nations.(Responsibility)
Communion + Petition + Intercession = Thanksgiving, the overflow of a heart that recognizes what God has given us.
THREE TYPES OF GOD’S PRESENCE IN CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY
- Omnipresence (God is everywhere).
- The Indwelling Presence (the Holy Spirit living within believers).
- The Manifest Presence (God revealing Himself to believers)
These levels describe God’s constant being, His internal work in followers, and His special, noticeable interactions with people or places.
MOSES CAME CLOSEST TO BEHOLDING THE FULL GLORY OF GOD: Exodus 33:21-23, “And the Lord said, ‘Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. 22 So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. 23 Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.’”
TWO SISTERS HOST GOD’S PRESENCE – LUKE 10:41B-42
Mary and Martha were sisters who hosted Jesus as a guest one day.
Martha was worried about putting food on the table. Mary was concerned about presence.
POWERPOINT: Hosting God’s Presence is not a problem that you have to solve. It is an inheritance that you can simply receive.
POWERPOINT: We cannot receive God’s presence by relying on A.I. and google to tell you what you need.
10 PRACTICAL WAYS TO HOST THE PRESENCE OF GOD
- Sit Quietly – Enjoy the very sense of His presence. Don’t rush the moment.
- Listen -Tune your soul to His stillness.
- Yield -Let Him come near. Put yourself in a “Here I am” position.
- Let God Speak– Avoid the temptation to break holy silence.
- Keep a Prayer Journal– Write thoughts, scriptures, prayers, promises and action items.
- Let God Love You – This is the essence of the prayer relationship.
- Take a Walk – Go get alone with God. Drop everything.
- Keep your Secret Place – This is your daily place to share your deepest desires with God. Pour your soul out. (Ezra 9:5-8)
- Learn the Bible’s Language – What happens to you is similar to David, Paul etc. The Psalms are helpful in learning prayer vocabulary.
- Celebrate His Presence -Give voice to His sense of presence.
3 ATTITUDES FOR HOSTING GOD’S PRESENCE
- Dwell/Remain: The Hebrew idea of “dwelling” (Psalm 91) implies sitting, settling, and remaining, not just visiting.
- Intimacy/Safety: God’s presence is about finding a place of safety, warmth, and deep connection.
- Receive/Respond: It involves being open to God’s Word, listening for His voice.
“My sheep know my voice” John 10:27
Psalm 16:11, “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
GOD WANTS TO SHOW YOU PROVISION IN 2026
- Provision through Man’s Hand – Joseph Egypt
- Provision through God’s Hands – The Miracle of Manna
- Provision through Your Hands- …Sowing for a harvest.
- Provision through Your enemies hands- ….In the presence of my enemies.
KEY TAKE-A-WAY: HOW WILL I HOST GOD IN 2026?