Beacon of Truth Ministries

Understanding the Difference between God’s

Omni-Presence and His Manifest Presence

In Jerimiah 23 it describes God’s Omni-Presence. Verse 23 Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? 24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD. God is everywhere and sees everybody and everything!

John 14 describes who God will manifest himself to by His Holy spirit. Verse 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

In 2Ch 5 we see what happens when His presence manifests to humanity Verse 14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.

God desires to manifest himself to us as his sons and daughters but he places conditions upon his manifest presence. One of the major differences between the Omni-Presence and His Manifest Presence is that there is no condition placed upon his Omni-Presence. The Manifest Presence; however, has conditions to it as we read in John 14.

In 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 we see the nine manifestations of the Holy Spirit. These are ways that God shows his love to us by allowing His presence to manifest and as a result many times he does so through his gifts. These are moments God encourages us to covet earnestly for and wants us to seek him for.

I believe there is a danger in seeking for God’s manifest presence if our hearts and lives are not right with him. While His presence cannot be earned with religious works; however, it can open us up to deception if we have rebellion in our hearts toward the ways of God. According to scripture lying signs and wonders are real and those who do not love truth are the most susceptible to them.

I believe the church should seek God for his Manifest Presence but also believe we should allow the Holy Spirit to sanctify us from any attitude that displeases the Lord. Pursuing the following Four H’s in character traits is what ushers in the true presence of God into our lives.

Honesty 2Cor 8:21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

Humility Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Hunger Mt 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Holiness Ps 29:2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.