The Importance of His Presence

Exodus 34:29 “And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him.”

Judges 16:20 “And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him.”

The little phrase “wist not” is used nine times in the Bible. The meaning of the phrase in both the Old Testament and the New Testament is basically the same; to know, ascertain, or having knowledge of in reference to seeing. With respect to its usage, there are two times that the phrase is used in reference to the presence of God in the life of an individual; Moses and Samson. Neither man realized the potential associated with the presence or the passing of God in their life. One was ignorant to his witness and the other was ignorant to his weakness and both conditions were the direct result of the personal presence of God in their life.

Doesn’t the principle set forth in these men’s lives give divine insight into our Lord’s promise; “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Acts 1:8 emphasizes the fact that weakness and witness of the saints are eternally linked to the presence of the Holy Ghost! In examining these events in the lives of Moses and Samson we discover that not only is there a link with respect to God’s presence, but one’s witness and one’s weakness are eternally linked together; they are inversely proportional! A decrease in weakness yields and increase in witness; an increase in weakness yields a decrease in witness! This principle is visually reinforced in the lives of Peter and John; “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). The absence of weakness in the lives of Peter and John yielded a marvelous increase in witness for the Lord Jesus Christ; the key, the presence of Jesus in their lives!

If you want to see a significant change in your weakness and your witness for the better, just increase your exposure to God!