Introduction: Are you enjoying the PRESENCE of Jesus these days? But how can we? You say there is too much trouble in the world….bad things happening all the time. Distractions. Anxiety. Stress. Trials. While this is true, the Holy Spirit releases His glorious PRESENCE in our lives as we yield to Him. Have you ever said, “Holy Spirit, take CONTROL”? Will you do it now?

1. Peter and John learned the secret of being in His PRESENCE! (Acts 4:13)

“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.”

There is a beautiful rose garden in Romania that emanates a sweet fragrance. Once a person visits this rose garden, from that point on, the rest of the day, they carry the sweet aroma where ever they go. So it is when we spend time in the PRESENCE of Jesus. He releases His sweet aroma so that when others are around us they can sense we have been with Jesus!

2. David understood the absolute importance of being in his Lord’s PRESENCE! (Psalm 16:11)

“….in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

While David was a great preacher, and leader, and king. If you were to ask him what was his MAIN thing, goal, passion in life, he would say the following:

“4One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; 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 27:4)

Have we learned this life changing truth? I can hear our Lord calling us to learn to “wait” upon Him.

3. Ezra discovered the key to enjoying the PRESENCE of the Lord! (2Chron 5:13, 14)

“3It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; 14So 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.”