A quick scan of the scriptures shows a clear factor/trait that was common to all the men of faith who succeeded in fulfilling God’s assignment for their lives: the presence of God was with them.
1. Abraham:
o And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, “God is with you in all that you do.” (Gen. 21:22)
2. Isaac:
o And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham’s sake.” (Genesis 26:24)
3. Joseph:
o And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. (Gen. 39:3)
o The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper. (Gen. 39:23)
o And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him. (Acts 7:9)
4. Moses:
o The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Ex. 33:14)
5. Joshua:
o No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. (Josh. 1:5)
o Now the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you just as I was with Moses. (Josh. 3:7)
6. Phinehas:
o And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the LORD was with him. (1Chr. 9:20)
7. Samuel:
o And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. (1 Sam. 3:19)
8. David:
o And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul. (1 Sam. 18:12 )
o And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. (1 Sam. 18:14)
o And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him. (2 Sam. 5:10)
o So David waxed greater and greater: for the LORD of hosts was with him. (1 Chr. 11:9)
9. Solomon (Before He Strayed):
o And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly. (2 Chr. 1:1)
10. King Asa (Before He Strayed):
o And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him. (2 Chr. 15:9)
11. King Hezekiah (At the beginning):
o And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not. (2 Kings 18:7)
12. Ezra:
o This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him (Ezra 7:6)
o For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him. (Ezra 7:9)
o And hath extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors, and before all the king's mighty princes. And I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me, and I gathered together out of Israel chief men to go up with me. (Ezra 7:28)
13. Nehemiah:
o And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me (Neh 2:8)
o Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work. (Neh 2:18)
14. John the Baptist:
o And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. (Luke 1:66)
15. Jesus:
o How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. (Acts 10:38)
16. The Early Church in Antioch:
o And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. (Acts 11:21)
Friends,
the abiding presence of God is the secret to achieving good success (emphasis
on good) in our life’s journey. Let us seek, cultivate His presence with all
our heart and flee from sin and anything that will rob us of His glorious presence.
