The Ministry of Presence
Matthew 1:23 (NKJV)
23“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
The Presence of God with Us!
A Paradigm Shift
Colossians 1:27 (NKJV)
27To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
The Ministry of Presence
Not only with us, but in us
The Ministry of Presence
The Ministry of Presence Described
The Ministry of Presence
Job 2:11 (NKJV)
11Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him.
The Ministry of Presence
Job 2:12 (NKJV)
12And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven.
The Ministry of Presence
Job 2:13 (NKJV)
13So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.
The Ministry of Presence
Ministry without a Word
The Ministry of Presence
the Ministry of Presence Demonstrated
The Ministry of Presence
II Timothy 1:16 (NKJV)
16The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain;
The Ministry of Presence
II Timothy 1:17 (NKJV)
17but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me.
The Ministry of Presence
II Timothy 1:18 (NKJV)
18The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.
The Ministry of Presence
Ministry that Works
The Ministry of Presence
The Ministry of Presence Defined
The Ministry of Presence
James 1:26 (NKJV)
26If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.
The Ministry of Presence
James 1:27 (NKJV)
27Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
One of the best ways to help people who are hurting is to just be there
The Ministry of Presence
Thoughts
Simply quoting Scripture does not always heal the sorrow
The Ministry of Presence
Retrain from the temptation to say something profound
The Ministry of Presence
Resist the temptation that you must always speak in order to show love
The Ministry of Presence