Winter
2000
The
Manifest Presence of God P-15
Walter Beuttler
“To him who overcomes will I grant to sit with
Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am
set down with My Father in His throne.” Rev 3:21.
This reveals the requirement for entering into a place of
responsibility, in relation to the Lord’s manifest presence.
To be in this “throne relationship” with the
Lord requires of us a quality of overcoming. We must overcome
our thoughts, our desires, and our natural abilities. This
means that we have submitted the totality of our being to
the Lord, and in our daily life experience, we are rising
above the pulls of the earthly.
Thus, to be an overcomer requires that we make this major
decision, followed by many lesser decisions, in submitting
ourselves unconditionally to the Lord. Do we choose to give
our priorities to the Lord, or do we give priority to our
other interests? Our response, or our failure to respond,
shows where our heart really is. It is here that we will fail,
unless we recognize that the term “over-coming”
involves both pressure and conflict.
In chapter one of Mark, the Lord did not speak to Peter and
Andrew while they were resting, or when they were mending
their nets. Rather, He said "Come and follow Me"
as they were casting their net into the sea. Seemingly, this
was not the right time for the Lord to ask this. Peter could
have said, "Lord, I have just dropped my net into the
sea and it will take awhile for the fish to get into it. As
soon as I am done fishing, I will be with you."
But this is not what happened. The Word tells us that Peter
straightway left the demands of his profession. He left his
nets in the sea, fish and all, and followed Jesus. The Lord
seeks for those who will respond in unquestioning, instantaneous
obedience. If Peter had asked the Lord to wait until he had
finished his fishing, the Lord would have gone on. Here, Peter's
priorities were tested. His obedience had to overcome his
professional interest.
By trade, I am a pattern draftsman. Both my grandfather and
father were businessmen, which trait was imparted into my
life at an early age. I received intensive training in Germany
and then came to the United States at the age of twenty one
in 1925. Soon, I opened my own drafting office in New York
City and worked long and hard, patterning drawings for the
Patent Office in Washington.
I was alone in the office one Saturday afternoon when suddenly,
I heard a voice saying, "Go down to the street and testify
of Me." I thought, this is the Lord, but I am very busy
and I must get this work done, as it has been promised by
a certain time.”
I had hardly started back to work when the power of God so
moved on me that it literally shook the pencil out of my hand.
After awhile this manifest power subsided, so I picked up
my pencil and went back to work. I sometimes wonder why the
Lord was so patient with me.
Again, the Lord said, "Go down to the street and testify
of me." I knew what He wanted, but again I said that
I was too busy. And again, the power came down and literally
shook the pencil out of my hand.
Finally, I came to understand that the Lord wanted me to
put my work in second place and obey Him. I went down to the
subway at Forty-Second Street, and entered a subway car and
began talking to the people who were near me about my experience
of salvation. Then, I went from car to car testifying about
the Lord.
As I entered a car toward the end of the train, a policeman
was standing there. After I started speaking, I saw him scowling
at me. Because I had to go past him to get to the next car,
I became scared. In my heart I said, "Lord, I have to
walk past him, please make a way for me.” Then I walked
into the next car without a problem, and testified. After
this, I left the train and went back to work in my office.
Four weeks later, the Lord spoke to me about going to Bible
School. I was able to obey, even though I was very fond of
my work and was doing well. Because there was a conflict within
concerning my obedience, the Lord prepared me so I would be
able to pass the test that I would face concerning the giving
up of my business and going to Bible School.
Also, we may face conflicts in the social area of our lives.
I was once engaged in a week of being separated to the Lord
in fasting and prayer. My wife and small daughter were talking
and I heard my daughter say, "Mommy, doesn't daddy love
us anymore?" My wife said, "He loves us, what makes
you think that he doesn’t?" My daughter responded,
"He is always in there, and he never takes me for a walk."
I had a very hard time not giving up what I felt the Lord
had instructed me to do, and take her for a walk. The pressure
I felt was intense.
Another time, when I was very busy, the Lord prompted me
to go into the attic because He desired to talk to me. I had
a desk there so I could study or pray. I thought I would go
up for a few minutes, and then I would be free to do what
I needed to do.
I went up and said, "Lord, here I am, what do you want?”
There was no response from the Lord. Again I said, "Lord,
I am available." I waited, but the Lord said nothing.
Then I said, "Lord, will You hurry?" Not a word.
Then I said, "Please, Lord, it is getting late.”
Finally, I realized that I must wait until I become quiet,
as the Lord had something special to say. Then the Lord spoke
three words to me, “Desire spiritual gifts.” I
knew that I was to write an article on this subject. I sat
down at the table and began to write. The words came in a
steady stream. I could hardly keep up until it was finished.
I had to overcome all that I felt urgently needed my attention.
“To him who overcomes.” This means that other
interests must be set aside at the beckoning of the Lord.
Even legitimate things that bring us into a conflict with
the Lord’s interests, which seemingly cannot be put
off.
In order for us to be in this “overcoming” relationship
with Him, the Lord requires the right and the priority to
our time. When He deals with us, we must overcome all other
interests and activities. We must say “no” to
things in order to say “yes” to Him. This may
be very costly, as it cuts across all the human drives within
us.
Although the price of saying yes to the Lord is great, the
price of saying no is greater still. Gradually, we will learn
that it will cost us far less to say “yes” to
the Lord than to say “no.” Only then will we become
the overcomer whom the Lord will lift into His higher purpose.
Notice that there is a progression which leads into the place
where the Lord would have us.
"I stand and knock" - Attention.
"If any man" - Opportunity
"Hear” - Perception
"My voice" - Recognition
"And open the door" - Response
“I will come into him - Communion
The manifest presence of the Lord is available to those who
will respond in obedience to His desire to commune with them.
“Come, My beloved, let us go out into the field;
let us stay in the villages. Let us rise up early
to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flowers,
whether the tender grape appears, and the pomegranates
bud forth: there I will give you My loves.” SS 7:11-12.
Now we are ready to enter into a cooperative relationship
with our Lord - “let us go (together).” Apart
from His manifest presence in our lives, nothing else will
ever satisfy or be fulfilling. We were created for this.