The Manifest Presence of God: Unveiled Glory & Majesty

“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers met together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become ‘unity’ conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship. Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier. The whole Church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life. Likewise, any spiritual blessing falls with greater power when sought, not for its own sake, but for the sake of the spiritual life of the worshiper. God was always prepared to let any spiritual blessing come to us, if by that blessing He could be brought more intimately into our communion. The purpose of God in sending His Son to die and rise again was not that He might please the Father, but that He might be the Father’s gift to us, and that through Him we might enter into communion with the Father. Jesus Christ has become the meeting-place where sinful men and holy God can meet without the one destroying the other. God was prepared to let any spiritual blessing happen if thereby the worshipers had been led straight to the fountain of the manifest Presence. So we do well to remind ourselves that any fix we may find ourselves in, however difficult and painful, need cause us no anxiety if it causes us to look away from ourselves to Him, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
A. W. Tozer from The Pursuit of God

The omnipresence of God refers to the fact that God is everywhere at all times, even when we are not aware of Him. “Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth?” (Jeremiah 23:24, ESV). However, there are moments when the invisible becomes visible when the intangible can suddenly be felt. Throughout Scripture, we encounter remarkable accounts of God manifesting His presence in tangible and awe-inspiring ways. These divine appointments punctuate history, unveiling the unseen and displaying the Almighty’s glory to humankind. The tearing of that veil at Christ’s crucifixion (Matthew 27:51) opened direct access into God’s presence for all who believe, ushering in a new era. Followers of Christ can now experience God’s presence and we long for the times when God draws near and makes His presence palpable. But what exactly is the manifest presence of God? When, how, and why does God choose to make Himself known in power?

When is God’s Presence Manifest?
The Almighty chose moments to visibly unveil His Shekinah glory presence and tangibly manifest among His people. He met Moses upon the mountain amidst smoke, fire, and thunder when establishing the Covenant (Exodus 19:16-20). As the finished Tabernacle prepared, “the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:34, ESV). Similarly, dazzling brilliance flooded the Temple as God’s presence entered during its dedication during Solomon’s reign (2 Chronicles 5:13–14). These specialized settings and ceremonies did not confine our omnipresent God, yet He sovereignly selected them as formal times when His glory would dramatically break through the heavenly veil. That veil was torn open once and for all when Christ’s sacrificial blood offered direct access into God’s presence for all who believe (Matthew 27:51, Hebrews 6:19–20).

How is God’s Presence Manifest?
In the Old Testament, the visible manifestation of God’s glory appeared as a consuming fire or brilliant cloud, announcing His holy presence. When Moses beheld God’s glory on Mount Sinai, it was so radiant that it caused his face to shine brightly (Exodus 24:15-18; Exodus 34:29-35). In the New Testament, the most significant manifestation of God’s presence is the incarnation of Jesus Christ. John 1:14 (ESV) says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” At the baptism of Jesus in Matthew 3:16-17, the Holy Spirit descended like a dove and rested on Jesus, while a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” In Matthew 17:1-8, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on a high mountain, where He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light. Then, Moses and Elijah appeared, talking with Jesus. In Acts 7:55-56, as Stephen, one of the early Christian martyrs, was being stoned to death, he looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. God revealed His presence at the moment of Stephen’s persecution. Acts 9:3-5 describes a light from heaven shining and Paul hearing a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (ESV). But, Paul was not the only one who experienced God’s presence, Acts 9:7 describes the men traveling with him as they “stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one” (ESV). They did not see Jesus or fully understand what was happening, but they were witnesses to the event. This manifestation of God’s presence that revealed Jesus as the Son of God, transformed Paul’s understanding and direction in life.

Discerning God’s Presence vs. Spirit Manifestations
In Christian theology, while the manifest presence of God and the manifestations of the Spirit are significant aspects of spiritual experience, they differ in their focus and expression, and it is crucial to understand the nuances that separate these concepts to avoid the error of conflating them. The manifest presence of God refers to the tangible, experiential awareness of God’s nearness, holiness, and glory. It involves the direct revelation of God’s presence to humanity, often accompanied by a sense of awe and reverence. After Isaiah saw the Lord on His throne, he cried out, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Isaiah 6:5, ESV). The manifest presence of God is not something that works through believers but rather God making Himself known to them in a tangible and personal way. It can bring conviction, comfort, and empowerment, but its primary focus is the revelation of God’s presence and character. The awe-inspiring and overwhelming power and majesty of encountering the presence of God the Father often evoke profound senses of awe, reverence, and humility, leading to reverent responses and appropriate worship from those who encounter Him. Psalm 114:7 (ESV) “Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob,” Ezekiel 1:28 (ESV) “Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking,” Isaiah 6:1-4 (ESV) “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above Him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!’ And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of Him who called, and the house was filled with smoke,” Revelation 4:10-11 (ESV) “the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who is seated on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created.’”

On the other hand, the manifestations of the Spirit refer to the supernatural gifts and workings of the Holy Spirit within and through believers. The Holy Spirit manifests His presence through spiritual gifts listed in passages such as 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 and Galatians 5:22-23, and include gifts like prophecy, tongues, healing, miracles, and discernment of spirits. The manifestations of the Spirit are distributed according to the Spirit’s will (1 Corinthians 12:11) and are given for the edification of the body of Christ and the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7). Unlike the manifest presence of God, the manifestations of the Spirit involve the Holy Spirit working through believers, empowering them to operate in these gifts for the benefit of others (see also John 14:16-17 and Acts 2:1-4). It would be a theological error to equate the manifest presence of God with the manifestations of the Spirit or to interpret the former as the Holy Spirit working through believers. The manifest presence of God is not something that operates through believers for the benefit of others – horizontal worship (for more on this, see our blog The Vertical Embrace: Redirecting Worship Towards God’s Glory). While the manifest presence of God may at times accompany the manifestations of the Spirit, and though He desires to reveal His presence to His church (Revelation 3:20), these are distinct concepts that elicit distinct responses and produce distinct outworking. When confronted with the manifest presence of the Almighty God, the only appropriate response is to be gripped with reverent awe, to fall prostrate in humble worship, and to ascribe to Him the highest glory, honor, and praise as the sovereign Creator and Lord of all!

Navigating the Distinction in Modern Church Culture
In the modern church, there is a tendency to conflate and confuse the manifest presence of God with the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. The manifest presence of God speaks of an awe-inspiring encounter with God’s holiness and glory, something that can be deeply convicting and humbling. In contrast, the manifestations of spiritual gifts like prophecy, healing, etc. provide more tangible, outward experiences we can control or anticipate. 1 Corinthians 14:32 (ESV) reminds us, “the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.” The human tendency is often to seek the experiential spiritual “high” over an overwhelming awareness of God’s transcendent majesty. Because manifestations of the Spirit empower believers for service and ministry through His enabling, the pragmatic mindset of the church sometimes prioritizes seeking this spiritual empowerment and equipping over desiring the revelatory experience of simply beholding who God is in His glory. Moreover, the gifts of the Spirit are more familiar territory based on biblical teaching. But truly encountering the manifest presence of God is more experiential and outside our control. Our comfort with the familiar gifts can overshadow our hunger for God’s unveiled presence. Ultimately, the modern church suffers from an anthropocentric (human-centered) view of spirituality and focuses on what empowers us rather than what glorifies God. But, as believers draw near to God, He fulfills His promise to draw near to us (James 4:8). Times of passionate worship and fervent prayer should always facilitate a greater sense of God’s manifest presence. Moreover, when the Almighty manifests His presence, it is not felt merely by a select few but impacts entire communities. His majestic holiness exposes and confronts sin, driving people to repentance and every biblical account of God’s manifest presence is tangible, palpable, and leaves no room for doubt—He powerfully makes Himself known.

The Blessings of God’s Manifest Presence
Encountering the manifest presence of God profoundly impacts and blesses those who experience it. In God’s presence, we find the ultimate intimacy, as He shares secrets, shows His glory, and demonstrates His love (Exodus 33:14). Standing face-to-face before the Almighty humbles us, transforms us, and burns away impurities in our lives (Isaiah 6:1-7). There is no greater joy than being in God’s presence. David said, “In your presence there is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11, ESV). God’s power and peace profoundly heal emotional and physical wounds when His presence is experienced (Psalm 103:2-3). A fresh encounter with God’s holiness leads to a holy fear and reverence towards the Lord (Isaiah 6:5). Immense blessings come through encountering the manifest presence of God. Experiencing the closeness of God leaves no one unchanged. It refreshes our souls, fuels our ministries, ignites reverence for God, and compels us to walk in new obedience.

Encountering the manifest presence of God is the greatest privilege and most transformative experience available to believers. Though at times unsettling when the glory of His holiness is unveiled, it is ultimately the source of profound blessing, joy, empowerment, and intimacy with our Creator. So let us fervently seek the face of God in passionate worship and prayer, surrendering our flawed human agendas to simply behold His beauty. When we taste the glory of His manifest presence, everything changes, our priorities realign, our affections are rekindled, and we find ourselves undone yet remade by the awesome wonder of the Almighty. May a fresh hunger be stirred within you to truly know the reality of God’s presence in your life. For in His presence, there is fullness of joy and life everlasting.

In our next blog, The Manifest Presence of God: Embracing His Presence, we will discuss the importance of experiencing God’s manifest presence, identifying possible hindrances to experiencing God’s presence, encouraging believers to cultivate a lifestyle of seeking God’s presence, and urging believers not to settle for a diluted religious routine, but to press into God’s presence and yield to the refining work of the Holy Spirit.