He Always Feeds the Hungry

God’s Continual and Manifest Presence in a Kingdom Tension

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” — Psalm 139:7

From the first pages of Scripture to the vibrant accounts of the early Church, one reality pulses through the biblical narrative: God is present. Yet, a mystery unfolds in that presence—a paradox, even. Theologically, we affirm that God is omnipresent, filling all creation, transcending time and space. And yet, in moments both ancient and now, God chooses to make Himself known in uniquely manifest ways: burning bushes, temple glory, tongues of fire, quaking rooms. How do we reconcile the God who is everywhere, all the time, with the God who seems to show up in particular places at particular times?

This is the mystery—and the invitation—of the continual and manifest presence of God.

The Omnipresence of God: Always Here

The classical doctrine of omnipresence—God being everywhere at once—is foundational to Christian theology. Psalm 139 vividly captures this: whether in heaven, the depths, or the ends of the earth, God is there. The prophet Jeremiah echoes this truth: “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord (Jer. 23:24). Theologically, this affirms God’s transcendence and immanence: He exists beyond all creation, yet dwells within it.

N.T. Wright, in his kingdom theology, frames this as “heaven and earth overlapping”, particularly in the person of Jesus. In Christ, God is not only present in essence but revealed in person. The incarnation itself is a manifestation—God stepping into visibility, tangibility, time, and place. So yes, God is always present. But not always perceived. Not always experienced.

The Manifest Presence of God: When Heaven Touches Earth

The Scriptures don’t just teach us about a God who is everywhere. They describe a God who shows up.

• At Mount Sinai, God’s presence came with fire, smoke, thunder (Ex. 19).

• In the Tabernacle and Temple, His glory filled the space so intensely the priests couldn’t stand (2 Chron. 5:14).

• At Pentecost, a sound like wind, visible tongues of fire, and powerful utterance signaled the Spirit’s descent (Acts 2).

• And later, in Acts 4:31, after a prayer meeting, “the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.”

  
  

What do these moments have in common? God was already present, but suddenly, He was known. Felt. Seen. Heard. The term often used for this in charismatic and Pentecostal theology is the “manifest presence” of God—His presence revealed, concentrated, undeniable.

Jack Deere, in his writings, draws a helpful distinction: God is always with us, but there are moments when He makes His presence known in ways that awaken, disrupt, and transform. These moments often align with His purpose, people’s hunger, and a posture of surrender.

The Kingdom Now and Not Yet: A Theology of Tension

Theologically, this fits within the eschatological tension of the already and not yet. The Kingdom of God has been inaugurated through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection—but it has not been fully consummated. We live in the “middle space” where we can experience real power, presence, and renewal, but we also still long for more.

Jack Hayford frequently spoke of the believer’s life as a “life between two worlds”—secure in the promises of God's nearness, yet thirsting for a deeper move of His Spirit. In this way, the manifest presence of God often becomes a foretaste of what is to come, a down payment of the fullness promised. This tension isn’t something to be resolved but embraced. It fuels our hunger.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” — Matthew 5:6

From Acts to the Primitive Methodists: A History of Hungry People

This dynamic of continual presence and manifest power didn't end with the apostles—it became a pattern throughout church history. In the early Church, post-Pentecost communities experienced waves of the Spirit’s manifest power—healings, prophecy, deliverance, boldness—all while holding tightly to the truth of God’s constant nearness.

Centuries later, during the Primitive Methodist movement in early 19th-century England, we see this again: small gatherings crying out for God in barns, fields, and cottages. And God came. Eyewitnesses wrote of visible trembling, audible cries of repentance, and unmistakable peace settling on entire meetings. Their doctrine didn’t deny God’s omnipresence—but it burned with expectation that when people are truly hungry, God makes Himself known in power and purpose.

This is not emotionalism—it’s theological reality. Manifest presence is a historic marker of authentic revival, and it always rides on the back of holy hunger.

The Role of Expectancy and Hunger

Throughout church history—from revivals in Acts to the awakenings of the 18th and 20th centuries—seasons of manifest presence are often preceded by a unique hunger for God. Not content with theological assent, believers cry out for encounter.

In the words of Jack Hayford: “Worship is not just the song of the redeemed; it is the throne God chooses to inhabit.” In other words, we don’t earn God’s presence, but we can host it. Our hearts become altars, our worship an invitation.

This aligns with the vision of the early Church. In Acts 4, the believers weren’t praying for comfort—they were praying for boldness, and in response, God manifested His presence again, just as He had at Pentecost. The room shook. Their lives changed.

Hosting the Presence: From Visitations to Habitations

One of the theological movements in recent decades—especially in charismatic circles—has been a shift from momentary visitations of God’s presence to ongoing habitation. This isn’t to diminish the value of encounter, but to move from seeking only “mountaintop moments” to cultivating a life that hosts God's presence daily.

To do this means:

• Yielding to the Spirit continually (Eph. 5:18)

• Living holy and repentant lives

• Pursuing intimacy through Word, worship, and prayer

• Staying alert and expectant

  
  

It’s possible to live aware of God’s continual presence while remaining open to His surprising, transforming manifestations.

We live with a God who is always with us. But we also live in a Kingdom that is still breaking in.

So we wait. We watch. We pray like those early disciples:

“Stretch out your hand… show your power… come and fill us again.”

The call isn’t to manufacture His presence but to posture our lives in awareness and hunger—believing that He is near, and longing to see Him move. Because God is not just present. He is a God who manifests.And when people are hungry…He always feeds the hungry.

If God manifests His presence where there is hunger, then we must ask: How do we stay hungry in a world full of distractions and substitutes? How do we fan the flame when comfort lulls us to sleep or when disappointment dims our desire?

The good news: hunger for God is not something we must conjure—it’s something we cultivate. Like fire, spiritual hunger must be tended, stirred, and fed.

Here are ways to fan the flame of holy desire:

1. Return to the Word with Expectation

The Word of God isn’t just information—it’s invitation. Read not only to understand but to encounter. Let the Psalms reawaken your ache. Let the Gospels rekindle your wonder. Let Acts reignite your expectancy.

“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart…”— Jeremiah 15:16

2. Fast from the Lesser to Make Room for the Greater

Fasting isn’t about punishing the body—it’s about training the soul to hunger rightly. Fasting weakens our reliance on the seen and strengthens our appetite for the unseen. Even small fasts (media, sugar, news) can re-center our souls.

3. Surround Yourself with Burning Hearts

Spiritual hunger is contagious. Walk with people who stir you. Read the lives of saints who burned. Join with communities, house churches, and gatherings where God is sought, not just discussed.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” — Proverbs 27:17

4. Ask Boldly. Wait Honestly. Worship Fully.

Ask the Spirit to stir fresh fire. Don’t hide your spiritual dullness—bring it to God in honesty. Then worship—not to feel something, but to give Him everything. Often, hunger is born in surrendered praise.

5. Remember Past Encounters. Believe for More.

Recall the times God has met you. Don’t settle for nostalgia. Let remembrance fuel expectation. As Paul told Timothy:

“Fan into flame the gift of God which is in you…” (2 Tim. 1:6)

He has come before. He will come again. Not because you earned it.But because you’re hungry. And He always feeds the hungry.