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Edgar Moyana Christian Entertainment
BUDDING Zimbabwean gospel musician Elvis Munetsi is back, this time with an album titled “In His Presence”, set for release end of this month. The 11-track album will be his third following the release of his last two albums, “Zvandiri Inyasha/ Saved by Grace” (2011) and “Revelations” (2012).
“In His Presence” was recorded at Knockout Studios and comprises songs such as “Don’t Look Down Upon Me”, “As Long As You Are Born Again”, “Makatendeka”, “Agape Love”, “Wrong Motives”, “Paradox” and “In Your Presence”.

In his previous albums, Munetsi preached about the need for believers to live a practical Christian life based on prayer, commitment to God and enduring faith.

He also dwelt on how he was transformed by the power of God’s word.
In his latest album, he focuses on the power that lies in constant communion with God.

It stresses the idea that dwelling in Christ brings more comfort, reassurance and certainty of an expected future.
It also highlights the idea that dwelling in God’s presence attracts God’s blessings and His protective care.

Blending hard-hitting lyrics together with his signature reggae-dancehall beat, the album captures the joy of living a practical Christian life, made complete by cultivating a close relationship with Christ, through prayer and study.

According to Munetsi, dwelling in God’s presence allows one to appreciate God’s faithfulness, holiness and, above all, love.

Holiness
It also helps Christians to gain insight into God’s purpose for their lives.
In an interview, Munetsi – who is a teacher by profession – said he had been influenced by a number of factors in composing his album.
One of these was how he had seen many people getting accustomed to living their lives without God.

“My album ‘In His Presence’ talks about how good it is to dwell in God’s presence. It bemoans our habit as humans of always running away from God. People naturally love to do their own things free from external influences. They do not want to be controlled by God.

“But then if you look at it, the Bible teaches that in God’s presence there is fullness of joy. You then wonder why we stray from God.
“I have realised that I can only be safe in God’s presence. This is my daily prayer to say to God I always want to be in Your presence,” he said.
For one to be assured that he or she is staying in God’s presence, Munetsi said one needed to spend more time on devotion and study of the scriptures.

The next step would then be to live according to what the Bible teaches.
He added that apart from merely knowing about God’s goodness, it was necessary for people to have a heart-knowledge of God’s goodness.
He said this knowledge helped people to be more sensitive to their allegiance towards God and to stay continually in His service.
“Heart-knowledge of God’s goodness is important. You find that the devil comes to you with substitutes to take your focus away from God.
“In the end we give God remainders of our service, devotion and time,” he said.

Commenting on why people chose to stray from God than living in harmony with His requirements, Munetsi said many people were blind to God’s goodness and the beauty of a life in Christ.
“Ignorance of God’s goodness is one factor that causes us to stray from God.

Money
“Most people want to associate with things they consider important to them. Thus some travel long distances in search of money.
“It is because they realise its importance to them. So if men fail to see how God is good to them they stray from him”, said Munetsi.
Other songs carry the same theme of the beauty of dwelling in God’s presence.

Among these is “Ngaakudzwe Jesu”, which is more of a testimonial as it tells of how he could have died due to the nature of his past life had it not been for God’s love which ushered him into His presence.

“Don’t Look Down Upon Me” talks about God’s power that can transform people’s lives both materially and spiritually.
In this song, God’s power is described as having the ability to change situations and circumstances for the better if it pleases God to do so.
In “Agape Love” Munetsi calls for brotherly and sisterly love.

He stresses how such love among God’s children needs to be the centre of everything they do as they serve God.
Now as people await the release of this album, there are indication they will benefit from its message of love and the idea of God’s in-dwelling power given freely to the world to shape our lives after His character.
Already, a video to the track “Ngaakudzwe Jesu” has been released and this will add steam to his music.

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