Are believers present with the Lord while they are still living in the body?
No. Scripture teaches that while believers are at home in the body, they are absent from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. At physical death, the believer's soul and spirit immediately go into paradise in heaven, present with the Lord, awaiting resurrection.
Les teaches from 2 Corinthians 5:6-8 that while we are at home in the body, while living in this tabernacle, we are absent from the Lord. Paul writes with confidence: we walk by faith, not by sight. But when we are absent from this body, we are present with the Lord. Les explains that at death the believer's soul and spirit immediately go into paradise in heaven, immediately into the presence of the Lord, but only in soul and spirit. The body remains separate, awaiting resurrection power, while the soul and spirit are already in glory.
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: