Tuesday 25 February 2020

The Glory Cloud

Scripture: 1 Kings 8 v 9 - 11: "There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. 
10  And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,
11  So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD."

King David had promised God that he would build Him a house, a Temple, but he knew that because he had killed or slain many people in battle, that he had blood on his hands and this disqualified him from carrying out his promise.

However, his son, Solomon, kept the Word of his father and built a beautiful Temple.  The last item to be installed in the Holy of Holies, was the Ark of the Covenant.

To show His love, approval and blessing, the cloud of glory filled the house of the Lord with His very presence.  It overwhelmed the priests so that they fell to the ground unable to stand in the powerful cloud of God's Holy presence.

John 18 v 3 - 6:  "Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
4  Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?
5  They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
6  As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground."

Here again the very presence of Jesus, when He was about to be arrested, caused the soldiers to fall over backwards.  They may not have seen the glory cloud but His presence overwhelmed them.

We, the children of God, are welcome in His Presence and the door to the Throneroom is always open for us to praise, worship, thank and bring our needs before Him.  When we are sensitive to be aware of the presence of God it is a very awesome experience.

When we pray He hears us and in His time He will provide many answers and give many blessings.  He rewards our faith and marvels when we continue to believe against all the odds.  Faith frightens Satan, great faith terrifies him.  A good incentive to keep our faith growing.

We live in an age of scepticism, atheism, unbelief and severe lack of faith.  It is not helped by the corruption of rulers, financial crises, looming pandemics, climate change dramas and many other negative experiences happening daily.  Jesus even said, When I return to Earth will I find any faith?

Let us remember the paralytic man who was lowered through a roof by four sincere believers, into the presence of Jesus.  He was healed and his sins forgiven, he walked and carried his bed home.  Our God sees our faith when we bring others to His attention by our faith in His ability.

The real cloud of glory now lives in us and we can bring people closer to Jesus.  The closer we get to Him the more we know Him, the more our faith grows and hopefully, it draws people to Him.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, We are now the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and the Godhead dwells within us.  We bear the knowledge of God in our own unseen glory cloud.  Use us Lord to shine Your light into those dark hearts, that they may know Your Glory as we do.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.