Today’s Reading, 1 Kings 8 & 2 Chronicles 5
Focal Scripture: 1 Kings 8:10-11 “When the priests came out of the holy place, the cloud filled the Lord’s temple, and because of the cloud, the priests were not able to continue ministering, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple.”
Have you ever been overwhelmed by the presence of the Lord? I can say I have had that experience a few times in my life. Each time it was different but each time it was unforgettable. What made it such a unique experience is that it was very unexpected. It happened under normal circumstances. Nobody was making it about emotions or a particular experience. When the Lord filled the room with his presence it was unmistakable and undeniable.
In today’s reading we see this happen in real time. The temple is being dedicated to the Lord. When the priests come out of the Holy place the cloud of the Lord’s presence descends and fills the temple. His presence is so thick that the priests were unable to continue ministering. God took the priority not the people doing ministry.
I can’t speak for anyone else but this is what I long for personally and in corporate worship. Once you experience a great move of God you are always looking for it to happen again. Humanly speaking we have to be careful because we do not want to try and create certain moments. It would be easy to make a counterfeit experience.
My challenge for you today is to make sure you are desiring the Lord to take priority in your life and in your worship. Too often churches put on shows and events, instead of seeking the glory of the Lord. Too, often preachers want to be recognized for their abilities instead of pushing people to see the spirit.
I believe that if more preachers, deacons, and worship leaders wanted the spirit to rule in our churches things would change. You have to be careful though because it would be very easy to rely on the “spirit” and offer the word.
I tell people all the time that the spirit and the word go together. A place where the word is taught and the spirit is neglected is. It worship. Then a place that is heavy in the spirit and the word is neglected is not worship. The spirit will always make much of Jesus.
So do you long to be in a room where the spirit has filled it with his presence, or are you content to live a passive Christianity?
Tomorrow, I plan on reading 2 Chronicles 6-7 & Psalms 136
