CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v579ev9-god-focus-this-morning-episode-140-respecting-gods-presence.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: RESPECT GOD’S PRESENCE

The Lord had Moses to build a tabernacle for him to come down and be in the middle of his people. Many places speak of God’s glory as being a cloud of God’s presence. In bible times his presence dwelled in the holy of holies. In this place was the ark of the covenant with the mercy seat on the top. The Old Testament is full of types and shadows of what will be in the New Testament Church. Like the tabernacle is a type of temple.

I Cor 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

We are now where God comes and dwells. God also comes down with power and authority. Make no mistake, he is in control of what is going on. There are times his glory shows up in the form of a cloud. His presence manifests in different ways but it is still God.

In the New Testament, people in positions of authority in the body of Christ (the ministry) have a responsibility to live holy and clean lives. When people in ministry commit sin and continue to live in that sin, he will remove them from their position of influence.

If we respect God’s presence in our lives, we will live like we honor him. We will not intentionally sin or walk in immorality. Does it mean we are perfect? No. But we need to do all we can with our daily choices to honor God with our lives.

The example of the Old Testament disrespect of the temple of the Lord in I Samuel. Eli was starting to be blind. When the ministry starts to become blind to sin, it only goes downhill from there. I think about the sons of Eli, they committed sin right in the temple of God. Hophni and Phinehas were given chances to change but they were arrogant about their sin. They felt entitled, like they were special and could do what they wanted. (Pride goeth before the fall). When the Philistines and Israel went to war, they were both killed. When Eli heard the news, he fell off of his seat and broke his neck. God raised up Samuel and he became God’s prophet to Israel. God is weary with the Eli’s and the entitled second and third generations of corrupt ministry.

God’s glory can bless or destroy. Sin cannot stand in the presence of God. This is why we have to approach the throne of God through the blood of Jesus. It is the cleansing of the blood that gets rid of our sin.

In Chapter 4 of 1^st Samuel is the story of the Philistines and Israel went to battle. Just as God told Eli that both of his sons would die the same day, they were killed. The Philistines stole the ark of the covenant.

Chapter 5 The ark was taken back to the camp of the Philistines. The placed the ark of the covenant in the temple of Dagon their god. The next day they went in to find the statue Dagon on it’s face, on the ground.  Fake gods will not stand before the presence of God.

The Philistines set the statue back up in his place.

I Samuel 5:4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.

God showed them that their god was not anything. The statue didn’t just fall over by accident. It head and hands were cut off. God showed them that without a head it cannot function. Without hands it cannot work.

The hand of the Lord was heavy and they realized that they made a mistake by taking the Ark. The Philistines understood when God smote some of them with hemorrhoids. Others he struck down with death. Their leaders came together and returned the presence of God.

The arks stayed in the house of Abinadab for twenty years. There was much prosperity there, because they respected the presence of God.

Skipping ahead twenty years later, David 2 Sam. 6:3-7

 2 SAM 6:3-7 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart. 4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. 5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals. 6 And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. 7 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

Uzzah put his hand on the ark and he died, because he was not authorized to touch the ark. Jerusalem prospered once the ark was returned.

God’s presence will either be a blessing or a curse, depending on how we treat his presence. Eli’s sons disregarded God’s presence and God killed them. Uzzah died for his mistake.

Those who respected the presence of God are blessed and prosperous. God’s glory fills our temple if we are obedient and walk in his ways. He will take care of his people. God’s people are not arrogant and prideful that we are blessed. We use our blessings to be of service and help to others.

If we choose to walk in arrogance and feel that we are better than everyone else because we have received God’s Spirit, then we’re headed for a fall, very quickly. Because pride goeth before the fall. I beg you to get right with God if you’re not right with God. And to respect his presence. You will be blessed all of your days.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIKE SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGEMENT

• BLOG