Tent and Temple
God wants to fill you will His presence and the power of the Holy Spirit as you become the temple in which He dwells.
“Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses...The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend...the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you"
Exodus 33:7, 9-11, 13-14, 17-20
In the Old Testament, God would fill the temple with His presence as He met face to face with Moses. He spoke to Moses as one speaks to a friend. The God of the Old Testament is the same God of the New Testament. He desires an intimate relationship personal relationship.
Where do you feel closest to God? Is it in a church, in a chair in your home, in a prayer closet, or outside amongst all of creation?
“O God, do not remain silent; do not turn a deaf ear...Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord— that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.”
Psalms 83:1-2, 16, 18
One thing we see in David's life is a continual seeking to be close to God. God was not an spiritual idea to him. David was persistent in talking with God in his highs and his lows. His default setting was to turn to God knowing this pleased God. God does not grudgingly answer prayers, He delights in the passi0n.
The enemy wants to turn the times of silence into doubting God's presence, when the truth is God is molding us both in the times where we see Him working and feel like we are waiting. How are you seeking after God's presence?
“What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun? What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind."
Ecclesiastes 1:3, 9, 14, 18
Solomon has a somber epiphany that the sum total of his life will not be what satisfies his soul. He pursued all the pleasures that culture celebrate. He prospered and possessed more than any person before him, but the benefits all felt fleeting in light of eternity.
What do you desire most today? What are your hopes and dreams? What are your passions? What do you most wish you had that you do not have? Wisdom teaches us that gratitude for what you have, not what you do not, leads to peace.
“But, blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream...It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
Jeremiah 17:1, 5, 7-8, 10, 14, 21-23
How do we grow in our trust and confidence in the Lord? We start by rewiring the patterns of our lives. We learn to seek God first then see how He will provide our hearts desires. We seek His presence more than earthly possessions knowing that our Loving Father will abundantly give us both.
Ask yourself if you trust God? Where in your life are you having to trust that God will show up in order for things to work out? What in your life requires faith?
“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth...Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete...I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:7, 13-14, 24, 33
Jesus makes some serious promises in John 16. He makes statements that are mind blowing and miraculous. He promises that life will be better for you with the power of the Holy Spirit than when He was living with His disciples. He never promises a life of ease. He promises we will have problems, but promises that no problems are greater than His power. He promises peace and a continual presence to walk step by step with us on our journey.
What problems are you facing that you need to stand on the truth of Jesus words that you will find victory? Where do you need to know that He who is in you is greater than then enemy who is in the world? Jesus said He did what He did so that your joy would be complete and you would have peace.
The God who met His people in the tent of meeting sent His Son to remove anything that could keep the people from being face to face with Him. After Jesus death, it was said that the temple curtain tore in half. We no longer go to a place to meet with God, God came to meet us where we are. Imperfect and unqualified to accomplish His purposes on our own. Just like God dwelled the tent, the Holy Spirit comes and dwells in us as we become the living temple. Are you ready to make room in your heart to experience life as God intended with Him face to face as a friend, heart to heart, with and within you?