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Ready to Worship Season 4, Episode 2 for Friday, August 19, 2016
During the time of the tabernacle, the presence of the Lord was very visible. A cloud covered the tent of the congregation and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle (Exod. 40:34). Imagine what it would have been like to have worshipped with these visible reminders of God’s presence and glory. Likely, at least at first, these things would have helped the worshippers to keep their focus and to worship with great reverence.
Although we don’t have these visible reminders today, the Lord is just as present today as He was then (Mt. 18:20). His glory fills the church today just as fully as it once did the tabernacle (Eph. 1:22-23). Today, we must see God’s presence and glory by faith. No visible cloud can be seen above the congregation. No fiery glory can be seen inside. Yet, God and His glory are there. Make no mistake about it. His presence and glory should motivate us to be as focused and as reverent as it motivated them to be.
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Transcript
During the time of the tabernacle, the presence of the Lord was very visible. A cloud covered the tent of the congregation and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle (Exod. 40:34). Imagine what it would have been like to have worshipped with these visible reminders of God’s presence and glory. Likely, at least at first, these things would have helped the worshippers to keep their focus and to worship with great reverence.
Although we don’t have these visible reminders today, the Lord is just as present today as He was then (Mt. 18:20). His glory fills the church today just as fully as it once did the tabernacle. To the saints at Ephesus, Paul wrote, “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:22-23). The church is the body of Christ. It is the fulness of Christ. It is filled with the glory of Christ. Paul’s argument is further developed in his letter to the Colossians. In the book of Colossians, Paul was showing the supremacy of Christ. In the earthly tabernacle of His body, Jesus displayed the fulness of God’s glory. In the first chapter of Colossians, we read, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell” (Col. 1:15-19). It pleased God for “all fulness” to dwell in Jesus. In the second chapter, Paul expounded on this fulness further. We read, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” (Col. 2:9-10). The fulness of God dwelt in the tabernacle of Jesus’ body. Now, His fulness dwells in the church, His body, and the tabernacle that He promised to build (cf. Acts 15:16).
Today, we must see God’s presence and glory by faith. No visible cloud can be seen above the congregation. No fiery glory can be seen inside. Yet, God and His glory are there. Make no mistake about it. His presence and glory should motivate us to be as focused and as reverent as it motivated them to be. If they made His praise glorious, and they did (Psa. 66:2), how much more glorious should we make it. After all, we live under a greater dispensation.
