THE GLORY OF THE LORD!!

I have always been intrigued by the passages in
the books of Kings and Chronicles that describe
the scene at the dedication of the Temple by Solomon.
It was such an awesome time, a time when God's
people had a visible reminder of the existence and
presence of God, and a place where they could both
worship and sacrifice to Him.
The priests, who were God's called-ones to minister
the traditional rites and rituals, and to bring the
word from God, as well as to enter the inner court
and Holy of Holies to represent the Israelites, were
unable to minister because of the CLOUD OF THE
PRESENCE OF GOD!
The people fell on their knees and faces and cried
out "For He is good, for His mercy endures forever."
I Kings chapter 8, verse 10 states that "when the
priests came out of the holy place, the cloud filled the
house of the Lord, so that the priests could not
continue ministering......for the GLORY OF THE LORD
filled the house of the Lord." (Caps mine)
Have you ever experienced such an event?
I have.
WHAT AN AWESOME, FEARFUL, WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE!
I have been blessed to be in some church services when
God's presence was so heavy, like a cloud, that the
minister could not preach, the singers could not perform
their planned music, and the entire "order of service" had
to be scrapped so that God could "do His thing"!!
I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE SAVED in such a time!
I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE HEALED at such an event!
I HAVE PERSONALLY BEEN SANCTIFIED AND
CLEANSED AND LIFTED during such services!
Were these occurrences confined to the Old Testament
and the Temple dedication, or the Tabernacle?
NO! I believe that God, our Father, Creator, and
Saviour wants to reveal Himself to us in such a
manner even yet TODAY! I believe that God would
come and visit His people in community with an
unusual demonstration of His presence and power
that only He can provide.
Orders of services are fine, schedules of worship
are good, being sure to include hymns and Bible
readings are important, but when peoples' hearts
are hungry for the presence of the Living God, I
believe that there is a time and purpose for us
to "LET GOD BE GOD" by entering into the Holy-
of-Holies ourselves, and to allow our hearts and
spirits to be enveloped with His love, power, and
grace and presence!
PLEASE DON'T MISUNDERSTAND ME - I would not
ever be encouraging the "manufacturing" of such
a happening, but it would be beneficial to all in
attendance to allow the "moving of the spirit" to
lead us into an "unplanned" (by man) time of just
sitting, standing, or kneeling in the "glory of the
Lord" as He offers and presents Himself to us!!
Am I saying that God is not present in a "structured"
church service? NO. God can and does use the
pre-ordered plan that He gives to the person who
sets the order of worship. BUT HE CAN AND WILL,
when we allow Him to, make Himself known to
each one of us individually, as well as the entire
congregation present in worship in ways that He,
and He alone can design!