Holy Glow

The preacher talked about having ‘it.’ As he spoke I knew what he was talking about. In a worship gathering where ‘it’ is present, time flies by and you leave with your spirit lifted. People who have ‘it’ are influential, making a positive difference wherever they go. ‘It’ makes things beautiful. It is not it at all; it is He, the Holy Spirit of God!

When the People of God were liberated from slavery in Egypt and journeyed to the Promised Land, they were led by the Presence, which they saw as a "a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light." (Exodus 13:21, NIV)  

When Moses built the Tabernacle, the center of worship, the Presence centered on that holy place "and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it." (Exodus 40:34-35, NIV)

Centuries later, when Solomon dedicated the beautiful Temple in Jerusalem, the same thing happened. The Presence was so strong, the priests could not go into the courtyard of that place! "The priests could not enter the Temple of the Lord because the glorious presence of the Lord filled it. When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious presence of the Lord filling the Temple, they fell face down on the ground and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying, “He is good! His faithful love endures forever!” (2 Chronicles 7:2-3, NLT)  These buildings were made beautiful by an unearthly Presence, the Spirit of God.

In this time, those who belong to Christ Jesus are God’s temples. We are those who offer Him worship. The Spirit of God comes to live, not merely with us, but in us. This Presence should give us ‘it,’ a holy glow. Smile, if you want to. The phrase lends itself to humor, but it remains the truth! The Bible tells us that when Moses spent 40 days on the mountaintop with the Lord, he came down with his face aglow! The Holy Spirit can and will give us a similar glory! The Word says that "the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18, NIV)

There is only one way to have ‘it’ and that is to spend time with Him! We must not confuse leadership skills, personal charisma, physical beauty, or remarkable accomplishments with the Holy Presence of His Spirit. He may use and bless those gifts, but they are not the same as the glory the Lord.

Let me leave you pondering this passage, which was spoken by Samuel to Saul at his anointing as the king of Israel. "The Spirit of the Lord will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person." (1 Samuel 10:5-6, NIV)  Invite the Lord to make you into a new, holy person; not of dour piety, but of holy Presence, which is full of glory and marked by exquisite joy!

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Oh The Glory Of His Presence

O the glory of Your presence

We Your temple give You rev'rence

Come and rise from Your rest

And be blessed by our praise

As we glory in Your embrace

As Your presence now fills this place

Jesus all-glorious

Create in us a temple

Called as living stones

Where You're enthroned

As You rose from death in pow'r

So rise within our worship

Rise upon our praise

And let the hand that saw You raised

Clothe us in Your glory

Draw us by Your grace

Come and rise from Your rest

And be blessed by our praise

As we glory in Your embrace

As Your presence now fills this place

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Steve Fry

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