Step 4: Encounter

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 5:14

so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.

Insights:   Today’s verse reveals the end product of our previous three steps.  You will recall step one was purification.  Step two was service.  Yesterday we learned that step three was worship.  If we have truly repented of our sin and began serving the Lord out of a love relationship we then are able to worship Him properly.  When we worship with a full heart of gratitude, we are then able to encounter the Lord and experience His presence and power.  In today’s verse we see the Shekinah glory of God descend down in the form of a cloud and it filled the Temple.  Notice the priests who were present could not stand before God’s glory.  In other word, they fell on their faces before the Lord and His glory.  They encountered the Lord as few of us have ever had the opportunity.  Now, let me help you see the miraculous even more close to home.  In the Old Testament the Spirit of the Lord would come down and depart, but in the New Testament we are told that if we enter into that love relationship found in Jesus Christ and His gift of salvation, then we are sealed with the Holy Spirit.  In other words, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us and He never leaves us.  He is always with us.  We are able to encounter Him in profound and miraculous ways all the time.  Most of us, however, are not willing to do the first step and as a result, we do not really encounter the Lord as the byproduct of the other two steps.  Beloved, let me challenge you again this week to follow all three steps and encounter the Lord.  Your joy will truly overflow if you do.  May God be brought glory from your steps of pursuit for intimacy with Him.

Questions:

1. Have you ever been in such awe before the Lord that you have been dropped to your knees and face?
2. How would you describe such an event to a lost world?

Prayer: Father, I am so grateful You have allowed me to encounter You in such a fashion as to bring me to my knees and face before You.  You are worthy of all praise and I am grateful we are in a relationship together.  May it grow each day as I strive to know You more and more. Amen.