As we get into the message let me begin with this statement that "Christianity is not for defeat, but for victory" that is why the choice of our topic is experiencing God's glory. By experiencing, we are talking about tasting or feeling daily or continuously the glory of God.

Many people when becoming Christians wonder if God really exist. This, with the daily pressure of life in our domestic life talking about divorce, broken homes, broken heart. In our part of the world where infertility in marriage is another problem. In the Educational life; constant failure in the exams or in a particular subject. Which is causing many to rise to fulfil their dreams in life, talking about having good job; in the business circle no progression, constant financial bankruptcy; some are physically handicap, unable to do anything with their life; others face disappointment, rejection and dejection in the family, and in the society.

Like Gideon, we always ask

"...If the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, 'Did not the Lord brings us up from Egypt? But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites." Judges 6:13 NKJV

Many Christians like Gideon thinks that God was for the past, but the Bible says "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." Therefore, God is committed in seeing the good of his people.

The Israelite experienced the Glory of God in their day-to-day life.

"Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. ...In all the travels of the Israelite, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle they would set out but if the cloud did not lift. So the cloud of the Lord was over the TABERNACLE BY DAY, and fire was in the Cloud BY NIGHT, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels" Ex. 40:34 NIV

Now talking about the glory of God we are simply talking about the presence of God with us in our daily lives, hear what Moses said in Ex. 33:15, 16.

"Then Moses said to him 'If your presence does not go with us up from here-how will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the surface of the earth?"

By experiencing the glory of God is feeling or tasting the presence of God which will distinguish us from the rest of the people. The world is full of problems, and people are looking for peace and solution; but what will differentiate us from the people of the world is the presence of God with us. When God is with us miracles will also be seen in our lives, our life struggles will be over because God himself is the one leading and controlling our life, and will crush anyone that stand on our way. So sometime when as Christians we don't experience any miracle in our daily life, and life is like a brass and nothing seems to work we conclude like Gideon that "...but now the Lord has forsaken us..."

How Can We Experience the Glory of God?
In Exodus 40:34 the bible says

"then the cloud covered the tent of meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the TABERNACLE"

The emphasis on "TABERNACLE" is very significant for us here. 'The glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle', implies that the presence of God came over and filled the tabernacle. The glory could only come as the tabernacle was set up meaning that without the tabernacle there is not glory, for the tabernacle attracts the glory of God; that is why in Hebrews 8:5 says

"(The Priests) who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the TABERNACLE. For He (God) said 'see that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain'" NKJV

if this verse shows us the necessity of the tabernacle in bringing down the glory of God, then it is important for us to know what it is and its significant in bringing down the glory of God.

Watch out for the continuation of this inspirational message in our next edition until then stay blessed

- Pastor Napoleon Nikabou

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