Make room for the Glory of God!




2 Chronicles 5:11-14 11And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course: 12Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:) 13It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; 14So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God. This passage of scripture focuses on the glory of the Lord. Why is so important to be in the presence of the Lord? What is the glory of God? I'm glad you asked. The glory of God is the transformation of God's power with the ability to create a unique door between heaven and earth. When the glory comes into the church we are standing beneath an open heaven. His glory brings change that delivers the broken, revitalizes the sick, restores the backslider, and fortifies the believer. The door of heaven is opened unto us when we make room for him! We are living in a time that is full of turmoil. It used to be that we were shocked when we heard of a murder. When a person was battling addiction, it was disheartening. Now, as the songwriter stated, tragedies are commonplace. We have seen so much crime and violence that we have become desensitized to the hurting in this world. We have become complacent, and that complacency has not only filled the temple, but also even for some, pushed out the glory of the Lord. When we look out for those in pain, we make room for God's glory to come in. We function within our four walls without realizing that need the glory to return to be in those walls and around of us. We are not of this world, but we are responsible for witnessing to this world. How have we become so unfeeling? Simply, somewhere we have lost the love of God. Our love can be tainted by flesh and judgement, but God's love is immeasurable and unconditional. We have to remind ourselves that we represent the very reputation of God: love. We are his reflection in the earth. When we make room for others in our love, the glory of the Lord will come in. When the Ark of the Covenant was returned to the temple, the people began to praise God with one sound and one saying:  For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. It was went everyone was in place that the glory cloud came in. We have allowed the enemy to separate us with pettiness, jealousy, and even positions. There is too much calamity going on for us to spend our time fighting each other. We can't afford to get caught up in titles, tradition, or a form of godliness. When we come together as God's holy people and resist division, then we will make room for the glory of God. If you want the presence of God to come in, make room for him in your praise, your worship, and especially your heart. When you dance, there will be deliverance. When you weep, there will be transformation. When you yield, you will live under an open heaven. Make room for the glory of God. Reaching the lost at any cost, Pastor Odie Kennedy Image Credit: Falk Schaaf



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