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The New Generation from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

When the Israelites came out of slavery in Egypt, the Lord instructed Moses to build an Ark of the Covenant.

It was much like a treasure chest overlaid with gold, which contained the ten commandments carved on stone and some other relics like a jar of manna. The Ark was carried by Levite priests and kept in a special tent called "the tent of meeting." The presence of the Lord would come down above the ark in such a powerful way that it was lethal unless you had carefully prepared. So it was kept in a special inner room protected by a thick veil.

(Leviticus 16:2 NKJV)  and the LORD said to Moses: "Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.

Aaron was the high priest! Moses spent a lot of time at the tent, and apparently, the Lord spoke to Moses like he was a friend. At times the skin on his face began to shine so brightly that people were afraid of him. So he wore a veil when he came out.

(Exodus 34:30 NKJV)  So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.

Over time, the people began to associate the Ark with the presence of the Lord, but it was just an elaborate chest. Later, after Moses had passed away, the Israelites backslid and began worshipping other gods. So the Lord handed them over to the Philistines.

When the Israelites went out to battle the invading Philistine army, they lost. So they decided to bring out their secret weapon, the Ark of the Covenant. They had two of the most worthless priests ever bring the Ark out onto the battlefield. The sons of Eli, the high priest:

(1 Samuel 2:12 NASB)  Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they did not know the LORD.

(1 Samuel 2:22–25 NKJV)  Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. So he said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people. No, my sons! For it is not a good report that I hear. You make the LORD's people transgress. If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against the LORD, who will intercede for him?" Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father, because the LORD desired to kill them.

This was the state of the priests serving at the temple and leading the people! They didn't even know the Lord anymore. After losing the first battle with the Philistine army, they sent Eli's two sons to fetch the Ark of the Covenant.

(1 Samuel 4:3–4 NKJV)  ... the elders of Israel said, "Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies." So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

Here were two worthless priests who didn't even know the Lord, standing there with a shiny box before the enemy army. Well, they soon got to meet the Lord in person. You can't use God as a tool. He looked the other way as the Israelites were defeated that day. The Ark of the Covenant was captured, and Eli and his sons died. The people had begun to view the Ark as an idol, and the Lord allowed it to be taken away. The glory had departed.

When Moses died, the Lord hid his body, but satan wanted it found and argued with the Archangel Michael over it (Deuteronomy 34:5, Jude 9). Moses' corpse would have become an idol, possibly even a new religion.

The elaborate temple at Jerusalem was once considered the dwelling place of the Lord, but He allowed it to be destroyed. How easy it is for us to fixate on objects we can touch, like a crucifix, a statue, a building, a temple, or a church. Surely the Lord is there! Not necessarily.

The Lord was doing something new, preparing the next generation. Basically, what He had wasn't working. His people just couldn't tell the difference between Him and inanimate objects like a toaster. So He sent His Son Jesus Christ to live among us. God in the flesh. Then His Holy Spirit to live inside of His people. To guide them and teach them right from wrong. He wrote His commandments on our hearts (Romans 2:15). We know from birth that murder is wrong without ever picking up a Bible. Those who cling to inanimate objects and past idols could continue to do so, but He was moving on. It's a new generation.

(2 Corinthians 6:16 NKJV)  ... For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people."

(John 4:24 NKJV)  "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

The Greek word used for Spirit is pneuma, meaning air, breath, spirit. It's where we get our word pneumatic for air-powered tools from. You can literally breathe in the Holy Spirit. Now you are the walking, breathing, living temple of God. He lives inside of you. Wherever you are, there He is. Are you cold? Then so is He. There is nothing you can tell Him that He doesn't already know, for He is with you every day. Jesus said it like this:

(John 14:15–18 NKJV)  "If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you."

My life changed when I learned that the presence of the Lord was with me after I left the church building. He was with me at work and even while playing music in nightclubs. When I would get stumped on repairing something, I could just pray and ask Him about it, and the answer would come. Sometimes Scriptures would come to me to encourage the people I was working with, putting them in tears. They could hear His voice in mine. Why? Because He lives inside of you and me. 

The Lord wants a personal relationship with you without a building, person, relic, or statue representing Him. His presence is as invisible as the wind but can move things around you like a tornado. Talk to Him throughout the day and learn to recognize His presence.

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please fill me with Your presence as You promised. Help me recognize that You are with me and understand when you speak. Guide my steps today. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!