06 A Dwelling Place for His Glory

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DECLARATION:

Ephesians 2:20–22 (ESV)

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Our church family is built by God, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.

We are joined together by union with Christ, we are growing, we are a dwelling place of God by his Spirit, and we are missionaries.

Prayer for...

INTRODUCTION:

Review: Week 1: God calls us into His presence.

Week 2: God gives identity before commands.

Week 3: We break spiritual substitutions that distort our devotion.

Week 4: God’s presence is our distinction — “If You don’t go with us, we won’t go.”

Week 5: Presence cannot be borrowed or imitated; gratitude flows from nearness, not success.

TODAY: Week 6: God’s presence doesn’t stay in the tabernacle — it moves with His people.

WHAT IS THE REASON WHY THIS MESSAGE IS BEING SHARED / WHAT IS THE PROBLEM THIS MESSAGE IS ANSWERING?…

BIG IDEA FOR TODAY: God’s presence fills consecrated places and consecrated people.

CONSECRATION, a devoting or setting apart any thing to the worship or service of God. (A Biblical and Theological Dictionary, p.267)

Missionaries are living tabernacles — we don’t wait for people to come to God; we carry His presence to them.

Scripture:

Exodus 40:33–38 “33 And he erected the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work. 34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 36 Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.”

THE TABERNACLE COMPLETED — THE VISIBLE GLORY OF GOD

Exodus 40:33–34 “33 And he erected the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work. 34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”

A. God’s presence comes upon consecrated places

Casual places become sacred spaces.

Consecration is intentional — not comfortable.

The tabernacle wasn’t built for convenience, but communion.

B. God’s glory filling the tabernacle is not the climax, it is the commissioning.

God chooses to dwell among His people.

But He doesn’t stay confined—His presence becomes mobile.

C. This moment foreshadows Acts 2 - Pentecost

God fills a place → then fills a people → then sends them.

Filling precedes sending.

GOD’S PRESENCE LEADS A PEOPLE, NOT A PROGRAM

Exodus 40:36–38 “36 Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.”

A. The people moved only when God moved

Not when convenient

Not when comfortable

Not when strategic

Presence determined pace

B. The cloud by day and fire by night meant:

God leads in clarity and obscurity

God leads in daytime routines and nighttime battles

God leads in promised lands and wilderness seasons

Illustration: A GPS that doesn’t show the entire route — only the next turn.

The cloud was their next-turn guidance system.

Point: Following God is not comfortable — it is consecrated.

THE PROBLEM: WE WANT THE PROMISE WITHOUT THE PRESENCE

A. Western comfort says:

“Make faith easy.”

“Make church convenient.”

“Make serving fit my schedule.”

B. But consecration says:

“Where You lead, I will follow.”

“If You don’t move, I won’t move.”

“My comfort is not my calling, Your presence is.”

C. The tabernacle challenges us:

God is not stationary

God is not predictable

God is not seasonal

He is present and He is moving

Application: We must choose presence over comfort.

LIVING TABERNACLES: GOD FILLS PEOPLE, NOT JUST PLACES

The tabernacle wasn’t the end of God’s story. It was the beginning of a people who carry His presence wherever they go.

A. God didn’t intend His presence to remain in one tent

Israel as a people was meant to be a walking sanctuary

A people who revealed God’s presence in every place they went

Worship/serving/ministering in the center

B. Today, we are the tabernacle

1 Corinthians 3:16 “16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?”

C. Sunday reminds us to be continually filled for the Monday–Saturday mission

Sunday: the cloud rests

Monday–Saturday: the cloud rises and leads

Developing Missionaries Lens: Missionaries don’t wait for people to come to God. We carry His presence into the places we go, our mission field.

CONSECRATED PEOPLE CARRY HIS PRESENCE INTO EVERYDAY LIFE

A. Consecration doesn’t happen in crowds; it happens in commitment

Holy rhythms

Holy relationships

Holy obedience

B. Programs cannot replace consecration

Programs can organize people

Systems can support ministry

But only consecrated disciples SURRENDER to His presence

C. Mission becomes natural

Our homes become tabernacles

Our workplaces become mission fields

Our community groups become opportunity to walk with others and extend the KOG

Our conversations become worship

Our CAUSAL places become places for sacred altars, where people meet God who dwells with!

APPLICATION — SUNDAY IS FAMILY, MONDAY IS MISSION

Consecration is daily — the cloud leads one step at a time.

Carry His presence into your daily routine — the tabernacle moves when you move.

The Lantern and the Flame:

Hold up a lantern with a candle or light inside.

A lantern is not valuable because of the metal, the shape, or the design. Its value is in the light it carries. If the flame goes out, it's just decoration.

Point:“You are a lantern, not the flame. The presence of God is the flame. Sunday is where the flame is tended. Monday through Saturday is where that flame shines in the world.”

It helps people visually picture:

consecration (the lantern must be clean)

presence (the flame must be burning)

mission (lanterns exist to shine in the dark, not sit on shelves)

Conclusion/Reflection:

The story didn’t end with a tabernacle bursting with glory. It began there.

Because God was preparing a people who would not be defined by their comfort, but by His presence.

God’s presence fills consecrated places and consecrated people. We are living tabernacles, carriers of His presence wherever He sends us.

How can our homes, workplaces, and community groups become places where God’s presence dwells and disciples are made?

Talk It Over