Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.
When Jesus is with two or three people who agree to the glory of His authority, this is church! When there is a specific place and time in which people can come to meet the risen Lord, and KNOW that they will meet Him, church is truly experienced.
What happened with Israel should happen today.
People knew where to go to meet with God.
They knew and saw their leader speaking with God face to face as friends speak. And this inspired worship.
They had the option to meet with God, and they also had the option to never leave where He was.
Those who believe in Christ are now “the tent of meeting.” Our bodies are the individual temples of God, and together they are collective temples of God’s presence with and in His people. When people see us pray, individually and collectively, they should bow down in awe and reverence because of the experience of God’s very real presence.
Will they see a dense cloud pillar? Or even flaming tongues like on the day the Spirit came to the first church?
They just might!
But even if they don’t, they will feel or sense God with us and in us. Paul said the spiritual gifts are manifestations of the Spirit. And Jesus promised those who have and keep His commandments that He would manifest Himself to them. Those who draw near to God are promised God’s nearness to them. God’s presence and nearness to His people is what distinguishes Him, and them, in all of the earth.
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