In the wilderness, the Israelites lived in the presence of God continually. The glory of God rested over the Ark of the Covenant, and it rested over His people. They were identified with the glory of God’s presence that was physically visible to them in a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 40:38). As a result, the nations of that day associated the Hebrews with the presence of the LORD (Deuteronomy 28:9-10; Joshua 2:9-11). They recognized that the people themselves carried the presence of God. Wherever they rested, wherever they dwelt, the LORD God of Israel was with them. Everywhere they went, they carried His presence with them.
God is searching for a people who will carry His presence and reveal Him to the earth in this generation. Christ opened the door for the presence of God to literally dwell in and among His people (Revelation 21:3). To whatever degree we have obtained it, it is a reality now that God dwells in us and among us. The Kingdom of God is relationships, so people will be drawn into our hearts and fall in love with us. Christ and the Father love us and are taking up their abode in us (John 14:23). Yeshua (Jesus) said, “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one” (John 17:22).1 That oneness is synonymous with God’s glory, and it rests on each one of us. We carry His presence with us, and now we are the Ark of God. What the world sees and knows of the Lord will be because we carry His presence with us wherever He wants to go in the earth. It is something we can do every day when we drive a car, spend time at school, or communicate with others at work.
Since the Spirit of God already rests on you, it is not a matter of what you say; rather, it is what you are in Christ. Take time to express yourself because the Spirit of God lives in you to be expressed! As you do, His presence will be revealed. God is saying, “Start relating to yourself as one who carries My presence.” As the glory of Christ radiates from you, there is a transformational beauty revealed to the world that glorifies Him (2 Corinthians 3:18). Make a commitment in your heart to begin revealing that glory more. Without being brash or showy, you can have a winsome expression of evangelism that is effective. You may be timid, but you cannot keep camouflaging God’s presence because you are afraid that people will see you. When they do see you, they will recognize Christ.
It is time for the majesty of Christ to be seen! All that is necessary is for you to simply have the confidence that God will be seen in you—even when you are just being yourself. Open your heart to the full assurance that the presence of Christ exudes out of your everyday expressions. Christ is saying, “I want to appear through you. The world needs to see Me, and they will only see Me through you.” Somehow, we need to believe this. If you allow the Lord to be seen, people will be drawn to you and want to walk with God. It is time for you to shine the light of Immanuel’s presence (Matthew 1:23). Believe that God is with you and shining through you.
1 All Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995).