Mon.’s Devo - The Glory is Coming

Read: Exodus 39:1-40:38; Mark 1:1-28; Psalm 35:1-16; Proverbs 9:11-12 The craftsmen made the garments for Aaron, the high priest and his sons, the priests just like instructed. They finished all the other elements for the tabernacle and on the first day of the new year they set it up. They started from the inside and went out so anyone who wanted to see what was behind the curtains could see. First they placed the Ark of the Covenant inside then they put the curtains around it. Then they brought in the tale of shewbread, the lampstand and other lamps. The gold incense altar was placed in the right place in the Holy Place then the curtain was placed around it. Lastly, they placed the altar of incense and the washbasin outside the Holy Place and filled the washbasin with water. They anointed the all the furnishing in the Tabernacle with anointing oil. They presented Aaron and his sons dressed in their sacred garments and anointed them with oil. They were set apart to be priests from generation to generation. This was done the first day of the new year. On the first day of the second year, they set up the Tabernacle and then brought the pieces of furniture into their place being carried by their poles. Moses took the stone tablets with the covenant and placed them inside the Ark. and placed the cover on top. He proceeded to carry each piece of furniture into the Tabernacle then have the curtain placed around it. This time he burned incense and lit the Menorah and set up the washbasin and burnt altar outside. When they had hung the last curtain the glory of the Lord covered the Tabernacle and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tabernacle because the cloud was so thick. Whenever the cloud lifted, the people would set out on their journey and follow it. Sometimes I think it would be nice to have a visible cloud to know when to move, but we do have that cloud - it’s the Holy Spirit in our hearts that tells us which way to walk. In Mark, instead of the cloud, they had John the Baptist. He was prophesied by Isaiah that he would be a voice shouting in the wilderness to tell them to prepare their hearts because the Messiah was coming. The people went out in droves to hear his message, repent and be baptized. He told them that the one who was coming would not baptize them with water as he had done, but he would baptize them in the Holy Spirit. Jesus appeared at the Jordan where John was baptizing and was baptized by John. When he came out of the water, the heavens split apart and the Holy Spirit descended on him like a dove and a voice from heaven announced, “you are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.” Jesus was then led into he wilderness to be tempted by Satan. He was there for 40 days among wild animals, but angels protected him. (I wonder what that looked like!) John was arrested and Jesus took up his message. His message was to repent because the time promised by God has come at last. Repent and believe this. God is saying that same thing about our generation. We are in the time promised by God. As Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two fishermen, Simon and Andrew. He called to them to come and follow him because he would make them fishers of men. They were in the process of throwing their nets into the water and immediately left their nets at once and followed. He went down the shore a little further and called to two more bothers: James and John. They were repairing their nets, When Jesus called to them they left their father, Zebedee in the boat and immediately followed him. He took them to the synagogue that next Sabbath and began teaching. They had never heard anyone preach with authority. It was so unlike how the teachers of the law taught. When the Spirit shows up, it rattles spirits of Satan and sure enough one began to manifest in one of the people there. The evil spirit spoke from the man’s mouth and said, “Jesus of Nazareth, Have you come to destroy us? We know who you are.” But Jesus quieted the spirit and cast it out of the man. It came out screaming and throwing the man into a convulsion, but it came out. Fear gripped the people and news spread quickly about Jesus. Something had definitely changed. Lord, this is exactly what is happening in our day. Help us to stand strong and declare that your kingdom is coming to earth and nothing Satan can plan can stop it. Prepare our hearts to receive you.