Today’s Bible Study, Authored by Arthur Cincotti. 06/13/2021
Listen to our discussion at: Listen to today’s Bible Study Discussion
When the cloud is taken up; move!
Last week we discussed
some of the dynamics of change, and we learned that change is always happening
in the natural world, though it be imperceptible at times. That God never
changes.
And we considered the
paradox of change, that, as much as things change, somehow they seem to remain
the same.
God has determined to
change us into the image of His Son.
II
Cor. 3:18
Also, in distinguishing
how and when change takes place, there is a methodology with God where in He
sometimes ordains a long period of sameness, and then brings forth sudden
change to demonstrate His power. Rom. 9:28, “For He will finish the work, and
cut it short in righteousness…”
Today we
are looking at how to discern the season we are in, both corporately and
individually, the principles are the same.
Jesus said, “You know
how to discern the face of the shy, but you cannot discern the signs of the
times.” Mat. 16:3
In this cultural moment,
when change is happening rapidly all around us, it is essential for us to hear
from God, and discern what He is doing.
I Ch. 12:32, “of the
sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought
to do…”
We must
hear from God in these last days!
In the Exodus we see the
principle of the cloud:
When the glory cloud was present, Israel was to stay put and
camp. When the cloud was taken up,
Israel was to move.
Ex. 40:36,37, “Whenever
the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle,
the children of Israel would go onward in a their journeys. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up.”
The cloud represented
the presence of the LORD, “Now the glory of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on
the seventh day He called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.” Ex. 24:16
Also see Ex. 34:5-10
It seems as though, from
these Old Testament passages, that when the presence of the LORD was manifest,
it was for the purpose of instruction, and the people were to rest, to wait
upon the LORD, and to hear and receive the word of the LORD.
We do this every LORD’s Day. With the assembling of God’s people (Heb. 10:25), under
the corporate anointing (Mat. 18:20), God is present to establish His peace, to
heal our diseases, and to instruct us in righteousness.
In the New covenant the
glory is never taken up because we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. I Cor.
6:19, and we can access personal instruction by coming boldly to the LORD and asking at any time.
But in the church, for
the sake of witnesses (Mat. 18:16) instruction is often with the purpose of how
to navigate the times; when to move (or change) and/or when to be still and
wait upon Him
When we leave the
corporate setting, it’s time for us to be about our Fathers business,
and it’s best to know what that is.
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