And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord. 1 Kings 8:10-11
Priests dedicated Solomon’s temple to the Lord. They sacrificed countless sheep to God (v. 5). Then they put the ark of the covenant to the Most Holy Place. In this context, God’s presence visibly manifested as a cloud inside the house of the Lord. This visible manifestation of God’s presence is called glory here.
Today we are the temple of God – church and each born again individual. His presence is among us when we gather together and also in each one of us. We are hosting God’s presence. One of the ways to connect, experience and increase God’s presence in our lives is to worship him. Worship leads us into glory encounter.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! (Psalms 100:4).
When Elijah offered a sacrifice to God and prayed, the glory of God appeared as fire. When Holy Spirit came upon the disciples on the Pentecost day, there was visible manifestations. Let’s have a desire to have more of His presence in us. Let’s desire a glory encounter with God. Let’s worship our God with an expectation of having more of His presence in our lives and having an encounter with God’s glory.