Eden Church 19/10/25 - The presence of God is carried on the shoulders of the priests

2 Sam. 6:1-15

• David's desire was to bring the presence of God back to Jerusalem.
• David wanted the manifest presence of God.
• You might think, that's harsh.
• And you'd be right - they did have the right intentions and their hearts were in the right place - but it wasn't God's way.
  Num. 7:9, "But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder."
• The prophetic picture was that the manifest presence of God was always intended to be carried on the shoulders of the priests, not forced into man made models.
• When the Holy Spirit comes, he's given to every believer, not just a special few.

1 Peter 2:1-11

- God's intention was always for a Kingdom of priests.

1 Cor 6:19-20

• This is the New Covenant prophetic picture that they missed when they wanted to bring the Ark back to Jerusalem.
• He died because man's ways always bring death.
• Trying to do supernatural things with natural methods always results in spiritual death.
• If God's presence is what you value, that's what you'll make room for.
• Everyone one of us, if we're believers, are priests who are called to carry his presence.
• A desire for his presence should draw us into a deeper hunger and searching for Him.
• It should spur us to seek his ways and his heart.

Ex 33:13

How do we carry his presence?

1.) Seek His ways.

- We have to seek him ourselves.

Jer. 29:11-13

1 Cor. 3:1-3

- We can't only eat spiritual food that someone else has digested for us.

2.) Give him time.

Ps. 27:4

- There was a cost and a time involved.

Acts 1:4-5

• There is a waiting, an investment of time and devotion that's required to carry his presence.
• To often we treat God like a fast food drive through.

3.) Be the priest he's made you to be.

• Take the priestly responsibility of ministering to Him and carrying his presence on your shoulders.
• We don't just want a moment, we want a movement