Arkbearers - Carrying God's Presence - Sermon - Numbers 1:21

Sermon notes on carrying God's presence like the original bearers of the Ark. Numbers 1:21 Survey

1. Guarding & Carry His Presence Numbers 1:51

2. Why Study LEVITES? -Levites/Tabernacle/Ark – Priestly class – We are priests -“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” – Heb 13:8 -Jesus didn’t eliminate the OT but fulfilled it (Luke 24:44) -OT illuminates some heavenly concepts in a clearer way than NT -We are not satisfied with just “doing church” -Our Logo

3. PursuinG /Carrying PRESENCE

4. CARRIERS OF THE PRESENCE Who were the Levites? -Story of my friend Jason -Sons of Levi (Exodus 6 ) - One of Jacob’s sons (12 tribes) – Rough background/ Grace. Jacob’s sketchy “blessing” -After the Exodus (Tabernacle ) -Exodus 32:26 – Only group that did not worship the golden calf. Righteousness, fear of the Lord -Given a holy job/Carriers of the Presence - Numbers 1:51   "So when the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle encamps, the Levites shall set it up. But the layman who comes near shall be put to death .

5. JOB DESCRIPTION -Bearers of the Ark (containing God’s presence ) -Exodus 40 - God visited the Tabernacle (theophany ) -We are Tabernacle Church -Names are not necessarily random -All of you are “Levites” (So to speak)

6. What did they carry? - Heb 9: 3-5   Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies  having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron's rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail . Symbols/Past testimonies of what God has done. God’s manifest presence -Isa 37:16 "O LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth!

7. God doesn’t sit on a chair in heaven Ps 99:1 - He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake

8. Enthroned on Worship Psalm 22:3 - Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel . Cherubim are creatures of worship Isaiah 6 – Holy Holy Holy

9. New Testament parallels -John 1:14 - And the Word became flesh, and dwelt ( tabernacled ) among us , and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth . -Matthew 18:20 - For where two or three are gathered together in my name , there am I in the midst of them . Note: there is something special about corporate gathering -Rev 21 :And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them , -Matthew 6:9-10 - ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done , On earth as it is in heaven.

10. Application We are praying heaven to Earth In heaven God dwells with man like Eden Something special happens when 2-3 gather vs your solo time with God

11. Three Realities 1. Unusual Presence/Visitation - Revival – Hosting God’s presence in an unusual way that touches numerous lives. God does unusually powerful things We cannot force revival to come, but we can do everything on our part to prepare for it 2. God’s normal presence among us. Promises of scripture, etc 3. The absence of God’s presence - Rev 2:5 'Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.

12. Enemies to Levite Lifestyle Lack of Unity - Division Individual goals – Destination/process/ etc Judgments against others Judgments/fears/rebellion against leaders Multiple Agendas

13. Lack of Identity -Know who you are in God’s eyes. Know who God is -Priestly/Royal Role - I Peter 2:9 - But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light ; - Sonship - Matthew 3:17 - and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased."

14. Scriptural Ignorance Ignorance of the Scriptures created a mishandling of the Presence 2Sa 6: 3-7 They placed the ark of God on a new cart that they might bring it from the house of Abinadab which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio , the sons of Abinadab , were leading the new cart.So they brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab , which was on the hill; and Ahio was walking ahead of the ark. Meanwhile , David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of instruments made of fir wood, and with lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets and cymbals. But when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon , Uzzah reached out toward the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen nearly upset it. And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah , and God struck him down there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God . As passionate and sincere as David was, God could not overlook the mishandling of the presence

15. Hidden Sin Hidden Sin - Joshua 7 Welsh Revival The 4 great tenets of Evan Roberts at the dawn of revival at Loughor , Wales. (1) Confessing openly and fully to God any sin not confessed to Him before; (2) doing away with anything doubtful in ourselves; (3) giving prompt obedience to the influences of the Holy Spirit in the heart, (4) confessing Christ openly and publicly before the world.

16. Connection to Us -People of Grace (Levi’s story) -Walking Together in One Step/Team -True Holiness -Honor /Protocol with the Presence

17. Vision -What are we carrying? Where are we carrying it? Who are we carrying it with? -Carrying God’s presence in D/FW area -Walking in same Step -Removing every obstacle on our side that could prevent revival -Tabernacle /Ark must be carried in Unison or it cannot go anywhere -Goal : Not only a personal encounter with God, or isolated anointed people appearing in a room together – Hosting His presence -Goal: Unusual presence of God/Revival vs Common/Absence

18. Call 1. Some re-enter into God’s grace – Levi was a target of grace Get out of any behavior/performance mindsets 2 . Pursue Royal Identity - Know God – Know yourself Pursue Inner Healing/ Sozo 3. Some may have hidden/unrepentant sin – Welsh Revival 4. Some focus more deeply on knowing Scriptures 5. Some cultivate God’s presence 6 . Surrender any complaining/critical thought patterns – Israelites took way too long to enter Promised Land … 7. His Presence is worth it, His Presence has a destination 8. Consecration to God … Unity in Step

19. PursuinG /Carrying PRESENCE