God’s presence in the Ark in the Old Testament was magnificent, but the Ark of His presence for us today is even greater. Jesus knew a tabernacle, a tent, a cathedral or a temple wouldn’t suffice for the Ark of His presence to dwell in. And it didn’t suffice, didn’t last. He came saying, Ye must be born again (John 3:7). How can you be born again? Through His presence. His presence creates and re-creates; it will do the incredible, the unforgettable.

Acts 2:2-4, And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. It was glorious to behold the Ark of His presence on that day—our Ark—when the presence of God in the form of the Holy Spirit came to man in the beginning of the Church. The Church was meant to have the fullness of God, and in these two thousand years since Pentecost, the Church should have had it all; but they let the devil rob them until the Church had little of what God had so much to give.

In the beginning of the Church dispensation, the Ark of His presence—the glory of the Lord—came upon the people and changed them completely. It took them into an incredible realm, a realm where nothing mattered but doing God’s holy will. It didn’t matter to them that they were put into prison; it didn’t matter how long they had to stay there. Whatever was done to them—burned at the stake, fed to the lions—they met their death standing for Christ. Everything they could do for the Lord they did. The Ark of His presence made the Early Church members what they were, unsinkable, immovable, rooted and grounded in His grace and power. They lived in His very presence, dined with Him. Looked upon by the world as the scum of the earth, they were looked on by Heaven with pride and joy as the greatest treasures on Earth at that time.

The presence of God did marvelous things for the Early Church. It stood disciples to their feet who had been under the influence of Jesus, under His teachings. They had heard Him speak, watched Him minister, but they were unable to stand until the Ark of His presence descended in the form of the Holy Ghost and filled their tabernacles of clay with His presence. Our bodies, as well, are to be the temples of the Holy Ghost.

The Ark Was Off-Limits

In Old Testament days the Ark of His presence filled Solomon’s temple with so much power that the priests couldn’t stand up to minister. And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the 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 had filled the house of the LORD (I Kings 8:10,11).

The Lord gave His divine presence, the very Spirit of Himself, to mankind many years ago. Before Solomon’s temple was built, the Ark of the Covenant rested in a tent, a little tabernacle; and God was there, God’s presence. But the Ark of the Covenant was guarded, off-limits; no one could touch it. No one dared to go into the room where it was except the high priest once a year, and he had to be dressed and perfumed according to a strict code. The priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the service of God. But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people (Hebrews 9:6,7).

Others couldn’t go in to bring out the high priest even if he fell over dead. Something was tied around him so he could be dragged out if that were to happen. The bells on his garments would jingle; he could be heard moving about, and people would know he was still alive. And his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not (Exodus 28:35). Touching the Ark of the Covenant was like touching God Himself.

They Didn’t Have Divine Blood

The people in the Old Testament didn’t carry divine blood in their souls as we carry it today; Jesus had not come. Under the new covenant, which is the divine blood covenant for everyone who will accept it, we have this divine blood on the inside of us. Divine blood gives us power over all the powers of the devil, power to trample him underfoot, resist him, make him run, power over all his kingdom. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you (Luke 10:19).

But the people in the Old Testament had a fear of God; they feared the Ark because they knew the danger of getting too close to it. They could be cleansed through the blood of animals, but animal sacrifice did not please God. Therefore they could not go into the holy of holies. Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law (Hebrews 10:8).

Under grace you can reach out and touch the Lord anytime through Jesus Christ. Not in temples built by the hands of man, but in temples of clay the Ark of the covenant of His presence dwells today through the power of the good Holy Ghost—and how wonderful indeed it is!

As long as Israel had the Ark of the Covenant, as long as they were faithful to the presence of God, no power could defeat them. Go to the Word of God in the Old Testament to check on some of this glory, some of this power. See the results of His presence and what it did for a people who were not born of the Spirit of God, a people who had not been made new creations through the divine blood. God’s presence went into Egypt in the form of a man called Moses, and that presence brought miracles, miracles, miracles. The true presence of God produces miracles. Where you find the true presence of God you find miracles and healings. The reason people don’t find miracles and healings in so many churches today is because the Ark of His presence doesn’t dwell there; His presence isn’t there to heal the people.

Where the presence of God is there’s life, action, manifestations of the great God of the universe; and He makes Himself known. But if His presence is not recognized, not accepted, He cannot identify Himself because people don’t want Him to. They have choked Him, smothered Him out; the amen corners are gone out of many churches today, the altars torn out. Where is the Ark of His presence?

The Glory Departed

In I Samuel 4:22, a woman cried, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken. The Ark of God was taken by the enemy and the presence wasn’t there any longer. Eli the priest suddenly died; his sons both were killed, and it was total chaos. The Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain. And it came to pass, when he [a man of Benjamin out of the army] made mention of the ark of God, that he [Eli] fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died (I Samuel 4:10,11,18). The Philistines had captured the Ark of the Covenant; and the Israelites were without the presence, defeated, and the enemy took them over.

No enemy could take the Israelites over as long as they were faithful and kept the Ark of His presence. As long as they had God with them He fought their battles, and as long as you have God with you He will fight your battles. He wants you to turn your battles over to Him so He can take care of them. He wants you to know that He is ever-present; the Ark of His presence is ever with you. Washed in the blood of the Lamb, you’re not shut outside like the Israelites.

The Israelites knew the Ark of the Covenant represented Jehovah God, knew the sacredness of the Ark; and yet they didn’t guard it at all times, and the enemy took it. Because they had become careless, indifferent, they lost the presence of the Lord. It’s the same with people today: Many have lost the presence of the Lord due to lack of prayer, fasting, and being in His Word. When you lose His presence, you don’t have an appetite. Israel lost their appetite for the benefits of the Ark of the Covenant, for the reality of God dwelling in their midst, fighting their battles. It was easy for some to turn away from the Ark and seek idol gods.

Doing a Right Thing the Wrong Way

For a long time the Ark was missing. Although Saul had been made king, he didn’t feel any need for the Ark of His presence; he never sent for the Ark, never brought it in. But David loved the Lord with all his heart and when he became king he brought back the Ark. But it wasn’t easy. The strict instructions on how to move the Ark of the Covenant weren’t followed. They set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God (II Samuel 6:3,6,7).

The Ark was about to tilt, and a man reached out to steady it, touched the Ark, and instantly God struck him dead. That is how God feels toward the unclean. Under the Law, this man was unclean. It wasn’t an hour of grace forgiveness or he would have been forgiven; it was under the Law.

David, frustrated, resented what had happened. He decided to leave the Ark in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day. And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me? So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite (II Samuel 6:8-10). Close to the dusty threshing floor rested the precious Ark of His presence.

But where the presence of God is, there’s liberty, freedom regardless of whether it’s in a house, a temple, a cathedral, a tabernacle or wherever. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (II Corinthians 3:17). If the presence of God, the Ark of His presence, is accepted, Heaven’s help and deliverance are in action; you can count on it. The house of Obed-edom was blessed. And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obed-edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom into the city of David with gladness (II Samuel 6:12).

Imagine how Obed-edom felt. I know he didn’t feel good at first to think he didn’t have a fine mansion for the Ark. He loved the Ark of the Covenant, knew it was something very special. It was as though God had moved in with him. Obed-edom hadn’t before been able to be close to the Ark of His presence, and now it had been left at his house.

God doesn’t change. For I am the LORD, I change not (Malachi 3:6). To have His presence, God tells you in His Word exactly what to do. He shows His paths, His way. He tells you how to be born of the Spirit of God, how to be sanctified through the blood of Jesus, how the temple of clay is made ready for the Ark of His presence. The Holy Ghost sets up housekeeping and office work on the inside of each one who is baptized in the Spirit and filled with His presence and power.

Made Nigh by the Blood of Jesus

The Ark of His greatness is so incredible to the human mind that only through the Spirit can it be discerned. The natural man can’t take it in. You first have to be saved and have the presence of the Lord with you before you can take in the Ark of His presence, the fullness of His power, glory, favor and grace toward you and all mankind.

To many people God isn’t present; He’s afar off, and He’s not pleased that way. He is pleased when the blood of Jesus makes you nigh unto Him. But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13). Living close to Him you have His presence, His faith, love, hope, courage and all His greatness.

You who have been baptized in the Holy Spirit, do you remember when the Ark of His presence came to your house of clay? Do you remember when you took the presence home to live with you? Wasn’t that an incredible time? It seemed unbelievable to me and yet I knew it was real. Receiving the Holy Ghost baptism was something heavenly, great and mighty. How wonderful to know the Ark of His presence was mine to keep; that holy presence, that holy power had come in to stay; His presence would work and produce. The presence of the great Lord God Almighty was inside of me. Think what you have inside you today—you who have the Ark of His presence.

The Cloud of His Glory

In the Ark of His presence is His glory. And, oh, how the glory came down on the Ark of the Covenant and surrounded it! Israel was protected. There was a cloud over the tabernacle, the cloud of His glory.

Where you find the presence of the Ark, you’ll find the cloud of glory. Why do some people never see the glory? Because they don’t have the Ark of His presence on the inside. But when you have the Ark of His presence on the inside of you, you see the glory in many different forms and ways, the glory of His work, His salvation, His miracles and healings. You see the glory of His deliverance for all mankind who will yield and recognize His presence.

Jesus said to the sister of Lazarus, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God (John 11:40)? When you have the Ark of His presence with you, you’ll believe and see the glory.

You don’t have to struggle to see the glory; just open your eyes and stop looking at the works of the devil. Instead of thinking about all he is trying to do, start thinking about what the Lord is doing; keep your mind on His work. The Lord is doing so much work in this hour that the sun will be long down before you get through inspecting what He has done that day. It will be that way until journey’s end now. Think about what God is doing, ponder those things and ignore what the devil, the critics or the scornful are saying.

Judged by Her Words

With great pride David had the Ark placed in its proper setting. And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD (II Samuel 6:17). Was his wife Michal happy about it? No; she had that same spirit of her father, Saul; and she had to pay a great price.

Like dead Christians today, David’s wife Michal didn’t see the glory. She thought it was a disgrace the way David was praising God. And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death (II Samuel 6:16,23).

Michal thought she was above praising God. Because she didn’t care for the Ark of His presence, she was barren the rest of her life. That’s the condition of many churches today—barren. They’re not producing; no souls are really coming into the kingdom. Why? Because they are scornful of God’s works and full of criticism. It’s easy to line up with the devil, and without even realizing it, become critical and scornful; God marks it all. In this last hour, saith the Lord, He is going to mark our words carefully.

Under the New Covenant the Lord said we would be judged for every idle word. I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned (Matthew 12:36,37). Careful to not hurt others, we must choose our words discreetly. It’s easy to offend with words—sometimes we call it teasing—but anything that hurts someone is not fun. People make remarks about a person; and others, hearing those remarks, go straight to that person to tell him or her what was said. We need to lift people up, encourage and help them. If you can’t serve love, don’t serve anything. Serving anything but love grieves the Spirit and offends the presence. Tell people what Jesus said about them, that He loves and cares for them. They don’t need to hear some remark that the person probably didn’t even mean. People can repeat things that don’t sound like the original words at all. But some are eager to pick up bits of exaggerated news and deliver them. How tragic that people will offend the holy presence, the Ark of His presence that has come to dwell within, edify and lift up. The Holy Spirit is doing everything He can to encourage and not cast down.

Many are under a great load because of a lack of love and understanding. They don’t need others knocking them down; they need somebody to lift them up.

Do you believe there will be criticism and scorn in Heaven? Do you believe that in Heaven someone will walk up to you and say, Do you know what someone said about you? It will never happen. We need to have that heavenly spirit while we’re still on Earth. The Ark of His presence, that presence in Heaven today, is here as well, the presence we’re to live in.

Live in His Presence

Jesus brought this new and living way. In the bodies of mankind He would set up His dwelling place. Isn’t it wonderful that the Lord can dwell on the inside of human beings? Can you get over the wonder of it? Can you take it all in with gladness? We should be the most jubilant people in the world.

In this hour, the love language is being given daily, taught faithfully by the Holy Spirit. He’s teaching each child of God, each little lamb, the love language. The love language is the language of Heaven; you’re learning to speak with love. Ask the Lord to help you edify those you come in contact with, to be a blessing to them.

The Lord told Moses to do battle one time and Moses said, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence (Exodus 33:15). We ought to decide: I’m not going anywhere unless His presence goes with me. I’m not going to say anything unless His presence is with me.

The glory departed from Israel when the Philistines took the Ark of the Covenant. Oh, they were judged, the Philistines had to pay; but think how Israel paid for losing the Ark of the Covenant. They were never to have lost the Ark of the Covenant, and you should never lose the Ark of His presence. In this final hour live and dwell in His presence. Live in His love and grace at all times, day and night, knowing that God is God, that He is wonderful and great in all of His ways.

What was the secret of Stephen, the secret of his spirit that asked the Lord to forgive those who were stoning him? And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep (Acts 7:59,60). Stephen’s forgiving spirit was the Spirit of the One who died for us on the Cross, the One who brought the Ark of His presence to live in. To live in His very presence is only possible through divine blood.

Jesus Tore Down the Walls

We read of the Ark of the Covenant, where it had to be, how there had to be boundaries around it so that people couldn’t touch it, couldn’t look upon it. But since Calvary there has been no wall between you and your Lord unless you have allowed it, for Jesus tore down the wall of partition around the Ark of His presence. He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us (Ephesians 2:14). He tore it all down and said, Whosoever will, let him come.

You would think people would be rushing to take advantage of such an invitation, but they haven’t rushed that much. Multitudes as a whole have turned away. Like David’s wife Michal they don’t care; they’re not interested in His presence. It doesn’t fit them, doesn’t fit what they want to do. They don’t want to be conscious of that presence.

If you have the Ark of His presence inside you, if His presence is really there, you are God-conscious, aware of the great love He has for you and the great things He is doing and will do for you. You are conscious of His great message, the Gospel message. There’s no message as great as the Gospel message.

They Didn’t Treasure His Presence

As much as God loved the Israelite people, a chosen people, He did not give them the Gospel message under the Law. Bringing them out of Egypt, He didn’t give them the Gospel message. As they wandered in the wilderness, He didn’t give them the Gospel message. But had they kept the Ark of His presence, that light, that glory, there would have been no darkness for them from Egypt to Canaan, and what a different story it would have been! The Lord drove out seven nations for them, but Israel didn’t keep the Ark of His presence after they went into the land of Canaan, didn’t treasure His presence, and they tied God’s hands. God didn’t mind working for Israel, giving them everything. He didn’t mind taking them out of Egypt, giving them a land flowing with milk and honey. When they were nothing but slaves, He offered them everything and delighted in doing it.

The Lord delights in giving to you; why not reach out and take His blessings? Some of you haven’t received the baptism of the Spirit. Feel the need of the Ark of His presence, feel the need of the glory of the Lord, the third person of the Godhead living and dwelling inside of you. The glorious Ark of His presence is our Ark today, that glorious power from on High.

The Early Church used His presence, dwelt in His presence. The disciples didn’t dwell in His presence when Jesus was on Earth. People don’t stop to think how much trouble Jesus had getting the disciples to believe. He walked the waters, and they doubted. He calmed the storms, and they doubted. He opened the eyes of the blind, raised the dead, and they doubted. When they asked Jesus why they couldn’t bring deliverance to a man’s son, He said, This kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21). It takes the presence—and fasting makes a person humble enough for the presence to work through. The Ark of His presence makes a great difference.

The presence works through the spirit of humility; Jesus proved that. He came in the grace of humility, and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:8). Jesus showed how God will magnify His works through a spirit of humility, a spirit of grace. Grace and mercy came by Jesus Christ.

A New Reality

The disciples couldn’t take it all in; not until the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, and the Lord’s being with them forty days afterward did the living reality of the new way He had brought and taught become theirs. It took time to get the disciples ready for the Ark of the presence; there was much preparation. The disciples had Jesus right there with them, but they wouldn’t yield. Why? Because He stood no taller than some of them; He had eyes, feet and hands of clay like they had, and they didn’t realize that He was very God. He talked, walked, ate and slept like a man; but He also walked the waters and calmed the storms like Lord God Almighty. However, they soon would forget the divine part. He gave them faith, and they wouldn’t use it. You must have the Ark of His presence to use this miraculous faith.

People say it isn’t necessary to have the baptism of the Holy Ghost, but if you’re going to have the Ark of His presence so that He can magnify Himself in your life, for you and through you, you must be baptized in the Spirit. It will take the Ark of His presence to get you ready for the Rapture without spot, wrinkle, blemish or any such thing. It will take the Ark of His presence, that keeping presence, to hold you in His great love. Don’t look to yourself, to your imperfections; look to His presence, the Ark of the presence. Look to the plan of God.

Liberty to Reveal Himself

In the presence of God is liberty. Jesus said, He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound (Isaiah 61:1). Where the Ark of His presence is, God has liberty to manifest and reveal Himself, to give signs, wonders, miracles and healings.

If the Ark of His presence is in you, then the Lord can manifest Himself and you will have answered prayer, direction, help; however, you cannot bury your head in the despair, oppression or depression that the enemy battles with and expect to see the glory. The Lord is ready to show His glory; He proved it when He took Peter, James and John up on the Mount of Transfiguration. Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him (Matthew 17:1-3). In a vision the disciples saw Elijah and Moses talking to Jesus in His glorified form.

Although many would like to see Jesus in His glorious state, very few have. But Peter, James and John are among those few; they saw all the glory the Father had bestowed upon Jesus, glory He had laid aside to come to Earth.

God can’t be separated from His presence, His mighty works or His glory. When you fail to give Him the glory, you tie His hands. He has to have the glory for what His presence is doing, for the way His presence works. His presence needs to be identified in your spirit, your mind, your heart, and in your walk with Him. Identify the Ark of the presence; identify the Ark of the presence living in those in the Early Church.

The Presence Found a Dwelling Place

The Ark of the presence was in the life of Paul, and look what it did for him. Paul believed in that Ark under the old covenant; he could tell you all about that Ark, the restrictions, everything. When it came to the Law, Paul knew it to the letter. Then he became great in grace after he accepted the Ark of the presence, after he accepted not only salvation but the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Paul identified himself with the baptism by saying later, I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all (I Corinthians 14:18). Paul believed in that baptism.

After Paul had met Jesus on the road to Damascus and been forgiven of his sins, Ananias went to him and laid hands on him to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized (Acts 9:10-18). The Ark of His presence had found a dwelling place in Paul. Who in that day ever would have thought it could happen? But happen it did through the power and grace in the blood. Divine blood can take any warped life and straighten it out.

Some of you keep looking back at your past and thinking how you were warped, abused as a child. You don’t have to look back anymore. Realize what you have now—the Ark of His presence. You’re in the presence of the Lord to dwell as the eternal ages roll. Although you will shed off the tabernacle of clay, you’ll never shed off the Ark of His presence. God ordained His people to be a holy people. God said: Be ye holy; for I am holy (I Peter 1:16).

Realize Who You Are in the Lord

To become what God wants you to be is not through your own notions, not through yourself. It’s through denying self, following the Lord Jesus, and taking up the Cross of victory, the Cross of deliverance, the Cross of blood. In that way you can be everything God wants you to be. He leads you ever onward to the Upper Room to receive the Ark of His presence to dwell on the inside of you. It’s easier for some people to believe for the baptism than for others, easier for the ones who have become conscious that greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world (I John 4:4).

Since the greater One lives and dwells within, when the Ark of His presence is inside of you, you have nothing to fear, nothing to worry about. All Heaven is working for you. All the angels are available to help if you need it. God backs every child of God with His power. When He gave you the blood, He gave you all of Heaven. Everything is through the divine blood, the eternal life of God. It’s all yours, but you have to realize who you are and what you are in the Lord and claim it all.

Look into God’s mirror, Child of God, the mirror of His Word, and see the reflection of Jesus. Look into the Word and find you are like Him. You love like Him, talk like Him, move like Him. The mirror of His Word gives you that wonderful reflection; His presence has made you like Jesus. Living in His presence, you are His son or daughter. You are His and He is all yours.

Jesus said, Father, make them one as we are one. I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth (John 17:11,14-17). I pray not that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them, preserve them.

Sanctified through the Blood

You are preserved through the blood, sanctified through the blood. To be sanctified means to be set apart, to be made holy. If you’ve been made holy through the blood, in your holy temple the Ark of His presence now dwells. Everywhere you go, you carry the Ark of His presence, the presence of the Lord.

Some of you can believe the Lord is with you while you’re in church, but you can’t believe He is with you in a great way after you leave. You look at others and think they’re far beyond you in the Lord. If you have the Ark of the presence, you’re special, adorable in God’s sight. You are loved by God, loved by Heaven; but you have to tell yourself you are loved by Heaven and be conscious of His presence.

What would you have thought of someone who could have gotten close to the Ark in the Old Testament days and not been conscious of it? If you could find that lost Ark now, you’d be conscious of it, conscious of just being in the presence of that Ark. Imagine how holy, how sacred you would feel just to see that Ark of the Covenant from long ago. How much more sacred we should feel in this Ark of His presence brought to us through Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. The New Covenant, the Ark of His presence came through the blood of Jesus to ever dwell and live within us.

The Comforter Has Come

Jesus gave these promises to all of His disciples: I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5). Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:20). But He was going away, how could that be? He said He would send another Comforter. But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me (John 15:26). It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you (John 16:7). And that great Comforter came with all the power of Heaven in manifestations that glorified the great I-Am. Manifestations of God’s love for everyone, manifestations of spiritual gifts and fruit from on High were delivered; the nine gifts and the nine fruits of the Spirit were made available through the Ark of His presence—God with us. How wonderful!

The Just Shall Live by Faith

When you are discouraged, you don’t have the reality that God is with you. You can’t believe with your whole heart that He is there in all His love and favor. You feel like a failure. Remember in your discouragement that the Word tells us the just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17). Rise above discouragement and use what God has made available to you in His presence. Live by divine faith, for you have divine love, divine strength, divine grace, divine courage and divine help in the presence. In such divinity, put self down. You see how weak self is, how hopeless and helpless; you see all your inabilities. But in His presence you see the mighty abilities of God, those God-given talents He has for you. In His presence those talents become believable. The Lord has given you divine talents that are to be used by divinity, used by the Spirit of the living God and operated through the power of the Holy Ghost.

It’s time to know where the Ark of His presence is, where it dwells. It seeks a resting place, a workshop inside your soul. The Holy Ghost wants to be there to dine with you, to teach you and guide you. In the Ark of His presence is all the knowledge, wisdom and greatness of God that you need. The Lord is a jealous God and He will not share His presence with the unbelievers.

A Pilgrim and a Stranger

First John 2:15, Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. To have the Ark of His presence, you must leave the world behind. If you love the world, His presence is not in you; the Ark of His presence does not dwell there. But as a pilgrim and a stranger in a strange land, you’re not of this world. You have His presence; you’re different, a peculiar person. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light (I Peter 2:9).

With great zeal through the Ark of His presence you can do His mighty works. You have God’s faith to bring about wonderful things that will give glory to Him, and you’re ever seeking to give Him more glory. You want none of the glory for yourself. That ego is dead and buried. You’ve dethroned self and made room for the Ark of His presence to dwell all the time on the inside of you. To you be all the glory, Lord, for sending your Son Jesus, for sending us the Holy Ghost. The Ark of power and greatness is living, dwelling within us at all times so that we can be conscious of you.

His Presence Means Miracles

When a person is around you, you’re conscious of his or her presence. Why not be conscious of His presence, the presence of the Lord God Almighty? You’ve felt His presence. You never could have received the Holy Spirit baptism without really being conscious of His presence. When the Holy Ghost came in, He took over, manifesting Himself by speaking in another tongue and pouring out His power upon you. Beyond caring what others thought or said, you were caught up in the presence of His love, His promises and greatness. They could say you had gone into fanaticism, but you knew better; you knew you had gone into the presence.

Some people call His presence fanaticism. In many churches they don’t want any of His manifestations, but you can’t have His presence and not have His manifestations; His presence isn’t like that. His presence means miracles, healings, signs, wonders, and newborn Christians. In His presence people are coming to the Lord. His presence draws people to Him, and when His presence is manifested through a human being, it’s a beautiful sight in the eyes of Heaven, and a beautiful sight to people who are seeking to find reality in God.

Many today are tired of dead churches, formalism; they want life, something they can hold on to that gives them full assurance. They don’t want only to hope they are going to Heaven; they want to know without a doubt they’re Heaven bound. Like the apostle Paul they want to know in whom they have believed: For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day (II Timothy 1:12). When someone comes with that reality, what a bright, glorious light it is!

The glory of the Lord is shining for those who want to see His glory. But there are those today who are saying they don’t need miracles and healings; in other words, they don’t need His glory, don’t need the Ark of His presence, don’t need the old-time power. They don’t feel the need of the amen corners, the old-fashioned altars where people weep their way through to victory and are really baptized in the Holy Ghost. They want to keep it quiet. If the minister is going to give an altar call, let it be out of sight; don’t do it where everyone can see.

The Power of God Is Glorious

We want people to behold the glory of the Lord, to kneel in His presence, and be changed and baptized in the Holy Ghost. We don’t want to hide away God’s delivering power for soul, mind and body. It wasn’t done in a corner in the Early Church, and we don’t want to put it in a corner in our day. Paul told king Agrippa: For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner (Acts 26:26). We’re not ashamed of the glory of the Lord, not ashamed of the power of God. We want people to see those who are being healed and delivered.

The Ark of His presence had come; now Peter was walking down the street and people were bringing out the sick and afflicted on couches, laying them out on the ground or wherever so that just the shadow of Peter might overshadow them. And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one (Acts 5:12-16). The people used Peter’s shadow as a point of contact to release their faith. Of course, a shadow couldn’t heal, but it could set the faith of people into operation, and God honors faith.

Some Say God’s Power Is Fanaticism

Do you call God’s power fanaticism? Do you think those people who were healed called it fanaticism? They called it healings, miracles. The blind got their sight, the crippled were made to walk—would you call that fanaticism? The man who had been crippled for thirty-eight years suddenly could walk—was that fanaticism? No, of course not. It was a miracle from God. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked (John 5:5-9).

The boy who was born blind, and then suddenly had his sight, would you call that fanaticism? And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth…he [Jesus] spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing (John 9:1,6,7).

What an Ark! Jesus is the great Ark of His presence, and wherever He went the people were healed. And he [Jesus] came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed. And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all (Luke 6:17-19). The presence produced mighty miracles, the Ark of the presence going everywhere among men, the Ark of the New Covenant, of the new and living way dwelling among men. On the streets of Jerusalem great action took place.

It’s time to look up to Jesus: Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2).

Jesus came down to lift us into His glory, into His Father’s glory; He came to us in His presence.

The Ark Is Available to All

In the Ark of His presence we find rest, peace, contentment beside the still waters. We’re being led in the paths of righteousness for the glory of the Lord, for His name’s sake.

The Lord leads us for His honor, praise and glory. Jesus paid a great price for us and we’re to glorify Him in return; we’re to pay Him back by giving Him the glory. Mighty art thou, oh, Lord God of Heaven; mighty art thou in all thy ways!

In this endtime hour with the Ark of His presence available to all, people everywhere can have His power, greatness and love. You can’t buy it with money; there’s no price tag on it. Jesus paid for it, made it possible for it to be yours. Are you reaching for it? Do you really want it? Do you want this old-time power in this final hour? Do you want this pouring-out? If so, you can have the Ark of His presence on the inside. If you’re not recognizing this pouring-out time, you don’t have the Ark of His presence; you just think you do. But if you’re recognizing this great pouring-out time, you’re recognizing the glory of the Lord around you, about you and within you. The Ark of His presence is dwelling on the inside, and the Lord is getting the glory out of your life.

The Bible tells us that in everything we do we are to honor the Lord. In everything we say He should get the glory. All our actions must glorify Him. It’s not a hard thing. The Law was hard, but grace is easy. People had to die for disobeying under the Law, but the Lord is ready to forgive your disobedience; He offers you forgiveness. He doesn’t cry death; He cries forgiveness and life. Jesus even gave life to the thief on the cross: Verily I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43). See the difference? We live in an hour of His great, mighty forgiveness, and it will flow to you if you want it.

If you’ve failed the Lord, don’t condemn yourself; reach out for His deliverance; He’s within your reach. The Ark of His presence is available, and you can have this great Ark dwelling on the inside of you. Look to Him.

They Turned the World Upside-Down

The Early Church had the Ark of His presence and then the Church lost it and went into almost total darkness for a long, dark, dark period of time. My Lord and my God! For thirty-some years the Early Church had had that presence to such an extent that it was said of them, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also (Acts 17:6). It was a great time with earthquakes of power. The bright, wonderful, glorious Ark of His presence dwelt in the Early Church and in the hearts of all the believers who had gone on to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost; He was a must. Jesus had told the disciples they were not to do any of His work until they were baptized in the Holy Ghost. Behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49). They needed the Ark of His presence on the inside of them before they dared to do His work.

At last the old-time power has returned in this final hour. When I was a youngster, it usually took the saints many hours to pray someone through to the baptism of the Spirit, but now thousands in our overseas crusade services are baptized in the Holy Ghost in just moments of time. The Ark of His presence, the old-time power is available, and Heaven is ready to serve it. Why not reach out and take what you need right now? Let the Lord help you. Suddenly that power will go into operation for you, that presence will manifest itself just as suddenly as the presence was manifested as a rushing, mighty wind with cloven tongues of fire on those waiting in the Upper Room.

Are you alive in His Spirit today? Are you alive in His power, in His grace, in His goodness? Are you alive in His faith of miracles and healings? Are you alive in the Ark of His presence, conscious of all His greatness for you and all the greatness He seeks to pour out upon planet Earth? He’s not going to pour it out upon the ground and watch it run off like water; He’s going to pour it out upon souls who are thirsty.

The Lord Still Saves and Heals Today

Sinner, don’t you want this God I’ve been telling about? Don’t you want His presence? Don’t you want the One who sent His only Begotten Son to die for you so that you could live in His presence for time and eternity? Backsliders, you who are in a lukewarm condition, don’t you want Him? You who are bound with alcohol and drugs, don’t you want Him? Lift your hands high and say this prayer: Oh, God, I’m so sorry that I have sinned against you, but I have come home. I want the Ark of your presence. I want the power of your presence. I want the love, the grace, and the forgiveness of your presence. I confess my sins, and I believe the blood of Jesus washes away all of my sins. Come into my heart, Jesus! Come on in, Jesus!

If you meant that prayer, you can now say, Hallelujah, Jesus has come! Hallelujah, He is mine!

You can have a miracle, a healing if that is your need. The Ark of His presence has found a resting place in the hearts of many and they’ve received miracles and healings. What a great crowd of witnesses we have! It’s wonderful to behold! The old-time power is falling even greater than in the beginning of the Church, and the multitudes are coming in, multitudes are coming to Jesus. We sow and reap in a moment of time, and it’s great indeed!

Lord, I bring the cancer victims, the heart patients, those who are paralyzed, those with AIDS. I bring those who have been shut in so long, and I bring the little ones who were born deformed, some with just part of a brain. Perform your wonderful, mighty works upon them. Let your glory shine forth upon them now. Let them behold your glorious deliverance. In the holy name of Jesus, as a servant of the living God, I come with your supernatural gifts. In the name of Jesus: Heal! Heal! I curse those diseases and afflictions as Christ cursed the fig tree. In the name of Jesus: Heal! I pray.

The healing virtue is flowing; the power of the Lord is going into you. Feel the presence of Him in you to heal all manner of sicknesses and diseases. The Ark of His presence is miraculous to behold and to experience, and it is here in our day in all living reality. Live in His presence. It is the new, living way that Jesus brought for us all.