1 Kings 8:10-11 (NKJV): And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.
The word 'glory' here is 'kabowd' in Hebrew, and it can mean 'splendor, magnificence, honor, or weight'. That is to say the glory of the Lord is real, is present, and is tangible. You can experience it, and you can be filled (and saturated) with it. It is the very presence of the Lord and people can actually sense and see the glory of the Lord in you! (Isaiah 60:1-3)
When this glory of the Lord filled the temple that Solomon built, even the priests could not continue ministering. Nothing of the flesh mattered anymore. The Lord took over entirely, and from then on, it's all about Him (and none about the works of man). What Solomon could do at that time was simply saying, "The Lord said that He would dwell in the thick cloud. I have surely built You an exalted house, and a place for You to dwell in forever".
Solomon then turned around and released blessing to the whole assembly of Israel, saying, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David, and with His hand has fulfilled it..."
Today, as believers in the New Covenant, you and I have become this temple (not made of stones). 1 Corinthians 6:19 says, 'Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own'.
The Lord spoke these words recently: "Prepare yourselves, for My glory is coming, even in ways you have not imagined possible! I have begun raising up a people who will be carriers of My glory, and the world will see it! Just as in the days of Solomon when the temple was prepared, get ready My people, for My glory is coming, and My Spirit is taking over! Nothing of the flesh matters anymore!"
People of God, when the glory of the Lord is with you, two things happen.
First, you will begin walking in greater blessings. You will know, and the world will also see this in you. Jesus is the prime example of being the carrier of God's glory. After all, He is the glory of God manifested!
When evening came, and the people were hungry, His disciples had wanted to send the multitudes away. But Jesus said, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." But they said to Him, "We only have five loaves and two fish." Jesus then took the five loaves and two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes. They were all filled, and had even twelve baskets full of leftover. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children (see Matthew 14:15-21).
Second, the evil one cannot have a hold on you, or 'touch' you. You will have divine protection, and no matter how the 'enemies' try to pull you down, they will not succeed. Let's look at Jesus again, because He is the prime example of being the carrier of God's glory.
When those in the synagogue jumped up, mobbed Him and tried to push Him off a cliff, Jesus somehow passed right through the crowd and went on His way (see Luke 4:28-30). And right before His arrest, when Judas the betrayer (accompanied by the Roman soldiers and temple guards) came over, Jesus stood up and asked, "Who are you looking for?" They replied, "Jesus the Nazarene." Jesus then said, "I AM HE." And as He said, "I AM HE", they all drew back and fell to the ground! (see John 18:1-6) Speaking of God's power at play! You see, no one could 'touch' Him unless He willingly give Himself up!
The keys to being a carrier of God's glory:
1. Full of the Word
For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV)
2. Full of the Spirit
And when they (the disciples of Christ) had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness (Acts 4:31 NKJV)
3. Worship & surrender
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him (Romans 12:1 NLT)
4. Truthfulness, honesty & integrity
Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom (Psalm 51:6 NKJV)
5. Holiness & purity
Therefore, having these promises (being a temple of Holy Spirit), beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1 NKJV)
