With a winter storm on the way (and a little humor about “blizzards” that weren’t from Dairy Queen), Pastor John invited the church into a deeper, Bible-study style message—one that explored a powerful truth many believers don’t fully understand: the Holy Spirit doesn’t only live within us—He also covers us.
Pastor John began with familiar passages from 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 and 1 Corinthians 3:16, where the Apostle Paul reminds believers that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. The tabernacle and temple weren’t God’s original goal—they were reminders of His true desire: to dwell in His people, not just among them. Pastor John also highlighted Jeremiah 31, where God promised a day when His law would no longer be written on stone, but written on hearts—fulfilled through Jesus and the indwelling presence of the Spirit.
From there, Pastor John traced the message back to the tabernacle in Exodus, where Israel experienced God’s presence in two clear ways: fire and cloud. In Exodus 40, the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle so powerfully that Moses couldn’t enter. In Exodus 33, when Moses entered the tabernacle, the cloud descended and stood at the door, marking God’s presence and creating a holy boundary. Pastor John explained that the tabernacle wasn’t only about what happened inside—it also revealed what happened around it: God’s presence not only filled, it covered.
Pastor John then took the church back even further—to the Garden of Eden. Before sin entered, Adam and Eve were naked and unashamed, but after the fall they immediately recognized their nakedness and tried to cover themselves with fig leaves. Pastor John taught that this wasn’t only about clothing—it revealed the loss of a greater covering: the presence of God. Humanity has been trying to replace that covering ever since with substitutes that never satisfy.
The message ended with a strong encouragement: believers are not made perfect instantly, but we are made secure in Christ. The Holy Spirit works in us, and Christ’s righteousness covers us. That’s why Scripture repeatedly says to “put on Christ” and to make no provision for the flesh (Romans 13). Pastor John reminded the church that one of the enemy’s greatest strategies is to convince believers to remove that covering—yet our strength is found in staying under the presence and sanctifying work of God.
Bottom line: We don’t just need the Holy Spirit in us—we need to remain covered by Christ, walking in His righteousness and presence every day.
