BAPTIZED IN THE CLOUD
BAPTIZED IN THE CLOUD
Sunday, March 5, 2023, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
The “Cloud” is the Presence and Glory of God; the Lord Jesus; and the Holy Ghost.
Through many years, we have on multiple occasions experienced the “Glory Cloud” (Shekinah) in our services. I cannot say we have experienced the visitation of the “Glory Cloud” (Shekinah) in our new building, but without a doubt, we have the Glory (Hadarah; Kabod; Pa'ar; Addereth; Halal; and Shabach)) of the Presence of the Lord.
1Kings 8:11-12: The priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD. Then Solomon spoke: “the Lord said He would dwell in the dark cloud.”
1 Cor. 10: 1-4: Brethren, I would not that you should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized to Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink; for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them; and that Rock was Christ.”
Christ the Rock was constantly with His people, the true source of every provision. The use of “Rock” as a Divine name is throughout the Old Testament and reaffirmed in the New Covenant (Mt.16:18).
The Israelites were delivered by the Blood, the Water, and the Spirit (1Jn. 5:8).
(1) Blood ---Ex. 12:13, 37: “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.”
This speaks of the Blood of Jesus, the Passover Lamb.
(2) The Sea/water--- Ex. 14-15 this speaks of water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. At this first baptism (Red Sea) Israel escaped Egypt and was delivered from the dominion of Pharaoh. Rom 6:3-7: …We were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death. We are buried with him by baptism into death. Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
(3) Spirit ---Ex. 13:21-22: The LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, to go by day and night. This second baptism (in the CLOUD provided God’s people with leadership, rain, shade, comfort, shelter, light, and fellowship. This is the Shekinah Glory of God which means “Alongside one, actual divine presence, dwelling, or abode of God.”
(4) Spiritual meat---Ex. 16: Israel had a supernatural supply of Bread
which speaks of the WORD and of Water (Ex. 17) which speaks
of the SPIRIT. They were instructed in the principle of Holiness,
Justice and Law.
They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and the sea. However, not all the Israelites remained true to their calling as the custodians of God’s revelation. They all perished in the wilderness except for Joshua and Caleb.
The Cloud directed the movement of the camp. It was a revelation of a personal God who spoke. It was a protection and covering from the enemy. It was a shelter and refuge (shade) by day. It was light and warmth by night. It was a provider of fellowship and communion.
The cloud was the visible representation of God.
God was in the Cloud.
God spoke from the Cloud. Ex. 19:9 The LORD said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak.
The Cloud covered the O.T. tabernacle and the Cloud overshadowed Mary (Lk. 1:34-35). Jesus was the beginning of the true tabernacle and was conceived in the same GLORY CLOUD.
Jesus is the Word and the Light. To follow Jesus is to follow a moving light. The Cloud of Glory was on the Mount of Transfiguration. This parallels Mt. Sinai. In both accounts, there is a Mount, a Cloud, and a Voice that speaks in and from the Cloud. Moses appeared on both mountains.
Mark 9: 2-8: There was a cloud that overshadowed them (Moses, Elijah, and Jesus): and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, this is my beloved Son: hear him.
Jesus ascended in the same Cloud of Glory. Acts 1:9: two men said to them, ‘you men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven.”
Rev. 1:7: Behold, he comes with clouds;
Matthew 26:64: Jesus said unto him, you have said; nevertheless, I say unto you, Hereafter shall you see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
1 Thess. 4:17: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so, shall we ever be with the Lord.
Acts 1:9: When he had spoken these things while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Rev. 10:1: I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud; and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire.
Rev. 14: 14: I looked and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of Man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
The bible speaks of only One Cloud until Jesus’ Ascension. Christ’s Second Coming is spoken of as a plurality of Clouds (many clouds, a great company of clouds). I have seen this by vision.
2001: It was only a couple of weeks after 9-11. I was half awake and half asleep. I saw a vision. I was in a building with huge windows. It was in a pasture. I saw Jesus coming in clouds of glory. There were many clouds flying through the sky in the formation of the Body of Christ. I ran out to meet him. I cried for the other people to come with me. “I see Jesus coming in clouds of glory.” Only a few people followed me. Instantly, I was “caught up” into the clouds of glory. Each cloud was a saint who had gone to Heaven. I knew some of them, but they all knew me. I cried out, “Where is Jesus?” because I knew he was there. I saw Him then all light as I have seen him before. He walked toward me but only came within about 8 feet. He told me, “there are some people who are not going to make it. Cry out for their souls.” I then saw yards and yards of blue ribbon released from Heaven as I cried out for the soul of everyone I knew.” (End of Vision). Since that day, everyone I prayed for that day have given their heart to Jesus. I am not sure they are still walking with Him today, but I believe they will.
Because of that vision, I believe each saint becomes a cloud, a manifestation of God’s Glory. Because we are the temple, we become clouds of glory even on earth. The Cloud is also a fire, making each son a flame. The many clouds speak of God’s presence in His people and the sons of God in Glory. God has a people who will reign as Kings upon the earth and rain (as they empty his Life) upon the earth!
In Exodus 19-34, there were seven ascents of Moses where he went up to God.
God appeared to Moses in a Thick Cloud. Ex. 24:9: Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab, and Abiho, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and they saw the God of Israel; and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. Upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also, they saw God, and did eat and drink.
Moses was then called by God into the Mount of God (verse 15) Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount. The glory of the Lord abode upon Mt. Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days; and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel. And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and got him up into the mount, and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.
Even though Israel was delivered from Egypt --- Egypt had not been delivered out of them. Because of murmuring, unbelief, and idolatry, they were not allowed to enter the tabernacle in the Glory Cloud of God’s presence with Moses.
In this tent, Moses sought the face of Jehovah for the direction of a nation. Because of idolatry, Moses separated his prayer life. “THE CLOUDY PILLAR DESCENDED (Ex. 33:9) and talked with Moses.” THE PRAYER LIFE OF ONE MAN BROUGHT A WHOLE NATION TO WORSHIP! Ex. 33:10-11: …All the people rose and worshiped, every man in his tent door. The Lord spoke to Moses’ face to face as a man speaks to his friend.
In the account of building the tabernacle according to the order that God had given to Moses in the Mount. After it was built according to the pattern, THEN AND ONLY THEN A CLOUD COVERED THE TENT...AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD FILLED THE TABERNACLE (Ex. 40:34).
1 Cor. 10: 5-10: But with many of them God was not well pleased; for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be you idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose to play. Nether let us commit fornication, as some of the committed, and fell in one day 23,000. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents. Neither murmur you, as some of them murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
They were sifted. Everyone was disqualified except Joshua and Caleb from Canaan.
Here are the big four that kept the Israelites wandering around in the desert for forty years and kept them from going in with Moses in the Glory Cloud.
- MURMURING. (Num. 11: 1-3) Un-thankful, griping, rarely praised, bickering, backbiting, and complaining (1 Thess. 5:18).
- SEXUAL IMMORALITY – CARNALITY- IDOLATRY. (Num. 11: 4-6) A love for the things of the world or a consuming desire and determination for something other than the presence and purposes of God (11 Cor. 6: 14-18).
- REBELLION. (Num. 12, 15, 17) A lack of submission. A defiance of authority in any dimension (to Jesus, other ministries, other leadership, husband, parents, each other, civil authority, etc. (Rom 13: 1-7).
- UNBELIEF. (Num. 13-14) We have been promised ALL THINGS. There is
the unbelief (evil) report and the report of real faith.
His Glory, Presence, Nature, and Ministry are to be multiplied! God’s eternal purpose in Christ Jesus is to have a vast family of sons in the image of the Firstborn.
Each son becomes a Cloud, a manifestation of God’s Glory. God will dwell forever in His temple (sons) and upon his holy mountain, which is Zion. (Heb. 12: 22-24)
The Cloud is also a fire, making each son a flame (Heb. 1:7).
God wants a many-membered true ministry, a multiple glory. The many clouds speak of God’s Presence in His people and the sons of God in Glory (Glorified).
2 Peter 3:18: Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever.
2 Pe. 1:17-29: For (Jesus) received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. This voice which came from heaven, we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a surer word of prophecy, where unto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church, 10115 West Hidden Lakes Lane, Richmond, TX.
Scripture from K.J.V. and N.K.J.V.; I entered into the labors of C. S. Lovett’s Lights on 1 Corinthians; Kelly Varner’s Principles of Present truth on Exodus; F. F. Bruce International Bible Commentary, Sermon on 1 Cor. 10 by Pastor Carolyn Sissom 2/3/13.