Through this word of knowledge God was pointing out the condition of the church today. Spiritually speaking, the ark of God is no longer in the church and therefore God’s glory has departed from the church.

What do I mean when I say that God’s glory has departed from the church? I am saying that the things God promised to supply the church, they no longer have. Spiritually speaking, the cupboards are bare. Christians are lacking God’s provisions. Let’s go back and look at our lesson from 1 Samuel to see what those provisions are.

The children of Israel depended on God providing them victory in battle. The glory of the Lord is the testimony of Gideon where God selected 300 men to prove that His might is not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. The glory of the Lord is seen in the testimony of Deborah where God defeated Sisera by the hand of a woman. Here God points out to us that our victory in Him is not by the wisdom of man nor for the pride of man.

Let’s put that in perspective. When was the last time that you felt defeated before the enemy? When was the last time you felt as if your spiritual armour was a little thin? A person once said to me, “I am so discouraged. I see so much of the world in the church, my faith feels powerless.” The glory of God is departed.

So, let’s get back on track. How do we get the glory of God back into the church?

One rarely thinks about what was in the ark, but it was the exact contents of the ark that symbolized God’s presence with Israel.

What did the ark contain? The ark of God contained Aaron’s rod, the tablets of stone, and a golden pot with manna. What was the spiritual significance of these three articles? These three articles were symbolic of God’s spiritual government, His truth, and His Spirit. It is these three contact points that created the environment for the children of Israel to fellowship with God. God would govern them, lead them, guide them, and commune with them on the basis of their conformity to these things.

The name Ichabod was given this meaning: The glory is departed from Israel; for the ark of God is taken. When the ark was taken, these articles were taken. They were now missing from the camp of Israel.

We are now in the Second Covenant and our ark is Jesus Christ. The word of knowledge “Ichabod” for the church today holds the same meaning as it did in the Old Testament, but with new application. It still means: The glory is departed from Israel; for the ark of God is taken. But it now applies to Jesus Christ.

In Him are these things: government, truth, and Spirit. It is these three contact points that create the environment for our fellowship with God and is the first love the church needs to return to. (Revelations 2:4)

The headship of Christ proceeds through His government which begins with apostles (1 Corinthians 12:28) and consists of apostles, prophets, pastors, evangelists and teachers. (Ephesians 4:11-12) Each office is given a measure of grace from God to function in their calling and provide a particular service to the body and it is through this measure of grace that Christ rules the church.

Apostles are first, because they possess the measure of grace to lay down doctrine for the church (truth) so that the believer would know how to serve and worship God acceptably through fruit bearing.

The church is also without truth. This is the foundation knowledge that is laid in the hearts of believers through apostles. Apostles lay in order the knowledge of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:1) to assist believers to function in their spiritual priesthood and serve God in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

Truth is the knowledge that represents Jesus Christ and the covenant that He suffered on the cross for. It gives direction for our faith by setting out the definitions for words such as grace, faith, righteousness, holiness, justification, regeneration and the renewing of the mind. Truth also directs faith by placing the contact points of the Spirit in the hands of believers. With these tokens we touch God and the Spirit works the healing and restoration of the soul through fruit bearing.

Through the restoration of truth God is returning His sword to the church. Truth directs us in spiritual warfare as it teaches us what spiritual warfare is and how to overcome self, Satan and the world.

As mentioned, truth is received through God ordained, living apostles. The Spirit of God gives witness to truth by entering into our activity of faith and making faith living. The Spirit will only give witness to the knowledge of Christ and not to the thousands of different philosophies of man that stems from private interpretation of scripture. (2 Peter 1:20)

Faith has to be molded after the knowledge of Christ, for then the Spirit can enter into our faith and work the life of Christ within.

Without government the body of Christ does not have knowledge for faith. Without truth believers are ignorant of the priesthood and the Spirit of God cannot make alive the faith of the believer.

The church has long embraced the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection so that they may be freed from the penalty of sin. But it is time she embraces the purpose and power of Christ’s death and resurrection. It is time for Gods church to return to the knowledge that frees her from the power of sin.

During the time of the Second 8th Week, government, truth and Spirit are being restored to believers and the body is being restored to her former glory. The return of the Ark of God is a return to righteousness and holiness.