Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Tabernacles in Time







Old Testament : Have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.
(Ex. 25:8)
Old Testament-prophetic:  I will give you a new heart ...I will put my spirit in you!
(Ezekiel 36:26-26)    
New Testament:  Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit?
(1 Cor. 6:19)




I have consecrated this house...and put my name there forever; my eyes and my heart will be there for all time.   (1 Kings 9:3)
                                                               Amen and Amen



In biblical terms, sanctuary and temple can basically carry the same connotation.  The terms reflect a sacred place of refuge, a place of habitation. As Christians, our bodies house God's spirit and as the dwelling place of God's spirit we can be considered a tabernacle, a spiritual sanctuary.


I want to be a sanctuary adorned in holiness for endless days.   (Ps. 93.5)
I want to be as passionate about the tabernacle/sanctuary as David. (2 Chron. 6:7)
I want to be as deliberate with details as Moses and Solomon. (Ex. 25:8,  1Kings 6,7,8)



Apparently there are only a few chapters in scriptures referring to the creation of all the universe.  Yet  the book of Hebrews, combined with the first five books of the bible (the pentateuch) alone,  contain over 50 chapters about the tabernacle. This speaks volumes  of the importance God places on His desire to dwell with His people.  In fact, the word for "dwelt" in John 1:14 is skenoo  and is translated in the greek as "tabernacled".  
                            The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

                                            Immanuel:   God with us.  God in us.
                                                                   (Matt 1:23)



                                                 Adorn your house with holiness:

***Pray God would grant you new life to rebuild the house of your God and repair its ruins. (Ezra 9:9)  The waves of sin will lap at the shore of our selfishness. We will desire things we shouldn't. Sometimes we may even feel as if we have "ruined" our holy place with improper speech and desires, unholy attitudes and actions, foolishness and folly.  But it is never too late--Repent! Rebuild!
   

*** Devote your heart and soul to seeking the LORD your God. Begin to build the sanctuary of the LORD God... bring the sacred articles into the temple.  (1 Chron. 22:19)
                                               I envision the "sacred articles" as;
                                  confession  penitence  adoration  obedience  prayer
                             Experiencing the "presence, vision and enjoyment of God"   (1)

       
***If your sanctuary is desolate, if Gods spirit does not dwell in you as a new creation by spiritual rebirth or as a christian you are in a  spiritually dry place,  ask the lord to look with favor on your desolate sanitary, to listen and to hear your prayer, to forgive and fill you with His presence. Then you will be a people called by His name. (Dan 9:17-19)


***I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well!!  We were created to be in fellowship with the Lord;  body, heart, spirit and soul. (Ps 139:14)
The Lord has prepared a place for His spirit in your beautifully crafted human tent.  Invite Him in!
Desire to adorn your house with holiness.




"May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, 
this place of which you said, 
My Name shall be there..."
1 kings 8:29









                                                                                                       

--  Romans 10-9-10  If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

-- Eph 3:8 For it is by faith you have been saved through faith- and that not of yourselves, it is THE GIFT of God- lest any should boast.


(1) C.S. Lewis