Friends, the presence of God is to have a place to DWELL. In the Old Testament, the Shekinah Glory of God dwelt above the Mercy Seat, between the Cherubim. Now, under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit has chosen to dwell in and with His people; the veil has been rent. Thank God!
Psalm 22:3 says, "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel."
Psalm 76:1 says, "In Judah is God known..."
Judah means, "praise". In PRAISE is God known. One of the ways for us to get to know God intimately is to live a life of true worship: "Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness..." (Isa 64:5). Well how does God meet him that rejoices? By inhabiting His praise!
God's presence desires a dwelling place, and this place is in the hearts of true worshipers: "For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it" (Ps 132:13-14).
This is Jesus' desire, yet most are unaware! Most people don't even realize that our worship brings the manifest presence of God on the scene (Jn 14:21)! James tells us to "draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you..." (4:8). This is what it means to commune with the Holy Spirit (2 Cor 13:14).
But did you know that you can be genuinely saved, and yet not be communing with the Holy Ghost? How scary! How can that be?
Because we must prepare His habitation:
"The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him" (Exod 15:2).
"In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit" (Eph 2:22).
"And it came to pass that night, that the word of the LORD came unto Nathan, saying, Go and tell my servant David, Thus saith the LORD, Shalt thou build me an house for me to dwell in?" (2 Sam 7:4-5).
"Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word" (Isa 66:1-2).
"To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (1 Pet 2:4-5).
Do we have room for Jesus? Do we have precious time to stop and literally prepare His abode? Sadly, creation is known for this lack! "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn" (Lk 2:7). Are our hearts crowded with the cares of this life, bitterness, strife, sin and discord? Do we have room for Him?
If we want to be a people who offer our hearts as God's sanctuary, then let's realize the preperation required. Jesus wants to dwell in a living temple that is fully built!
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