A theme that has been going has been the Holy Spirit, the anointing, God’s power, God’s presence
The different words we use when taking about
Today I want to continue along these lines: Looking at another dimension of God and His Holy Spirit
Which if it wasn’t for Jesus - we wouldn’t have God in our lives - Jesus said the only to Him was through Himself
AND - the same with the Holy Spirit - we have the Holy Spirit because Jesus said: “I am going to my Father but I will send A HELPER - the Spirit of TRUTH!
Today: Dwelling Places of God - (These places we’ll be looking at are places the Holy Sprit dwells - No one has seen God - The 3rd person of the Godhead - the Holy Spirit is how God dwells with and IN man)
OLD TEST - God’s passion was to dwell amongst His people Israel
Remember - He saved Israel as a community
Ex. 24:16 Now the glory of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day He called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.
The Word “rested is the Hebrew word: shākan, which means “to reside or to permanently stay.”
The word Shekinah is not in the Bible - It was first introduced by Jewish rabbis - it eventually became “shekinah glory”
So let’s look at 3 dwelling places: we will spend most of our time on the 3rd one:
They are: The Spirit IN us, ON us, and AMONGST us
Spirit IN
John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (ESV)
John 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. (ESV)
In the Old Testament the Spirit of God came ON people - they were able to do God’s will with the empowerment of His Spirit
Some things were super human - outrunning chariots - Sampson
BUT - the WERE NOT born-again
Spirit ON
Luke 24:49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you ware clothed with power from on high.” (ESV)
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (ESV)
Yet there is another dimension of the Holy Spirit - That is the presence of God AMONG us:
We sometimes fail to mention this dimension - one reason is the other 2 dwelling places are so awesome
But this dwelling place is awesome, powerful, relevant
Spirit AMONG
Psa. 26:8 LORD, I love the house where you dwell, the place where your glory resides. (CSB)
Please NOTE: He not only loved the house, but he LOVED THE PRESENCE IN THE HOUSE - the PLACE where the glory dwells
Q: Do we love His house? (I do) (not because I am perfect or deserve anything)
It isn’t just a duty for me - whether I speak or not - I love HIS presence in His House - (as well as I love His presence IN me and On me)
God is IN us and ON us AND AMONG US
The following scriptures have the word “shākan” in them:
Ex. 25:8 And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.
Ex. 29:45 I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God.
Ex. 29:46 And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.
1 Kings 6:13 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel.”
Zech. 2:11 “Many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.
And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day,.... The Gospel will be preached in all nations, and multitudes will be converted, and embrace and profess Jesus - (Gill's Exposition of Entire Bible)
Zech. 8:3 “Thus says the LORD: ‘I will return to Zion, And dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, The Mountain of the LORD of hosts, The Holy Mountain.’
New Testament
There is a place in the New Testament - where His manifested glory dwells
It’s the church
THOUGHT: when the first lockdown happened - I couldn’t say: “things have changed forever - they will never be the same”
I am referring to church and gathering together in one place
Let’s look at some scriptures and see what they say
Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. (ESV)
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (ESV)
When the Holy Spirit was poured out - there were 120 people
as they dwelt together they were filled - it filled the whole house
it was a place - they were sitting together
He filled the place and He filled them
powerful presence of God
A notable fact on the day of Pentecost the people were together, they were filled together, and they became God’s house together
So it isn’t the building - but it’s the people together that caused the house to be filled
They were all filled - and each person had an experience together
The church was born together - He knows us by name
BUT he also knows us together - we are a temple when we gather in His Name
Can we say this together? I love the house of the Lord - the place where His glory dwells - I love the presence of God - because that is where His glory dwells
We ALL have the glory of God IN US - but there is another manifestation of God when we gather
Let’s believe this: When we who are truly saved by faith in the blood of Jesus, gather in the Name of Jesus and begin to love the presence of God together - there is a glory that fills the house
Acts 14:27 And when they arrived and gathered the church together… (ESV)
1 Cor. 11:18 For first of all, when you come together as a church… (NKJV)
1 Cor. 11:20 Therefore when you come together in one place… (NKJV)
1 Cor. 14:23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place…(NKJV)
This scripture says:
1 Tim. 3:15 but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (NKJV)
Paul wrote to churches - they were in cities - they gathered
Paul visited people - who gathered
Why would conduct matter if we aren’t
Heb. 10:25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. (NLT)
The Best Way to Come Together
There are various purposes and ways to come together - here are some from scripture
In One Accord - Unity
Unity isn’t conformity - uniformity - compliance - relativism - senti-mentality - or abandoning the truth of God’s Word in order to agree
Peter and John
Acts 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple;
Acts 3:3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.
Acts 3:4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.”
Acts 3:5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
NOTABLE: Peter fixed his eyes on the man WITH JOHN - They wanted to same thing - It wasn’t like: “OK it’s your turn to talk to this guy”
It wasn’t like: “hey I’m going to run across the street and get me an ice cream cone - you want one?
Peter said look on US - Peter knew John was with him
NOTE: the man gave THEM his attention - he saw then as a team
Peter and John working together? Really?
Peter was the tough guy - John was mister love - they could have been like the odd couple -
STORY: RS&B - we may have argued, disagreed, at time become angry - we
LET IT GO - when we stood up to minister - we were ONE
There was one time we didn’t let go of differences - Kansas City - the mister we served (Bro Hagin - who I served for 10 years of my life) called us together - told us that was the hardest meeting I ever had - it was because of the strife in our group
APPLICATION:
When I am not speaking I come to hear who is - I am not standing during P&W thinking - I hope they speak on this - I hope they address this or that
I am not sitting thinking - I wish you said that this way or that way
John was WITH Peter
Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
Acts 3:7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
Acts 3:8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.
Acts 3:11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed.
Acts 3:12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? (NKJV)
The unselfishness is amazing here - but in a sense rewarded - it didn’t matter that Peter took the lead - The man healed and all the people saw them as ONE
I think we would be surprised at how people see us - it’s not until we give them a reason that they would see us divided
Peter, John, and their Company
Acts 4:21 So when they had further threatened them, they let them go,
finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people: for all men glorified God for that which was done.
A man was above forty years old was healed
They had the opposite happen to them here - in chapter 3 they were treated like royalty
Here in chapter 4 - they are questioned and threatened because they healed a man
Acts 4:23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
NOTE: they had their own company
A company can be described as a group of people who live for God, the plans and purposes of God, who know God’s Word, who can pray God’s Word, who know how to speak God’s Word and exercise God given authority.
I have heard testimonies from our SG’s, when someone has a need and people agree in prayer and the need is met
The same is true with serving on a team - the team agrees together and prayer is answered
Acts 4:24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
Acts 4:25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
Acts 4:26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
Acts 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Acts 4:29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
Acts 4:30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
NOTABLE: What they asked for WASN’T revenge - or that they would defeat them - or anything else - (they weren’t asking for a regime change - a change of leadership)
THEY ASKED FOR healings - signs and wonders
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, THE PLACE was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Acts 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
Acts 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. (KJV)
Bringing Something
1 Cor. 14:26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. (NKJV)
We don’t want to bring junk into the temple
We love His presence and WANT His presence
The one thing we can’t do is change our lives or anyone else’s lives
We are changed by His Word and IN HIS PRESENCE
Summary
It is good and right to come together into one place
It is good to come together wanting the same thing
It is good to come together with something - built up in God
It is good to worship with all our hearts
It is good and right to love Him and His presence
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