THE CHURCH: THE CARRIER OF GOD'S PRESENCE; THE CONVEYOR OF HIS GLORY.
"Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, GOD HATH SHINED" (Psalm 50:2).
If you know something about the word "type" or "typology" in connection with the Bible, you will understand that "Zion" in the Old Testament is a representation of the New Testament Church.
Just as God chose the Nation of Israel to be a light to other nations in the Old Testament, so He has also chosen the Church in this age to be a People separated unto Him so that the light of His Glory would be expressed to the world through her. "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should SHEW FORTH THE PRAISES OF HIM who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light" (1Pet.2:9).
Biblically speaking, the Church is neither a physical structure nor the place or location where religious activities are being carried out, but a People who have made a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; washed by His blood, and are soundly born again.
The Church is an extension of God's Kingdom in the earth. Though we live in the world, but we are not of the world.
In the Old Testament, God's presence resided temporarily in the temple built by Solomon until Jesus went to the cross to execute the plan of man's redemption. As soon as He gave up the ghost, the presence of God relocated from Solomon's temple into the human temple.
"... For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord..." (2 Cor. 6:16,17).
The Church is an extension of God's Kingdom in the earth. Though we live in the world, but we are not of the world, "For our conversation (Citizenship) is in heaven..." (Phil. 3:20). We are here on a mission. Our mission is to reflect His highest Glory - make Him known to our generation, this is the very essence of Christianity. "In Judah (The Church) is God known: his name is great in Israel" (Ps. 76:1).
Reflecting God's highest Glory by making Him known in everything we do should be the top priority of the Church.
This calls for a thorough check up on the motive behind some of the things we do. There should be a distinction between God's purpose and man's purpose; we should draw the line between the two.
God is waiting for the Church to get her priorities right so He could shine the light of His Glory through her to affect lives positively in this world of darkness.
Hear this: God is doing a new thing right now. He is making a way where seems to be no way, He is stepping into the scene! "Now will I rise, saith the Lord; now will I lift up myself" (Isa. 33:10).
God is bringing the Church back to her original state as the carrier of His Presence, and the Conveyor of His Glory. What separates the Church from the world is the Presence of God, and not our religious routines.
"And he said, MY PRESENCE SHALL GO WITH THEE, and I will give thee rest. And he (Moses) said unto him, IF THY PRESENCE GO NOT WITH ME, CARRY US NOT UP HENCE. FOR WHEREIN SHALL IT BE KNOWN HERE THAT I AND THY PEOPLE HAVE FOUND GRACE IN THY SIGHT? IS IT NOT IN THAT THOU GOEST WITH US? SO SHALL WE BE SEPARATED, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth" (Ex. 33: 14-16).
We must make a decision to go with God in these final days. To do so, we've got to get God's programme from Him, so we could run with it according to His direction, otherwise, some people will have to be laid aside because it's not going to be business as usual.
Generally, it is human nature to dislike change. We will pluck it out, paint it in, and power it up - all to try to try to look the same, but we need to remember that God refuses to leave us as He found us. When we have a dynamic encounter with the Lord, through the third Person of the Trinity, the Blessed Holy Ghost, we are changed from glory to glory!
The revelation of God's Glory will be characterized by judgement and blessings. The judgement on Ananias and Sapphira preceeded the Spectacular happenings in the early Church. It got to a point where Peter's shadow could heal the sick! (Acts 5:1-16).
The experience of the early Church is just a tip of the iceberg compared to the dimension of glory that awaits the Church in these final hours because the later house shall exceed the former in glory!
"Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him" (1 Cor. 2:9).
God has prepared great things for the Church but we must position ourselves to receive His best so we could be The Carrier of His Presence, and the Conveyor of His Glory!
About Me: I'm passionate about helping people to know the Lord personally, and to relate with Him intimately.
Comments
Post a Comment