Building A Temple Of Habitation

'If we build it according to His pattern He will come'

The early Church moved with awesome power, as they continued the earthly ministry of Jesus. We too have been called to continue this ministry and our need to have the church full of grace and power is just as (if not more) necessary today, as it was two thousand years ago. Our hearts desire should be to see God move with power in our church and to see this power released into our homes, workplace, schools and beyond. Why? Because this is HIS hearts desire for our church.

If we are to fully experience Gods power at first hand, we must create an environment where the Holy Spirit is free to operate. Whilst recognizing God is sovereign, we should also recognize that because of this sovereignty and His holy nature, God has placed certain limitations upon Himself. For instance it would be impossible for God to lie. We too can impose limits on God. He has given us a freedom of choice. God values our free will very highly, as a result He will not force Himself upon us. We can use our free will and choose to deny Gods power or we can choose to embrace and walk in this power.

We can create an environment of expectant, holy faith or we can create an environment of unbelief. The people of Nazareth chose to reject the Lordship of Jesus and therefore created an environment of unbelief. As a result Jesus was unable to perform many miracles in His hometown (see Mark 6:1-5).

GODS POWER PATTERN FOR REVIVAL:

The re-establishment of divine order, within the church, insists that we follow Gods pattern as laid down in the scriptures. This pattern, if followed absolutely and without compromise, always leads to a powerful manifestation of Gods glory. When Moses followed the exact pattern for the building of the Tent of meeting, as commanded by God, the glory of God filled the place and no flesh could enter His presence (See Exodus 40:1-35).

Exo 40:34-35 Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

2 Chr 5:13-14 The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: "He is good; His love endures forever." Then the temple of the Lord was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the temple of God.

2 Chr 7:1-3 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, "He is good; His love endures forever."

Acts 2:1-6 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

As you read the preceding scriptures, I am sure you will have noticed certain common denominators and made some interesting observations:

Obedience in following Gods exact pattern.

Complete harmony and unity of believers.

Prayer, praise and worship are vital keys.

The priests can no longer perform their duties (God in, flesh out).

Glory of God having entered the temple, quickly moved into the community.

When the Glory of God is made manifest in the temple, the community responds.

Old and New Testaments follow the same pattern.

Our God is the same yesterday, today and forever.  

In the case of the New Testament church, on the day of Pentecost, we see the power of God fall upon, then enter the temple (we are the New Testament temple). Almost immediately these living temples took the glory of God into the community and the church was born.

W. Joe Ingram

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