Indwelling Spirit 05.23.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Friday May 23, 2008 and today we are continuing our studies on the book of II Chronicles. Please read Chapters 4-6 in your Bible or Click Here to read. biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Chronicles%204-6&version=9

Today we will read and learn about furnishings in the Temple, The cloud of the Lord filling the Temple, and Solomons prayer of dedication. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that by accepting Jesus into our lives He indwells in us for eternity and our lives will not be the same.

Much time and effort were given in preparation for the dedication of the Temple which had taken about 7-1/2 years to build (See I Kings 6:37-38). The Ark reached its intended resting place within the Holy of Holies. Perhaps no event has ever equaled this momentous occasion. "Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which was in the seventh month. And all the elders of Israel came; and the Levites took up the ark. And they brought up the ark, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, these did the priests and the Levites bring up. Also king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel that were assembled unto him before the ark, sacrificed sheep and oxen, which could not be told nor numbered for multitude. And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, to the oracle of the house, into the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims: For the cherubims spread forth their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above." (II Chronicles 5:3-8).

As they went up the hill, they sang, "Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:) It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God." (5:12-14).

This awe-inspiring Ark contained the original Commandments from Moses. These were to be a constant reminder of God's Covenant with Israel and to make them a holy nation. In the first four of the Ten Commandments we have commands regarding man's relationship to God. All ten were summarized here, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself." (Luke 10:27). We can not meet such demands without the new birth and the indwelling Holy Spirit. "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:3-5).

As soon as a person is born of God he possesses the indwelling life of God and, as he meditates daily upon His Word be assured that the Lord will impart the knowledge of His will. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20).

Likewise, when one receives the life of Christ and submits himself to the Law of the Spirit of Life, then one's behavior will be an ever-increasing manifestation of Christ and His knowledge. "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ." (I Corinthians 2:12-16).

In today's message Jesus Christ is revealed through Solomon's prayer when he said: There is no God like You . (II Chronicles 6:14). Jesus is that God, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (I Timothy 2:5-6).

Today's Psalm: 23:6
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever."

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Jesus, as we earnestly seek and follow You our minds are being renewed daily. Our ambitions, goals, and affections are being transformed into Your likeness. With You indwelling in us, the ways of the world have less grip as we transfix our thoughts upon, You, the Author and Finisher of our faith. It is in dying to the world that we become alive unto You and it is through Your mercy that we offer our lives today as living sacrifices. In Jesus' name......Amen.

Have a great and wonderful Friday! Are you ready for a nice long weekend? I know I am.

God Bless,
Christina

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