WORSHIP IN THE TEMPLE
While we greet one another and worship God through praise and opening the word of God there are still many who will only do so within the confines of the temple they have built around them. In some cases it might be the physical church building they have come to see as God's house; it may be the temple of self that has been constructed to control and direct whatever supernatural power that might flow through their lives. In either case this becomes a restrictive form of worship that never puts God in charge of our lives. If God is never in charge of our lives we never see or feel any power coming from Him.
I have been watching a new series called "The bible A.D." and in the first two episodes I realized that the Sanhedrin wanted to protect the Temple more so than anything because within it it was all of the traditions they had built, and the power over the people that they had built for themselves. It isn't hard to see why none of those who operated within the Temple had done any miracles or shown any kind of evidence that they had been directed by God. They mostly reject the Spirit of God still today saying that there is only one God and that there cannot be three separate personalities and parts to Him. They deal with God through their own eyes, and abilities to comprehend and not through an all powerful and omnipresent God. In their controlled view of God they are needed in order to prevent chaos.
In many ways we too are much like that in our worship and daily practice of following Christ as well. We don't want things to get out of hand and out of our personal control therefore we limit God in our daily lives. I noticed that in the scriptures God destroyed a big part of the temple that had become so dear to them...the inner most chambers where they kept their image of God. I hope that you can see the point that I am trying to make here...your life can never begin to change unless you are out of control, and God's Spirit is in control. Too many of those who claim Christ have been living only in the temple they have created for God to live in. Any kind of existence outside of that means that they lose control of self and their ability to dictate what and where they will allow God to operate.
The church as Jesus established it is outside of the box that we create for our own comfort and safety. On a daily basis God dictates the events of our lives. He sends us moment by moment to and from divine appointments that are designed to stretch us and mold us into new creatures that have been changed and recharged through the Spirit of God. For the most part our lives in Christ have never been given to reside within any temples we may have built. As Christ has told us the new covenant is designed to operate through the spirit of the law and not the letter of the law. The Spirit brings with Him the mercy and grace of forgiveness for our weaknesses, but the letter of the law brings only the condemnation of not being able to live perfect lives. Most of us are very uncomfortable with a blind faith walk in Christ. In the next blog we will discuss the reason we need to get comfortable with allowing God to lead us everywhere we go...may you richly bless God through your life in Him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
I have been watching a new series called "The bible A.D." and in the first two episodes I realized that the Sanhedrin wanted to protect the Temple more so than anything because within it it was all of the traditions they had built, and the power over the people that they had built for themselves. It isn't hard to see why none of those who operated within the Temple had done any miracles or shown any kind of evidence that they had been directed by God. They mostly reject the Spirit of God still today saying that there is only one God and that there cannot be three separate personalities and parts to Him. They deal with God through their own eyes, and abilities to comprehend and not through an all powerful and omnipresent God. In their controlled view of God they are needed in order to prevent chaos.
In many ways we too are much like that in our worship and daily practice of following Christ as well. We don't want things to get out of hand and out of our personal control therefore we limit God in our daily lives. I noticed that in the scriptures God destroyed a big part of the temple that had become so dear to them...the inner most chambers where they kept their image of God. I hope that you can see the point that I am trying to make here...your life can never begin to change unless you are out of control, and God's Spirit is in control. Too many of those who claim Christ have been living only in the temple they have created for God to live in. Any kind of existence outside of that means that they lose control of self and their ability to dictate what and where they will allow God to operate.
The church as Jesus established it is outside of the box that we create for our own comfort and safety. On a daily basis God dictates the events of our lives. He sends us moment by moment to and from divine appointments that are designed to stretch us and mold us into new creatures that have been changed and recharged through the Spirit of God. For the most part our lives in Christ have never been given to reside within any temples we may have built. As Christ has told us the new covenant is designed to operate through the spirit of the law and not the letter of the law. The Spirit brings with Him the mercy and grace of forgiveness for our weaknesses, but the letter of the law brings only the condemnation of not being able to live perfect lives. Most of us are very uncomfortable with a blind faith walk in Christ. In the next blog we will discuss the reason we need to get comfortable with allowing God to lead us everywhere we go...may you richly bless God through your life in Him.
THE UNWORTHY SERVANT
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