HEAVEN TO EARTH CONNECTION-5

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We are moving through 5 movements that demonstrate what God sees as most important for us in relation to Him.

First--GOD WANTS TO WALK WITH MAN. Second--GOD WANTS TO DWELL AMONG US. Third--GOD HAS DEMONSTRATED HIS PHYSICAL, VISIBLE PRESENCE TO RELATE TO US. And the ultimate visible, presence of God is in Jesus! All the fullness of God dwells in Him! Fourth--GOD SENT HIS SPIRIT TO INDWELL BELIEVERS AS AN ALTAR, A TABERNACLE OR TEMPLE.

And now today, we come to the fifth movement. Fifth--GOD WANTS TO WALK WITH YOU--TO SHOW UP AMONG US.

It's all about being the church! God indwells you--His presence on earth is in you who are followers of Jesus. And, when you come together with other followers of Jesus, you are assembling (or churching) in His name. So every time you gather together in His name you are practicing being the church of Jesus. This doesn't mean at all that followers of Jesus are not to attend local churches. There is so much value within the organized church.

- Children's ministries - Youth ministries - Bible study series - Corporate worship together - Challenging messages from gifted teachers

However, there are two primary dangers: 1. When you "show up" at a church service and take in all of the wonderful ministries, it's too easy to think that this will suffice in growing you up spiritually.

2. When you "attend the show" without participating in a smaller, tight fellowship of followers of Jesus, you will miss what God's intent has been since the Garden. He wants to dwell among us and walk with us personally! The greatest epidemic today is to be addicted to going to church--checking in and checking off your responsibility to the Lord. There is so much more than this.

I've noticed something over the last few years that is astounding to me. I have watched people who have sat under some of the best Bible teaching ever, even sat under this teaching for years. Then, when that same person starts walking with another follower of Jesus (or 2 or 3), it's like he experiences a shot of spiritual adrenaline and it's life-changing!

Just today at lunch a few of us were discussing how a young couple in our little fellowship of Jesus followers is growing so much in their relationship with each other and with the Lord. What's interesting is that it isn't that they are hearing such wonderful teaching (including mine), but they are experiencing the power of the few.

Don't miss the power of the few. Jesus says, "Where 2 or 3 are gathered together in My name, I will show up there in their midst." This brings us right back to what God initially wanted to do with man--to be present with him and walk with him.

I ask you one more time. "If you knew Jesus was going to show up somewhere, wouldn't you do anything you could do to go there to be with Him?" So, link up with another follower of Jesus (or 2 or 3) and learn to walk together--to do life together. Jesus Who dwells within ya'll will show up among you! Try it out for yourself!

HEAVEN TO EARTH CONNECTION-4

FOR AUDIO VERSION CLICK HERE.

We are moving through 5 movements that demonstrate what God sees as most important for us in relation to Him.

First--GOD WANTS TO WALK WITH MAN. Second--GOD WANTS TO DWELL AMONG US. Third--GOD HAS DEMONSTRATED HIS PHYSICAL, VISIBLE PRESENCE TO RELATE TO US. And the ultimate visible, presence of God is in Jesus! All the fullness of God dwells in Him!

And now today, we come to the fourth movement... Fourth--GOD SENT HIS SPIRIT TO INDWELL BELIEVERS AS AN ALTAR, A TABERNACLE OR TEMPLE.

Just as God ordered Moses to build an altar and later directed that a portable tabernacle be built for traveling, then the Temple in Jerusalem was to be built--all dwelling places for God be present among His people.

Then when Jesus was teaching His disciples in during their last gathering together, He broke some interesting news to them. He said, "If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever-the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you."

The news? Jesus will be departing and the disciples will be given the Spirit of truth Who has been with them, but will not live in them--forever!

Later on in one of the letters written to the Corinthians we find Paul saying, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? Therefore honor God with your bodies."

Paul with great emotion identifies the news Jesus announced to His disciples. It is simply this. The Spirit of God will now dwell within the disciples of Jesus permanently. The disciples of Jesus are now to serve as the altar, a tabernacle or the Temple--the actual dwelling place of God.

Now, do you remember the reason why God wanted to dwell in an altar, tabernacle or Temple? It was so that God could dwell among His people.

I hope you get this. All you have to do is to meditate on this for about 30 seconds and this truth could change your life and your lifestyle forever! You are now the very dwelling place of God on earth. This is why it is so false to think in terms of going to church or of visiting God at some building with a constructed altar in it. HE IS NOT THERE! He lives in the disciples of Jesus today. These disciples are the church. There is no sanctuary that people can "attend" on a Sunday. The disciples of Jesus--each one of them--are the "sanctuaries" of God--where God dwells.

Don't you get it? The same God of gods Who walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden, Who was in the burning bush, Who was in the cloud by day and the fire by night, Who was revealed in His fullness in bodily form in Jesus of Nazareth. This same God dwells in you who are followers of Jesus. Do you get it? So that He might bring His presence to earth and dwell among us.