GOD’S WORD FOR  MAY 26

We are reading from a daily devotional  called “Running To Win” written by Erwin Lutzer  and the late, great D.L. Moody.   Erwin Lutzer is a light in our day as D.L. Moody was in his.  Besides his many ministries, and many books, Pastor Lutzer was Senior Pastor at Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years and now serves as Pastor Emeritus there.  He is Chancelor and a former professor at Moody Bible Institute, where he taught Theology and Ministry, and now has numerous radio teachings.

WALKING TEMPLES

Acts 2:4 “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.

D.L. MOODY

In Exodus, we read that when Moses had finished the tabernacle in the desert, the Shekhinah glory came and filled it with the presence of God – that was the Holy Spirit.  The moment the tabernacle was ready, it was filled. 

Also, when the temple was built, and the priests and the Levites were there singing with one accord, the cloud came and filled the temple”  the moment the temple was ready, it was filled.

These were two of His dwelling places; but where does He dwell now?  You are the temple for the Holy Spirit  to dwell in, and the moment your heart is ready….the moment you make the choice to truly believe that your only chance to get to heaven is by way of the cross of Jesus….when you believe what Jesus said that He is the ONLY way, and you cannot be good enough to get there on your own merits (because no one ever has or can) and that He paid the price for you and earned Resurrection life for you..….that is the moment the Spirit of God will fill you.

ERWIN LUTZER

 When an Old Testament high priest entered the Holy Place and went behind the curtain into the Most Holy Place, he sprinkled blood on the ark of the covenant, making intercession for himself and the people.  Tradition says a rope was tied around his leg in case he died in there, he could be pulled from behind the curtain without anyone needing to enter the sacred place.

When Jesus died on the cross, that curtain into the Holy of Holies was ripped down the middle—from top to bottom……(impossible to be done by human hands….since it was huge and weighed tons).   This torn veil symbolized the beginning of a new era, and that the entrance into the Most Holy Place was accessible to anyone who would enter through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  We have complete confidence to enter into the holy places (See Hebrews 10:19-22 below).

Yes, as Moody said, the temple of God now exists within every believer.  “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?  (1Corinthians 6:19-20 below).  Today, let us cleanse the temple, through confession and prayer, and let us remember, “In Your presence there is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11 ).

PRAYER

Father, please cleanse me; let me welcome Your presence in y life today.  Thank You for Your indwelling Spirit.

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Hebrews 10:19-22

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus,  by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, through His flesh,  and since we have a great priest over the house of God,  let’s approach God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

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1 Corinthians 6:19-20

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?  For you have been bought for a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

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Romans 8:9

“However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.”

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1 Corinthians 3:16

“Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

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Ephesians 3:16-19

“that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self,  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,  may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth,  and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God.”

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James 4:4-7

“ …. do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.  Or do you think that the Scripture says to no purpose, “He jealously desires the Spirit whom He has made to dwell in us”?   But He gives a greater grace.  Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”   Submit therefore to God.  But resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

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