“Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.”
Exodus 25:8 (NIV)
The Eternal One, the Creator of all that is, the LORD Almighty desires to dwell among His people.
His people- the descendants of Abraham- the many thousands of people that the LORD Himself brought out of slavery in Egypt with a mighty outstretched hand.
He doesn’t just lead them out and leave them to themselves- He revealed Himself to them, He entered into a covenant of blood with them, and He will dwell among His people.
It is a truth that if you want to find God you will go wherever His people are. The book of Acts reveals that in the days of the temple God-fearing Gentiles would come to Jerusalem, seeking God. In this age of grace where we worship Him in Spirit and in truth, people show up to churches like Parkdale- led there not because someone from Parkdale invited them, but because God led them. A number of months ago a man gave this testimony at a baptism service, and even last Sunday I heard this testimony from a man who showed up during the ice storm. God dwells in the presence of His people. It is clear from Exodus 25 that preparations must be made, that the people themselves are to bring offerings to build the ark, the table and the lampstand, and the ark and the table are described in terms of Presence. The lampstand brings light to the sanctuary, Zechariah 4 and Revelation 5 teach us that the lampstand represents the Presence of the Holy Spirit, and that the priests needed to do work in order for this lampstand to fulfill its purpose. This Presence of the Holy Spirit is so critical to the true life of our church, and yet are we willing to do the work to see the Holy Spirit fulfill His purpose in our midst?
Friends as the Holy Spirit moves in our services and ministries in Parkdale may we found doing the work of surrender in our own lives, may we bless Him and not grieve Him.
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