Thank you for reading the first part of finding home. Do you remember when we first discovered- found Jesus? The great Joy of finding our eternal home
Psalm 51:12 Restore to me the joy of they salvation, and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.
This joy was the greatest experience in our lives. We finally found the truth, the maker of the universe…our everlasting place of joy. For many, we thought this feeling would never cease. As time passed however we realized that it took a lot of work to avoid the sin and become more like Christ. We also found that life can throw us some hard punches. Not only can they be short and brutal, but also very long and continual. Quite honestly, if you’re like me…we have been prone to ask…how long Lord?!
Over time, we can start to feel ‘disconnected’ from His joy and His daily presence beside us. The home we have in heaven can begin to seem distant and it reflects what is happening down here on earth. We can begin to lose the abiding fullness of Jesus and without His fullness, no abode on earth will feel like ‘home’ to us.
As mentioned in part one, our heavenly home is the source of making our life on earth-our home-real and meaningful. His heavenly presence does indeed need to be a true reflection of our lives on earth. They go hand in hand. When we are close to our heavenly home we feel connected on earth-as the above pic indicates. We might not have the log cabin and fireplace, but we can indeed share an incredible love from His throne room in heaven-our future home. We also enjoy this great fellowship with those who share in this home. The Apostle John says our joy is only completed when we know Him ‘AND’ share this love with others in Christ
1 John 1:3-4 so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete. (In other words, when we have fellowship with the Father and Jesus from heaven-vertical love-and when this love is shared with those on earth–with us– horizontal love…The Lords joy is made complete-Praise God!)
When we start to drift away from this Presence found in our heavenly home, I am continually surprised by the methods some in leadership have suggested to get us ‘back on track’. Parts of their teaching may indeed sound correct, but their lives at times are filled with ‘examples’ that do very little to demonstrate the true presence of the Lord. Being busy (even in church work), following traditions or social agendas week to week will never get us back to the Lords throne room. This is what Jesus did to stay connected to His Father in heaven
Hebrews 5:7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
We have to reach out with our hearts and truly touch His. If we do not, how can we point others to His throne room if we are not seeking this in our own lives. We cannot direct others down a path if we have not pursued this path ourselves. I believe the Lord is saying to the church.
Matthew 22:36-39 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
I believe He wants us to ‘Live Out’ the most important truths-paths and commandments in His Word…before we move on to others. Having the Lords presence and heavenly home shine in our hearts is the most important aspect of our Christian walk. I would like to share with you what other pastors I respect are saying for today’s church and what the Lord also has given me a nudge to write.
I. The Father –The Holy of Holies-The Destination to Our Eternal Home
Recently I was listening to an evangelist who was led by the Lord to look at His walk like the Jewish temple in the Old Testament. He kept it simple. The temple is generally in three sections. The Outer Court (also called the court of Gentiles), in Inner Court, and the Holy of Holies (the Holy Place of the Lord-representing His throne room).
The Lord was showing his walk-and the walk of most Christians- to be in stages.
1) The outer court (court of the Gentiles) is an example of when we first come to know the Lord. We are accepted into His eternal kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ work on the cross. It is by grace and not by works. Most of us know the verses.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
This court has walls of protection around it and all are welcomed. Once we have entered this court however we now need to ‘move on’ to greater teachings and understanding..
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,
2) The Inner Court As we continue in obedience, we enter into fruit of His Spirit as demonstrated with the Inner Court .
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
The inner court contained the Lamp stand unto the Lord and a table of the presentation of the loaves-both symbolizing our life in Christ and the fruit there of.
In this stage we see some of the Lords working in our lives and we hear Him at times when He calls. We truly desire to grow in the Lord in this stage. Over time however, this place in our walk can become ‘hit and miss’ as far as genuine works done in the Lord. We see the great miracles in the Bible and even observe some ministers move in the Spirit with power. We can start to ask, Lord…what is missing in my life? To be honest, when the preacher said he was being shown that he needed to enter the next level of obedience, I shared in this conviction. I had not been ‘pressing into’ the Holy Sanctuary as I should be.
3) The Holy of Holies. If you have read thus far about our heavenly home and how important that place is…beloved…this is it-our home. The center of the Universe is the Heart of the Father-in the Holy of Holies. Not just ‘the place’ but ‘His Heart’. The greatest men and women in the Word of God sought to enter the Holy of Holies-and humbly came to Him so they could get close to the Most Holiest Place in existence…His Heart.
1 Samuel 13:14 the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, ” (King David)
Psalm 84:10 Better is one day in your (heavenly) courts than a thousand elsewhere
Numbers 12:3 Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.
There is no greater destination in life… than to go into the eternal glory and infinite love of the Lords ‘inner chambers’ of His heart. The greatest commandment mentioned above is directly tied into this quest for home in the Holy of Holies.
Matt. 22:27 Love the Lord (starting with) all they heart…
II. The Son-The Road to the Father- to our ‘home’.
Most of us already know that the Son brings life through faith by His works on the cross.
Titus 3:5-5 He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,
The Word also says that this road continues through ‘abiding’ in His Son
John 15:7 If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
In Bible college some teachers really did not believe the gospels were not that relevant, but preferred more theological books. They were wrong. The Bible does not have books that are in competition, but the above scripture has meaning beyond comprehension. It means ‘everything’! To abide in Jesus we have to get totally honest with our shortcomings and surrender ‘all’ our ways and come to Him. This is a lifelong process of discovery
Philippians 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
To abide in Him means when He sends us a truth to correct us…we search our hearts and are open to His correction. It’s painful but needed. He corrects whom He loves (Heb. 12:6). If we are not being molded then the Word says we are not open to the Spirit. Abiding in Him is abiding in His light, only then can we replace our ‘junk’ with His heavenly presence.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
Most in evangelical churches know ‘The Way’ but have not been challenged to become totally truthful about their hearts. This is the next move of the Spirit. Being completely honest with our shortcomings (in the Lords love) and allow ‘The Truth’ in our hearts to be exposed to the light of heaven. If we do this honestly as the Holy Spirit instructs us, His truth will sanctify us. This will bring ‘The Life’ to the new church, giving the bride a glorious radiance
Ephesians 5:27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.
III. The Holy Spirit-The Teacher to Show us the Way Home
John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
The Holy Spirit is indeed the Divine Helper from the Lord. In our weakness we have emphasized the ‘Helper’ and not the Divine. The Holy Spirit understands our weaknesses and understands when we cry out for His help. Let’s now stop for a moment and think of what the Spirits purpose is, what His desire is. The Word says that one purpose of the Holy Spirit is to teach us to follow the Fathers will. This will ‘connect our home’ in heaven to our home on earth.
John 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears (from the Father).
Matthew 6:9-10 ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Luke 17:21 for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
The Spirit desires that ‘Our Relationship” with God is brought to the fullest. The scriptures above explain this is done by instructing us on how to fulfill the Fathers will on earth. In other words, our life is all about unity with Him- our relationship with Him. When we are obedient to the Fathers will, the Holy Spirit is delighted and there is great joy. Why don’t we ‘include’ the Holy Spirit in our walk, as we would any teacher sent from heaven.
If we could see our guardian angel, would we not get excited and ask him a thousand questions? Would we not talk to him with anticipation and delight? Isn’t the Holy Spirit waiting for us to reach out to Him personally as He is teaching us to touch the Father personally? The Spirit is our divine Teacher, let’s get to know Him while we are in His classroom-our earthly life. As we are taught about the Father and the Son, wouldn’t it delight the Teacher for us to want us to get to know Him also?
The word says we don’t have because we don’t ask (James 4:2-3). If we don’t ask the Holy Spirit for a close relationship with Him, than the Holy Spirit is not going ‘to force’ His relationship on us. Let’s set our focus on knowing the Holy Spirit personally and in return, we will receive a greater portion of the Spirit and thus we will be able to work the Fathers will in a mighty way…
Isaiah 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
Thanks you for reading this post, my the Lord ignite the remnant church as we come to unity in Him.