Word Keeper

In Pursuit Of God. The Desire of God.. the Quest of the Believer.

[This is part one of a three part teaching ]

“Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them.
“According to all that I am going to show you, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall construct “They shall construct an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high. Exodus 25v8-10.

The Desire Of God Revealed in the Tabernacle.

When God drew Moses into Himself on Mt Sinai and gave him the instruction to construct the tabernacle of meeting, God in releasing the design, unveiled to the race of mankind, the longing and deep desire of His heart, that of intimate communion.

What is important for the believer to understand is that the bible is an eastern book, but we tend to try and decipher its content through our western minds, and in doing so we miss the depth of its expression.

“Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them.

In requesting a sanctuary to be prepared for Him, Almighty God was emphasizing to Moses that He desired to be right in the very core or centre of the life of the people, not to dictate or dominate them but to be their exclusive and total provider and sustenance.

“It shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the doorway of the tent of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet with you, to speak to you there. “I will meet there with the sons of Israel, and it shall be consecrated by My glory. “I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar; I will also consecrate Aaron and his sons to minister as priests to Me.
“I will dwell among the sons of Israel and will be their God. “They shall know that I am the LORD their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the LORD their God. Exodus 29v42-46.

Right from the onset of God’s dealing with the race of man, He has desired to enjoy the presence of man, this is a thought that our finite minds cannot grasp, we fail to comprehend what God sees in us, but although we may not understand, God simply says to us enjoy Me, enter in to Me.

The Heart of God is revealed.

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him. John 4v23.

Here from the very heart expression of Jesus Himself, the will or desire of God is made manifest, when Jesus states that God His Father seeks after those who will worship Him, the terminology expressed is one who has a burning desire, an earnest longing, a contending after to gain as a prize to cherish.

And He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; Luke 15v22.

Here we see in Jesus commitment to share His paschal supper with His disciple, the same heart beat of His Father, one of intimacy.

God is the Seeker of man.
There are numerous examples in the Word that reveal the heart of God towards man, many times in Christian testimonies we often hear and even no doubt have used the expression I really went out to find God, but in truth, He was not the one who was sought after, He is the seeker, we are the object of His desire.

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. 2 Chronicles 16v9.

And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Ezekiel 22v30.

I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: Psalms 89v20.

Many years ago, I had this thought given to me by the Holy Spirit;
what sets Christianity apart from the religious systems of the world? Religion is man’s attempt at finding God, whereas Christianity is man being found by God in Christ.

The Gospel in the Tabernacle.

To further emphasize the seeking heart of God towards man, we need to have a new perception of the structure and design of the tabernacle.
It is common for us to think and be taught of the three compartments of the Tabernacle in the reverse order, that is the outer court, the Holy Place and finally into the Holy Of Holies, for this is the accepted way of approach that man had to enter towards God.

However, on examining the giving of the command to Moses to build the camp of meeting, we realize that God started with the Ark of the Covenant then worked progressively out to the entrance gate of the outer court.

God did not first begin with the sinner but with the place of His abode where forgiveness and mercy could be obtained, God emphasized through the tabernacle the provision of grace over the sin of man.

The Gospel in the Garden.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? Genesis 3v6-9.

When you examine the bible account of the fall of Adam, when they fell from the glory, their first instinct was to hide from God, but the grace and mercy of Almighty God is manifested, into the garden, right in the midst of where man had fallen, there came the sound of God, walking to have communion with man, God knew they had transgressed, He is never taken unawares, and what must be understood is that the first thing of importance to God was not what they had done, but of where were they.

His first priority was their well being and not their destruction, we would have said- look at what you’ ve done, but God was concerned of what had happened to them, as a result of their action.

The Salvation of man originates in God.

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6v44.

Throughout the entire Word of God the clear message of man being able to be in right standing with God, is never on the merit of man’s own initiative, or his self works but that man was sought out and brought into righteousness before God as a direct result of what God has wrought for man in His Son Christ Jesus.

In the Greek, the word for draw is – Helko, and Hairio.
Helko, is the action of leading by an inward power.
Hairio, to take to oneself by reason of choice, to desire as one’s own possession.

“You have today declared the LORD to be your God, and that you would walk in His ways and keep His statutes, His commandments and His ordinances, and listen to His voice. The LORD has today declared you to be His people, a treasured possession, as He promised you, and that you should keep all His commandments; Deuteronomy 26V17-18.

What must be clearly understood from this scripture is that, it is not that God is responding or reacting to the people, but the people are giving their will over to the leading of God, they are the recipients of the initiative undertaken by God.

The most clear example of the seeking of God.

There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through Him. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1v6-13.

Here as well as the great gospel message of John 3v16, is the most defined example of the seeking heart of Almighty God
Despite the fall of Adam.
Despite of the failings of the nation of Israel.
Despite of the open rebellion of man throughout the annals of time. Despite man’s rejection of God’s law, and His prophets

God’s heart is still openly made manifest, He is a God of love, who desires to pour out not His wrath, but His tender mercies and grace in Christ.

[ To be continued ……………………

RealityMinistries Life of the WORD

Man; The Desired Abode of God.

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Isaiah 57v15.

In presenting to you this verse of scripture, I want to bring to you a teaching that is a continuation of the vein of thought that the Holy Spirit has been speaking to my heart of late and that has to do with the quest of the believer, in our pursuit of Christ.

When you examine this portion of scripture, there is an unfolding, an unveiling of the threefold dwelling place of Almighty God.

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit.

The first aspect is; God inhabits eternity.
The second aspect is; God indwells Heaven.
The third aspect is; God desires to dwell with man.

God inhabits eternity.
It is very important when relating to this thought of God and the existence of eternity to view it in its correct perspective.

In true point of fact, eternity has its source, its origin in God, if God never existed there would be no eternity, when we speak of eternity we have to throw ourselves on the revealed knowledge from the Word of God, because our finite minds cannot take in the vast span of eternity, our minds are limited in explaining time.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. Psalms 90v2.

Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD. Psalms 106v48.

But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children’s children; Psalms 103v17.

The Holy Spirit conveyed this thought to my heart on the subject of everlasting to everlasting.

“ there is no time that can be calculated with God, for time came into being by God in His redemptive dealings with man, therefore the correct expression in associating God with time is the definition of from eternity past through to and beyond eternity future, You are and ever will be God.”

In attempting to comprehend God and eternity, here is another thought of the Holy Spirit.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2v7.

When you picture the scene of Mary holding the Christ child , in true reality she could only hold Him, because of HE was holding her, Mary was only able to hold Jesus because in Him is life, the life that holds all things in order.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.
In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. John 1v1-4.

God indwells Heaven.

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place. Isaiah 57v15.

In biblical language the high and lofty place was the abode of God that was a place of consecrated unapproachable holiness.

The LORD in His Holy temple, the LORD’S throne in heaven: His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men. Psalms 11v4.

Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee. Psalms 73v25.

For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. Psalms 103v11.

But who is able to build Him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Him? who am I then, that I should build Him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before Him? 2Chronicles 2v6.

The might and power of God was viewed and expressed by the people of God, by their association of God and the place of His seat of power and dominion, earthly monarchs are typified by their palaces and royal places of residence, the size and grandeur of their homes express the image of their power and influence.

The waters saw Thee, O God, the waters saw Thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled. The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad. The voice of Thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightning’s lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook. Psalms 77v16-18.

God desires to abide in man.

Yet a little while, and the world see Me no more; but you see Me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I AM in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.

He that hath My commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves Me: and he that loves Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.
Judas said unto Him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that You will manifest Thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him. John 14v19-23.

This is the most amazing aspect concerning the desired indwelling of God, eternity had and has no say concerning God inhabiting it, neither do we find anywhere in scripture that Heaven has a choice, or is given a time of deliberation whether it wants God to be there, God inhabiting eternity and heaven is a settled fact, there is no deliberation, but amazingly when you consider God indwelling man, the Word of God declares or unveils the necessity of the human will.

But who is able to build Him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain Him? who am I then, that I should build Him an house, save only to burn sacrifice before Him? 2Chronicles 2v6.

Think again on this verse of inspired scripture, the vastness of heaven, cannot contain Almighty God, in fact the heaven of heavens is not adequately able to contain God, yet He desires to enter into the life of a human being, and fill it to overflowing with His presence and power.

The Greek word for Abode is – Meno.
Meno means;
To enter into, to take up residency with the view of never departing.

And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Genesis 2v7.

When Almighty God in the act of creation, produced a perfect environment for His man, God gave to Adam everything that he would ever need, but in creating Adam, God designed a place in Adam for Himself.

Man has been perplexed throughout all of his days on this earth, there is in man a void that only God can fill and satisfy, because right in the beginning when Almighty God brought man into being, God in breathing life into the soul of Adam, was infusing His life into a man formed from the dust of the earth, the man Adam was inert, lifeless like a manikin tailor’s dummy, until the life of God entered and produced life. When this life of God entered, the same Spirit of life that made God who He is, now resided in Adam.

When Adam sinned, in his transgression, the order of balance that was brought into the earth, was twisted, man who once enjoyed open communion with God, now separated himself from his creator, man became estranged from his source of life and sustenance, and in doing so God was forced out of the place of His abode, the spirit of man, when God left, there was that void that cannot be filled by anything of creation, but by the creator.

What is the chief end of man? In the infant days of the time of the Reformation, when the Church of Christ, entered into a time of the visitation of the Holy Spirit, the burning issue that the Church presented to the hearts of the people was; What is the chief end of man?

Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the High God? shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shown thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? Micah 6v6-8.

For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: Colossians 1v16 .

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelations 4v11.

The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever, God desires to lavishly pour Himself into the heart and lives of His people, God wants to enjoy fellow shipping with man in open and undisturbed communion, the wonders of the pleasures that God has or desires for or from His people are many and profound, the Prophets of old caught a glimpse of this drive or expectation of Almighty God and declared them to the people.

From the opening scripture of this teaching, we know that Almighty God desires to indwell the life of a contrite heart.

For thus says the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Isaiah 57v15.

What is a contrite heart?

A contrite heart is a heart or a consciousness of wanting to be and doing that which is right in the eyes of God.
Having a contrite heart, is possessing a spirit that is quick to repent, able to make amends in any situation.

A contrite heart is a heart that is bowed down or humbled and is penitent for shortcomings.

And he spoke this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted. Luke 18v9-14.

As the people of God, because of our receiving of the grace of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, because of the inward working of the Holy Spirit we can be pleasing in the eyes of God, we can be a vessel of honor, we can be graced by Him, and give Him great and lasting delight.

I know also, my God, that You try the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy Thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto You. 1 Chronicles 29v17.

To be upright is to be in right standing with God, and live with a consciousness of being right and doing right, this brings rewards, but above the rewards is the satisfaction of bringing delight to God.

RealityMinistries Life of the WORD