Threshing Floor Tabernacle

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  • Aug25Sun

    Permanent Residence

    August 25, 2013
    Filed Under:
    Re-Defining the Church
    "God himself put it this way: “I’ll live in them, move into them; I’ll be their God and they’ll be my people. So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good,” says God. “Don’t link up with those who will pollute you. I want you all for myself. I’ll be a Father to you; you’ll be sons and daughters to me.” The Word of the Master, God (II Cor 6:16-18 The Message).”

    When God moves in, junk/stuff moves out. Everything begins to reflect His living décor. The longer He abides, the more His new living quarters adapt to reflect His design and His satisfaction. He is the Master Interior Decorator with tastes all of His own that far exceed even our highest expectations.

    The problem arises when we try to hold on to old furniture or try to add our tastes/expertise to the design that He has in mind for us. We might say something like, “but I like that old chair – it’s really comfortable.” (Help them Holy Ghost, we’re not talking about furniture.) Jesus comes in with His moving/wrecking crew ready to do a Holy Ghost makeover when all we want are some additional features (of our own choice) that will make us look good and feel good to ourselves and those we’re trying to impress. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on how you look at it, that’s not the way our Father works.
     
    When God says, “I will live in them”, He’s not just looking for room and board till He can find something better. He’s taking up permanent residence and moves in to make us better according to His plan and according to His purpose. He’s not homeless. He’s expanding His Presence in the earth. We don’t get a piece of Him, we don’t get a part of Him, we get all of God – in His fullness. Ohhhhhh that we might be filled with all the fullness of God!
     
    The measure, stature, and fullness of Christ is not about Jesus coming into us and having to grow up all over again, but that we might yield ourselves fully to Him so that we can grow into Him. We grow in Him and as we grow in Him His power and influence make us more like Him.
     
    The Father says, “Come out from among them and be separate.” That means separate not isolate. Isolation deals with you affecting others, separation deals with others affecting you. Anytime someone is having an ungodly effect on you, you need to separate yourself from them. On the other hand, anytime you are having an ungodly effect on people you need to isolate yourself. As friendly and as hospitable as Jesus was to sinners, He never allowed Himself to partake in their sin (see II Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15; I Pet 2:22; I Jn 3:5). Jesus is living proof that when we submit ourselves to the will and ordinances of God, and allow Him to take up residence within us, we can be in this world but not of it, we can be holy and above reproach, we can overcome the world’s lust and pride, and we can overcome the devil. The Church is comprised of overcomers who reflect God’s power and authority as we allow His Presence to live within us. We don’t make excuses, we overcome them. The Greater On

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