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The Way I See It!
The Signs of Obedience
The Sacredness of the Sanctuary: Part A 1
William: keystone@suscom.net
Christian behavior! There’s a statement for you: one fraught with caution, perhaps? Let’s look at two principles that I believe should guide all Christians: 1) what is our attitude when we enter to worship? And 2) how will we exit the sanctuary in order to serve Him whom we worship?
The sanctuary is the place wherein Christian behavior should differ from that seen elsewhere; or should it. Why? That is a reasonable question.
Scripture tells us, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I (Jesus Christ) have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” (John 15:19 K. J. V). The N. I. V. translates this verse differently: “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
When a person receives Christ as savior, eventually they learn that God has done certain things for them. One of these, just quoted, represents God sanctifying the believer; that is, the believer is set apart unto God–a holy God–and as a result, those of the world will dislike them; even to the point of hatred, at times.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus makes it clear that this is a love/hate relationship. If a person is of the world, they can expect to be loved or at least accepted. If a person belongs to Jesus Christ they can expect the world to oppose (or even hate) them. This answers the ‘why’ question: Behavior.
When Christians are set apart from, but are in, the world, it is for sacred reasons. We have entered into a state–produced by God–called holiness. Sacredness or holiness is something we are, by virtue of receiving Christ, and something that should be observable in our lives, both to the world, and in the Sanctuary of our places of worship. This is not a feeling or an idea, but the state we are in because the Holy Spirit indwells us.
[A side note: In Acts 11:26, we read that believers were first called Christians at Antioch. Antioch was a city noted for its lawlessness; consequently we deduce that the behavior of those believers was such that residents of Antioch noted they identified with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which they preached, and consequently called them Christians.] Remember: Jesus said He will never leave us nor forsake us. Can one who is of the world claim the same promise from any others of the world? Hardly!
Another reference in scripture is in the first few verses of John 15, wherein Christians are (commanded) to abide in Christ and He will abide in us. It is important to understand that this is relational truth. If married, there is to be a deep and committed (abiding) relationship between the husband and wife, and that relationship is to be dynamic. In like manner, the Christian is to have such a relationship with Jesus Christ.
In the previous message, Jesus made it clear no one can serve two masters. Holiness and behavior go hand–in–hand. Christians should constantly be working on developing an intimate state of holiness. You recall in the first message I referred to 2 Peter 1:3–11. This would be a good time for review of those verses, and for self–evaluation.
Christians are a work in progress. The more Christ–like we become, the less we conform to the world’s standard. People of the world are pragmatic. Generally, they flow with what’s easiest. What works one day, may not work the next etc. They wake up one morning and find many things have changed, and therefore adjust their behavior to match the changes, thus giving up something of their life’s control. They’re usually in a state of flux.
On the other hand, Christians are to be people of principle; those who have faith in God’s truth. When they awaken in the morning, God will not have changed the rules, thus giving them confidence in Him and security in their relationship. Simply stated in Hebrews 13:8–“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (N. I. V).
Being in the world, unfortunately, exposes Christians to defilement. Things we hear, things we see, and things that influence our thoughts and action. These things are to be dealt with on a daily basis. If they are not, there is a cumulative effect in the life of the Christian and in their relationship with Jesus Christ. One could call it a spiritual hardening of the arteries. Ultimately, there is a serious result.
In the previous message, from Romans 7 & 8, I listed the members of the body. In one way or another, these members are affected by the things we see, hear, and think. There is a remedy for this defilement. Jesus tells that in John 15:3, “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” (N. I. V). Obviously exposure to God’s Word, and prayer, enables the Christian to deal with defilement more thoroughly.
We learn from Revelation 13:11, “They overcame him (the god of this world, Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; …” (N. I. V).
It is important for believers to understand that upon entering the sanctuary of our place of worship, we enter into God’s presence. It isn’t that God is not present within the entire place of worship (the building), but the sanctuary is special and should be held in holy reverence.
What should our behavior reflect? Is it a place for idle conversation? At what point, before the service begins, should the Christian begin to prepare their heart to receive what Christ has for them?
If we do not prepare our hearts early (early refers to the necessary time each one requires to acquire a state of peace and expectation), our minds are crowded with conflicting thoughts and feelings. These come into competition with the preaching/teaching of God’s Word. Little wonder that only a few days after being in God’s house–a house of prayer, by the way–few can recall much of what was ministered. How then can a believer expect to overcome the world and its influences?
It is my intention to raise more questions than answers. Each believer much search their own heart and their relationship with Christ; study the scriptures if they hope to attain peace and direction for their life.
It is important to realize that the end of the service of ministry, preaching or teaching is the beginning point with which we must consider how to put into practice what we have been taught. There is positional truth which deals fundamentally with our initial relationship in receiving Jesus Christ as our savior. There is relational truth which concerns those things that not only God expects of us, but those things which Christ desires to both do in us and through us.
Our position is secure, but our relationship can be difficult at times due to the conflict between His will and ours. Christ has told us that to be His disciple, and be enabled to follow Him, two things are required. The first is that we willingly take up our cross.1 The second is to be clothed with the full armor of God.2 We can be assured that there will be times of spiritual combat which we enter into and to not be spiritually clothed with God’s armor can surely be injurious to us.
Again, the question is, “How will we exit our house of worship in order to serve Him?” One could liken this to school. We attend a class to be edified, taught, and instructed: then we proceed to lab. You might ask, “What is the lab or where is the lab?” The lab is the world that Christ told us we are in, but are not to be a part of. Lab consists primarily of our behavior toward all believers and toward unbelievers as well.
Lab is not something we determine within ourselves in which we do some things to win God’s approval. No, Christ has sent us His Holy Spirit to guide us and empower us for the plan God has for our life.3 Determining His plan for each life can be very exciting and challenging.
We need God to transform everything in our life. If we want to understand God’s plan for our life and the things He would have us do, then we must turn to the Bible for the Bible is our reference book.
In the beginning, in the book of Genesis, we read that: Genesis 1:1–God created, out of nothing, a perfect work.
John 2:2–11: The first miracle of Jesus: turning water into wine at a wedding. Today many people have become circus Christians because they are willing to substitute anything for miracles:
(They may be) Sensitive: But there is no substance/sacrifice in their life.
(There may be) Hype: But you won’t find Holiness evident in their life.
(They may have)Emotion: But there is little or no devotion to Jesus Christ.
(They make a) Profession of Christ: But do they possess Him?
In Mark 6:45–52 (John 6:16–21), Jesus had just fed 5,000 men + women and children. Immediately, Jesus had His disciples get into a boat going to Bethsaida. A storm arose while the disciples were sailing, but Jesus–walking on the water–would have passed them by. Supposing Him to be a ghost, they cried out in fear; this could have became a time of separation between Jesus and His disciples had He not spoken to them to take courage and not be afraid.
Here we find that the place of God’s purpose(s) is the place of God’s power. Another example of the testing of faith was when Elijah stayed in the widow’s home (see 1 Kings 17). They were fed for 3 ½ years. In fairness to today’s Christians, this event was documented once and, to our knowledge, was` not repeated. But, it does show what God can do in and through us when we are fully consecrated to Him.
After the resurrection of Jesus, He instructed His disciples to go to Jerusalem and wait for God’s power4 to accomplish what He wanted them to do. It is the same today. When God calls, there should be time for God to instill in each person His power to accomplish His desire.
Satan will always offer sensation over sacrifice. To counter this, we have Romans 12:1–2.5 Becoming a living sacrifice will negate feelings over faith. When dreams are greater then memories, you have purpose/solution(s) for your future.
The reverse: When you’re living in the past–life essentially is over for you have nothing to look forward to or to hope for. There should be time of prayer to Jesus each day gives meaning to our lives and increases our power in living the Christian life.
Some prayer some power. Dunamis
More prayer more power. Dunamis
Much prayer much power. Dunamis.
Prayer should become our first choice in all situations instead of our last chance. Be attuned to your motives during prayer: remember Luke 1:37– “For with God nothing shall be impossible” K. J. V., however, improper motives negates many requests.
The mandate from Jesus is: When you pray, not if you pray! The initiative rests with us for God to move. In Mark 6, the storm(s) reveal the manner in which you have built your house: on sand or on the rock.
God sends us into storms not to chastise us, but to expand our potential for the future. It is always, “when” not “if” the storm(s) come. God, not you, sends you into the storm. How you endure the storm determines your destiny. Obey or disobey.
Will we live by desire or discipline; feelings or faith! Trouble that drives us to Jesus is a priceless treasure, if we will recognize it.
Again, That’s The Way I See It. Of those that read this, there will be some that disagree with what I’ve written. That’s okay. But, be a Berean by defining your thoughts and beliefs solidly with scripture. Then write and tell me about it.
1. Luke 9:23: And he was saying to them all, “If any man wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. N. A. S. B. See also Mt. 10:38. In Matthew’s quote, the word worthy is not a rejection, but a prohibition. If the believer does not take up their own cross they are prohibited from following Christ. All too often, the will of God is where our cross crosses His cross.
2. Ephesians 6:11-17: Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood (primarily), but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
There fore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Stand firm therefore, having girded you loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
and having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace;
in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. N. A. S. B.
3. John 16:13-14: (Jesus is speaking) “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you (believer only) into all truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you (believers)what is to come.
He shall glorify Me; for He shall take of Mine, and shall disclose it to you. N. A. S. B.
4. The word power has two meanings. The first is exocia meaning the legal right to do something. It is like the policeman’s badge. The second is dunamis from which we get the word dynamite or power which is like the policeman’s weapon.
The name of Jesus and the Word of God give believers the (exocia) authority to serve. The power, or dunamis, is the Holy Spirit enabling believers in their service to Christ.
5. I BESEECH you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service,
An be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect, will of God. K. J. V.
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