The church today can be likened to the temple in Israel. There was the outer court, that was opened to the gentiles – anyone could go in, regardless of whether they had a relationship with Jehovah. There are some today who have no relationship with the Lord, yet they go to church as a weekly duty or obligation. There was the holy place, that was accessible only to the Jewish nation – those who had a relationship with the Lord. Most Israelites would visit the holy place once a year for the sacrifice. There are some today who go to church and enter in to the presence of God, yet as soon as the service is over, they go back to a fleshly, worldly life. Finally, there was the holy of holies. This place is where the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat could be found. The high priest would go in once a year, only after serious preparations. He would fast and purify himself for at least 24 hours beforehand. There are some today who spend the whole week preparing for church, being in the presence of God.
We are created by God in order to bring Him pleasure, not for Him to bring us pleasure. When was the last time that we sought to bring pleasure to the Lord? Many of us have accepted being in the world and living as the world and not getting into His presence and coming to the Holy of Holies. Remember the Apostles – they gave up everything for three and a half years to follow Jesus and were completely caught up in Him. He was spending this time preparing them for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit came so that we can have fellowship with Him, and by extension Jesus and the Father. It is by the Holy Spirit that we build a relationship with the Lord – it’s how He teaches us and gives us instructions. Jesus went to prepare a place for us, but He sent the Holy Spirit to prepare us to live in the place Jesus is preparing for us. This includes convicting us of our sins and showing us the need for salvation.
Being led by the Spirit is the only way that we can bring pleasure to God.
Key Scriptures: Colossians 1:15-16, John 1:5; 16:7-13
