"Revival" pt.3

"If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or I sent pestilence among My people; If My People, who are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My Face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now My Eyes shall be open, and My Ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and sanctified this House, that My Name may be there forever: and My Eyes and My Heart shall be there perpetually.

2 Chr 7:13-16

"His Dwelling Place"

As I have been sharing about revival, the first two points I wanted to make was, first , our need for revival, and second, the focus of revival. I would like to present this thought, about the purpose of revival. The scripture passage, in 2 Chronicles 7, is what the Lord said to Solomon,when He appeared to him. After the Temple is completed, Solomon prays a prayer of dedication of the Temple. God responds, " because the Glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's House."( 2 Chr. 7:2) His Dwelling Place. The passage is in direct response to Solomon's prayer, and is the Covenant He makes with Solomon and Israel. The promise of the Temple being the earthly habitation, of the Presence of God.

The Veil in the Sanctuary, separated the Holy Place, where the priests ministered before the Lord, and the Holy of Holies, where the Ark of the Covenant, and Mercy Seat of God were. The Presence of God. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, was the High Priest allowed to enter, beyond the Veil, into the Presence of the Lord. He went behind the Veil, before the Lord, in a precisely detailed manner, and garments, bringing the sacrifices for atonement of sin. Only the High Priest was allowed into the Presence of God , to minister on behalf of the people.

When Jesus completed His perfect, atoning work on the Cross, a New Covenant was established. The veil of the Temple was torn, from top to bottom, at the time of Jesus‘ death.The Veil was said to have been 60' high, and over 4" thick. The significance of the Veil being rent from top to bottom, meant it was God who tore it. Jesus, the Perfect Sacrifice, paid the price, for the atonement of sin, past present and future. His Sacrifice provided mankind, the only way to right relationship with God, Faith in Jesus' Finished Work. No longer would the Presence of God be separated from man. No longer would there be anyone mediating, on behalf of the people, only Jesus. "For through Him we both have access by One Spirit unto the Father."(Eph 2:18-22).

These passages in Ephesians, tells us who we are in Christ. That we are His Work in progress, His Household, being built upon the Foundation of Faith,in the Work of Jesus. "In Whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an Holy Temple in the Lord: In Whom you also are built together for an habitation of God through the Spirit (Eph 2: 21&22). In the New covenant, through Jesus, the Lord says of us, as He told Solomon, in 2nd chronicles, about the temple, "For now have I chosen and sanctified this House, that My Name may be there forever: and My Eyes and My Heart shall be there perpetually". We are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. We are His Habitation. He is doing His work in us, for the purpose of working through us, to reach this lost world. That they may see through us, He, Who is living in us, "His Dwelling Place.