©2002 Charles Darby
This is part 3 of a three part lesson. (Please read one and two first.)
1 Cor 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
The 1st level of service is for God. The 2nd is with God and the 3rd is temple service. The temple is a place of worship. The purpose of a temple is ministry unto God, not unto people. For God we were in the outer court. With God we were in the inner court. Now in the 3rd level we are in the Holy of Holies. Here we do everything unto God out of a motivation of love. We minister to meet His needs, not peoples.
“We are the temple of God” suggests we are the place of worship, or ministry on its highest level will take place. Here we are Kings and Priests unto our God. We are a Royal Priesthood. We are the temple and the Priest of that temple. Another cannot do worship in this temple; we must do it.
True ministry unto God is a very individual and personal act. It's one person ministering worship and adoration to God in the secret chambers of his inter temple. It can be done in united public worship but its still many “ones” worshipping as individuals.
Here mans spirit, and the resultant interaction, are blessing Gods Spirit. This is a time of intimate fellowship, close communion, and emotional exchange between God and Man. I believe this is the highest level we can come to in this body. This brings us into a oneness with God and causes us to sit in heavenly places with Him. Here we are dining at the Lords table.
It would be great to dwell there but after a time in His presence He says, "Now go minister to the people. Tell them what you have experienced and they can have the same. Teach them the difference between the holy and the profane. Cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. Tell them to be Holy for I am Holy."
Only the one who has been in the presence of the most High God can know what is sacred and what is not. It's said, “The man who bows lowest in the presence of God stands the straightest in the presence of sin.” Having been in the presence of true Holiness, there can be nothing but contempt for all sin.
We can learn more in the presence of God in a few minutes than in years of Bible study. Many have read the Bible but some have never met the author of the book. The things you learn in the presence of God cannot be learned from a book or in a classroom. What we learn in the presence of God will never be forgotten! In His presence we not only observe but we absorb His very nature.
The one who has been into the Holy of Holies and been in the presence of God can come forth ready to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Moses got into the presence of God and the people could not look on his face unless it was covered. Isaiah saw the Lord (Isaiah 6) it changed his life forever. Saul, who later became Paul, saw the Lord and it changed his ministry. Before he wanted to kill all that didn't belong to his church! Afterwards he was ready to give his life so others could come to know the living Lord.
In the presence of the Lord is where we find joy that becomes our strength. Where we come to know the Lord; not just know about Him. The one who has been in His presence will never doubt the reality of Jesus Christ. Now he knows that he knows! Jesus has become more real and necessary than the very air he breathes.
You can reach a place where you don't know if you are still in the body are not. You don't want to come back, just let me dwell here forever! But He says, “Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is Lord. I will go with you and confirm the word with signs following."
Do you know the Lord or do you just know about Him? Do you have an intimate relationship with Him? You might ask, "How can I have this relationship?” When you seek Him with your whole heart is the answer. When you need Him more than anything else, you will find Him.
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