Tuesday, May 18, 2010

2 Chronicles Chapters 5-8

5:13-14 - This is such an awesome description of worship! Throughout these chapters as we look at Solomon's temple, I am going to make the connection to the new temple...the body of Christ - Christians. Next time we are gathered for worship, think back to this verse and remember that the Spirit of the Lord has filled you! That cloud that had the priests in awe is in your heart...let the glory of the Lord shine as you praise His name.

6:32 - Solomon understands completely the missional heart of God.He knows that God wants all people to be drawn to Him. The purpose of the Israelites existing as a holy, priest nation was to bring attention to the Name of God. To exist as a catalyst to bring all nations to Him.

6:41-42 - I Peter 2:9 tells us that followers of Jesus Christ are a royal priesthood. Aren't these verses awesome when you think about that? We are clothes in the blood of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ which brings us salvation. And because of his great mercy - we can rejoice!

7:1 - More powerful imagery here - the flames of heaven come down and consume the sacrifice. Some of us wonder why things like this don't happen any more, but we need to understand that they do. Like on the day of Pentecost at the beginning of the Book of Acts, the flames of fire come down onto the followers of Christ and they are filled with the Holy Spirit and able to share the truth about Jesus in ways they had never dreamed. God still consumes the sacrifices of His people with fire...now we offer ourselves as living sacrifices and the Holy Spirit of God comes upon us like a fire, burning away the lies and sins of this world.

7:15-16 - Just like God says He chose the temple and consecrated it in His name, He has also chosen us and consecrated us through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Wherever we go...He hears us...He knows us...we are the temple of God consecrated in His name to make make His name great in this world.

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