The Dwelling of God

1 John 3:24 Those who obey His commands live in Him and He in them. And this is how we know that He lives in us: We know it by the Spirit He gave us.

1 John 4:4 You dear, children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

1 John 4:12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.

1 John 4:15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.

1 John 4:16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

Such an astounding concept when we stop to let it soak in. That God would be willing to live in us, and that He would be equally willing for us to live in Him. This isn't just the idea of camping out on the property or staying in separate quarters nearby. This is the idea of dwelling, abiding, persistently present at all times.

Colossians 1:27 For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.

This is the mystery that the prophets and teachers of centuries past could not figure out. They faithfully spoke the words which God gave them and committed them to writing so future generations would have them and, in having them, would know that God speaks of what will happen before it ever occurs. But they did not understand what they spoke for our sake, for God kept it sealed until the fullness of time when it was revealed in Christ Jesus. The walls of separation were broken down and we were invited in to partake of the blessings and the promises of the covenant of God.

2 Peter 3:11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, think of the kind of holy and godly people you ought to be

Since this has been revealed and Christ has triumphed over death, hell, and the grave, breaking the power of the hold Satan has had us under, we know that we are living at the end of the age. Perhaps the end will not come in our lifetime, but no one knows the day or hour but the Father, so it behooves us to be prepared. Many people are prepared if our society reaches a point of collapse -- they have defensive living quarters, supplies of water, fuel, and food, they are living off the grid without conveniences of modern power, communications, transportation.

But God is guiding us to be prepared spiritually, to have reserves of oil, the Spirit, so the fire of God will not go out in our hearts. He urges us to hid His Word in our hearts so we can break it and share it with others who need it. As we dig deeper in ourselves, cleansing the temple and removing accumulated rubbish from the storerooms, purifying God's habitation, we find that the water of life starts to seep out more and more freely until it is springing up from our innermost beings and flowing out to refresh others.

If we acknowledge Jesus, the Son of God, God lives in us.
If we obey His commandments, God lives in us
If we love one another, God lives in us.
We know He lives in us because of the Spirit He gave us, by Whom we find ourselves able to do these things.

Accept the mystery! Embrace the changes! Live life to the fullest in the spirit and love of God! Walk in His power through the world's system as we bow in humility in His presence.

Father, walk with us today. Show us the way to walk in obedience and loyalty to You. Help us cleanse the temple within ourselves that You delight to live and abide in -- we want to make it a fit habitation for the King of kings, our Lord and Savior.

3L04G15