Today's Passage - Acts 7:44-53

Acts 7:44-53   "Our forefathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the desert. It had been made as God directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen. Having received the tabernacle, our fathers under Joshua brought it with them when they took the land from the nations God drove out before them. It remained in the land until the time of David, who enjoyed God's favor and asked that he might provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built the house for him. "However, the Most High does not live in houses made by men. As the prophet says: "'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things?'...   God's heart has always been to dwell with man.  He revealed this through the construction of the tabernacle and the temple, but often men have rejected God. When God created Adam and Eve, God walked with them in the Garden of Eden. God gave great wisdom to Adam to name each animal.  In Genesis chapter three when Adam and Eve sinned, God said, "Although I love you, but because of sin, you must leave!"  As such, Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden, but God's eternal plan did not change because of that.  God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them before they left the Garden of Eden.  This shows that God's will was to restore His relationship with men, so they may return to His presence.   Moving forward to Genesis chapter 12, God chose Abraham. You find that wherever Abraham went, he built an altar to worship God so he could enjoy God's presence. Abraham had an intimate relationship with God.  God even said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?" When it came to the time of Moses, God commanded Moses to build the tabernacle, where God and man could meet. God led them by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night and He manifested His presence among them in the form of a cloud above the tabernacle.   When it came to the era of King Solomon, God commanded Solomon to build a temple for the Lord.  Again the temple was a place where God and man could meet.  Does our God care to live in a building?  No.  Because of God's mercy, He is willing to live in the temple so that He could dwell with men. Moving forward to the New Testament era, although the temple was destroyed, God did not change his mind. From beginning to end, God's will was to dwell with men so men could experience all His riches.  Hence came the birth of Jesus Christ.  John 1:14 says, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."  Finally through the birth of Jesus Christ, the power of sin that separated man from God was broken, and God's will was accomplished. God and men were reconciled.  That is the will of God for every person since the time of creation.    Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, we thank you that since the time of creation, your will has dwelled us. Lord, help us to enter into your glory each and every day of our lives.  Help us walk with you and commune with you, so we may enjoy your glorious riches.  We thank you and we pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!          See Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - on Facebook!