Treasure in earthen vessels

The Lord desired to dwell among his people.

Exodus 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

Exodus 29:45-46 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God.

The first structure that the Lord dwelt in was a moveable tabernacle. The pattern for the tabernacle was given to Moses when he received the Law and Commandments at Mount Sinai.

God was precise in his instructions to Moses concerning the making of the tabernacle.

Exodus 25:9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

Exodus 25:40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.

Leviticus 26:11-12 And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.

The First Temple was built by King Solomon, but his father King David collected much of the materials for it. The Temple Solomon built for God was a magnificent edifice, with gold, silver, bronze, cut stone, ornate tapestries, and the finest wood.

1 Kings 6:11-13 ¶And the word of the LORD came to Solomon, saying, Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father: And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.

It is interesting that God gave a prerequisite to his dwelling in the Temple Solomon was building for him: IF you will keep all my commandments.

Solomon was amazed that the Almighty God of the Universe would dwell on earth in the Temple he built.

1 Kings 8:27 But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? [also 2Chron. 6:8]

Then, there came the great day when God chose to dwell among his people as a man. Like the Tabernacle and the Temple, his name would be upon this Temple of his body, and his presence would be in it. But this time there was a difference. Instead of being a place of sacrifice, God’s own body would be the sacrifice.

Philippians 2:7-11 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Before his crucifixion, Jesus spoke of the ultimate. Not only was God dwelling among men in the holy human body that he made, but he had plans to dwell in imperfect man! How could God do this?

John 14:15-23 ¶If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

¶Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Isaiah 66:1-2 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist,” Says the LORD. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.

The way that God would dwell in man is if man would humble himself (as God did when he became man) with a repentant contrite spirit, and purpose to live for Jesus by keeping his commandments.

God paid the price for man’s sin by the death of his body on the tree.

As Jesus said,

John 2:19, 21 Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up…But he spake of the temple of his body.

If man would apply the blood of God’s sacrifice by being baptized in Jesus name, God could live in them.

O that the King of glory would come and dwell in us!

Acts 2:1-4 ¶And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

God kept his promise and poured out his Spirit on holy men and women baptized in his name Jesus! They had now become the temple of God. He was dwelling in them!

When those in Jerusalem that witnessed this outpouring of God’s Spirit and then heard the preaching of the gospel by Peter asked, “Men and brethren what shall we do?”

Acts 2:38-41 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

¶And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

2 Corinthians 4:6-7 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

¶But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

2 Corinthians 6:16b …For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Prayer reaches where we cannot go

Jesus has given us the privilege to be part of his coming kingdom. He has called us to be his bride and we have chosen to yoke ourselves together with him. He has given us power and authority by his gospel. Through prayer, we work together with God to bring about his will in this world.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Luke 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

A righteous man’s prayers are powerful and effective!

James 5:16b-18 16b Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

When we have obeyed the gospel by repentance, by baptism in Jesus name, and by receiving God’s Spirit, we have God’s righteousness. Because we have his righteousness, we can count on our prayers to have power and be effective!

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

When we pray with faith Jesus can do exceeding ABUNDANTLY more than we ASK or even THINK!

Ephesians 3:20-21 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Our prayers can effect presidents, kings, and rulers in countries on the other side of the globe. Our prayers can effect drug kingpins, human traffickers, and suicide bombers. Our prayers can go where we cannot go. Our prayers can effect administrators and decision makers.

We can pray and by the power of God and by the authority of the name of Jesus, principalities and powers and the rulers of the darkness of this world can be dismantled and rendered powerless.

We can pray that Jesus lead, guide, and direct leaders and cause his will to be done in the world. We can pray that evil men repent of their sins, turn from evil and that Jesus give them mercy.

We can pray for Jesus’s presence to come into their lives, for Jesus to appear to them in dreams and visions, and to send them witnesses with his gospel. We can pray that Jesus give them a new life.

Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

We can pray in the Spirit, praying in the Holy Ghost.

Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Jude 1:20-21 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

When we have prayed all the words we can think of, the Lord can pray through us in tongues as the Spirit of God speaks through us in languages we have not learned. The Lord can speak through us precisely what the person or situation needs and that only Jesus may know about.

Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Just as Jesus’s disciples were sorrowful at his death, Jesus promised them joy because of his resurrection.

John 16:21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

Jesus’s death and resurrection is like the new birth of water and Spirit. When we pray like a woman in travail (labor), we can expect joy knowing souls are going to be born into the kingdom of God.

Travailing, consuming prayer births souls. It is in sorrow, weeping, consumed physically, and yet knowing that souls are born from this that brings great joy.

Travailing prayer is also for the backslider with expected joy in them returning to God. Paul spoke to those at Galatia that he must travail for them in birth again. It seems he is speaking of travailing prayer.

Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

Galatians 4:20 NLT reads: I wish I were with you right now so I could change my tone. But at this distance I don’t know how else to help you.

Jesus changes lives. It is an awesome privilege to be a partner with God to bring his kingdom of love and mercy to the world through prayer.

Is Halloween a device of Satan? What is Halloween? A time of fun and excitement for children? 

It is a day when schools, preschools, and daycares take a day to devote their activities to tales of witches and warlocks, of drawing pictures of black cats, full moons, ghosts and goblins. It is a day if carving out jack-o-lanterns, of candy and more candy. After school, when darkness arrives, it is a time of costumes and going door to door to neighbors and friends, children shouting, "Trick or treat" for candy and apples, trips through haunted houses, and parties. 

The stores are already filling up with sections devoted to Halloween costumes and masks, scary makeup, fake blood and eyeballs, plastic jack-o-lanterns, ghost figures, witches on brooms, and more.

Is this a “holiday” where Satan appears as an angel of light? 

Halloween has a history filled with evil, wickedness, and violence. The Spirit reveals underneath the sugar coated celebrations, there are deadly satanic activities going on by the principalities, the powers, and the rulers of the darkness of this world.

Years ago Druids, coming to the door of castles threatened homes and families with satanic curses (“trick") unless the father and mother would surrender their virgin daughter as a blood sacrifice to Satan on the upcoming rituals on the night of Halloween. If they surrendered their daughter, a hollowed out squash would be lit by their door, candle light sending out beacons through its openings signaling that this home was not to be cursed: they had surrendered their child at the Druid’s threat.

Several years ago the underground evil seeped up into the candy gathering ritual to the point where hospitals were offering x-rays of apples and candy to determine hidden razor blades. The possibility of poison in Halloween treats lead to supervised neighborhood trunk and treat events.

Is there other evil going on the night of this satanic holiday today?

There are numerous accounts from those that have previously been involved with Satanism of the animal and child sacrifices on this night. The horror of this goes beyond one’s imagination. It is truly a night of darkness and evil spiritual activity going on in remote areas, concealed beyond the “innocent” revelings of the night.

Halloween is a time to be discerning, to not step over the line into the realm of being caught by Satan’s devices. It is a time to intercede in prayer for those caught up in satanic activities that the light of Jesus’ truth come to them and deliver them from darkness into his Mercy by the Gospel of Jesus (Acts 2:38). It is a time to intercede in prayer for those that are victims or potential victims of the sexual abuse and violence that is a part of satanic rituals.

Deuteronomy 18:9-14 KJV - 9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you [any one] that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, [or] that useth divination, [or] an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12 For all that do these things [are] an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. 13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. 14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so [to do].

{10-11, 14 NLT: For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead… The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the LORD your God forbids you to do such things.”} (Also, Galatians 5:19-21, Revelation 9:21, 21:8)

Ephesians 6:10-12, 18a KJV - 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]…18a Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit… 

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 KJV - 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 

2 Corinthians 2:11 KJV Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

 

Today is "the last day, that great day of the feast" described in John 7:37.

 

The Feast of Tabernacles is one of three times in a year that all Jewish males are to appear before the Lord at the temple in Jerusalem. This commandment is found in Leviticus 23: 34 and Deuteronomy 16:16. This feast was celebrated in the days of Christ, and is still celebrated today by Jews all over the world.

The Jews call the Feast of Tabernacles "Sukkot". This 7 day holiday began this year 20...13 at sunset September 18 and ends at sunset on September 25. Sukkot is described as the most joyous of the three Biblically mandated festivals. It is described as the 'Season of our Rejoicing".

The feast commemorates the 40 days the Israelites were in the wilderness, after God brought them out of Egyptian bondage, and before God brought them into the Promised Land.

The name for the feast "Sukkot" comes from the word “sukkah”, which is a hut of temporary construction with a roof covering of branches in which Jews celebrating the feast eat all their meals for 7 days and nights. They do this in obedience to the commandment.

Leviticus 23:42-43 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Sukkot is marked as a holiday of rejoicing.

Deuteronomy 16:14-15 And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates. Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice.

When the Temple stood in Jerusalem, starting with the second night, there was a nightly Water Drawing Celebration. Sukkot has a commandment to offer a water libation on the altar that the other feasts do not have, in addition to the wine libation that accompanied all the sacrifices throughout the year. The water would be drawn the evening before. At this event there was great fanfare, singing, and celebration.

Today is the seventh day of Sukkot and is called Hoshaana Rabbah ("Great Salvation"). This is "the last day, that great day of the feast" described in John 7:37.

John 7:37-39 ¶In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

The Talmud states that "one who has not witnessed the Festival of the Water Drawing has not seen joy in his lifetime!"

And the joy of the Holy Ghost is greater than that!!

And on that day, Jesus chose to prophecy of his Spirit, the Holy Ghost, which he would pour out! Like RIVERS of LIVING water!

And how significant that Jesus would chose the 7th day of the feast to stand and prophesy, the last day, that great day of the feast that is called "Great Salvation"!

Isaiah 12:1-6 And in that day you will say: “O LORD, I will praise You; though You were angry with me Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’” Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And in that day you will say: “Praise the LORD, call upon His name; declare His deeds among the peoples, make mention that His name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, for He has done excellent things; this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!”

When one is filled with the Holy Ghost, they are filled with joy!

Acts 13:52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

1Peter 1:8-10, 12b Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you… by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

God is Spirit with scriptures

God is spirit. (John 4:24a) He is the creator. (Genesis 1) Because man sinned, God, for a time, accepted the innocent blood of animals to cover man's sins. (Genesis 3:21) However, the blood of animals could not take away man's sin. (Hebrews 10:4) Only a man without sin could pay the price. God saw there was no man without sin. (Isaiah 59:16) That is why God made himself a human body. (Isaiah 53:1 God’s body is called the “arm” of God because of its power to redeem humanity; Hebrews 10:10) Because God came as a sacrifice, he is called the Lamb of God. When John the Baptist saw Jesus he said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” God provided himself a Lamb as a sacrifice to take our place. (Genesis 22:8) Because God did this great thing for mankind, he gave his body a name that was above all his other names, the name JESUS. (Philippians 2:9) “JESUS” means, ‘Yahweh is become Salvation’ (‘Yahweh Savior’). At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and confess that Jesus is Lord. (Philippians 2:10, 11) Because it is by his incredible sacrifice of his body for us that God brought mercy and salvation to all mankind, God sits as the Lamb in his throne. (Revelation 5:13, 17:14)

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain that sits on the throne!! HIS NAME IS JESUS!!

God is Spirit

God is Spirit. He fills the universe. When he made himself a body, Jesus Christ, he was in Christ as well as in all the universe. When he paid the price for sin on the cross, he made a way for us to be filled with his Spirit. When we repent of our sins, and are baptized in Jesus name, (his blood washing away our sins), he promises to fill us with his Spirit. With his name “Jesus” and his Spirit, we become part of the body of Christ. He is in us, and at the same time he fills the universe.

2 Corinthians 5:19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. (NLT)

Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Holy Spirit)

Ephesians 1:23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself. (NLT)