Church!
The house of the Lord in the Old Testament is like the Body of Christ in the New Testament. (A type and shadow).
When we repent of our sins, are baptized in Jesus name for remission of our sins, and are filled with his Holy Ghost, we become part of the body of Christ.
2Chronicles 7:1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. 2 And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house.
God is now dwelling in us, the body of Christ.The body of Christ is baptized with the Holy Ghost and fire. We come together with prayer and worship so that we may be full of the Holy Ghost.
2Chronicles 7:3 And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, [saying], For [he is] good; for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
When the body of Christ comes together, we worship and praise the Lord. We hear the preaching of the word declaring the gospel, that God is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
2Chronicles 7:6 And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy [endureth] for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.
When the body of Christ gathers together in his name, we praise him with instruments. We declare his mercy that endures forever!
2Chronicles 7:8 Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.
The feast was the Feast of Tabernacles, the “Season of our Rejoicing”. It commemorates the 40 years the Israelites were in the wilderness living in huts, after God brought them out of Egyptian. bondage. The last day of the feast Jesus spoke of the outpouring of his Spirit.
The body of Christ has been brought out of the bondage of sin and has received the outpouring of Jesus’ Spirit. We celebrate this when we gather together!
2Chronicles 7:12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.
Jesus’ body is a place of sacrifice. Jesus shed his blood as the final sacrifice to take away our sins. We in turn are a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to him. We are his body, the body of Christ. Daily we crucify our sinful nature so that we may walk in his Spirit.
2Chronicles 7:13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer [that is made] in this place.
When the body of Christ comes together in his name, Jesus sees and will hear our prayers of repentance, forgiving us.
2Chronicles 7:16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
The body of Christ is washed and justified by baptism in the name of Jesus, chosen and sanctified by his Spirit. His name is upon us forever. He watches over us, his steadfast love enduring forever.
Let’s have church!
