Last week we talked about Victorious living and the week before a resolution of Transformation but as we said this can only be accomplished in the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus Victorious living is life lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. There is no other way. Psalm 108:12 “Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless. 13 With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.” So today I want to look at the King of Glory filling his temple like our revival talk verses stated. We need to remember the New Testament temple is our body, not a building. Most churches who put everything into the building do not understand this all the while they are letting the real temple decay and erode. We have been praying for this fire to fall once again, the same fire that fell when Elijah called out to God and said “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again. 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. 39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!” We are asking on God for the same fire that fell coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, the same fire that fell on the heads at Pentecost.

            As we have said before the power of the Holy Spirit is such a foreign concept in the church today it seems wrong. How strange is that? The church has become so accustomed to operating with human hands, even though worthless, that when we find the word of God once again people mock and say who you do you think you are and they do not turn away from their wicked ways. Instead of doing what the king did in 2 Kings 23:11 they conintue on that path that lads to death. “When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. He then said 13 “Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.” Then he and all the people read attentively.  1 Kings 23:1 “Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 2 He went up to the temple of the Lord with the people of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. 3 The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.” In Nehemiah 8 “the people came as one man and listened attentively to the word of God. The people then bowed and worshiped with their faces to the ground.” Then they repented. They said, 33 “In all that has happened to us, you have remained righteous; you have acted faithfully, while we acted wickedly. 34 Our kings, our leaders, our priests and our ancestors did not follow your law; they did not pay attention to your commands or the statutes you warned them to keep. 35 Even while they were in their kingdom, enjoying your great goodness to them in the spacious and fertile land you gave them, they did not serve you or turn from their evil ways. 36 “But see, we are slaves today, slaves in the land you gave our ancestors so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it produces. 37 Because of our sins, its abundant harvest goes to the kings you have placed over us. They rule over our bodies and our cattle as they please. We are in great distress.” Most of the church does not even know they should be in distress and desperate. They resist the fact that they are stubborn and obstinate and disobedient to the word of God and they refuse to turn back to the Way. Instead of renewing the covenant they continue on as if there is nothing wrong. This makes us just as bad as the Israelites where. The present church is a people so pathetic (filled with apathy) they do not know they have been sold into slavery and the enemy has left the church desolate. Instead, when someone holds the word of God high, they are ridiculed and mocked. My own short experience is this also. You start asking why and wow do people get on edge. Why, you ask, how dare you, who do you think you are. They then lie about you and say all they can to tarnish your name trying to make you look the fool. I even had someone think I was leading people away from the word of God, basically starting my own cult. As you know I use very little of my own words. I am a plagiarist who takes most of my words from the bible. Actually in my eyes that is a good thing and more preachers should do it. No I do not twist them around and make them say what I want. We simply need to read the Old and the New Testament as it shows us the way.

            As I think back to my youth there was a campaign in the church called “I FOUND IT”. The intention was to tell people you had found Jesus and they would say I didn’t know he was missing. This being the case for most of the present church not realizing the Spirit has left. Judges 16 “Samson awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.” As a teenager people would ask what did you find when they saw the sign on the front lawn. Yes this was supposed to reach the lost but it didn’t do what it was designed to do. But as I think about it today when someone stands up in the church and says I Found It, referring to the word of God and implying it is missing. Look out. You do not have to worry about the lost being upset but the friendly fire from those inspired by satan in the church who are offended by such a statement. Most will just ignore this message, some will talk with you as if they are interested but no transformation, some will be offended and do what they can to tear you down, others will mock you, others will lie about you but usually most do not use scripture to show you this is wrong. They can’t because scripture is very clear on obedience leading to victory and disobedience leading to defeat.

            This void of the Spirit in the church has left us desolate. If we are to admit to this then we would have to repent and repentance in the church is uncommon today. Repent means to turn from our ways. Many won’t say out loud; How dare you suggest I need to turn? But they are thinking it. I honestly do not know how far God is going to let this manmade spiritless church stray from the path before he shakes the church. I think he already has started but still people do not turn. When we read the accounts of the Glory of the Lord filling the temple we have to say that most have no clue to what that means. Yes we sing about it, talk about it, preach about it, and pray about it but have we experienced it.  Recently I talked about the heart of worship where God said the lips honour me but their hearts are far from me. Some will say the glory of God is in this place because the music was uplifting and the preaching inspiring but that is not the glory of God. All kinds of secular music and teaching can move you. My experience has been there are those who also say the glory of the Lord is present when they fall down on their backs and babble supposedly in different languages but truthfully it is only clanging symbols and the lying on their back is of satan. I say this because scripture makes it very clear. If it really was the power of the Holy Spirit present much would happen but as it is there not much taking place. Sadly what is just as bad are those who deny the power because of what they have seen. They are right in sensing there is something wrong but they incorrect in not expecting the Holy Spirit to move in power. When you read the account of Pentecost you see they actually spoke in languages and people heard and responded. Later when Peter was with Cornelius in Acts 10:44 “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” You then have to go back to Pentecost to see what this tongues was. I am going out on a limb and saying that most tongues today in the church are just babble with no power and nothing but fruitless gibberish. It is delusional to think it is anything but. Paul speaks very clearly about the deception of false prophets and teachers. He tells the Corinthians you put up with it easily enough, this other gospel other than Jesus they taught. This applies to many today when it comes to false teachings. He then says in 2 Corinthians 11:12 “And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.” If people do not understand this they will be deceived. When you hold up the word of God you can see the falseness. Right now there are many false prophets, apostles, teachers, preachers, evangelists. Yes all these positions need to be operating for the church to be the church but they must operate in spirit and in truth. You have to listen clearly to the word of God. Trust me these men and women sound like they know but if you listen carefully you will see the distortion of truth. 90% close is not 100% truth.

            As I was preparing for this week and looking at the book of Acts once again I was overwhelmed with how different the church looks from God’s word. I am still astounded that people can read this book and then sit back and be satisfied with what we have now. Where is the Glory that filled the temple so that they could not even go in? Peter so full of the Holy Spirit when confronting Ananias, he and his wife died instantly because they lied to the Holy Spirit. Or when Peter said In the name of Jesus walk. Does that not stir something inside that says yes Lord increase my faith, increase the power once again. Turn your face to shine upon us once again. Sadly most have been sold a bill of goods that is perishable. 1 Peter 1:18 “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors.” How long will we settle for that powerless empty way? How in the world can we live like that? Are we so blind that we cannot see and hear the truth because of our unbelief? The answer is yes we are but we are saying we want no more having a form of godliness and denying its power.

            Earlier we read about the glory of the Lord filling in the temple. The first verse we read was fire from heaven consuming the sacrifice. Paul said, Romans 12:1  “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. “For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? 17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. An aroma pleasing to God.  In Pentecost we see the obedient disciples waiting for the promise to be filled. I say obedient because they waited and did what they were told. Most will not wait. They were a sacrifice pleasing to the Lord and the fire from from heaven settled on their heads. We have to ask ourselves ; are we a willing sacrifice? But for most this is a story we hang on to, to justify that the Spirit is upon us because Jesus said he would send his spirit. I am very intrigued by Peter and Cornelius. Both are directed by the Lord. This is what is missing today. Cornelius had a vision. He was told what to do and where to go and who to see. Peter then fell into a trance and was prepared for what was about to happen. While pondering the vision he had, the men arrived and off they went. This is one of the missing components. Too many men and women say they had a dream, a vision but in reality it is a delusion of their own minds. God said I did not send them. In Samuel we see the light flickering. I Samuel 2 “In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out.” That is where we are. Later on in Acts 19 we see Paul at Ephesus. He found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?” “John’s baptism,” they replied.” 4 Paul said, “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.” Now the previous story explains that the tongues would be like the tongues of Pentecost. Many say that speaking in tongues ( I call it babble) is sign of being filled with the Holy Spirit. If it is where is the power of the spirit. If the King of Glory really has filled his temple, it sure does not look like scripture. This is where people get upset when you say if it is not God then who is it. On the other hand when the glory of the Lord fills the temple extraordinary things happen. 19:11 “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.” Not only do we see numbers, we see fruit and action. “17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honour. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas. 20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.” The church is in a very precarious position as we are void of the power of the Holy Spirit yet many say they are full of the Holy Spirit yet remain fruitless with no true signs of God’s presence.

            I believe what has happened other than disobedience is that the church went back to John’s baptism. Water baptism is the emphasis of most churches and the concept of being filled with the Holy Spirit is a foreign subject and the ones who do say there is a baptism of the spirit, I believe many have been deceived and many have missed the mark. Even the Wesleyan church who supposedly believed in this power, had no idea what it meant to be entirely sanctified as they called it. Yes they had water baptism check but clueless as to the filling of the Holy Spirit. I say this because there did not have the results like we just read. This is the case for many churches who say they believe in this filling. This power that is available to all who believe as we have read so many times in Mark 16. But let me clarify it had better be real.

            Let me leave you with this. When you read the accounts of the King of Glory filling the temple, people end up on their faces before him and there is a healthy fear present. It is obvious that there is a drastic difference between the word of God and the church of today, which is why we continue to ask God to pour out his spirit on us once again and end the desolation. Until it does happen join with the Psalmist who says in Psalm 77:5 “I thought about the former days, the years of long ago; 6 I remembered my songs in the night. My heart meditated and my spirit asked: 7“Will the Lord reject forever? Will he never show his favor again? 8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time? 9 Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has he in anger withheld his compassion?” 10 Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the years when the Most High stretched out his right hand. 11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. 12 I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” God has made it clear that those who search for him will find him. That is His promise to us. If you do not think there is anything wrong you will not search it is that simple. To search for God means to humble yourself before him and turn for your wicked ways. This turning is repentance. As Revelations tells us, Jesus is knocking at the door waiting for us to answer. The Laodicea churches sums up our condition today. Revelations 3:14 To the Church in Laodicea “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. 21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Don’t be afraid to stand up and say I found the word of God. Yes you will be opposed but you will be victorious. Answer the door and let the Holy spirit work in your life in power. Just as Jesus revealed himself to the two disciples, he will to us also had 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” It was just after this that he told them to wait for the Holy Spirit. Luke 24:45 “Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”