A Tale of Two Temples part five

This is a major foundation stone in our Theology, a living stone of Truth, not some dead, stale doctrine of man but a truth we all must grasp to help to deliver us from Babylon. Stephen knew it. Acts 7:48 - "Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands as saith the prophet". The Holy Spirit included this salient point to the hard hearted religious leadership of the day, of whom Paul was a member. This same Paul, who was present when Stephen was stoned to death (remember Jesus prophesied this would happen in John 16:2), this same Paul heard this Truth and later repeated it to the Greeks in Acts:17:24 - "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of Heaven and Earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands, neither is worshipped with men?'s hands". This Truth is so offensive to those in Babylon, it so pricks their guilty consciences that the heathen who heard it used it as an indictment against Paul's ministry just as some did earlier against Jesus (like Father, like son) - Acts 19:26 - "This Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people (praise God!) saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands". The Truth was getting out whether they agree with it or not! Even the lost are preaching it! Paul later expounds further on this wonderful truth "know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you"? "for the temple of God is Holy, which temple ye are." 1 Cor: 3:16&17.

In the "temples made with hands" or put another way, in the Religious structures made by man, with his wisdom and judgments, in denominational churches where Man is in charge, not God, it doesn't matter at all if God is present in their midst, in fact, it's preferable if He isn?t because He'll have the audacity to rebuke and interrupt their traditions and rituals and demand they follow Him instead. The tares won't do it but the wheat will (follow Him). He comes to His own today in the person of the Holy Spirit and His own receive Him not. But those who do receive Him go on to become His sons and daughters. Mt: 24:23 - "Then if any man shall say unto you, lo, here is Christ, or there, believe it not". All Christians bound by religion say of their church or denomination "here is Christ" and they deceive many. Believe it not because dear believer, where is Christ found on earth today? In You! "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles, which is Christ in you the Hope of Glory; whom we preach" Col:1:27. The God of all creation, the Hope of glory is found today in you and I, His people but the religious Pharisees of today cannot admit or acknowledge this because it would mean the end of their kingdom, their grip on you, their control of you. If they acknowledge Christ is in you and not in the religious structure they've built and approved of, then they must give honor and respect to and love and treasure Him in you! You must be released and allowed to minister (1 Cor: 14:26). No, instead they say Christ is here or there, in our church, in this building made with hands, in this system of worship and service we've devised and you can't partake of Him apart from us. Sure they will give lip service to the concept of Christ in you but Their attitude is - you must join us, assemble with us, to take communion, you need us to validate you, when it should be, we need you, we need the portion of Christ in you, to bless us, to enhance and complete us. Some even go as far as to believe you can't function or live spiritually with out them. Believe it not!

He's not even in the desert or the secret chambers - "behold I have told you before" HE IS NO WHERE YOU MUST GO TO FIND OR EXPERIENCE HIM for He is with you and in you, always, even to the end of the world. Does this mean you don't seek out the fellowship of the saints? Of course not, for the love of God shed in your heart will compel you to seek out other's in the Body to relate to, to serve and to learn from. But you follow no man unless they are following Christ, in other words, you are following Christ in them, you are submitted only to men or women who are submitted to Christ, this way, all they speak to you and instruct you to do come from Christ himself. You are in a family, not a man made organization patterned after the world. This means you will always have parents and older siblings you are under, that are there to help you to mature. Leadership from God is a great blessing because they are a reflection of the Father's heart for us and treat us as their own children and love to see us mature. Under religious "hirelings" you can sit for years and never grow at all but remain in the same baby, immature condition you started with. Remember what Jesus said of the Religious ones of His day for it holds true today -

"These things have I spoken to you, that you should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues (churches) yea, the time cometh (and now is) that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service and these things will they do unto you because they have not known the Father or Me" John 16:1-3.
In the next chapter after Matthew 24, Jesus deals with those who think or pretend that they're His followers but are not - "depart from Me ye cursed" see, God is love, if they knew Him they would never hate and kill in His name. This is how we know them, by their fruit. If they hate you and say they are of God, they are liars (1 John 4). No one can be a "Christian" anyway without the Holy Spirit. By this definition, much of so-called "Christianity" today really isn't because christian by it's very definition means "of Christ" or "little Christ" and the word "Christ" means the anointed one of God. How was Jesus anointed of God? With the Holy Spirit! Without measure! So for us to be a Christian, or of Christ, we must also be anointed of the Holy Spirit, walking with Him, fellowshipping with Him, loving Him and being embraced by Him, daily. Yet in most churches He simply is not welcome. He comes to His own and His own receive Him not. Ah, Lord God! My people love to have it so. Forgive us our spiritual whoredoms, Lord, Forgive us! Deliver us from all that is of us to only that which is of You! God Help us!