Our text not only speaks of a right of access, but of its actual experience and enjoyment as provided for us through Christ and His Spirit. (Google image, Jesus Christ, the Son of God and son of man)
Think of what Scripture teaches us. In the tabernacle, God dwelt in the Holy of Holies, separated by a thick veil from the priests who came daily to serve. Even the High Priest could enter that holy place only once every year. Access though the veil was forbidden on pain of death.
When Christ died, this veil was torn in two. Christ Jesus not only entered into God's presence with His blood, but He opened a new and living way through the torn veil of His flesh for us to enter, too.
When Jesus entered heaven, the way was opened for every believer to enter into God's holy presence and dwell there every day. Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to bring us into that holy presence and enable us to live there.
The unbroken enjoyment of God's presence is available to every believer who is willing to forsake all to possess it.
Unified By the Son And Spirit
"Through the Son" means more than our Advocate who secures our acquittal and acceptance. Our High Priest lives and acts in the power of an endless, incorruptible life.
He works in us through the power of His resurrection life and His entrance into glory. To have access to God through Christ means that we have been made alive with Christ and made to sit with Him in the heavenly places. (See Ephesians 2:5-6).
We live in Him, and we are one with Him. He keeps us in fellowship with God. The access through Christ brings us as near to God as Christ is, in intimate and divine fellowship.
The Spirit has been given to us that we may have the power to cry out to the Father, even as Christ did. The Spirit dwells in us to reveal Christ. Without him, no man can say that Jesus is Lord.
The Spirit takes possession of our whole life and being. When He is yielded to and trusted, He maintains our fellowship with the Father through the Son.
The New Testament standard of Christian living consists of access to God's holy presence and love through the living union with Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. The one thing needed to make ours is the practice of the presence of God.
When we give up our own life, Christ's life may be carried out in us. Access through Christ in the Spirit will restore to us what Adam lost by sin.
A walk in the light of God can be as clear and natural as the enjoyment of feeling the warmth of the sun on our bodies. No thinking, feeling, or working can enable us to dispense with the daily privilege of access into the Holiest of all and of dwelling there.
(Chapter 7, pp. 36-38)
by Andrew Murray
Copyright © 1984
Copyright © 1984
by Whitaker House
Used by permission
Let's pray-
Father, through the Holy Spirit we have Your unceasing presence and can actually experience and enjoy all You've provided for us.
We see that when Christ died on the cross, the veil in the temple was torn in two from the top down. He not only entered heaven after His resurrection to put His blood on the altar there, He actually opened a new and living way through the torn veil of His flesh for us to enter, too.
When Jesus entered heaven, the way was opened for every believer who is willing to forsake all to possess it, and to enter into Your holy presence and dwell there every day.
Your Holy Spirit works through the power of Christ's resurrection life and His entrance into glory. He brings us there and enables us to live there too.Because of this, believers have access to live with Christ and are made to sit with Him in the heavenly places. As the Spirit takes possession of our whole lives and being, and when we are yielded to Him and trust Him completely, He brings us near to You, His Father, as Christ is, in intimate and divine fellowship.
For this we give thanks, and ask for Your Spirit to enable us to be faithful and true to You throughout our lives. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen
Today's marriage advice:
How to Complain So Your Spouse Will Listen
From Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk
"Why won't your husband listen to the good advice nestled in your complaints? If only he could value the 'suggestion box' you set up for him and read the 'complaints' you regularly deposit. He of course would be a better man, and you would then have a better marriage!"
From Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk
"Why won't your husband listen to the good advice nestled in your complaints? If only he could value the 'suggestion box' you set up for him and read the 'complaints' you regularly deposit. He of course would be a better man, and you would then have a better marriage!" Today's Bible verses-
Hosea 6:1 (KJV) "Come, and let us return unto the
LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath
smitten, and he will bind us up."
Isaiah 43:1-3 (NASB) “ . . . Do not fear, for I have
redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are
Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be
with you; and through the rivers, they will not
overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you
will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.
For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel,
your Savior . . . ”
Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be
with you; and through the rivers, they will not
overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you
will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.
For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel,
your Savior . . . ”
and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your
bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a
spring of water, whose waters do not fail."
Today's quotes-
~ Oswald Chambers- "The Christian worker has to be a sacred “go-between.” He must be so closely identified with his Lord and the reality of His redemption that Christ can continually bring His creating life through him. I am not referring to the strength of one individual’s personality being superimposed on another, but the real presence of Christ coming through every aspect of the worker’s life." From My Utmost for His Highest Updated Edition
~ Max Lucado- "Holiness seeks to be like God. You want to make a difference in your world? Live a holy life. Be faithful to your spouse. Pay your bills. Be the employee who does the work and doesn’t complain. Don’t speak one message and live another! Just be God in your world.
“…as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (I Peter 1:15-16)
Words of wisdom-
~ When we seek to please God in all we do, we will instinctively make right choices. The Lord's Presence becomes our deepest delight.
~ When impossible situations cause you to face them, rely on Jesus, the best One to help you. Rest in His care.
List of recent sermons of CFC ministers. CFC Potsdam NY church has a live service at 10 am Sunday's for shut-ins. If for some reason you can't make it to the church you usually attend, click on the above link, and still get fed!
Jean's blog (Click to see snippets of the 7 recent posts)
Helpful ways the Lord helped me in my marriage
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