Church

May 27, 2016

Devotions:

        “Then Jacob departed from Beersheba and went toward Haran. He came to a certain place and spent the night there, because the sun had set; and he took one of the stones of the place and put it under his head, and lay down in that place. He had a dream, and behold, a ladder was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven; and behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it." He was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven."”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭28:10-17‬ ‭NASB‬‬

        After Jacob's dream he made some declarations.  He knew that God was in that place because of the visitation of God.  God chose a place for His presence under David the King, that place was Jerusalem.  In the New Covenant God has chosen a place and that is the church.

        “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”  ‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:19-22‬ ‭NASB‬‬

        “And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:4-5‬ ‭NASB‬‬

        This is the place where the Angels ascend into the presence of the Father on our behalf and descend to bring to us the answer that we need.  The church is the gate of heaven.  When we recognize the importance of church to fulfill God's commandment here on this earth then we will begin to give it the honor it is due.  Our salvation is so much more than going to heaven, it is bringing heaven to earth so that as many as will receive it will become a part of the kingdom.  Without our active participation in church we cannot fulfill what our assignment is and we become open targets for our enemy.  You cannot come to full maturity outside of the church.  God put in you His desire that you be faithfully in church.  If you are born again then that desire is there.  Act on it. If you are not born again then come to church and receive His eternal life.