Isa. 66:1 – “Thus says the Lord: ‘Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest?’”
The Lord is seeking a place of rest – a people in whom He can live, abide and become His dwelling place -those who have made Him and His purposes their focus of life. That place is located in the hearts of the surrendered and submitted – both individually and corporately. We, as individuals, are the temple of Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16), as well as His temple corporately (2 Cor. 6:16-18). Yet, have we truly made our temples a place of hospitality for Him and His purpose through our lives?
The Lord is seeking a place of rest – a people in whom He can live, abide and become His dwelling place -those who have made Him and His purposes their focus of life. That place is located in the hearts of the surrendered and submitted – both individually and corporately. We, as individuals, are the temple of Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16), as well as His temple corporately (2 Cor. 6:16-18). Yet, have we truly made our temples a place of hospitality for Him and His purpose through our lives?
Jesus echoed the Lord’s statement through Isaiah in Matt. 8:20 – “Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” I hear a prophetic declaration in my spirit that the Lord is looking for a “resting place” in His people, but continues to search as “the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (2 Chron. 16:9). We must learn what the Lord is really looking for and what offends Him so much so that He withholds His presence from manifesting in fullness in our midst. Both our lives and our fellowships must become welcoming centers for the Lord’s presence and our hospitality must become so pleasing to Him that He decides that make us His habitation. What have we built instead?
In Matt. 21:12-17, Jesus entered the place that was built for Him to be His resting place – the house of the Lord, the temple of God. Here, He found money changers, ungodly commerce, compromise, greed and religious corruption. Jesus’ reaction was to drive out all those who had contaminated His Father’s house making it “a den of thieves” when it was to be a “house of prayer” (Matt.21:13). Jesus immediately began to throw out all that was contrary to His Father’s nature fulfilling ancient prophecy (Jer. 7:1-11; Mal. 3:1-6). Men had permitted a political spirit to compromise God’s purpose and intent for His people. The Lord’s house was to be a place of prayer, intimacy, healing and deliverance; a place where He could commune with His people and demonstrate His love, but instead it had become converted to idolatry and fraud.
Desperate people came to this temple in search of God’s presence, but instead were greeted by jealous, power hungry, corrupt leadership intent on building their own fortunes and names for themselves. The house of God became a self-serving, politically correct, religious stronghold of demonic spirits intent on domination, spiritual abuse, manipulation and control. Jesus cleaned out the temple showing everyone how it should look, but it was soon changed back to its former state of defilement. In Jesus’ day, money and religious structure replaced God’s presence and purposes as the religious model for the people. Jesus left because He found that place unfriendly and unwelcoming. He left His house and went to Bethany (Matt. 21:17).
Bethany was the place Jesus spent much of His time. It became His place of rest and comfort. Here Martha, Mary and Lazarus welcomed Jesus and made Him the center of their attention. Bethany means house of mourning or poverty”; it wasn’t some massive palace where only royalty reside; it was a simple, loving, humble abode where Jesus and His presence was adored. Bethany became a place of extravagant love and devotion – where Mary took her dowry and “wasted it” on Jesus (Jn. 12:1-8). The lives of those who lived in that house were totally devoted to Jesus and His desires, at the cost of their own.
Because of this extravagant love lavished upon Jesus, some of His greatest acts of power were done in Bethany including raising Lazarus from the dead (Jn. 11:38-44)! Hospitality – the act of hosting the presence of God - is a tremendous drawing card for the miracles!
Now, I sincerely ask the question – what kind of house have we built for the Lord’s resting place? Is it a magnificent temple full of religious activity, devoid of God’s presence and power; or is it a Bethany home – humble, loving, where the Lord is adored and worshiped? Is our temple a place where His presence and power are evident to all? I’ve asked this question, but I still hear Jesus’ words ringing in my spirit – “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Matt. 8:20). Today is as good a time as any to determine to become a proper host of God’s presence. Perhaps Holy Spirit is asking you to reinforce the Mercy Seat of your life. You see, He may not feel comfortable because He knows your ability to contain His presence is so weak that your Mercy Seat – your ability to host His presence - would collapse under the weightiness of His glory (kabod). Rev. 3:20 – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and He with Me.” If you allow Holy Spirit access to your life, He’ll come in and make all the remodeling adjustments He wants to be comfortable in your life. All you have to do is answer the door and let Him come in! Amen.
In Matt. 21:12-17, Jesus entered the place that was built for Him to be His resting place – the house of the Lord, the temple of God. Here, He found money changers, ungodly commerce, compromise, greed and religious corruption. Jesus’ reaction was to drive out all those who had contaminated His Father’s house making it “a den of thieves” when it was to be a “house of prayer” (Matt.21:13). Jesus immediately began to throw out all that was contrary to His Father’s nature fulfilling ancient prophecy (Jer. 7:1-11; Mal. 3:1-6). Men had permitted a political spirit to compromise God’s purpose and intent for His people. The Lord’s house was to be a place of prayer, intimacy, healing and deliverance; a place where He could commune with His people and demonstrate His love, but instead it had become converted to idolatry and fraud.
Desperate people came to this temple in search of God’s presence, but instead were greeted by jealous, power hungry, corrupt leadership intent on building their own fortunes and names for themselves. The house of God became a self-serving, politically correct, religious stronghold of demonic spirits intent on domination, spiritual abuse, manipulation and control. Jesus cleaned out the temple showing everyone how it should look, but it was soon changed back to its former state of defilement. In Jesus’ day, money and religious structure replaced God’s presence and purposes as the religious model for the people. Jesus left because He found that place unfriendly and unwelcoming. He left His house and went to Bethany (Matt. 21:17).
Bethany was the place Jesus spent much of His time. It became His place of rest and comfort. Here Martha, Mary and Lazarus welcomed Jesus and made Him the center of their attention. Bethany means house of mourning or poverty”; it wasn’t some massive palace where only royalty reside; it was a simple, loving, humble abode where Jesus and His presence was adored. Bethany became a place of extravagant love and devotion – where Mary took her dowry and “wasted it” on Jesus (Jn. 12:1-8). The lives of those who lived in that house were totally devoted to Jesus and His desires, at the cost of their own.
Because of this extravagant love lavished upon Jesus, some of His greatest acts of power were done in Bethany including raising Lazarus from the dead (Jn. 11:38-44)! Hospitality – the act of hosting the presence of God - is a tremendous drawing card for the miracles!
Now, I sincerely ask the question – what kind of house have we built for the Lord’s resting place? Is it a magnificent temple full of religious activity, devoid of God’s presence and power; or is it a Bethany home – humble, loving, where the Lord is adored and worshiped? Is our temple a place where His presence and power are evident to all? I’ve asked this question, but I still hear Jesus’ words ringing in my spirit – “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Matt. 8:20). Today is as good a time as any to determine to become a proper host of God’s presence. Perhaps Holy Spirit is asking you to reinforce the Mercy Seat of your life. You see, He may not feel comfortable because He knows your ability to contain His presence is so weak that your Mercy Seat – your ability to host His presence - would collapse under the weightiness of His glory (kabod). Rev. 3:20 – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and He with Me.” If you allow Holy Spirit access to your life, He’ll come in and make all the remodeling adjustments He wants to be comfortable in your life. All you have to do is answer the door and let Him come in! Amen.