Our discussion focuses on Ezekiel 47:1-6, which begins: The Man brought me back to the entrance of the temple. Now God’s Word tells us these earthly sanctuaries, the Jerusalem Temple and the Tabernacle of Moses, were merely shadows and copies of the eternal true heavenly temple, the dwelling place of God, which was not made with hands. Today God visits our sanctuaries, but His dwelling place is within us. Our bodies are the temple of the living God, Who said, “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people. Therefore, come out from them and be separate!” 2 Corinthians 6:16.
I can’t help but be in awe when I read God’s Word. How diligently and faithfully our God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – have worked to prepare the way for our return to the Lord. The Son of God was made visible to mankind to undo – destroy, loosen, and dissolve – the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). So, by the will of God, to those who believe in His name, He gives the right to be children of God (John 1:12). The Kingdom of Heven belongs to those who are after God’s heart. Giant slayers who like David, will do everything we are asked to do (Acts 13:22).
My husband and I used to attend Sabbath services at a Messianic Temple and the rabbi said how often God’s people rebelled, were led into captivity, turned to God praying for deliverance, received the Lord’s assistance then celebrated God’s great mercy and goodness. How many times throughout the Bible God said, “I will bring them home.” In Zechariah 10:10 He says, “I will gather them out of Assyria, which has this meaning: To be level, right, happy, to go forward, be honest, proper, called to be blessed, to guide, lead and relieve.
God wants us to desire Truth in our inner being, so He has given His Word and Holy Spirit so those who are sincere will know godly wisdom in their inmost heart (Psalm 51:6), How often we take things so personally and get so hurt and upset. We strike out with the weapons of darkness by using: rejection, profanity, scorn, abuse, violence….To know Truth we must take God’s Word personally. To receive godly wisdom will involve being in a committed relationship with Holy Spirit, for He is our Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby (John 16:7), who remains closer than a brother.
When the Spirit of Truth comes, He guides, makes our life, our thoughts, our heart right and honest and proper. He leads and relieves so we can go forward as those called to be blessed by God, Who knows the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Mark 14:38). We absolutely need knowledge and understanding of God and His Word, because our prideful nature exalts self- reliance. Our own vanity leads us into the darkness where the liar, the murderer entices and captivates so our flesh becomes a captive of sin and fear and depravity.
We adopt strategies, philosophies, beliefs that are tainted by the father of deception producing behavior that cries out spawn of evil, full of every sort of dishonesty and fraud. Like a train’s whistle screeches its warning to stop, such behavior should be recognized as a siren blaring loudly rid yourself evil for it’s intent is to kill, to steal, to destroy our esteem, our confidence, our hope, our relationships, our freedom. Without the empowerment the Spirit of Truth bestows, we will never be able to stop perverting the true ways of the Lord (Acts 13:10).
The Spirit of Truth will guide us into all the Truth, into the chambers of God’s heart. He is always pointing us to God’s Word, so we can hear the same message from the Lord that He hears. For no child of God deliberately, knowingly and habitually practices sin. By His divine power, God has given us everything we need in the measure of faith He has given us. Because of His mercy and loving-kindness, He has given us His Word to make known His great and precious promises, which makes it possible for us to share in His divine nature, as we progressively come to know Him (2 Peter 1:2).
God knows and has told us all flesh is frail (Isaiah 40:6), and He wants us to understand and acknowledge how evil has caused the earth and our earthen vessels to become depraved and putrid in His sight. The earth is full of violence because humanity has corrupted their way (Genesis 6:11) by adhering to the patterns of deception: Denial, Comparison, Minimizing, Rationalizing, Avoiding, Blaming, Accusing, Projecting, Manipulating, Complying. All of which brings upon us despair, hopelessness, pessimism, depression, PTSD, emotional imbalance, cognitive disorder and distortions, irrational thought patterns that twist reality and fuel negative emotions that lead us into a state of anxiety, phobia, desperation, discomposure, stress…
But what’s even more ludicrous, though dysfunction, confusion, fear and disorder are present in our lives, we think we’re right, we think our way is the best, we want to change the way others think and feel and behave. Why? To please ourselves. We are made co-dependent on people instead of being God-dependent. We have to learn how to interact with ourselves and with others differently by being kind and gentle and compassionate. The weapons we use – anger, manipulation, willfulness – to gain power and authority, to feel superior, to be in control; however, the truth is we are simply out of control. The evil Codependency produces within works to drain our self-worth and well-being. As a result of our pomp, our arrogance and stubborn, know-it-all attitudes it isn’t our wellness tanks being replenished, what is being filled up prisons and graveyards.
There is much to learn because Codependency is many things. Producing a dependency on people, on their moods, behaviors, sicknesses, well-being and their love. It is a paradoxical, absurd and self-contradicting dependency. Because codependents appear to be depended upon but are dependent. They look strong but feel fearful, helpless…They appear controlling but in reality, are controlled by themselves. Sometimes by an illness like alcoholism or a process like gambling, workaholism, overeating…
Inner healing and recovery from codependency is exciting and liberating. We discover and begin to be who we are meant to be. We begin to enjoy our God-given power and authority to think and feel and act. God is the Source of every good and perfect gift and fills us with what is sustaining peace and confidence, faith and hope in Him and ourselves and yes others. We willk discover the true meaning of love, it is not a mere feeling that comes and goes. God is love and we love because He first loved us. How amazing through His Word and Holy Spirit we are empowered to love and respect ourselves and others properly and well.
Each person is responsible for his or her own self. Our inner healing and recovery involves learning and being committed to practicing one new behavior, devoting ourselves to being kind and taking care of ourselves. The only person we can change is ourselves. I have spent years gathering resources so knowledge of God and His Word and our human condition would empower us and bring into our lives what God desires for our entire well-being – Salvation, Deliverance and Inner Healing. You can check out the resources that have been compiled on the website ForGodForeHisGlory.com.
Getting back to the vision of the temple Ezekiel received, it not only included detailed specifications for its earthly design, but also, our heavenly Father was imparting spiritual substances – faith and hope and love – to portray His glorious essence. Today we know the work of Holy Spirit within His temple is to transform a human heart into the image of God’s precious Son until His glory, His goodness, His kindness and mercy cover the earth.
This vision speaks to the desire God has had from the very beginning, to share in a personal, intimate relationship with humanity. Yes, from the very beginning our heavenly Father destined those whom He foreknew to be molded into the image of His Son, to share in the likeness of Him Who would become the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29 AMP).
Yes, His Servant Who acted wisely! Who was raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Many were appalled at Him. His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man. His form was marred beyond human likeness (Isaiah 52:11-12). Christ Jesus, the “Suffering Servant,” Who acted according to God’s ultimate plan by exalting the will of His Father above His own. The Son of Man who came to serve, not to be served and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45).
How awesome God and His kingdom must be, for Jesus endured that cross, scorning its shame because He knew the joy that was set before Him (Hebrews 12:2). His love for His Father, for His kingdom so great, He willingly laid down on that cross, no one took from Him His life (John 10:17). The Son, Who radiates God’s own glory, Who expresses the very character of Almighty God, sustains everything by the mighty power of His Word (Hebrews 1:3a). Once He appeared for all humanity by the sacrifice of Himself to do away with sin.
The Lamb of God, who has taken away the sin of the world (John 1:29) to reveal and make available to us the way of faith in Christ (Galatians 3:23). And now God will give to those who choose to do the work He requires – believe in the One He has sent (John 6:28) a heart, pleasing to Him. A new and undivided heart. For God sees not as man sees, man looks on the outward appearance, but God, He looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). A heart ravished by sin. Calloused, stony, unnaturally hardened. But this His promise, “I will give those who follow the way of faith in Christ a heart of flesh – sensitive and responsive to My touch. That they may walk in My ways, keep My teachings and do them. They shall be My people, and I will be their God,” Ezekiel 11:19-20 AMP.
Ezekiel said, “I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the east. The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple. The Man brought me out through the north gate and led me around the outside to the outer gate facing east, and the water was flowing from the south side.”
The east represents divine presence, the dawn of a new day, spiritual beginnings and the distance between humanity and God. It is primarily connected to the dawn of salvation, the Garden of Eden and the promise of Christ’s return. North holds a dual meaning. It symbolizes divine judgment and calamity, as well as the dwelling place of God’s glory. While the south symbolizes divine provision, sudden blessings, spiritual testing and the “Right Hand” of God’s power. Water symbolizes four main concepts: Holy Spirit, life and creation, spiritual cleansing, and chaos or death. The meanings found within these words provide their own testimony of God’s love and concern and redemption of humanity.
Father, consider our threats
And enable Your servants to speak Your Word
With great boldness.
Stretch out Your hand, Father, to heal
And perform miraculous signs and wonders
Through the name of Your holy and precious
Servant Jesus, thank you Father
Acts 4:29