Then he brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary…. (Ez. 44: 1)

The Old Testament sanctuary was given to the people of Israel, as the place where God revealed his will and glory. Spiritual service could not be imagined without the sanctuary. Even during the wanderings of the Jews in the desert, God had commanded them that every time they stopped at a certain place the tabernacle had to be located in the center of the camp. This shows that God wants to be the center of our lives. His presence and His glory should the most important thing in our lives. Our whole life, all the goals that we set for ourselves, all of our daily activities in which we are involved, must revolve around the presence of God.

The sanctuary was the place where the Lord revealed himself to those who sincerely sot to know Him. David says that he saw God’s power and glory in the sanctuary. Moreover, he says to God: “I have seen thee in the sanctuary” (Ps. 62:3). It was there that the Lord revealed himself not only to great kings, prophets and priests who were anointed, but also to simple unnoticeable people.

That’s why God while showing Ezekiel numerous revelations and explaining their meanings to him, is leading the prophet back to the sanctuary to give him even greater knowledge of Gods glory. I believe that the Spirit of God wants to do the same thing in our lives. Following the Lord in our Christian walk, we are often become too consumed by different activities. At the level of individual churches and whole denominations, we very actively plan numerous projects. We designed the whole structure of how to effectively spread the gospel on earth. Today, we have so many conferences and seminars going on, about various topics of Christian life, that it is simply impossible to keep up with them.

We are so dedicated to all kinds of projects, that we no longer have time for the sanctuary. We are distracted by deeds; we are no longer clothed with the power of God. We rush forward, leaving the presence of God behind us. We are well educated in doing God’s work in the flesh, and therefore our preaching became enticing words of man’s wisdom, but not in demonstration of the Spirit and power. That is why, despite all our efforts, God’s people immerse deeper, and deeper into carelessness and works of vanity.

But the time has come when God wants to guide His children BACK TO THE SANCTUARY! I would like us to analyze our lives and see how close we are to the sanctuary. What is dominating in our Christian life: doing things or abiding? How powerful is the Holy Spirit manifesting in our lives? Do we give all of ourselves to his subjection? Do we hear His voice? Do we see His glory and power? Are we in the Lord’s sanctuary?

For a carnal Christian it is much easier to devote himself to “doing” rather than to abide in God’s presence. But it is this kind of Christianity that builds its ministry of wood, hay and straw. However, for the acquiring of the valuable fruit, we need to abide in God. Look at what Jesus said to his disciples:

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. (Jn. 15: 4).

Let’s hurry back to the Sanctuary of God’s presence, leaving the hassle and vanity of the earthly desires. The Church of our time, as never before, is in need of dedicated people who are not interested in fame, position, or power of human influence, but people who are able with their prayers bring the heaven into movement. The world desperately cries out for such saints, who would show them a way out of the darkness. Billions of fainting and confused souls are begging for them. Rolling into the pit of hell generation needs the church of those people who abide in the Sanctuary.

 

Pavel Gurzhiy