STRANGERS IN THE HOUSE OF GOD
A stranger is someone not known, he may be from your community, State or Country; yet a stranger: unknown. A foreigner is someone that is not just unknown but from a completely different country.
“We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame hath covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the LORD’S house.” – Jer 51:51 (KJV)
“The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.” – Lam 1:10 (KJV)
Some translations use “strangers”, some, “foreigner”. But whatever the translation, one thing stands out: the person does not belong there! He is not justified to be there; does not possess the right to be there! Like the image of jealousy in the Temple of God that eventually made God leave His house – The Temple.
“Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry. 6 He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations.” – Ezek 8:5-6 (KJV)
Whatever is not consistent with the nature of God or His word drives Him away from the place; decreasing the manifestation of His power and glory upon that place. When God withdraws His presence dryness and draught would set in bearing various afflictions and diseases; a lack of revival!
If God is the God of all flesh what makes people strangers in the house of God?
“On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever.” – Neh 13:1 (KJV)
God made them strangers! Why? They are not His covenant people. No covenant people were allowed to enter the congregation! The presence of any who is not a covenant person of God threatens the manifestation of the full glory of God at that place. This is the reason revival seem far even in Church today.
Even those of the covenant that did not go with God but followed the strangers were cast out as strangers.
“Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 10 Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. 11 So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) 12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.” – Heb 3:8-12 (KJV)
God has a nature: Spirit (John 4:23-24). When one does not worship in and through this nature he becomes a stranger in the house of God; a vessel of dishonour.
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.” – 2 Tim 2:19-20 (KJV)
How did the strangers come in?
They were brought in by the children of God against the will of God!
“And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage.” – Gal 2:4 (KJV)
“In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations.” – Ezek 44:7 (KJV)
The strangers were brought in! We the children of God are responsible for the presence of strangers in Gods house! We brought them in against the will of God! We are “adding” to the Church which is the exclusive responsibility of the Holy Spirit!
What is the consequence or effect? Dryness; a lack of glory!
“Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots.” – Jude 1:11-12 (KJV)
They defy, pollute and carry away the blessings made for us!
“The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.” – Lam 1:10 (KJV)
The provision given us is shared with the stranger, and now we don’t have enough!
“And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage.” – Gal 2:4 (KJV)
THEY POLLUTE US!
Because of them we are gradually loosing our liberty, our provision, our health; we are not manifesting His glory as we should! Again, this is because they are gradually polluting us. They are stiring in us lust for the things of this world. They make us believe they are true brethren and as Christians there is nothing wrong with lusting after these things.
“These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” – 2 Peter 2:17-19 (KJV)
“They boast with words that mean nothing. They lead people into the trap of sin. They find people who have just escaped from a wrong way of life and lead them back into sin. They do this by using the evil things people want to do in their human weakness.” – (ERV)
“When they speak……words of vanity…..they allure”, their words are powerfully potent, yet pungent, especially to the undiscerning Christian who gets carried away through lusts: through “much wantonness”, the weakness of the human flesh!
THEY WEAKEN OUR HEART!
Faith and trust are products of the heart. The words of these strangers weaken our heart, consequently, our faith and trust in God.
“Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life.” – Ezek 13:22 (KJV)
THEY MAKE US LEARN THEIR WAY!
“Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.” – Jer 10:2 (KJV)
Because of the strangers in our midst we have learnt the way of the heathen!
But what would God want us to do?
Flush them out; separate from them!
In the days of Nehemiah, when they discovered strangers were not to be in the congregation, they separated from them.
“Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.” – Neh 13:3 (KJV)
Old Testament you say?
“Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.” – Rev 2:20 (KJV)
Jesus tells His displeasure over the tolerating of a stranger in the congreation and allowed to even teach!
What about 2 Corinthians?
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” – 2 Cor 6:14-18 (KJV)
The word of God is clear and has explained itself.
He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit is saying.
GOD NEEDS YOU!
“For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.” – 1 Cor 7:7 (KJV)
Paul was admonishing the Corinthians about marriage; what it entails and the responsibilities that go with it. He wished all men would be like him. But of course this is not possible, for as he said, God created all men different and with differing gifts.
Desiring all men to be like him must have been borne by his zeal for the Kingdom which made him sacrifice a would be family; a zeal he desires all men to have. But God has His plans which no desire of man can change.
In God’s plan or purpose, He gave each person a different ability or gift. We are not all the same and can never be the same. God knows what He created us to do as instruments in His hands. Like manufacturers of goods who produce to meet purpose or reason, God created you for His pleasure not yours!
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” – Rev 4:11 (KJV)
The reason or purpose God created you is for you to give Him glory by doing His Will, not yours! To present yourself for His use!
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” – Romans 12:1 (KJV)
Presenting your body to Him is your reasonable (REASON ABLE) service! This is the first thing; every other thing takes root from this! Outside it your service to God is NOT REASONABLE!
You are an offering; to be willingly given!
“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.” – 2 Cor 9:7 (KJV)
God starts the acceptance of your offering by checking the state of your heart!
“God loveth a cheerful giver.” – 2 Cor 9:7 (KJV)
“Cheerful!” You have to be cheerful when presenting your worship!
Worship or service to God is not to be done grudgingly or by compulsion; no! That is why it is wrong to “woo” or “cajole” anyone into worship or into Church!
When sending your child on errand the first thing the child does is to heed your call, your beckoning; the child comes to you. There is a reason you beckoned on or called that child; certainly what you desire is what that child would do; not his.
Next, you empower him with the information and tools necessary to accomplish what you sent him to do. The information and tools you give are “proper” for him, for the assignment.
In the same manner, every man’s gift is proper for him.
“But every man hath his proper gift of God.” – 1 Cor 7:7 (KJV)
Not for himself, but for the assignment; the purpose.
The gifts we have from God, be they spiritual, financial or material are not for us to enrich ourselves with and build personal “empires”, rather they are to serve the purpose of God. They are given to us for the purpose of God: the building and edification of the Church, the body of Christ!
“And he gave …….for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” – Eph 4:11-12 (KJV)
Every gift is to be used FOR the Body! No hording or merchandizing! No feeling, “I am better than you are”! No! If we understand this, that nothing is for us individually, it would keep us humble, for what do you have that is not given you by God?
“For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” – 1 Cor 4:7 (KJV)
USE YOUR GIFT!
Whatever your gift may be, use it for the edification of the Church, do not merchandize the gift of God.
“So, brothers and sisters, what should you do? When you meet together, one person has a song, another has a teaching, and another has a new truth from God. One person speaks in a different language, and another interprets that language. The purpose of whatever you do should be to help everyone grow stronger in faith.” – 1Co 14:26 ERV
You are important to God and His Church! You are not small or insignificant! You are so valuable to God, He needs you!
WORRY THE SILENT KILLER!
“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” – Matt 6:25-34 (KJV)
Here Jesus taught us not to worry ourselves, as on our own, we cannot change anything. He adds that something comes before worry; this something is the source of worry; it gives birth to worry!
“THEREFORE” verses 25 and 31, proves something precedes worry.
What is this thing?
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” – Matt 6:19-21 (KJV)
VALUE!
On what have you put value? Where have we put worth? What attracts or carries your attention? What do you hold dear in your everyday life?
Heaven or earth?
In HEAVEN there is love, joy, peace, temperance, meekness, gentleness, goodness, faith etc.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” – Gal 5:22-23 (KJV)
Against these there is no law; no evil can prevail against these!
The Settled word of God, His plan, is also in heaven.
“Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” – Psalms 119:89 (KJV)
Here on Earth there are elegant houses (but can be destroyed through fire, riot, war); there are also powerful cars (but can be lost through thieves, fire, riot, war); we have designer wears (again they can be lost through fading, fire, thieves), is it expensive colognes and perfumes? (they fade).
All for honour, fame and power; encouraged and blown out of proportion by motivational speakers who instead of pointing us to heaven point us to things on earth; which if we do not have gives birth to worry.
A lack of heavenly focus plunges one into insecurity and uncertainty. One would seek to change times and seasons.
Things that have been concluded and settled in heaven concerning you!
This thought to change things you have no power to change is the cause of worry!
“Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?” – Matt 6:27 (KJV)
What you value is certainly where your heart would be; what you will think about all day, especially if it is something you do not have!
SIX STEPS TO STOP WORRYING
(1) know God places a high value on you.
“Look at the birds. They don’t need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are.” – Matt 6:26 (NLT)
(2) Know that there is a plan for your life.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” – Jer 29:11 (KJV)
“ (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” – Matt 6:32 (KJV)
(3) Know that you cannot change that plan.
“Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” – Psalms 119:89 (KJV)
Not even with your prayers can you change God’s plan. Ask Abraham, David, Jeremiah, Paul. Not even Jesus was able to change God’s plan for Him.
(4) Know that God cares for you.
“Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” – Matt 6:30 (KJV)
(5) Have faith in Him.
“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” – Matt 6:31-32 (KJV)
(6) Keep busy with Him; the writer of your part or role in the drama of life.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” – Matt 6:33 (KJV)
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