Building The Sanctuary

It’s a place of safety from the raging storms of life where I have complete rest because I know that my God is with me.

It’s a place where I can live above sin and above the things of this world.

Do you believe that there is such a place that we can reach in God while we are yet in this mortal body?

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he wrote these words. Ephesians 2:4-6, "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:"

I want to be in those heavenly places. That sounds like a place of sanctuary to me. It sound like a place in God that I can reach through God’s grace where there is safety and rest.

We sing the little chorus that goes like this:

Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary

Pure and Holy; tried and true

With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living

Sanctuary for you

Those are beautiful words, but that’s all they are unless we have a true desire to build a sanctuary in our heart and soul unto the Lord.

Building that sanctuary requires a lot of work, a lot of dedication and a consecration that many are not willing to give. It doesn’t happen just because we want it to, or because we profess it. There is a price to be paid in order to have that kind of relationship with Jesus.

If we are going to build a sanctuary in our lives, or if we are to be a sanctuary for the Lord like we sing about, there has to be a time of preparation and a time of hard work.

Satan is not going to just roll over and let you build your life into a sanctuary without a fight. The world isn’t going to stop affecting you and pulling you away from the Lord. You have to build in spite of all the devil will do and in spite of the drawing power of the things of this world. God will give you the grace, but you have to do the work. God will do his part, but you have to do you part as well.

But the one important factor that we must remember is this. Remember what David said to Solomon and to the princes of Israel who would help Solomon build the temple.

In 1 Chronicles 22:11 & 18, David promised that the Lord was with those who would build the temple.

The Lord is with you too. He with me, and the Lord is with all men who will put their heart into building a sanctuary for him in their heart and life. He is there to give direction. He is there to empower you. The sweet presence of the Holy Ghost is there to give you overcoming strength. Jesus is in your heart and the blood of the Lamb of God

is over you like a banner. Song of Solomon 2:4, "He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love."

HOW CAN WE FAIL UNLESS WE DON’T TRY? HOW CAN WE FAIL IF WE DON’T QUIT? God is with us and it is his desire to see us build our lives into a sanctuary for him to dwell in.

Look again at 1 Chronicles 22:19, "Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God…"