Monday, November 10, 2008

Who Me? A Walking Ark of the Covenant?

I recently attended a prayer confrence where I heard that we (born-again believers in Jesus) are "walking arks of the covenant". My mind went to truths such as: We have this treasure in jars of clay. Our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit. ...according to the power that is at work within us...

Look what happened when the Philistines stole the ark from Israel,

1 Samuel 5: 1-4 After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then they carried the ark into Dagon's temple and set it beside Dagon. When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained.

As I was studying Hebrews 9, I saw this:

Hebrews 9:1-5 Now the first covenant had regulations for worship and also an earthly sanctuary. A tabernacle was set up. In its first room were the lampstand and the table with its consecrated bread; this was called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place, which had the golden altar of incense and the gold-covered ark of the covenant. This ark contained the gold jar of manna, Aaron's staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. Above the ark were the cherubim of the Glory, overshadowing the atonement cover.

So I see that the ark (me and you) contains the manna (Jesus, the bread of life), Aaron's staff that budded (the supernatural power of God), and the stone tablets of the covenant, now written on our hearts:

2 Corinthians 3:3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

We have this magnificent power inside of us. Pause, and think on that!

We have the Lord Jesus Christ living inside of us, His Spirit empowering us to pursue the Kingdom of God. To contend for the faith, and to have victory over sin. So I ask the Lord, is my life powerful like that? Am I living in a way that impacts the kingdom? That sends the enemy reeling? Am I praying with authority in Jesus' Name? He has made me an ambassador here. Am I living like a stranger of this world? Or am I blending in?

In Hebrews 9, the lampstand, the table and the consecrated bread show us how it is that we live a life that is powerful: Our light must be lit (keep oil in our lamp) We must come to the table with the consecrated bread (have fellowship with Jesus) and enter into the Most Holy Place-approach the throne of grace, and at the altar of incense of God (the fragrance of His holiness) will be upon us from spending time in His presence. Then our lives will be salt and light in this world, for the praise of His glory.

Lord God of Heaven, Almighty God, Holy One, we praise you for the miracle of regeneration! That you made us new creations when you lit the fire in our hearts with your Spirit. You took out of us our heart of stone and gave us a heart of flesh. One that responds to you with adoration and submission to your will. Enable us to keep walking and growing in the knowledge of You and Your will. Magnify Yourself with our lives!! Show Your Power Lord, through our lives laid down for you! Iin Jesus' Name, Amen!

3 comments:

Sonya Lee Thompson said...

Ark of the covenants, I like that idea! There was much power in that ark! God is so good.

Thnaks for sharing this.
Sonya

Stonefox said...

This post was so encouraging! The idea of us as the "ark" is very thought provoking.

Something that the Lord recently showed me in Judges 7 is that we are the pitcher and the Spirit is the light inside. Although we have the treasure in earthen vessels, it isn't until the vessel is broken that the light comes out and is free to shine and bring the victory. The Lord is doing a work in my life through all this and your post here has added to that. Thank you!

Kathy Schwanke said...

Heidi, I tried to visit your blog, but it is private. I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your revelation. I love that! Bless you sister! :)

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