“Light from on high”
– Luk 1:78 (AMP)
To “see” and “hear” God…
It was an eye-opening realization to me why we as Christians do not “see” and “hear” God as Adam and Eve had the privilege of. So, I would like to express that understanding briefly again in this newsletter.
God created a “sanctuary” on the undefiled earth in the form of the garden of Eden – a holy place that could accommodate the Holy God for fellowship with His creatures. Eden was both a physical place and a spiritual place at the same time. Much like our physical bodies house our spirit-beings, Eden “housed Paradise”. Only three times does the Bible refer to Paradise. One instance of it being in Hades (consider Luk 23:23) and another instance of it being in Heaven (see 2 Cor 12:14). Proof that Paradise initially was on earth (in Eden) is clear from Rev 2:7 that tells us that the Tree of Life will be accessible to overcomers in Heaven one day.
After sin had entered the world, man was expelled from Eden (and subsequently Paradise). God’s “sanctuary” on earth was lost! But God was no going to let that be. So, in the Old Testament He instructed the building of a Tabernacle as a sanctuary where He could commune with His people through priestly mediators. That also fell in disarray, so God finally came to earth Himself to set up an eternal “Sanctuary” in New Testament terms. Today every believer is God’s “temple” (see 1 Cor 3:16).
We understand that “the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands” (Acts 7:48), but in the spirit-man of the believer. Yet, God desires us to be holy in all three parts of our human make-up (spirit, soul and body). God is calling His church into becoming “sanctuary” to Him, even in our physical bodies:
1 Cor 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you… :20 For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
– – – – – – – – – o 0 o – – – – – – – – –
ASSEMBLY SPECIAL UPCOMING EVENTS: (see our Home Page for more information: www.lighthouse.net.za)
- Men’s Camp: Fri-Sun 12-14 Oct 2018 (leaving from church at 16h00)
- Visit by Regional Overseer: Sun 4 Nov 2018
- Ladies Camp: Fri-Sun 16-18 Nov 2018
REGISTRATIONS: (all forms at the Info Desk at Church)
- Sunday Teaching orders: DVDs (video) R 40; CD’s (audio) R 25 (all teachings are also available on our website)
- New Member Applications: Mary-Anne / Estelle
- Water Baptisms: Dunia
- Child Dedications: George Nel