IS IT POSSIBLE?

IS IT POSSIBLE?

                “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1 Cor. 3:16

                “For God, who said, “Light shine out of darkness is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves.” 2 Cor. 4:6, 7.

                “”…that is the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations; but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you the hope of glory. And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ. And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.” Colossians 1:26-29

                These three texts reveal one of the great mysteries that the apostle Paul gave to the church. This mystery is that we as born again believers have become temples in which God dwells by His Spirit… that we have this treasure in earthen vessels and this mystery is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

                The question is if we believe that we are temples and that Christ actually dwells in us, then why do we go about acting as if God is far away in some distant galaxy? Why do we feel that our prayers have to travel to some distant point in order to be heard by God? If indeed Christ dwells in us, then can we not hold a two way conversation with Him and expect that He will answer us?

                As we know from the design of the tabernacle of Moses, there is a veil between our soul and our spirit. If we are unable to hold two way conversation with God then it must mean that the veil, which is our flesh, is somehow blocking our direct access to God.

                In Mt. 27:51, and Mark15:38 and Luke 23: 48 we are told that when Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

                Hebrews 10:20 reveals to us that the veil was the flesh of Christ which was broken for us so that we could have access within the veil. This is our passage into the New Covenant as Hebrews 10:16, 17 says. And in Hebrews 6:19, 20 we are told that “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

                So this breaking through the veil was a breaking through into a New Covenant in which we have access within the veil through the blood and body of Christ. We follow Christ into the Most Holy Place if we enter into His death and resurrection, for surely our sinful nature must be covered by the blood if we are to join Him before the Mercy Seat.

                This is why as Hebrews 7:12 says, there must be a change of priesthood. The Levitical priesthood was carried on by priests who eventually died and who had to offer sacrifices for their own sins. But Jesus came as a High Priest who was both sinless and eternal so that He can forever officiate for us with His own blood that has the power not only to cover, but to remove our sins as far as the east is from the west.

                But before we get too technical here, we need to ask ourselves this simple question: If Christ actually dwells in us by His Holy Spirit, is it possible to have a two way conversation with Him? After all, the only thing that stands between us and Him is our flesh, but if we have truly entered into His death          and been born again by His resurrection power, can we not then enter within the veil into the very presence of our High Priest?

                Hebrews 10:19-22 seems to say that we can for it says: Since therefore brethren we have confidence to enter the (Most) Holy Place by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil that is His flesh and since we have a great priest over the house of God let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”  Note: In inserted (Most) Holy into this text because in Hebrews 9:25 he is speaking of the yearly function of the High Priest and His yearly function was to go in with blood into the Most Holy Place and that is what Jesus did as our High Priest.

                Again, let’s make it simple. Can I hold a conversation with God and expect that He hears me and answers? People are quick to answer with an affirmative “Yes,” because the Bible says that He hears and answers our prayers, but I am not looking for a theoretical answer here. I am asking for a practical experiential answer. Can you hold a conversation with God? Have you held a conversation with Him and felt that He was truly speaking back to you?

                Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice.” Did He mean that literally or is it just a figure of speech?

                I have been experimenting with two way conversations with the Lord. To do this I immerse myself in one of the Bible stories of Jesus. In Matthew 5 we see Jesus teaching the people along the shores of Galilee. There are a couple of boats pulled up to shore and the men are washing their nets when Jesus bids them to pull out into the deep and to lower their nets.

                In my mind I am there. I see and hear Jesus speaking to the People. They are watching Him with eager anticipation. Word has gotten out concerning His many miracles. I hear the breakers along the shore; I hear the gentle slapping of the waves against the wood of the boats. I feel the cold water in which I am standing up to my calves. I see Jesus smile as Peter protests that he has already fished all night. But he gives in because he senses a peculiar kind of authority in this Jesus.

                And then, while the crowd waits in anticipation of what will happen as the men row out to cast their nets, I turn to Jesus and begin to ask Him some questions. It is as though the scene is put on hold as Jesus listens to me intently. Will He answer me? Will He teach me things I don’t know?

                In my next article I will share my conversation with you and let you be the judge as to whether the Lord was speaking into my spirit. I believe that He was and in fact He added some insights into that particular story that I had never thought of before. Jesus does speak to us and He does teach us just as the Bible says that He does. I hope you too will be blessed by our conversation as you seek to walk and talk with the Lord in your own life.

                As one last hint, it is absolutely essential that you journal these conversations as you have them, otherwise much of the detail will be forgotten. And yes, I believe it is possible.