Will God Really Dwell with Men?

Paradise! Garden of Eden

Paradise! Garden of Eden Genesis 3:23-24 So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

Paradise! Garden of Eden God s original plan was to dwell with us in a relationship with perfect intimacy. Because of sin, we were separated from God But even after we rejected God and were driven out of Eden, God continued to pursue us!!! MOTIVE: To dwell with us again!!!

The Tabernacle

The Tabernacle Exodus 25:8-9 "Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.

Exodus 40:33-38 Then Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

Exodus 40:33-38 In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out--until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the LORD was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels.

The Tabernacle How did God make it obvious that He was in fact dwelling with his people through the Tabernacle? What was the time period/purpose of the Tabernacle? How could Israel have forgotten or taken this for granted? How could they not sense God with them?

The Temple

2 Chron. 6:17-18 [Solomon] And now, O LORD, God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David come true. "But will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!

2 Chron. 7:1-3 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the LORD above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD

The Temple How did God make it obvious that He was in fact dwelling with his people in the TEMPLE? What was the time period/purpose of the Temple? How could Israel have forgotten or taken this for granted? How could they not sense God with them?

Jesus of Nazareth

Jesus of Nazareth John 1:1-2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

John 1:10-11, 14 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

made his dwelling σκηνόω or skênoô, skay-no'-o; from Greek 4636 (skenos); Definition: to tent or encamp, i.e. (figurative) to occupy or reside (as God did in the Tabernacle of old,) to dwell.

Jesus of Nazareth Luke 3:21-22 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

Jesus of Nazareth Luke 19:41-44 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you.

Jesus of Nazareth How did God make it obvious that He was in fact dwelling with his people in JESUS? What was the time period/purpose of the Messiah? How could people have failed to see God dwelling in Jesus? How could they not sense God with them?

Old vs. New Testament Tabernacle (Old) Jesus of Nazareth (New) Just as the tabernacle was a temporary dwelling place for God, so Jesus in the flesh was alive for a brief time period Temple (Old) Church (New) Just as the temple was meant to be the permanent dwelling of God, the church was meant to be God s house after the ascension

The Church Body of Christ Ephes. 2:19-22 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

God dwelling with Men Tabernacle - Glory of the Lord, cloud filled the temple Temple Glory of the Lord, fire came down Jesus Heaven opened, Holy Spirit descended, voice What about when God came to the Church? Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

And finally God desires to dwell in YOU!

God lives in you thru the Spirit! 1 John 3:24 Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. 1 John 4:12-13 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. Romans 8:11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

God lives in you thru the Spirit! When does the Spirit of God make his dwelling inside of us? Titus 3:5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit Acts 2:38 Peter replied, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

God lives in you thru the Spirit! How has God made it obvious that He is in fact DWELLING in YOU? How can we forget or take this for granted? Do we see God working in your life?

Pay Attention!!! Hebrews 2:1-2 We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?

Only one dwelling remains Revelation 21:1-4 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."