A Close Relationship

Jesus and the Holy Spirit worked together to give new life to God's wife, just like in the beginning (see previous blog entry - "The Holy Spirit and Life"). With the barrier of sin removed by His blood sacrifice, the door of her heart could now be opened to receive His Word of Truth and the gift of His Holy Spirit inside her heart to give her new life. The more she allows His Word and His Spirit into her heart by loving Him with all her heart, the more "perfect" and complete she will become. Just as Eve was made a "helper” suitable for Adam, God gave us the Holy Spirit to help us be the suitable "Bride" for Jesus, our "Bridegroom".

A wife takes on her husband’s name, when they are married. In the days of Moses, God commanded the Priests to bless the children of Israel and put His name upon them (see Numbers 6:22-27). When we accept the covenant that Jesus offers to us, then we are given the name of Jesus to be written on our hearts. When we have the name of Jesus on our hearts, we also have the name of God the Father and the name of God the Holy Spirit because the three are one. This is what Jesus meant when He commanded His disciples to baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (see Matthew 28:19). The disciples were to perform “marriage ceremonies”, making sure the people understood fully that they were taking on God’s Name - God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

God also recorded His Name in the places where His Spirit came to rest on the Tabernacle and the places where He chose to make His habitation (see Exodus 20:24, Exodus 33:9, Deut. 12:5). The Holy Spirit can now come upon us and helps us to create a “home” inside of us where Jesus can live closely with us.

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
(1Jo 4:15 ESV)

And the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit Whom He has given us.
(1Jo 3:24 MRC)

Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."
(Joh 14:23 ESV)

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit wants to make “Their” home and habitation with us! Right now, our bodies are "temporary" tents on the Earth where "They" dwell with us (see 2 Corinthians 5:1-5).

Simon recounted how even as at first God oversaw to take a people out from among the nations for His name. And with this agree the Words of the prophets, as it has been written, After these things "I" will return and "will build again the tabernacle of David which has fallen," "and I will build again the things which have been demolished," and I will set it up, (Amos 9:11, 12) so as the rest of men may seek the Lord, "even all the nations on whom My name has been called, says the Lord, who is doing all these things." (Amos 9:11, 12) All His works are known to God from eternity.
(Act 15:14-18 LITV)

Rejoice, O unfruitful one that never bore; break out a song and shout, you who never travailed. For more are the sons of the desolate than the sons of the married woman, says Jehovah. Make the place of your tent larger, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings. Do not spare, lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes; for you shall break out on the right hand and on the left. And your seed shall inherit the nations, and people will inhabit ruined cities. Do not fear; for you shall not be ashamed, nor shall you blush; for you shall not be put to shame; for you shall forget the shame of your youth, and shall not remember the reproach of your widowhood any more. For your Maker is your husband; Jehovah of Hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall He be called. For Jehovah has called you as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when you were rejected, says your God. For a little moment I have left you; but with great mercies I will gather you. In a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you, says Jehovah your Redeemer.
(Isa 54:1-8 MKJV)

"Their line has gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world. In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, and he comes forth as a bridegroom from his canopy; he rejoices as a strong man to run a race,"
(Psa 19:4-5 MKJV)

Our bodies combined are the new, enlarged "Tent of Meeting" where Jesus, the "Bridegroom" wants to meet and dwell with us. Our hearts are where God's Word and Spirit will dwell - the new "Most Holy Place". But God has always desired a permanent Temple where His name, His heart, and covenant could dwell forever. We see examples of this in the stories about the Temple in the Old Testament (see 1 Kings 8:19-21, 1 Kings 9:3, 1 Chronicles 22:10). The wisdom that the Holy Spirit gives to us helps us to "build" a permanent house, or Temple, for "Them".

By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
(Pro 24:3-4 ESV)

The first Temple was built in Jerusalem, and it was made of stone, gold, silver, etc. But God really desired a "living" Temple that was not made by human hands, where His glory could dwell forever. The Tabernacle of God is now with men (see Revelation 21:3, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20) and His Temple is being made of "living" stones built on the foundation of His Cornerstone - Jesus.

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense." They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
(1Pe 2:4-9 ESV)

"and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom every building having been fitly framed together, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord; in whom you also are built together for a dwelling place of God through the Spirit."
(Eph 2:20-22 MKJV)

Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the LORD of hosts the holy mountain.
(Zec 8:3 KJV)

Behold Zion, the city of our appointed feasts! Your eyes will see Jerusalem, an untroubled habitation, an immovable tent, whose stakes will never be plucked up, nor will any of its cords be broken.
(Isa 33:20 ESV)

King Jesus has purposed to establish the city of Jerusalem again to be the permanent home of His Temple where He will dwell forever with His Bride, the Church, on Mount Zion, His Holy Mountain.

O Lord, I pray You, according to all Your righteousness let Your anger and Your fury be turned away from Your city Jerusalem, Your holy mountain. Because for our sins, and for the iniquities of our fathers, Jerusalem and Your people have become a curse to all those who are around us. And now, O our God, hear the prayer of Your servant, and his holy desires, and cause Your face to shine on Your sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord's sake. O my God, bow down Your ear and hear. Open Your eyes and behold our ruins, and the city which is called by Your name. For we do not present our prayers before You on account of our righteousnesses, but because of Your great mercies. O Jehovah, hear; O Jehovah, forgive; O Jehovah, listen and do. Do not delay, for Your own sake, O my God; for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.
(Dan 9:16-19 MKJV)

And the sons of strangers will build up your walls, and their kings will serve you; for in My wrath I struck you, but in My favor I had mercy on you. Therefore your gates will always be open; they will not be shut day nor night, to bring to you the wealth of the nations, and their kings may be led. For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you will perish. Yes, those nations will be completely wasted. The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box tree together, to beautify the place of My sanctuary; and I will make the place of My feet glorious. Also the sons of your afflicters shall come bowing to you; and all your despisers will bow down at the soles of your feet. And they will call you, The city of Jehovah, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
(Isa 60:10-14 MKJV)

For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: "This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it."
(Psa 132:13-14 ESV)