Scripture reading: Ephesians 1:9-12
I often hear people ask, “How do I get into the Spirit?” First, remember that the Spirit is in you, and you must get into the Spirit. I cannot get into the Spirit by enjoying the music, but I can by listening to the words of the song. Sometimes I listen to you sing, and the praise is good, but it is not high praise. It could be higher. When you get to high praise, you are entirely out of self. You lose yourself completely and you are gone into the heavenlies. We get there by the Word of the Lord. Never sing a song that is unscriptural, and when you sing a scriptural song, think of the words. Think about what you are singing. I hear you singing a beautiful scriptural song, and then you go on to sing the last part, “Amen, Amen…” for a thousand times. I listened to the brethren, and they were singing beautifully. The music was good, the feeling was good, the Spirit was there, but they were not entering into the words of the song. If you dare to enter into those words, you lose yourself. You will either start to weep, or to confess God, or to confess your sins, or all of the above; and to move into God.
There is a “moving in God.” Do you know why? You have to be inside of the High Priest (Who is Jesus Christ) in order to get in the Holy of Holies through the veil. The Bible says the veil was His flesh. The High Priest (Christ) eats the bull with the bread (from the Table of Shewbread) and then goes into the Holy of Holies. That is the only way that a lowly bull would get into the Holy of Holies and into the presence of the Almighty. He has to be inside of the high priest, and I want you to understand that being “in Christ” is a different position than “Christ in you.”
There is a mystery in Christ, and the mystery in Christ is inside of Jesus Christ Himself. You ask yourself the question, “What is Jesus Christ?” To be exact, it cannot be explained, but for us, it is being in the body of Christ. Let us see if we can understand this: Something is happening “IN CHRIST.” First, there is a gathering, a coming together, so that everybody who is “in Christ” is coming together with everybody else who is “in Christ.” There is no separation “in Christ” (see Ephesians 4:13-16).
There is at present, however, separation in the Church; and the separation will increase, for those who are not “in Christ” will find some reason to withdraw. Nevertheless, we are exhorted in the verses in Ephesians 4 to endeavor to strive and to make every effort to “…keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,” and that this is accomplished through “longsuffering,” and “forbearing one another in love.”
On the other hand, in Matthew 13, the Scriptures also speak of a separation and of bundles being put together for the fire. Verse 42, “The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend (everything that is offensive), and them which do iniquity.”
The Body is going through a purge. Many people are dropping out and their reasons are varied. Dissension and separation should not come because of disagreements over the time and place of worship, or the how and why, because if we are moving in one Spirit, as it says in the verses from Ephesians 4, “the unity of the Spirit” will bring us into “the unity of the faith.” Everything in Christ, whether in this realm or the other realm, will move together as Christ brings His Body together into one from every tribe and nation.
Have you ever wondered what happened to Jesus Christ at night, when everybody had gone to sleep? He was able to see into the heavenlies, hear the heavenlies, and understand every movement of the Spirit. He had perfect communication with the Father from day to day. THIS IS A REALM INTO WHICH GOD IS MOVING THE BODY. He is lifting us up together with Him into heavenly places, making us one with Him. John in Revelation 5 declares that he heard all heaven and all earth giving glory, and praise, and honor to the Lamb. Then he himself joined them to cry out praises to the Lamb; and heaven, earth and even hell heard him.
(Excerpt from The Omega Message, April 1997, pg. 10-12)
Thought for today: Let us move into the Spirit by the Word of the Lord so that we may be able to see into the heavenlies, hear the heavenlies, and understand every movement of the Spirit.
Sonlight Devotional 