Scripture reading: John 6:48-58
Have you ever thought about who the Holy Place congregation is? (We are talking about types and shadows as we see them in the Tabernacle of Moses: Outer Court, Holy Place, and Holy of Holies.) Let me tell you: the Holy Place congregation are people who have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. That does not mean that if you have not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, you cannot be in the Holy Place congregation, because that generally is where you go to get it. But the Holy Place people are the people who walk in the Spirit or are being taught to walk in the Spirit. I want you to notice that it is Holy Place and Holy Spirit. You cannot be holy without the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit that makes the church holy, for by nature we are not holy.
Let us go on a little step further. We say that there is a Holy Place congregation. This Holy Place congregation is ministered to by a special Spirit, by a special ministry. That is, that if God has not ordained men to the ministry of the Holy Place, they cannot minister to Holy Place people. Do you understand that? We have been listening to people who are not ministering to us. We have been getting food from tables that are not our table.
How would you like to be getting an Outer Court feeding while you are pressing on in the Holy Place seeking to become like Jesus Christ? You need something stronger. You need stronger food. The men and the women who participate in strenuous sports like running, jumping, etc., have to be fed special food in order to give them the energy to do what they are doing, or else they will be losers. Sometimes the difference between the winner and the loser is the food they eat. This is what God is saying to us: there is a food for the bride in the holy place and God calls it the wedding feast.
If you are expecting to come forth at midnight in the nature of Jesus Christ – why are you found eating food out in the potluck area? We call it potlock, but it really is luck, potluck. You may get it or you may not. Somebody may drop a little Halloween in the pot, and when you go out there it is all sweets, all candies. It is the same in what people are feeding on in the spiritual areas. They are feeding on nice things. They say, “Come, let’s sing a beautiful song and let’s dance.” They sing and dance and have a good time. They are entertained. But God is saying that there is a bride that must have special food, because she must come forth at midnight and bring forth a son; she needs strength for midnight.
At midnight the mighty men are going to fail. At midnight many who think they are the bride will find they have no oil in their vessels. They will have to go out into the darkness to get oil when it is going to be rough business.
(Excerpt from The Warfare in the Holy Place, an audio message #1984-11-04)
Thought for today: Feed on the right food and walk in obedience to God so that you are not found lacking when the Bridegroom comes for His bride.
Sonlight Devotional 