When Solomon had ended his prayer, 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 house of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord's house. When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground and worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, "For He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever."
II Chronicles 7:1-3
The Glory of the Lord
"Fire doesn't fall on empty altars. There must be a sacrifice on the altar for the fire to fall. If you want the fire of God, you must become the fuel of God." Tom Tenney.
I appeal to you, therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1
It is time.
We've tried everything else.
Attractional church models.
Seeker-sensitive church models.
Discipleship church models.
Liturgical church models.
House church models.
Multisite church models.
It’s not about the model; it is always about His Presence.
Regardless of the church model, without His consuming fire of love, there will not be a fulfilled mission.
It is time for the glory of God to fall and consume our "living temples."
Before the people humbled themselves and prayed for God to heal their land, God's glory came down and filled the His temple.
"Then they bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground and worshiped and thanked the Lord, saying, "For He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever."
It is time.
Time to be a living sacrifice of love carrying His glory to those He desires to know Him.
Time for us to be temples full of His glory.
Not only calling people to the temple but taking the temple to the people.
Love consumes all but itself, leaving nothing behind but the ashes of ourselves and His glory.
Describe what your life is when you are fully alive in Christ.
How would the lives around you change if Christ’s life was all others experienced with you?
How would our community change if one out of ten were consumed by His love?
Come and consume us on your Holy altar. Let Your glory fall and fill Your living temples. May the only remaining thing be your love glorifying you in our temples. Amen