MONDAY, JULY 10
2 CHRONICLES 7:1-14
EXODUS 29:43

"…the tabernacle shall
be sanctified by my glory."

MEANING OF SANCTIFICATION (4)

Without separation and dedication unto the Lord, there is no true sanctification. However, separation and dedication are still not enough! Many have separated and dedicated themselves to the Lord like the priests, or the Pharisees in Jesus’ days, or the monks, priests and brothers in the monasteries and the nuns in the convents; but without God’s holy presence, their hearts and minds are still full of sinful thoughts, sexual lusts, pride, envy, deceit, covetousness, etc. (Mark 7:21-22). Thus, the final step is the most important, and that is to have God’s holy presence. Because we want to have God’s holy presence in our hearts, minds, life, family and church, we must separate and dedicate ourselves unto Him!

Be filled with the Lord’s holy presence: After the Tabernacle or the Temple was separated and dedicated unto the Lord, God’s holy presence filled the Tabernacle and the Temple with His glory. Its majestic splendor was too awesome for Moses and the priests to enter. "And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory" (Exod 29:43), and "Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle" (Exod 40:34-35), and "Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house" (2 Chron 7:1-2). God’s people are His holy temple, and they must be filled with God’s presence; otherwise, their sanctification is vain. "… be filled with the Spirit" (Eph 5:18). When we are truly filled with the Holy Spirit, there is no room for self, sins and worldliness. Sadly, many professing "Christians" nowadays deceive themselves by thinking that they are filled with the Holy Spirit with their speaking in tongues, but their hearts and minds are still filled with self, sins and worldliness! What about you?

THOUGHT: Without God’s presence, there is no true sanctification.
PRAYER: O Lord, may Thy holy presence be with me always.