Hour #2

Have you ever considered how things tend to come full-circle? There are a lot of those kinds of situations in life. In fact, life itself for many on this earth tends to come around to where it began . We start out as fully alive but fully reliant of others for the most basic necessities of life. We need help with everything...we can't even feed ourselves! As we get older, we get stronger, more capable and more independent. Many of us have the opportunity at some point of raising children of our own and helping them begin life in their weakness. By the time our natural life draws to a close, however, our strength usually fails us, our mind often slows and we become reliant on others for the basics of survival. What a strange moment when we realize we are once again in need of someone else to feed us. It all comes around. It is life in its most honest of moments. Death comes to all and it is the great equalizer.

For God there is a cycle unfolding as well. Being outside of time, however, this cycle is only measured within His relationship to humanity. But, there is an end that is very familiar to the beginning and God is waiting for it to be realized. As He dwelled with humans in the initial season following creation, enjoying their presence walking among them, He waits and works toward the day when He will once again dwell with His people and we will experience His presence. Revelation 21:3 tells us...

"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Amazing! God is going to end this phase of eternity by bringing it all around to the way it was supposed to be. It is in His heart that we should be in His presence forever. He longs to be closer that we feel Him in this age. He knows that, for now at least, this level of nearness to His unrestrained presence is almost the maximum we will experience. And yet...

It is our conviction that if we ask for more of His presence in our city, that He will come and dwell in our midst in a more substantial way. It is what revivals are made of, actually. It is not a new concept, just one less frequently experienced than we would wish. We at Sanctuary want to be a place where God can come and dwell in the midst of us. We want a city where He is not striving with His bride to be like Him and act out their lives as He would have them. We want Him to come with power in this age, even in part, and remove sickness, pain and bondage from this place. We want His kingdom to come now in our city as it is in heaven (ie. as it will be in the fullness of time when He dwells with us).

So, hour #2 of our Sunday setlist is dedicated to this concept. We sing and pray through passages related to the increase of God's dwelling presence among us, His advancing kingdom and what it will look it when it is fulfilled, and how we need to live in this process. We are called to move in step with Him, forsaking sin at every turn, and living lives of servanthood as worship unto the Bridegroom, King and Judge. We are called to minister to Him, to please His heart and to enjoy Him in all of it. We ask that He change us, this city and all involved. Do whatever is necessary, God, but bring changes that will allow for more of your presence dwelling richly and powerfully with us. For we are in love with you and long to have you with us.

Next time, I will tell you what it sounds like...you're gonna love it!

Brian Creary
Ministry Director