Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that thou seest:But in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.” Deuteronomy 12:13-14
There is a place, that the Lord has for us to serve and worship. It is not in every place we see. It is not on every high hill and under every green tree.
In Exodus 40 we read how the Lord’s presence came down on the tabernacle, after it was finished.
”…So Moses finished the work. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle…the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.” Exodus 40:33-38
This signified the Lord’s presence, the place where He would dwell, and the place where He set His name. The place for Israel to serve and worship.
Did a sign ever come from down from Heaven again like this?
Yes it did.
”[T]hey were all with one accord in one place.
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.” Acts 2:1-3
On the day of Pentecost visible fire, came down from Heaven, and rested upon upon the Lord’s Church, the organization He instituted, the place where He promised to be until the end of the world.
Jesus said to Peter, the little stone, ”[U]pon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18
Peter himself tells us,” To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” I Peter 2:4-5
It was upon Christ the big rock, not upon the little rock Peter that Christ built his Church. Peter, in the book of I Peter explains this to us too. He tells us that we are stones. He tells us that when we are builttogether on Christ ( who is the chief cornerstone vs. 6), we are able to offer acceptable sacrifices to God. It is not when we are by ourselves. It is not singular stone. It is the stones that are built up together that are able to offer acceptable sacrifices to God.
It is the Lord’s Church!
”[U]pon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18
”For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20
And it is in His Church, where the Lord wants us to serve!
” Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25
When Ravens Cry 