You may ask, ''What does this have to do with our subject? How does it speak of Christ in the Old Testament Scriptures?'' Just as the ark of the covenant in the Holy of holies was the dwelling place of God among Israel, so the church is the dwelling place of God with His people in this age. Oh, I'm not speaking of a building, an edifice, but rather the church, which is the body of Christ. Paul wrote,
- Now, therefore, ye are no more strangers and sojourners,
- but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
- And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
- Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
- In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord;
- In whom ye also are built together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
(Eph 2:19-22)
As you read the first few chapters of Acts, you see a risen, glorified, immortal Savior communing with mortals. For 40 days, He was with them, then He led His disciples out to Bethany and told them,
But ye shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit is come upon you;
and ye shall be witnesses unto Me, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8).
The secret of an effective, powerful, growing church is to acknowledge the presence of God's Spirit and to obey His leading in every aspect of church life and ministry. God's work must be done God's way.