God Lives Here

Wayne Merrill

October 2014
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After Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost, about 3,000 people were saved. Holy spirit had a very powerful impact on the way they began to live their lives. One of the changes that took place was that they “had all things common.”

Acts 2:44
And all that believed were together, and had all things common.

This was not true before they became Christians. Not only did this common ground affect their view concerning their ownership of things, but it also affected how they thought and felt about each other. They were united in this new life as Christians.

We see from verses 9–11 of Acts 2 that this was a very cosmopolitan group.

Acts 2:9–11
Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

All sorts of backgrounds, languages, occupations, and social status were represented in this local church…yet they “were together and had all things common” (Acts 2:44).

To what can we attribute this powerful change? I know of at least two things just from the immediate context. First, the indwelling gift of holy spirit. A transforming power had entered their lives. The second thing I see here in Acts 2 is that they continued in the Apostles’ doctrine. They were receiving sound spiritual nutrition which gave them something with which to renew their minds. Galatians 3:28 instructs our Christian churches:

Galatians 3:28
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

If we are truly one in Christ Jesus, then we should have all things common and we should be together! As Christians, there are no divisions between us. Through the accomplished work of Christ, God has made a perfect unity among us and all He asks us to do is to keep, or guard, it.

Ephesians 4:3
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians declares that Christians are joined together to become a holy temple in the Lord. This holy temple is the very dwelling place in which God lives today!

Ephesians 2:21, 22
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Upon first consideration this may not strike you very hard. Let’s consider a few records from the Old Testament that describe what being in God’s presence means to a believer.

Psalm 26:8
LORD, I have loved the habitation of Thy house, and the place where thine honour [glory] dwelleth.

God’s glory dwells in His house. Think about the glory of God descending on that little tent called the tabernacle or when it filled the grand temple which Solomon built. This glory was so awesome that it caused those people present to bow their faces to the ground and to worship and praise God because He is good and His mercy is without end. Do I love the habitation of His house like David did? I certainly want to. I aspire to that type of affection.

Psalm 27:4
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire [contemplate] in his temple.

If you could get one thing from God, one answered prayer, what would it be? To see David’s response to this question is very reproving to me. A few months ago, I am not sure that I would have considered this answer. If Ephesians and Acts 2 are real, being a part of this local church with you, where we practically experience these truths, is where God is living now. This is where His glory dwells. Here we share with each other His goodness and His mercy. Oh, how we love the habitation of His house! I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. How about you?

In His love,

Wayne Merrill