And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: _{Genesis 1:26 (KJV)}
 

Up to now we have been focusing on the preparations for the manifestation of the presence of God. We seen in our first couple installments how the Lord was working to prepare a place for His presence to dwell, a place prepared for the worship and praise of God. Like a master craftsman the Lord fashioned the earth and all that is in it in order to place the exact representation of Himself in it. Like an orchestral conductor we seen the Lord leading and directing all of the creation process. Everything had to be perfect for His divine presence to dwell. When he had finished with creation he proclaimed it good. We now look to the ‘Manifestation of His Presence’ as we continue with part 4 of our study on creating a worship space.

God reached down from heaven and touched the very heart of man when he breathed the breath of life into him.
And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. _{Genesis 2:7}
Apart from the indwelling of the Lord’s spirit man is nothing more than dust and to dust he shall surely return.
 

If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, all mankind would perish together and man would return to the dust. _{Job 34:14 & 15}
 

We have been created for a far greater purpose than to just walk upon the ground that fashioned us. Our bodies are to be living temples of God’s spirit, a place where His presence dwells, a habitat of His spirit. We have been created to bring praise and glory to His name. We have been fashioned to be an instrument of praise.  The very reason for our existence is to offer up the sacrifice of praise. This is our commandment and our reasonable service.
 

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. _{Hebrews 13:15 & 16}
The spirit of praise and the spirit of worship should abide in us as we abide in Christ. It is through His spirit that we are fully alive.
 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ _{Acts 17:28}
 

As a community we are to be exact representations of God himself in the world. We have been fashioned and formed into His likeness. A temple made up of living stones.

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
_{Romans 12:2 (NIV)}
 

Each week as we gather together in this house of worship let us always remember that we are His temple, we are His people, we are His priesthood created to bring glory and honor to His name! It is our purpose, our destiny to praise God and tell others about His goodness.  We are to be made into His image and likeness, by continually focusing on His word and gazing upon Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Selah
Next month: “Maintaining the Presence”.
From the director of Music
Allen Frederick