God's Side of Residence There is a wide range of perspectives on what it means to be a resident or occupant of an abode. From a box on the street to an expansive, hillside-covering estate, though, there is a common understanding that the space referred to is being managed and determined in some way by the one who has taken occupancy. There is a right to decide what and how things will be arranged within its space along with an expectation that those things will be rightfully protected from any unwanted intruders. Especially, though, when the deed for the abode has been acquired, an extensive entitlement is given to its owner – how it will be decorated and maintained, its approved activities, and whether or not certain persons will even be allowed through its doors. Violation of these ownership preferences will result in measures taken to resolve them. In some parts of the world, and especially in the state where we live, the resident is even given the freedom to respond with lethal force if their residence is directly threatened. To be considered as a favored and legal occupant of a residence, then, it is not just open to the whim of anyone wanting to hang out. Being on the owner’s side of how it will be occupied has much to do with access and privilege within its walls. The One who has created the universe as a residence for those He loves has also paid the price to gain access to their hearts as an Occupant there. As He provides for us a place that will include His presence, He also has given us ownership rights over our space, who and what will occupy it, along with the activities approved and partaken of there. While there may be varying perspectives on what it means for us to abide in Him and visa versa, getting this right is essential to experiencing true access and blessing that only His presence brings. The space where His holiness abides requires the preparations of the blood of Jesus, while acceptance of Him into our space will require approval of His holiness, righteousness, and truth as a welcomed occupant status. We will always be given an embrace, but access to His space will not be an invasion apart from appropriate preparation. He honors our space as well, not just barging in with His excellence and perfection where it is not desired or welcomed. His presence and glory are like no other, providing fellowship, wisdom, and guidance like no other, but understanding and complying with His view/side of what residence means will be critical to knowing all He’s provided there. Notes What makes a residence/home? A structure designed and formed for the pleasure, preservation, comfort, and preferences of its owner/occupant. It is more than just a temporary getaway as who you really are is made known there. In order to have indefinite access must have an approved status. The one with the deed determines who and what gets to stay. Where He truly occupies, there is evidence of His glory that inspires total worship. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 1 When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. 2 And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's house. 3 When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever.” Solomon’s wisdom was for the service of God’s presence 2 Chronicles 9:3-4 (NKJV) 3 And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, 4 the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers and their apparel, and his entryway by which he went up to the house of the LORD, there was no more spirit in her. As His residence – take on heaven’s standard 1 Corinthians 3:16-19 16 Don’t you realize that together you have become God’s inner sanctuary and that the Spirit of God makes his permanent home in you? 17 Now, if someone desecrates God’s inner sanctuary, God will desecrate him, for God’s inner sanctuary is holy, and that is exactly who you are. 18 So why fool yourself and live under an illusion? Make no mistake about it, if anyone thinks he is wise by the world’s standards, he will be made wiser by being a fool for God! 19 For what the world says is wisdom is actually foolishness in God’s eyes. As it is written: The cleverness of the know-it-alls becomes the trap that ensnares them. His side – dual residence – ours/His John 15:4-7 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. Necessary preparation for abiding in Him Hebrews 10:19-22 19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. The reality of His presence – found in each other 1 John 4:12-13 12 No one has ever gazed upon the fullness of God’s splendor. But if we love one another, God makes his permanent home in us, and we make our permanent home in him, and his love is brought to its full expression in us. 13 And he has given us his Spirit within us so that we can have the assurance that he lives in us and that we live in him. When we welcome Him as our Resident – welcome Light – choose sin-cleansing fellowship 1 John 1:5-7 5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. God’s side is obedience to His Word – residing in Him 1 John 2:5-6 5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him. 6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. If there was conduct appropriate for the hand-made, how much more for the Spirit-made. 1 Timothy 3:15 15 But if I’m delayed in coming, you’ll already have these instructions on how to conduct the affairs of the church of the living God, his very household and the supporting pillar and firm foundation of the truth. His residence in us is a growing work of love Ephesians 3:17 17 And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love; Overview: Residence is so much more than just the occupation of a space, it is the reflection of resident’s preferences. In the building of the temple, great detail and excellence was given to honoring God’s presence. Appropriate service of the temple required the greatest of wisdom in excellence. God’s side of residence is dual – us in Him and Him in us – both demanding the choice of the deed owner. Our acceptance in His presence enabled by the blood of Jesus. His residence in us enabled by the Word and our obedience to it. As His residence, fully embracing His light, it’s purification, and our union with His body in love. If there was need for wisdom in honoring the hand-made residence, there is even more necessary in the Spirit. As His residence together, there is a continually growing reflection of His love. Prayer: Father, I desire for Your presence to find continual residence within me, abiding with the fullness of Your light. Let my whole spirit, soul, and body grow in the evidence our Your presence as Your love has its way in all that I do and say. Declarations: God has a purpose for my life that will be fulfilled as His Word abides in me and I abide in Him. I no longer am satisfied with visitation rights, but I give God complete residence rights to every part of my heart and life. My freedom from the devastation of darkness is secured as I dwell in the brightness of His life in fellowship with Him and His body. There is excellence that flows from wisdom in His presence to present all aspects of my life as appropriate for His glory. God’s side of residence is changing everything about where I abide and what/who abides in me.