Monday, October 28, 2013

Would you build Me a house to dwell in?


          Now when the king lived in his house and Yahweh had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.” And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for Yahweh is with you.”
          But that same night the word of Yahweh came to Nathan, “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says Yahweh: Would you build me a house to dwell in?           ~2 Samuel 7:1-5

David was man after God’s own heart (1Sam 13:14). Part of this was that David understood that God longed to dwell with man. In his heart David knew that a tent would not last for God to permanently live among Israel. His heart was so connected to God’s that he knew where this was going. But his mistake was in thinking that he, a man, would build it.
He was also wrong in thinking that manmade tents and buildings could hold the presence of God. The tabernacles and temples were but shadows of eternal realities (Heb 10:1). 



The Jews in the 1st century made the same mistake and were rebuked by Stephen in Acts 7~           
“Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as He who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David, who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house for Him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says,
       “‘Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool.  What kind of house will you build for Me, says Yahweh, or what is the place of My rest?  Did not my hand make all these things?’  ~ Acts 7:44-50
            
Stephen was quoting Isaiah~
            Thus says Yahweh:
            “Heaven is My throne,
                        and the earth is My footstool;
            what is the house that you would build for Me,
                        and what is the place of my rest?
            All these things My hand has made,
                        and so all these things came to be,
            declares Yahweh.
            But this is the one to whom I will look:
                        he who is humble and contrite in spirit
                        and trembles at My word.
~Isaiah 66:1-2

In many places in the Gospels Yahshua described Himself as the temple.
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
(John 2:19 ESV) If you continue in 2 Samuel 7 we see that God told David that
He would build David a house. This is not a building made of stone He is referring to but a structure made with His hands. What is the only thing in the Bible God formed with His hands? Man! The rest of creation was spoken into existence but man alone was formed of the earth and then the life of God was breathed into him (Gen 1&2).

The reason we were created in God’s image was so that we could have relationship but in this promise was God’s desire to become a part of His own creation through becoming a man Himself. Yahshua did this when He was born of a virgin. He took on flesh, and weak, sinful flesh at that (Rom 8:3).
Our bodies now are a temporary dwelling that we carry wherever we go, but they will not last. Messiah too walked around for 33 years in the same weak flesh as us but after the cross and three days in Sheol He was resurrected to new life. His body now is a permanent dwelling place of God fully in the form of man.

This promise is for us too. We have to walk around in a temporary tent that can still hold the presence of God just like the tabernacles of Moses and David. But a day is coming soon when we will host the living presence of God in new bodies that will not wear out or die formed by God Himself. This is reason to praise Him!

Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear His voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

 ~John 5:28-29

Monday, July 29, 2013

Head West Young Man!

 
Beloved,
                In the spring of 2008 I received a powerful vision of God’s plan for the nomadic people of Central Asia, namely Mongolia. I felt called to become a part of the Father’s divine mercy strategy to redeem the Earth with this vision as my part to play. Many of you have heard me mention this since I received the vision, yet I have not been able to make a clear step in that direction.  Since 2008 I have been in a time of preparation, which has been wonderful and humbling, learning to listen and follow the Shepherd’s voice.
While I was in Bible school at Bethany College of Missions I learned about a group of missionaries based out of Meeteetse, Wyoming. The group is called Cowboys With A Mission, www.cowboyswithamission.com, a ministry of Youth With A Mission or YWAM. This is their mission statement:     
          Cowboys With A Mission exists to “Know God and Make Him Known” among rural, nomadic and indigenous people groups around the world.
           
            I came home to Arkansas and thought that I would be in Wyoming in the fall of 2011 but God had other plans which included a wonderful time in Israel and learning His great plans for my hometown area of the Arkansas River Valley. Many people who heard me speak of Mongolia have asked if I still think about going even though I have yet to go. I say to them, “I think about it every day!” The Holy Spirit has not let up on whispering His love and destiny for these nomadic peoples.
                Well, now I believe is the time for me to go to Wyoming and join up with these like-minded brethren. What this means is that I have to go through a 5 month training school for the ministry called DTS or Discipleship Training School. The DTS for CWAM consists of 3 months on their base near Meeteetse, Wyoming continuing in Bible and ministry training in the context of horsemanship and animal husbandry followed by 2 months overseas ministering in a nomadic or rural context, perhaps even Mongolia.
                Of course this 5 month training has a financial aspect. The total cost for the entire DTS including all room, board, and round trip flight overseas is $6,450. However, the school is in two parts so I do not have to have the total up front. I need $3,450 for the first phase by the beginning date, Sept. 4, and the other $3,000 is due before outreach starts. The later phase is subject to change due to location and flight changes. There will more updates on this as information comes to me.
                I am excited about this clear step in fulfilling God’s vision for my life. I expect great things from God in this endeavor towards seeing His glory fill the earth. I pray you are excited
also to see His soon return. May God bless you and keep you.
You can send checks to:
Eric Rainwater
9700 Rogers Ave.
Fort Smith, AR 72903


If you have any questions email me at ericrainh2o@gmail.com or call me at 479-221-4130.