97
A Place of Protection
Stories from the Temple
Stories from the Temple is a series of accounts by members of the Church of their experiences in the New Covenant Temple of God.
A PLACE OF PROTECTION
The concept of a Christian Temple is a relatively new one for most evangelical Christians though the word "temple" is often used by many denominations to designate their meeting houses. Pentecostal denominations frequently use this term. Unlike the "temples" of the Free Masons, Rosicrucians, Mormons, and mystery religions, where temples are used for secret rituals often of an occultic nature, New Covenant Temples are houses of worship, prayer, and study. They are like ordinary Christian meeting houses but with one important difference -- the space within temples is consecrated as a place where no unholy or unclean thing or person is allowed to enter. Whereas the chapel, brick or wooden church, or public meeting house admits anyone who would come to worship, the temple is a place sealed off from the world where only the faithful by congregate in sacred space. It is in temples that God enters the physical world in a very special and unique way, and where He may be met in ways not always possible in other places.
The idea of the Temple originates with the Covenant of Moses, a sacred place where God could meet with His Holy Priesthood -- men set apart for special service to Yahweh. The Temple consisted of three main areas; and in one, the Holy of Holy, where the Ark of the Covenant rested, only the High Priest was able to enter and then (in later times) only once a year during Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement.
Since the death and resurrection of the Lord Yah'shua the Messiah (Jesus Christ) when the temple veil was rent in two, the Holy of Holies has become accessible to everyone who names the Name of Yahshua as Lord and Saviour and who walks in the commandments of Yahweh -- and without the necessity of animal sacrifice required of the old Levitical Priesthood.
New Covenant Temples are, like their Old Testament predecessor, divided into three main areas, access to which is determined purely on the basis of purity. Each of these belongs to the three Priesthood Orders, respectively, which require different levels of consecration to Yahweh.
Those who have passed through New Covenant temples have many stories to share -- encounters with the living God and His Christ that have deepened their relationship with Yahweh. The Olive Branch mentions a few of these though the bulk of them have never been told before. In this series, which I have the honour of starting, I will share one of my most recent experiences which underscores the separateness of temple space from the world around.
Protection from Demons
Because the Temple is set apart to Yahweh as one of His habitations on earth, and because great efforts are made to screen out those who are impure or insincere worshippers, the space within the temple is kept holy or pure. The spiritual "content" of that space depends upon both the sovereign grace of God and the willingness of temple worshippers to keep that space pure. The space in a temple is therefore no purer than the least pure temple worshipper who is present. Impurity causes the Spirit of God to withdraw, and to return again when their impure soul has departed.
God has promised the New Covenant Christians that if they keep the temple undefiled that He will manifest Himself in special ways for healing, communion, and protection. It is about the latter I wish to share a testimony about right now.
When the Lord graciously gave the saints Kadesh-biyqah, the first preparatory firstborn temple, the first thing that was done was that the biggest and best room was sealed off and designated as His House. Previously temple meetings had been held in the homes of the saints where rooms were dedicated each time a meeting was held. Usually it was a living room. The one used in Little Kadesh, the "preparatory" preparatory colony, always possessed a special spirit which visitors frequently noted, but it was an atmosphere that fluctuated because of its frequent intrusion by unsanctified outsiders. In Kadesh-biyqah, however, the House of the Lord was dedicated as His exclusive home in the colony. The spirit within it has therefore been building up over the five months it has been dedicated.
On the evening of Friday 12 December (1997) I felt very unwell owing to an exhausting week's schedule and little sleep. When a soul is physically exhausted it often suffers lapses in concentration, the mind wanders, and the opportunity is created for mischievous spirits to tempt. I felt especially weak and having been defeated in a game of chess because of a total lack of concentration I knew that I would be subject to temptations in my dreams and half-awake states that night.
Accordingly I washed myself, changed into clean clothes, and installed a bed in the temple in which to sleep. (The High Priest Eli slept in the temple, as did the boy prophet Samuel). I lay down, opened my Bible, and read a Psalm, letting the words become firmly imprinted on my mind. With that I prepared to sleep.
Whilst in prayer I saw in one of the temple windows the figure of a man and though he was outside I could hear him speak pleadingly, "Let me in!" I was tired, my resistance down, yet I knew that whilst I was in the temple I was safe. I told him, "No!" and commanded him to leave. I fell asleep shortly thereafter and had a peaceful night's sleep. Such is the protection given by the Temple of Yahweh.
This page was created on 12 April 1998
Last updated on 12 April 1998
Preface Copyright © 1987-2007 NCCG - All Rights Reserved