Voluntary devotion to Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit is much more than Sunday churches and Sabbaths

Ezekiel 46

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

• Sunday churches.
  • Church is opened on the Sabbath/Sundays.
  • Ministers and congregation worship together on Sundays/Sabbaths.
  • Message of the ministers on Sundays/Sabbath.
  • Voluntary devotion and living in the Holy Spirit should be seen on Sundays/Sabbaths.
• Special occasions, festivals, and worshipping together as one body of Jesus Christ.
  • Special occasions of the churches should be in the name of Jesus Christ.
  • Special gatherings should make visible voluntary devotion and life in the Holy Spirit.
  • Ministers should go out of the Sanctuary same way they go in.
  • Congregation goes in one door and exits the opposite door.
  • Ministers and congregation worship together as one body.
  • Festival gatherings must reveal voluntary devotion to Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
• Morning by morning devotion to God through Jesus Christ.
  • Minister’s offering in the name of Jesus Christ on days other than Sundays/Sabbaths.
  • Congregation to express devotion every morning to Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit.
  • Ministers and congregation must daily refresh what Christ did for us on the Cross.
• God gives us an inheritance in the New Jerusalem as we remain devoted to Jesus.
  • God gives us an inheritance as His children through Jesus Christ.
  • New Jerusalem belongs to Jesus Christ in the day of our liberation but is ours as His children.
  • Jesus Christ does not evict anyone who believes in Him but gathers us into the New Jerusalem.
• Purification and sanctification of spirit and soul through Jesus Christ.
  • Holy chamber in the presence of God where Jesus Christ lives.
  • Holy chamber of sanctification and devotion to God through Jesus Christ.
  • From outside, only the exterior is seen but on the inside the Holy Spirit is enclosed.
  • Sealed by the Holy Spirit as the children of God through Jesus Christ.

Sunday churches.
Church is opened on the Sundays/Sabbath. “ ‘Thus says the Lord God: “The gateway of the inner court that faces toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the Sabbath it shall be opened, and on the day of the New Moon it shall be opened. ” Ezekiel 46:1

This verse sets the context of this chapter of Ezekiel, referring to what the character of the manmade churches was meant to be. Every church or synagogue is known to be open for worship on Sundays or Saturdays. For the churches to be open on the “New Moon” is like being open for other regularly occurring events or for special occasions.

Most importantly, the churches were intended to be a Holy place in worship to God, living for Jesus Christ by the forgiveness of sin, and walking in the Holy Spirit. In a sense, the doors of the manmade churches were meant to be a gateway into the inner court, into the presence of God. The doors of the churches opened for only one purpose, to initiate fellowship in the Spirit of Jesus Christ and to draw one another closer to Him.

Ministers and congregation worship together on Sundays/Sabbaths. “The prince shall enter by way of the vestibule of the gateway from the outside, and stand by the gatepost. The priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings. He shall worship at the threshold of the gate. Then he shall go out, but the gate shall not be shut until evening. Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the entrance to this gateway before the Lord on the Sabbaths and the New Moons. ” Ezekiel 46:2-3

The burnt offering is part of the “scarlet cord” pointing to Jesus Christ as the sacrificial Lamb of God whose blood was poured out on the altar of the Cross to atone for our sin. Peace offerings relate to being at peace with God and each other through Jesus Christ.

The ministers of the churches are supposed to prepare themselves daily as a living sacrifice to God through Jesus Christ to walk in the Holy Spirit. They are the ones who are to stand by the door of the church to extend an invitation for all the congregation to live by the forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ. The ministers are meant to be an example of living in peace with God and to facilitate fellowship of peace, through Jesus Christ, from person to person within the congregation.

The churches are intended to be open all day on Sundays as an open-door policy for all to come who would want to come to the church. This is the place where all the people of the community, all the people of the land, would come to worship God through Jesus Christ in the presence of the Holy Spirit, on Sundays and special occasions.

Even today, I can still envision the minister of the church standing in the doorway greeting everyone as they came to the church. The minister would have his message prepared relating to Jesus Christ as the atonement for sin and encouraged fellowship with one another and peace with God. The church would be open from morning Sunday School, all through Holiness meeting, until after the evening worship service. The church was shut after the evening service. Today, it’s more important to greet Jesus Christ than it is to greet human ministers.

Message of the ministers on Sundays/Sabbath. “The burnt offering that the prince offers to the Lord on the Sabbath day shall be six lambs without blemish, and a ram without blemish;” Ezekiel 46:4

Jesus Christ is the burnt offering that atones for our sin, the sacrificial Lamb of God, as John the Baptist said through the Holy Spirit, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 This is to be the message, or offering of the ministers of the churches, every Sunday.

The Sunday offering of the ministers of the churches must be the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that He died on the Cross for our sin, was raised from the dead after three days, and now lives eternally in the Kingdom of God. “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day…” 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Voluntary devotion and living in the Holy Spirit should be seen on Sundays/Sabbaths. “…and the grain offering shall be one ephah for a ram, and the grain offering for the lambs, the gift of his hand, as well as a hin of oil with every ephah.” Ezekiel 46:5

The grain offering represents a voluntary devotion to serve God. The oil represents the Holy Spirit, who is given through Jesus Christ, as Paul asked, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Acts 19:2-3 John said this, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Matthew 3:11

The ministers of the churches are to give themselves to the will of God from a voluntary devotion to Him through Jesus Christ in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Special occasions, festivals, and worshipping together as one body of Jesus Christ.
Special occasions of the churches should be in the name of Jesus Christ. “On the day of the New Moon it shall be a young bull without blemish, six lambs, and a ram; they shall be without blemish.” Ezekiel 46:6

Every special occasion held within the churches must be centered around the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us as the unblemished Lamb of God to atone for our sin.

The “New Moon” represents regularly occurring special occasions within the churches. For example, Good Friday, Easter, and Christmas. How many people really know the meaning of those special occasions? Good Friday is the day set aside to acknowledge the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the Cross when He atoned for sin. Easter is not a day of the easter bunny and easter egg hunts, but is the day set side to acknowledge the resurrection of Jesus Christ after His crucifixion. Christmas is not a day of Christmas trees and receiving gifts, but is a day set aside to acknowledge the birth of Jesus Christ.

Special gatherings should make visible voluntary devotion and life in the Holy Spirit. “He shall prepare a grain offering of an ephah for a bull, an ephah for a ram, the gift of his hand for the lambs, and a hin of oil with every ephah.” Ezekiel 46:7

The ministers of the churches are to use the regularly occurring special occasions of the church to foster voluntary devotion to God through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit. For example, Good Friday is to be a day that our devotion to God stands front and center in acknowledging the forgiveness of sin we received through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Resurrection Sunday is the day that our devotion stands front and center in the new life we receive in the Spirit and our resurrection into eternal life through Jesus Christ. December 25th is to be a day that our devotion stands front and center in acknowledging the virgin birth of Jesus Christ, born by the Spirit of God and without human semen.

 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24

Ministers should go out of the Sanctuary same way they go in.  “When the prince enters, he shall go in by way of the vestibule of the gateway, and go out the same way.” Ezekiel 46:8

Jesus Christ is the Gateway of the sheep that leads into the presence of God, and the ministers of the churches should come and go in the lobby where the door to Jesus Christ is.

Ministers of the church should be consistent in their comings and goings to be seen walking in belief in God, lifting up the name of Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit living within. Ministers should always come and go by the gateway that leads into the presence of God within the altar of the soul. Ministers should always be prepared to reconcile a person to God by leading them to Jesus Christ, the Door of the sheep. Ministers should always be next to the Door, who is Jesus Christ, “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” John 10:9

Congregation goes in one door and exits the opposite door. “But when the people of the land come before the Lord on the appointed feast days, whoever enters by way of the north gate to worship shall go out by way of the south gate; and whoever enters by way of the south gate shall go out by way of the north gate. He shall not return by way of the gate through which he came, but shall go out through the opposite gate.” Ezekiel 46:9

Before we came to Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin, we entered through the door as sinners, and He accepted us as we were, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 After being born again, we are not to return through the door of sin, but we begin walking through the door where Jesus Christ walks with us. “God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” Hebrews 6:10-12

When we come into the presence of God by the remission of sin through Jesus Christ, we are never to go back. If we do, in my upbringing, that is called “backsliding” when a person turns around and leaves Christ to go back through the door of the old ways. The phrase, “stay on the straight and narrow” was encouragement used towards one another.

Ministers and congregation worship together as one body. “The prince shall then be in their midst. When they go in, he shall go in; and when they go out, he shall go out.” Ezekiel 46:10

Jesus Christ is within our midst, within the body of believers. Wherever we go He goes and in all of our comings and goings He is with us. Wherever two or three gather in His name He is there with us, “For where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20.

The ministers of the manmade churches should include themselves within the fellowship of the congregation. When the congregation enters the church, the ministers should be there among them and when the congregation goes out the ministers should be there with them. This is a life of humility as each one of us in the congregation, and the ministers, are all servants of our Lord Jesus Christ. As Jesus has said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.” Matthew 20:25-26

“After that, [Jesus] poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded…If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.” John 13:5, 14-15

Festival gatherings must reveal voluntary devotion to Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. “At the festivals and the appointed feast days the grain offering shall be an ephah for a bull, an ephah for a ram, as much as he wants to give for the lambs, and a hin of oil with every ephah.” Ezekiel 46:11

Nowadays, there are innumerable festivals and appointed feast days, or innumerable occasions in which people gather together in the church for many different reasons. These events include everything from fellowship dinners to a weeklong summer Bible school for the children, and the list goes on. Even these events must be centered around the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on the Cross as the Lamb of God to atone for our sin. These events must be filled with people who live from a voluntary devotion to Jesus Christ and who walk in the Holy Spirit.

Morning by morning devotion to God through Jesus Christ.
Minister’s offering in the name of Jesus Christ on days other than Sundays/Sabbaths. “Now when the prince makes a voluntary burnt offering or voluntary peace offering to the Lord, the gate that faces toward the east shall then be opened for him; and he shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings as he did on the Sabbath day. Then he shall go out, and after he goes out the gate shall be shut.” Ezekiel 46:12

The ministers of the manmade churches must have a desire within the soul to serve God on days other than Sundays. Serving God requires that every minister voluntarily offers self as a living sacrifice through Jesus Christ in the presence of the Holy Spirit. The ministers must voluntarily find peace with God and others within the fellowship of Jesus Christ. When the ministers do this, then they will always have an open door into the presence of the Spirit of God as the temple of the Holy Spirit. When the ministers go out from the presence of God, the door will be closed to them, and they will cease being in fellowship with Jesus Christ.

Congregation to express devotion every morning to Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit. “You shall daily make a burnt offering to the Lord of a lamb of the first year without blemish; you shall prepare it every morning. And you shall prepare a grain offering with it every morning, a sixth of an ephah, and a third of a hin of oil to moisten the fine flour. This grain offering is a perpetual ordinance, to be made regularly to the Lord.” Ezekiel 46:13-14

Like the ministers of the manmade churches, the congregation is also required to offer themselves daily as a living sacrifice to God through Jesus Christ. Morning-by-morning we are to confirm our voluntary devotion to Him in the presence of the Holy Spirit. This morning-by-morning offering of devotion confirms that in our heart we believe that He is risen from the dead as we confess that He is Lord. Our Lord Jesus sacrificed His body on the Cross to atone for our sin and by the shedding of His blood we are made righteous in the eyes of God.

“Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

Ministers and congregation must daily refresh what Christ did for us on the Cross. “Thus they shall prepare the lamb, the grain offering, and the oil, as a regular burnt offering every morning.” Ezekiel 46:15

The Lamb is Jesus Christ as the sacrificial Lamb of God [burnt offering] who takes away the sin of the world. The grain offering represents our voluntary devotion to God, and the oil represents the Holy Spirit.

The congregation and ministers of the manmade churches are both to serve God every day through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit, not just on Sunday. We are to live every day in the knowledge that our Lord Jesus sacrificed His life on the altar of the Cross to atone for our sin. Through Him, we are given the Holy Spirit as a means by which to serve God. The Holy Spirit inspires within us a willing devotion to the gospel of Jesus Christ in our service to God. Morning-by-morning we confirm the mercies of God and His great faithfulness.

God gives us an inheritance in the New Jerusalem as we remain devoted to Jesus.
God gives us an inheritance as His children through Jesus Christ. “‘Thus says the Lord God: “If the prince gives a gift of some of his inheritance to any of his sons, it shall belong to his sons; it is their possession by inheritance.” Ezekiel 46:16

The ministers of the manmade churches must always confirm to their congregation that, as the children of God, we have an inheritance in the eternal New Jerusalem. Jesus Christ has gifted us with that inheritance by making us all the sons and daughters of God by belief in Him, “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:26 Our Lord Jesus has said, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:1-3

New Jerusalem belongs to Jesus Christ in the day of our liberation but is ours as His children. “But if he gives a gift of some of his inheritance to one of his servants, it shall be his until the year of liberty, after which it shall return to the prince. But his inheritance shall belong to his sons; it shall become theirs.” Ezekiel 46:17 

Ministers of the churches are required to confirm to the congregation that eternal life is a gift given to us who believe Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit in us is the guarantee of that inheritance. On the day we enter the New Jerusalem, the day of our liberty, we cash-in the Holy Spirit and give it all back to our Lord Jesus. In exchange, all the sons and daughters of God are given a redeemed eternal body in the Kingdom of God.

Jesus Christ has given us, His servants, the inheritance of the gift of eternal life in the New Jerusalem. Eternal life is the year of our liberty. The Holy Spirit in us is the guarantee of that inheritance, and He is with us as long as we live on this earth “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:14 We are the “purchased possession”, bought by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. “Until the redemption” refers to the year of our liberty when the earthly body is redeemed in the New Jerusalem, and we are given an eternal body.

Jesus Christ does not evict anyone who believes in Him but gathers us in the New Jerusalem. “Moreover the prince shall not take any of the people’s inheritance by evicting them from their property; he shall provide an inheritance for his sons from his own property, so that none of My people may be scattered from his property.”’” Ezekiel 46:18

Today, the ministers of the manmade churches are robbing the congregation of their eternal inheritance. The congregation is being evicted from their property given to them through Jesus Christ. That property is the territory of the Holy Spirit as God created us to be the temple of the Holy Spirit by belief in Jesus Christ. The ministers of the manmade churches are supposed to be shepherds to prohibit the sheep from being scattered and lost. However, the sheep are being scattered from the will of God, losing their way to the gate of Jesus Christ, and dispersed from the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Ministers of today’s churches are to warn their congregation of the entity that has power over physiology to give people what to think, feel, do, and say. This entity evicts Jesus Christ from the spirit and soul of people, robbing them of the property of the Holy Spirit, as it replaces the human spirit and conscience. This entity hardens people against Jesus Christ to enable the image of the beast to speak and live through people in every city around the world. This entity is the one “…who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:4 Click her for a post on the “man of sin”. The masses of today’s culture are groomed to the mark of the beast by what they say and do.

Purification and sanctification of spirit and soul through Jesus Christ.
Holy chamber in the presence of God where Jesus Christ lives. “Now he brought me through the entrance, which was at the side of the gate, into the holy chambers of the priests which face toward the north; and there a place was situated at their extreme western end.” Ezekiel 46:19

The ministers of the churches are to confirm to their congregation that there is a place within our soul that is the Holy Chamber. That is the place where we reconcile to God by the forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ. As we enter into that place, we live in the presence of the Holy Spirit. The ministers are to keep front and center that Jesus Christ entered the Most Holy Place so that we can come boldly into the presence of God through Him, “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption…Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 4:16

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16

No one enters into the Holy Place through the entity that has power over physiology to give people what to think, feel, do, and say. This entity has power over the physical realm, but makes war against the spirit, soul, God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

Holy chamber of sanctification and devotion to God through Jesus Christ. “And he said to me, “This is the place where the priests shall boil the trespass offering and the sin offering, and where they shall bake the grain offering, so that they do not bring them out into the outer court to sanctify the people.” Ezekiel 46:20

The Holy chambers were where the offerings to God were boiled and baked, and that boiling and baking is the process of purification. The offerings were sanctified from within the Holy place by the priests and were not brought out of that Holy place in the process of sanctifying the people.

The “sin offering” is often referred to as the “purification offering” because its purpose was to purify oneself for entering into the presence of God. The “trespass offering” is often referred to as the “guilt offering”, not the guilt of the conscience but rather something owed because of a sin committed, for example, Jesus said this, “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23-24 The “grain offering” is a show of voluntary devotion to God.

Ministers of the churches are to confirm to the congregation that purification comes from within us, in the presence of the Holy Spirit, who is given to us through Jesus Christ as we are reconciled to God by the forgiveness of sin. As the temple of the Holy Spirit, there is a “boiling” and “baking” process happening within us which is the process of sanctification of spirit and soul. The process of sanctification includes living free of purposely using, hurting, and taking advantage of others. Sanctification includes the desire to want to live in the presence of the Spirit of God in a walk of Holiness. Sanctification includes the willingness to devote ourselves to God, through Jesus Christ, as a living sacrifice.

Ministers are to confirm to the congregation that through the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on the Cross to atone for sin, we are sanctified, “By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Hebrews 10:10

From outside, only the exterior is seen but on the inside the Holy Spirit is enclosed. “Then he brought me out into the outer court and caused me to pass by the four corners of the court; and in fact, in every corner of the court there was another court. In the four corners of the court were enclosed courts, forty cubits long and thirty wide; all four corners were the same size.” Ezekiel 46:21-22

God wanted Ezekiel to see the outside of the court where the Holy chambers were. Ezekiel was shown that what is seen on the outside is only the surface because there were enclosed courts within the outer courts.

The ministers of today are to confirm to the congregation that beyond outward appearances there are enclosed places of the spirit and soul. That is the place where we serve God through Jesus Christ in the process of sanctification through the Holy Spirit.  As Jesus Christ has said, “…the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24

In the enclosed places of our spirit and soul, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our guarantee of inheriting eternal life in the New Jerusalem, “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance…” Ephesians 1:13-14

Sealed by the Holy Spirit as the children of God through Jesus Christ. “There was a row of building stones all around in them, all around the four of them; and cooking hearths were made under the rows of stones all around. And he said to me, “These are the kitchens where the ministers of the temple shall boil the sacrifices of the people.” Ezekiel 46:23-24

The cooking hearths (fireplace) were places for boiling the sacrifices of the people, and they were situated at the building stones and under them.

The manmade churches of today are everywhere as we see their building stones on practically every city block across the nation of America. The ministers of those churches are to confirm to the congregation that the purpose of the church is to bring offerings of sanctification. The Church Is established on the proclamation that Jesus is the Christ and Son of God, “[Jesus] said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:15-18

In the picture below, the four kitchens on each corner can be seen. The refectories are where the ministers ate their meals.

---

“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1