The Convergence of Heaven and Earth

The tabernacle, temple, sanctuary, or church was designed by God to dwell among men, connecting heaven and earth. Eden was the point of convergence between heaven and earth, where God walked and talked with man, until sin entered the world. God cannot dwell where sin is present. The first offering made was by God in Genesis 3, where he sacrificed an animal for clothing for Adam and Eve. This act of love and care foreshadowed the ultimate sacrifice that would cover sin and shame forever. Afterwards, we get insight into what pleases God through the different offerings of Cain and Abel. Then we have Noah who offered up an offering soon as he got out of the Ark, and later, Abraham with his son Isaac.

God desires an intimate relationship with us; as such, a selfish relationship cannot survive. We must be able to see God for who He is, and not just for what He can do for us.

The Tabernacle and the Ark

The first tabernacle was setup with precise instructions from God, from the theme to colour palate, to the interior design, the architecture, the material used - every detail was either directed or inspired by God. The purpose of which was the very thing that separated the believers from every other nation: God desired to dwell among men. This was the design of Eden that we destroyed - and yet - He was still trying to make it work for us.

The tabernacle of Moses stood for over 300 years and then in 1094 BCE Eli the Priest allowed the armies of Israel to remove the Ark from the tent of the LORD - to be carried into battle and used as a good luck charm. This is the first time that the LORD had left the tabernacle and never returned. The Ark goes on a 7-month ride once it was taken by the Philistines in war. God doesn’t need us to protect Him - he requires us to obey Him. On this joy ride the Ark was placed next to Dagon the philistine god, and each morning the statue of Dagon was found prostrate before the Ark. When it was moved from there to Kiriath Jearim - where it remained for about 90 years and while it was there, some men tried to touch it and peek into it - some 50,070 men were struck down for doing this. God does not need protectors - He is the protector - He requires obedience!

So now God is moving into a new house - King David sets up a tent to host the Glory of God before he moves into the main mansion that is to be built by King Solomon.

"'In that day I will restore David's fallen tent (sukkâ).I will repair its broken places, restore its ruins,and build it as it used to be,  so that they may possess the remnant of Edomand all the nations that bear my name,'declares the LORD, who will do these things." (Amos 9:11-12)

There is a throne in the tabernacle. There was one in David’s day. There is one in our day. And there will be one forever in the age to come.

The Worship Order of David

Twenty years later, after Saul had died and David had been reigning in Hebron for seven years, all the tribes gather to David to anoint him as king of Israel. This was his moment to take his place as king, to rule over the kingdom, to exercise his authority, to build his vision. Do you know what David did first?

He worshipped, and he called others to worship. David gathered the leaders and commanders and said to all the assembly, "If it seems good to you and from the LORD our God, let us send abroad to our brothers who remain in all the lands of Israel, as well as to the priests and Levites in the cities that have pasturelands, that they may be gathered to us.” (1 Chron 13:2) The Levites, singers and musicians, were of no use to Saul; he sent them back to the pastures to be farmers. They were digging up fields, trying to make a living for themselves. David, day one on the job, sends for them and brings them to Jerusalem. Then David made the most important leadership decision of his entire life.

“Then let us bring again the ark of our God to us, for we did not seek it in the days of Saul.” - 1 Chronicles 13:3

Can you imagine that being on your epitaph? David's overview of the state of the nation under Saul's leadership was, “We did not seek the presence of God under Saul’s leadership.” David swore that before he ever went into his house, the first thing he was going to do was go get the Ark of the Covenant. He vowed that the presence of God would be at the center of all that they would do from that day forward. David knew this was the only thing that made them distinct and unique among the nations. In Psalm 132, Solomon was writing about his father David and he says, Remember, O LORD, in David's favor, all the hardships he endured, how he swore to the LORD and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob, "I will not enter my house or get into my bed, I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob." Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; we found it in the fields of Jaar. "Let us go to his dwelling place; let us worship at his footstool!" Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. - Psalm 132:1-8

David made this vow that he would make the presence of God the center of his kingdom. So, he told them to go get the ark. It was sitting out in a field. The very ark that was in the tabernacle of Moses. The Ark of the Covenant was the throne on which the glory of God manifested on earth above the golden cherubim. Inside, it contained Aaron's staff that budded, the ten commandments, and the manna inside. It was the very convergence point between heaven and earth. God’s throne on earth was meant to be in the tabernacle. Saul in his pride said, “I have no need for that throne, I have my own throne, thank you,” and he left it out in a field. David, the man after God’s own heart, came up to Jerusalem said, “I don’t want just my throne in Jerusalem, I want His throne in our midst.”

David pitched a tent for the ark in Jerusalem. He put it inside of the tent and set singers and musicians surrounding the ark twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. This was their full-time occupation; they didn’t have any other service except day and night to sing to the glory of God resting over the mercy seat. In Moses’ tabernacle, there was a veil around the ark and no one could enter into the holiest place or they would be struck dead. One man, once a year: the high priest, could enter the holy places. After David dies, Solomon builds the temple and again the ark goes back into the inner chambers; into holy places. Again, only the high priest, once a year, could enter in.

But in contrast, for thirty-three years, David put the ark in a tent, surrounded it with something called the sacrifice of praise and all who entered could gaze with unveiled face at the glory of God. He knew, by divine revelation, that praise, worship, and adoration, was the incense God desired and would be the atmosphere that the glory of God would dwell in. There was no stage in the tabernacle; it was God in the middle and everyone surrounding. No one was struck dead as they stood before the ark.

David chose twenty-four families, led by the elders of those families to minister to the Lord. Does that sound familiar? Twenty-four elders surrounding a throne? He stationed them around the ark, and the twenty-four singing prophets began to sing night and day to the glory of God accompanied by two hundred and eighty-eight of their brothers and sons. The backup band was four thousand musicians. All to minister to the Lord. Four thousand gatekeepers and six thousand judges and officers were appointed to handle the operations, logistics, and finances of the tabernacle (1 Chron 23-25). He paid the salary of four thousand two hundred and eighty-eight singers and musicians, another four thousand gatekeepers and their families, housed them, and kept it going for thirty-three years. David spent roughly, in today’s economy, about a hundred billion dollars to minister to the Lord in that tent…a hundred billion dollars to keep it going. In David’s mind, it was more than worth it.

Thirty-three years gazing with unveiled face upon the glory of the Lord.

David’s Revelation

David saw something that was beyond his day. David had a revelation of a room in heaven (see Revelations 4) that he wanted to replicate on earth. He saw a worship culture in heaven surrounding the throne in heaven and David said to himself, “I want the throne in Jerusalem to look like that throne.” On earth as it is in heaven.

Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads... and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: ... And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" ... the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created." - Revelation 4:4, 6, 8, 10-11

He saw a greater glory coming. A day when we would see the glory of God in the face of Christ for 33 years. He saw a day when a worship movement would arise in every nation, beholding the glory of God with unveiled face, and sing. He saw a day the glory of God would cover the earth like the waters cover the sea. He understood that the authority of his kingdom didn’t come from his political savvy. His confidence in battle didn’t come from his military prowess. Power and authority came from the ministry in the tabernacle, the open heaven, the convergence point between heaven and earth, and the manifest glory of God. David said to himself, “I'm going to spend a billion dollars making sure that that convergence point stays open.”

Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident [in this]…One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. - Psalm 27:3-4

This was the tabernacle of David. David gave all the plans for the tabernacle to his son, Solomon. The plans for the courts of the house of the Lord, the divisions of the priests and the Levites, and all the work and the service of the house of the Lord. All that David did was under the direction of the Spirit of the Lord, as the Spirit laid his hand upon David and made him understand. This plan was a blueprint from heaven for the tabernacle of David. He commanded Solomon to build according to this blueprint.

The Davidic Order of Worship

David was not just establishing an order of worship and a culture of worship for his kingdom. David was establishing a worship order and culture that God would replicate for all ages. The tabernacle of David will be the blueprint for revival in Israel, the priesthood of believers, the harvest in the nations, and the center of Jesus’ government in the age to come.

David’s order of worship was about the convergence of heaven and earth and a resting place for God’s manifest glory. There were seven revivals in the Old Testament starting with King David’s. Every revival in Israel from that point forward was tied to the restoration of David's order of worship, the tabernacle of David.

What made Israel distinct from every other nation was the glory of God in their midst. Moses said to the Lord, “Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?" (Ex 33:16). David's tabernacle was a symbol of a people's desire for God to dwell among them, with every king prioritizing this order of worship. This devotion led to favor from God and victory against enemies. Kingly rule and authority were overflowing from priestly ministry and God's presence. The spirit of revival coincided with the restoration of this worship order, while conversely, discipline occurred alongside abandonment of the order.

Read the book of 2 Chronicles. As you read through, keep your eyes open for this Davidic order of worship. I’ll highlight a few examples:

1. Jehoshaphat

When the Moabites and the Ammonites came up against King Jehoshaphat, he called upon the sons of Asaph, the chief musician in David’s tabernacle. Jehoshaphat’s confidence was in God’s presence in their midst. He learned that from David. He knew that if the convergence point was open between heaven and earth, God would fight their battles. His throne is in the tabernacle. The whole nation gathered and stood before the Lord, with their little ones, wives, and their children while Jehoshaphat stood with the assembly in the house of the Lord. As the singers and musicians began to minister to the Lord, one of the singers named Jahaziel began to prophesy, “You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you." (2 Chron 20:17)

Did you see it? It’s the Tabernacle of David. God at the center, the multitudes surrounding the throne, falling down in worship as the voices of the singers grew louder and louder. Do you see heaven’s blueprint? When the people heard Jahaziel prophesy in the tabernacle, they all fell down before the Lord and worshipped. 

Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice. -2 Chronicles 20:18-19

What happens next may be familiar to many of you. If you grew up in church, you have most likely heard of the victory Jehoshaphat won in battle that day; how he set the musicians and singers out in front of the army to sing to the Lord and discovered their enemies had been killed in an ambush before they even arrived (2 Chronicles 20:21-22, 24), but many of us have never considered where he learned that strategy from. It was the Davidic order of worship.

2. Hezekiah:

One of the largest revivals in Israel after David was in the days of Hezekiah. Hezekiah was the king during the majority of Isaiah’s prophetic ministry. Hezekiah restored the Davidic order of worship in 2 Chronicles 29, gathering the singers and musicians and solemnly charging them to stand before the Lord and minister to Him. He told the nation that day and night worship was a blueprint from heaven.

And he stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres, according to the commandment of David and of Gad the king's seer and of Nathan the prophet, for the commandment was from the LORD through his prophets. – 2 Chronicles 29:25

After some time passed, the Assyrian king Sennacherib laid siege on the city of Jerusalem. Sennacherib stood outside of the city boasting against the God of Israel with an army of hundreds of thousands of men. He shouted over the wall to all the people of Judah and mocked Hezekiah, telling them that he was going to put their God in the cart with all the other gods of the nations he had conquered. Hezekiah wrote a letter to the prophet Isaiah asking what they should do; then took the positive response and laid it before the Lord and prayed.

“So now, O LORD our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O LORD, are God alone." ... And that night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. – See 2 Kings 19:5-6, 14-16, 19, 35

When the worship order of David is restored, His throne is in the tabernacle, the convergence point is open, the kingdom expands and the enemy is defeated.

3. The Restoration Period:

Fast forward to the last of the seven Old Testament revivals. This is known as the restoration period in Israel’s history. There are four main books in the Old Testament that are written specifically about this moment. Ezra and Nehemiah chronicle the story of the exiles’ return from Babylon while Haggai and Zechariah are prophesying. In king Josiah's day, Jeremiah prophesies that Babylon is going to invade Judah and take them into captivity. This happened between 597-586 B.C. under the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar. There in Babylon, we learn of a young man named Daniel. Daniel is among the children that were dragged over in captivity. Seventy years into captivity, he finds a prophecy from Jeremiah. Jeremiah prophesied that after seventy years in exile, the Lord would return to the people of Israel and bring them back to the land and fulfill the promises.

For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. - Jeremiah 29:10

Daniel looked at his calendar and realized the seventy years were up. He began to pray and intercede with fasting on behalf of the nation that this prophetic promise would be unlocked and released (Daniel 9). After Daniel prayed Jeremiah’s prophecy, God raised up a Persian king named Cyrus that Isaiah spoke about 150 years earlier! Cyrus decreed the release of the Jewish people out of exile and told them they were free to go home. He went a step further, not only were they free to go home, but he told them it would be an all-expenses-paid trip.

Isaiah prophesied it. Jeremiah prophesied it. Daniel prayed it.

They all confirmed that this was the moment that God said he would fulfill the promises. However, around a million Jews in Babylon said, “I kind of like it here. It’s not so bad. I know it's Babylon but I have a house, I got a job. I don’t know what’s back there in Jerusalem.” Out of a million people - only fifty-thousand believed and returned to Jerusalem. When they get to Jerusalem they found it in ruins.  This faith-filled remnant looked at it and said, “You know what this thing needs? A convergence point between heaven and earth.” Before anyone started building their own houses, they re-established the Davidic order of worship. Ezra chapter three chronicles this amazing moment.

They set the altar in its place, for fear was on them because of the peoples of the lands, and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, burnt offerings morning and evening. ... From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid. ... And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the directions of David king of Israel. And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, "For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel." And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy, so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people's weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away. - Ezra 3:3, 6, 10-13 ESV

Did you see it? The Davidic order of worship. They knew that the most important thing about this radical remnant was God in their midst. They knew that for the city to be rebuilt, the prophetic promises to come to pass, and the kingdom to be established, the convergence point must be open. The priests and their vestments came forward with trumpets, the Levites the sons of Asaph cymbals to praise the Lord, according to the directions of David.

This was five hundred years after David first pitched the tent and they are still looking back at the tabernacle of David as the blueprint. According to the directions of David, they put the altar on top of that heap of rubble, put the singers and musicians around it and sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord.

Now I don’t want to go in detail here because we fairly recently heard an amazing sermon about this. But in summary, after some time, the people got discouraged, stopped building it for years and focused on their personal lives. God gives them a wakeup call and encourages them to complete the temple - they rise and do so and are greatly blessed.

Within a generation, the nation once again abandoned the glory of this ministry, and the prophet Malachi closes out the Old Testament with a glorious promise. Malachi tells the Levitical priesthood that just throwing some spoiled meat on the altar was not the Davidic order of worship. The tabernacle of David was more than the routine activity of the temple functions, it was the convergence point between heaven and earth. It was the overflow of God’s desire to dwell with His people and the reverberation of worship in response to His beauty, majesty, glory, power, kindness, and goodness. Malachi builds upon this idea that was introduced by King David on the day he brought the ark into the tabernacle. David prophesied that this blueprint from heaven would touch all the families of the earth. Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! ... Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; - 1 Chronicles 16:23-24, 28-29 The prophet Amos, during the reign of Uzziah, saw that all the nations would encounter the beauty of the Lord when God restores the tabernacle of David. 

"In that day I will raise up the [tabernacle] of David that is fallen and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old, that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name," declares the LORD who does this. - Amos 9:11-12

Isaiah goes on further to say that all the nations would minister to the Lord, bring offerings to Him and be made joyful in the House of worship.

"And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants…these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all [nations]." - Isaiah 56:6-7

What makes this prophecy from Malachi notable is that he goes yet even further - the Davidic order of worship would not just be restored and rebuilt in Jerusalem, it would be raised up in every place. In every place that the light of the sun touches, incense will be offered and He would set his throne. 

For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts. - Malachi 1:11

Malachi sees a day coming when that blueprint from heaven would touch every nation, that the convergence point would open over every region, and every tribe and tongue would gaze upon the glory of the Lord with unveiled face. The Old Testament comes to a close as these words echo through four hundred years of silence. 

For centuries the question lingers, “When will we see the Tabernacle of David restored again?”

The Relevance of the Convergence Today

"In that day I will raise up the fallen tent of David and repair its breaches and raise up its ruins and rebuild it as in the days of old, that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by my name," declares the LORD who does this.” - Amos 9:11-12

This exact verse was quoted word for word in Acts by James the only difference is the Hebrew word used to describe tent. In Amos the word was “sukka” which describes a temporary abode, whereas in Acts, James uses the word “ohel” which describes a permanent dwelling place.

When Jesus enters the court of Gentiles in the gospels where the moneychangers were price gouging those that came to bring their offering and robbing the nations of encounter with the beauty of holiness, He takes action. He cleanses the temple, a temple that had become political, not worshipful. "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers." - Mark 11:17

Remember, the tabernacle of David had fallen. Though the temple structure stood, the heart was lost, the glory was gone, the ark had been lost hundreds of years earlier and the convergence point was now walking among them (John 1:51).

Jesus reminds us, as He heads to the cross the week of Passover, that He is going to fulfill this promise to fill the nations with the worship order of David. Through the finished work of the cross, He intended to join the foreigners to the Lord so that they could minister to Him, love His name and be His servants.

Luke’s description of the day of Pentecost included several signs that indicated it was a priestly scene:

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. - Acts 2:1-4

The appearance of wind, fire, and voices is a common manifestation of the presence of God. Fire in particular is associated with God’s presence, so it was an immediate indicator that something unusual was happening. In the Scripture, God tends to appear in fire in three different contexts: God is surrounded by fire when seated on His throne. When a person encounters the direct presence of God, they often experience God surrounded by fire. Fire is a symbol of nearness, proximity, and priesthood. When God makes covenant, He often comes in fire. For example, when God confirmed His covenant with Abraham, He appeared to Abraham as a torch of fire (Gen 15:17-18). Luke’s description of Pentecost would have specifically brought to mind the events of Exodus 19 when Israel made covenant with God at Mount Sinai. Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off. -Exodus 20:18

From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings (voices) and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God… - Revelation 4:5

The scene at Mount Sinai was covenantal and priestly. At that moment, God made covenant with Israel and gave the law that established the Mosaic priesthood. There He called Israel a “kingdom of priests” (Ex 19:6). God spoke in fire to form a priestly nation:  When Solomon built the blueprint from his father David and dedicated the temple, fire came down again in the sight of the people.

As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD filled the LORD’s house. When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the LORD, saying, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” - 2 Chronicles 7:1–3

Fire came down when the worship order of David was established. The blueprint for that very same room that descended on Sinai. When Solomon prayed, fire came down to confirm that the presence of God transitioned from the tabernacle to the temple. Curiously, we have no Biblical report of fire falling on the second temple, only that the structure was built. Another question lingering throughout the 400 years of silence: where was the fire?

The Fire of Pentecost

In Acts 2, God appeared to a new tribe, in a public context, and once again the people saw fire and heard voices. Shockingly, this time the fire came closer and rested on every single individual, but this time the voice of God was heard through His people. This indicated every follower of Jesus was being commissioned as a priest because they were all given direct access to God’s presence in the form of fire and then made His representatives on earth. Today we understand the Levitical order in terms of the 5-fold ministry.

Pentecost was a priestly event and a temple event. When fire fell on the followers of Jesus in Acts 2, it commissioned them as priests and established the church as the new temple of God. The temple was back, but this time, the fire dwelled among a people who became a living temple. As a result, the New Testament went on to describe the church as the temple (1 Corinthians 3:16) and the dwelling place of God (Ephesians 2:22).

Pentecost was a visible demonstration that something significant had shifted. Jesus’ ascension as high priest had established a new priesthood, and if there was a new priesthood, it meant there was a new covenant. A new covenant had also established a new temple. The God of Sinai had come again in fire, speaking in voices, just like the last time He came to establish a priestly people. It marked a transition in the priesthood. The gift of the Holy Spirit to every person indicated that the covenant had shifted from the Mosaic covenant, and God was now forming a priesthood of all the nations on the basis of relationship to Jesus. There was no more veil between the people and God, and no more need for a covered holy place. Those who were in Jesus had direct access to the presence of God. The fire had fallen again on a new temple and a new priesthood. Jesus prefaced this event with the command to take it to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). This all took place in Jerusalem, but what about the nations? What about the foreigners? What about the Tabernacle of David raised up again so that the rest of mankind could seek the Lord?

The Convergence Point at the House of Cornelius

A decade later, “At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.” - Acts 10:1-2

As they engaged in this rhythm of prayer, an angel appeared to Cornelius with an astounding message. Heaven had taken notice of what was transpiring in this man’s house. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, "Cornelius." And he stared at him in terror and said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. - Acts 10:3-4

The angel told Cornelius something was coming out of his house that was ascending before God. The Greek word that the angel uses here in Acts 10:4 translated “memorial” is mnēmosynon. What was ascending out of Cornelius’ house was a mnēmosynon to God. That same word is used in the the Greek Old Testament that the Apostles used concerning a priestly offering of worship in Leviticus 2:9. It was called the “memorial portion” or the “memorial offering” to the Lord. It was a grain offering that was mixed with frankincense and burned on the altar by the sons of Aaron.

This is what the angel is directly referencing in Acts 10. In other words, from heaven’s perspective, there was an altar in Cornelius’ house. On that altar, generous hearts of giving - mixed with continual prayer - was being offered by the new priesthood. The angel is sent to tell Cornelius that what is ascending out of his house is a pleasing aroma to the Lord. It was incense.

Malachi’s promise was beginning. Soon the worship order of David would be raised up in all the nations. The instructions following this message are specific: “Go get Peter. Here’s the address.” The next day, the Holy Spirit interrupts Peter with a commanding and unusually specific message. Falling into a trance, Peter sees an open vision three times and hears the audible voice of Jesus explaining that He had purified something that formerly was unclean. Then, the Holy Spirit tells Peter to answer the knock at the door.

And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you. Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them." - Acts 10:19-20

Peter traveled to Cornelius’ house and found a community of people praying continually and living generously, centered around the presence of God. Peter preached the gospel and look at what happened next: the convergence point opened. Foreign people were doing priestly ministry, and a convergence point opened in Cornelius's house.

While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. - Acts 10:44-46

Peter doesn’t immediately recognize what’s going on beyond the fact that God had granted the Gentiles repentance that leads to life (Acts 11:18). Our beloved historian Luke then immediately follows the account of Cornelius’ house with the testimony from another community, Antioch.

The Church Community in Antioch

In Syria, a church had sprung up out of the dispersion and had stumbled into full-blown revival. Out of the many things that were unique about this church in Antioch, two stand out for the purposes of this. First, a community of generosity. Second, a rhythm of life that Luke describes as Leitourgeo. Leitourgeo is the Greek word Luke uses here for “worshipping” or “ministering.”

What are we seeing here in Antioch? Again, a tabernacle set up, an altar built upon lives of generosity mixed with continual worship and prayer, being offered up daily in a new priestly family. It was a sweet-smelling aroma to the Lord. It was incense. What happens next? The convergence point opens and the activity of the Holy Spirit breaks in.

At Cornelius’ house, a convergence point had opened. In Antioch, a convergence point had opened, and suddenly, it dawned on James. And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written, "'After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David (ohel) that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things known from of old.' - Acts 15:15-18

The Apostle James realized that there's not just going to be one convergence point in Jerusalem. There is going to be convergence points in every city on the earth. The Gentiles have been given the worship order of David and when the Gentiles begin to build these altars across the earth, incense is going to arise from every place as the rest of mankind begins to seek the Lord.

It is oversimplistic to say that James was only speaking generally about the spiritual access and the grafting of the Gentiles into the Messianic kingdom and promises. It was that and so much more. He was not only defining the theology of inclusion for the Gentiles but the methodology of what that inclusion would look like. He was telling the Jewish church that the Gentiles have now been given the Davidic order of worship. When the tabernacle of David filled the earth, convergence points between heaven and earth would begin to open over cities and regions which would result in the gospel breaking in with power (Acts 10) and laborers being launched into the nations (Acts 13).

The Requirement to Expand Our Worship

In other words, the kingly authority of the church would come out of the priestly ministry at its’ center. This is what the church was supposed to look like. The church cannot continue to try to exercise the kingly authority to rule without the priestly rhythm, the leitourgeo, in place. Otherwise, we will sow much and reap little. We will work for a wage and put it in a bag with holes. We will keep prophesying revival when there is no revival. It is time we step back as we consider our ways. The first Gentile churches provide the prototype; David provided the blueprint. If we want the kingdom to expand in our cities, our worship must expand. Remember what makes the church distinct from every other business or institution: It is not that we have better branding and marketing - it is that God is in our midst. That is what makes us distinct. We are being built together to be a dwelling place for God.

In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. - Ephesians 2:22

When the glory of God lifts, there is nothing that makes us distinct. We are just an empty temple structure with no convergence point. God wants a dwelling place in KL city more than you do. God wants to raise up the incense in every place for the glory of His Son, Jesus Christ. God wants to release the blueprint of heaven into communities across the earth more than we do. It is not a supply problem - it is a demand problem. There are enough anointed musicians, prophetic intercessors, and lovers of God’s presence in my city alone that it should never stop singing.  God has provided, in this generation, everything we need for the tabernacle of David. The problem is that we have lost sight of what it's about. Everyone is running after kingly influence while the convergence point is closed over our cities. This makes so much sense now in understanding the mantle on our church leader - for governments (kingly functions) and building the 5 fold (priestly functions).

What Kind of Revival Can We Look Forward To?

God will raise up presence centered families across the earth before Jesus returns. They will minister to the Lord with the fragrance of generous, obedient lives and the incense of worship and prayer. They will be multi-ethnic, multi-generational, multi-congregational families that have determined that what they need most is God in their midst. This will shift the way they spend their resources, spend their energy, and how they see themselves within their city and community. Together, they will start ministering to the Lord: leitourgeo.

Out of these tabernacles, the kingdom will expand, and the name of Jesus will be made great. The tabernacle of David is about to explode across the nations and these convergence points will pierce the 10-40 window, displacing the strongholds of the Islamic prayer movement, the Buddhist prayer movement, and the Hindu prayer movement, and millions will begin to see and sing of the worth of Jesus, night and day. The Holy Spirit is preparing the nations to receive the Son of David when He returns and places the tabernacle of David back in Jerusalem.

“When the oppressor is no more, and destruction has ceased, and he who tramples underfoot has vanished from the land, then a throne will be established in steadfast love, and on it will sit in faithfulness in the tent of David one who judges and seeks justice and is swift to do righteousness." - Isaiah 16:4-5

Jesus is governing right now in the tabernacle of David which is what He calls the church across the earth. When He returns, He will sit in the tabernacle of David and rule forever in the age to come. Jesus is going to put His throne inside David’s tent at the end of the age, and He is going to remove all injustice from the earth. He is going to bring together heaven and earth, and the worship order of heaven will be fully released on earth. David’s tent was just a shadow; the worship movement in the nations is just a taste of what is coming when David’s Son sits in Jerusalem. He will put His throne in the tabernacle of David, and justice will flow from it. From this throne, Satan will be destroyed and the earth will be restored.

The Old Testament prophets spoke about this promise as the hope of Israel and the nations. When this King sits on David’s throne, in David’s tabernacle, He will judge on behalf of the poor. He will tear down every system of oppression. He will restore the environment (even causing the deserts to blossom). He will cause the nations to lay down their arms. He will rebuild the cities that have been devasted. He will crush injustice and exalt righteousness. He will heal the disparity between rich and poor, the enmity between races, and He will remove demonic influence from the human experience. The earth, with all its peoples, will rejoice and be glad under the rulership of David’s Son just like David prophesied on the day he put the tent up in Jerusalem.

Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and he is to be feared above all gods- 1 Chronicles 16:23-25

Jesus is saying to us that He will put His throne in the tabernacle of David. Watch me! I will release justice in KL, but I want to be at the center. I want to gather the family and build a house in your community where I can put my throne in. I want to do it in JB. I want to do it in Penang. I want to do it in Singapore. I want to do it in Mexico City. I want to do it in London. I want to do it in Tokyo. I want to do it in Berlin. I will do it in Egypt and North Africa. I will do it in the Middle East.

The Impact of Who we Surround Ourselves With

 The company we keep can affect us for hosting the Glory of God. One clear biblical example is Adam and Eve. They knew the rules and they knew they effect of disobeying those rules at least for themselves, and they knew this not from a third party but directly from the source who they believed in and trusted, their Maker, the One who cares for them. He walked and talked with them, and they knew Him intimately. But when they were away from Him (even for a short while) and in the company of another (the serpent), their company influenced their decision. Who we spend our time with can either lead us to God or lead us away from God. We know now, looking back the devastating effects of that sin (that one sin) - it separated them from God and this inevitably forced them out of His covering, protection and providence. Now they had to toil the land and fend for themselves. If we want to host the Glory of God - we must separate ourselves from sinful people.

‘For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among the. I will be their God and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among unbelievers and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD.”’ (2 Corinthians 6 : 16 -18)

Joseph understood this and he ran, flees from ungodly people and ungodly situations before he could fall into any sin - and this resulted in him being thrown in prison for years.

We Can’t Claim to be in Christ and Keep on Sinning

 1 Corinthians 6 : 19-20 Paul reminds us that our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit - “You are not your own - you were bought with a price”. This clearly invalidates any ‘pro-choice’ arguments - your body is not yours to do with as you please it belongs to God.

Sinning contradicts divine law. 1 John 3:9 says: No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning for he has been born of God. Notice it does not say, ‘must not’ or ‘should not’ - its not suggestive, it says cannot - ‘unable to’, ‘impossible to’ - this is a result of salvation. In Romans 8 & 13, Paul talks of killing sin, starving sin and Jesus was more blunt about it, Jesus speaks of tearing out an eye and cutting off a hand if it causes you to sin - for it better to enter heaven partially blind and one-armed then to burn in hell.

Another clear biblical example is the disciples and Jesus. These we 12 guys who came from very different backgrounds coming together to live, eat, drink and breathe Jesus. In just 3 years their lives were completely transformed forever and their life and death from that point onwards reflected and resembled Christ. All but 1, Judas, - for he allowed sin to creep in from the beginning (he was stealing from the coffers) and although he was in the same spaces, hearing the same message, living the same lives as the others, he himself was separated from God and his sin consumed him.

Prayer

Father God, Help me to be ready to act on your blueprint. Let me bring You into the centre of my heart, family, church and city. May I seek to pour out worship and generous giving in the altar in my home. And may this be sweet incense to You, Father. Come be the architect of my dreams – that all I do bring You glory and honour. Help me to flee from sin and wicked company. Come and transform my church, city and my nation. May we experience many victories through the power of Your name. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!