Leaving the Sanctuary
This is a hard blog for me to write because it is a hard message to hear, but I feel compelled in my spirit.
Lamentations 2:7 “The Lord has spurned His altar, He has abandoned His sanctuary; He has given up the walls of her palaces Into the hand of the enemy. They have made a noise in the house of the Lord As on the day of a set feast.”
The prophets speak of events happening in the last days; God leaving His sanctuary, people given over to a powerful delusion, His sanctuary being overrun with evil, and God’s people coming out to meet Him in the wilderness where He will provide for all their needs. (see link below for supporting verses) They talk about what the IC (Institutional Church) will become and it describes the IC today. The prophets wrote and recorded all this for our sakes. (Acts 3:24, Zechariah 7:12-13, Romans 15:4, 1 Corinthians 10:11) So that we would hear, be warned and protected when the IC has been overtaken by the enemy and get out so that we aren’t swept away in the delusion.
From what I read, I believe God has left the Institutional Church as mentioned verse Lamentations 2:7. But here is the glorious part of it – He is drawing closer than ever to His true church, the true body of Christ. God promises to never leave or forsake those who are truly His. With the downfall of the IC, He is calling His people to Him in His Word. And there He is revealing Himself unlike anytime before. He is their shepherd, teacher, counselor, guide . . . everything. (Ezekiel 34:23 , 1 John 2:27, Psalm 32:8) For those who put His Word above all others, abide in all of it, and seek God’s will not man’s, I believe will hear the call and follow their Shepherd’s voice. (2 Thessalonians 2:10)
God isn’t forsaking the true body of Christ; He is calling out the true believers to be united to Him in truth and spirit. God is drawing closer than He ever has. He is revealing Himself in mighty ways in truth outside the system.
As when the Israelites wanted a king because God wasn’t enough, God isn’t enough for many believers. People are trusting man where they should be trusting God. They need a man between them and God and that is their downfall. When the IC becomes what it wasn’t intended to be God sets things straight. He did it before in the days when Jesus walked this earth and He is doing it again. The church structure served a purpose for a time, but I believe that time has come to an end.
Living Light 
March 9, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Rachel that was really a profoundmessage! I believe you are right and it is truly sad. In these end times, Satan is brutally infiltrating the church and those who who are lukewarm or complacent will be trampled. There is never such a time as now to speak up for the gospel and take a stand for the truth of Jesus Christ. Not the seeker friendly message but the real, unfiltered truth that pierces the heart of those who have ears to hear.
You are right to say God is calling us be united to him. Sadly the question is, will we answer?
http://www.mlordi.wordpress.com
March 15, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Marianne,
Thanks for your comments and your encouraging words.
Rachel
March 15, 2009 at 5:28 am
HI Sis,
((Hugz))) This was really a heavy post but so needing to be heard. Thanks for dropping by, It’s been a while since I’ve done blog visits, I get so tired lately and have been resting due to my chronic illness. But I’ve missed you and I wanted to say hello and see how you were doing. Keep shinning your light and spreading the word of God in spirit and in truth!!
Hugz Lorie
March 15, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Lorie,
It was so good to hear from you. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Rachel
March 19, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Thanks for your courage to speak the truth. God has recently shown my husband and I the same exact thing! He is calling His bride out of the IC and saying come back to their first love!
March 19, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Erin,
May you and your husband continue to grow in a rich relationship with our Husband. Thanks for stopping by.
Rachel
September 18, 2009 at 12:21 am
You said:”God isn’t forsaking the true body of Christ; He is calling out the true believers to be united to Him in truth and spirit.”
Could you expand on this a little…its just hard for me to imagine that those that still fill the church are lost? i know there will be goats amongst the sheep, but say that those who left the IC are the true believers ?
Would you mind clarifying on this for me…I suppose I don’t understand correctly. Being that I left the IC, I am still struggling with getting used to this…I often wonder if I should go back because It is tiring being in the wilderness.
Blessings
mike
September 18, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Mike,
Thanks for bringing this up. Here are some of my thoughts on what I feel God has been teaching me . . .
From what I read in God’s Word, I think God is calling out His people from the church system – and those who are listening will follow. As a result, believers are gathering in people’s homes, getting connected outside the system. It is amazing as I have started to share my story how I am starting to hear more testimonies of others having a similar experience and those who are waking up to the call. Many hestiate to share their true feelings because it is hard and can be confrontational – but as we become real and honest with one another we find more experience what we have.
We know that the wheat and tares were sown together and at the harvest they will be separated. (Matthew 14) and when you look at what is occurring with the movement out of the church system is seems this is what is happening. I don’t know how long this moving out process will be, but eventually I think those with a love of the truth and who seek His truth from His Word and not man will hear the call because they are listening, watching and seeing the signs as Jesus told us. God is gathering people to Him through His Word -in truth and Spirit – it is quite incredible. Right now people are still waking up to the call so there is still wheat among the tares to be separated. I just spoke with a woman the other day that just heard God telling her that He was calling the church (true body of believers) out of the church (church system). People are just now hearing the call. We have to be patient in God’s perfect timing.
Mike these are hard times no doubt. But Jesus told us they would be and to and there is much encouragement from Him and the other apostles to remain steadfast. He is the Rock we stand on. Overtime as more hear and respond to the call there will be more believers outside and you won’t feel so alone. Out here is an incredible opportunity to develop a deep intimacy with God. It is a time to connect with other believers in a powerful and real way. It is always hard going against mainstream because the pull is great upon us to go with the flow. But God is calling us to the narrow path. I would encourage you to persevere and continue to abide deeply in His Word and pray for His guidance and for others out here to cross your path – we are a great encouragement to one another. I will be praying for you as well.
Does that help clarify?
September 19, 2009 at 10:59 am
Thank you it does help….
I know I have to be patient and trust in God…in the beginning there was some pride in my heart God had to destroy. So now I am more sensitive to those who are still in and less confrontational.
Thanks for replying and look forward to future posts.
Kindest regards
Mike
September 19, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Mike,
And I look forward to hearing from you. We’ll keep reading and praying for understanding and wisdom in that understanding, and may God lead us into all truth.
September 21, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Mike,
In my quiet time – a thought came to mind that I wanted to share with you about those in the IC. It seems there may be some who do belong to God but they aren’t really listening to Him and they aren’t seeking truth in His Word so they won’t hear the call. I think this because of verses like Daniel 11:35. Perhaps some will have to go through a fall to be refined.
September 21, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Its interesting that you say that…I have heard this from others too. I definitely feel that God is refining us. Its difficult to be on the “outside” wondering when God will bring the peace i look for. And honestly i am not sure what I am looking for. Used to doing this and doing that at “church” and now we are waiting for God to show us His will for this season. I often look at myself to make sure I am not acting like the Israelites in wilderness delaying His purpose. Not sure what to do other than wait.
I woke the other morning thinking about this verse…”for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:5
thanks
September 22, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Mike,
I think you brought up a great point – often we rely on the church to lead us and tell us what to do – when it should be the spirit. Being out here we have to learn to listen and follow the spirit’s lead – something I’m finding takes some practice. Waiting is definitely part of it and seeking God’s will learning to follow the promptings of the spirit. It is a tough and yet exciting time. Great verse by the way – I think the spirit was encouraging you 😉
December 7, 2011 at 10:54 am
Hey Rachel, as I listen to you & Mike’s conversation I see the truth of Jesus “I will bring into your remembrance the things I have said.” Rev.3:10 because you have kept My word of patient endurance,I will keep you from the hour of trial which is coming on the whole world to try those who dwell upon the earth.” -“These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” -Our God is merciful to the very end; all depends on the individual(whether or not each has a conscience) without a conscience, a person can never know God in truth (Cain), evan confronted by God he still chose self. The “confronting” is the measure of faith given. -depending on each persons Spiritual matturity is to say this study may be to soon(Rev.14:3-5)! “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord henceforth, Blessed indeed, says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them”