Casting Fire Into the Sanctuary — Carter Conlon

Casting Fire Into the Sanctuary

Psalm 74, please if you'll go there in the Old Testament, I want to speak this morning about casting fire into the sanctuary. Casting fire into the sanctuary. I do believe This would be an encouragement to you today.

Now father, I thank you for the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I thank you Lord that you've always always always made me more than I am. You've given me abilities I don't possess. You've taken me places that I could never go and Lord always when your word comes.

There's an enablement and there's life. I give you the glory Lord Jesus Christ and all of the praise. For the rest of us are nothing without you Lord, but because of you. We stand as a testimony of your ability to take ordinary people and to do the extraordinary through us.

I yield my body my heart my mind The very being that I am to you Lord and I'm asking only that you'd be glorified that I may have the privilege of Disappearing that the name of Jesus might be the only name that is seen and heard.

I thank you God for your church. I thank you for your body today that you have gathered to speak to us clearly. Sovereignly, I ask it in Jesus mighty name. Amen, Psalm 74 if you go there with me, please.

Psalm 74 and the Destruction of the Sanctuary

It's a Psalm that is asking God for a particular restoration. The psalmist says these words. Oh God. Why has thou cast us off forever? Why does thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture? Remember thy congregation which thou has purchased of old the rod of thine inheritance.

Which thou hast redeemed this mountain. Zion where thou hast dwelt. Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations. Even all that the enemy has done wickedly in the sanctuary thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations.

They set up there on signs for signs a Man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees. But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers. They've cast fire into the site thy sanctuary.

They've defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground. They said in their hearts. Let us destroy them together. They have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land casting fire into the sanctuary.

In verse 3 the psalmist says Oh God Lift up your feet. In other words Lord. The psalmist is a man who sees Sees this destruction that has come. It's it's a physical destruction of the temple as it is where the glory of God Had once dwelt where David the king gave Solomon his son the pattern of the temple.

You remember from Scripture the glory of the Lord came into this temple. It's the place where God has dwelled now folks. That's what the enemy has always been after. The enemy has always been after the dwelling place of God because Satan himself knows that in that place if if God's True life is being manifested.

There's going to be healing. There's going to be deliverance. There's going to be people who are formerly blind are going to become Envisioned there's going to be something come into the people that's going to do great damage to his kingdoms.

And so in the Old Testament, we see a physical type of a spiritual struggle that you and I will always have to encounter and endure and Enemies come in the psalmist sees it and he's this enemy is destroying everything that he knew to be holy where the glory of God was and Now this is a physical type of a spiritual reality that you and I have to face in every generation now no doubt there were probably always were and always will be some people who are Satisfied and quite delighted of this running amok as it is in the sanctuary of God these things that godly Men and women know are out of order.

But there are always other voices that say well look at let's not be too hasty. Let's not judge this. Let's let's let this run its course. Let's just see if there'd be any good in it. But the psalmist is a man he knows and he said Lord.

I'm calling out to you God you you've got to come and and I see wickedness in the sanctuary. So you've got to come and deal with this and in the Hebrew It basically says when says in the King James the enemy has done wickedly in the sanctuary.

It means in the Hebrew the enemy has come in and destroyed shattered cast down or shaken Violently the place where God has dwelt. He's looking in and he sees this. This is not the peaceableness of God.

This is this is not what? God does where God is they sees this violent destruction this violent shaking of the temple of God now. Keep this in mind as I speak because you and I are the temple of the Holy Spirit now.

It's no longer a physical building on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem. We are now this temple of the Holy Spirit. Verse 4 he says your enemies roar in the midst of your congregations. And they set up their ensigns for signs and that that means they set up their own ideas.

And they're inducing people by signs and delusions and strong persuasion to accept these ideas as truth. And the psalmist is saying know what they're preaching isn't truth. What they're doing and practicing is not right.

It doesn't line up with the Word of God and the character of God. But they're inducing people by signs and persuasion to accept it all as truth. Verse 5. He says a man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.

Now here's what he's actually saying here a godly man was known for the craftsmanship and beauty. That came from the abilities that are given to those called of God to adorn his temple. The psalmist is saying this is what a godly man is known for.

Craftsmanship. Think about the history of the Christian Church. Think about those that have stood and expounded the Word of God with abilities. That people knew had to come from God Almighty Himself. Looking at their testimonies looking at their past think of Nicky Cruz for a moment a man here in New York City who was a gang leader diagnosed by the secular psychologists of this particular city as Unredeemable that's the title they gave him unredeemable so twisted so warped.

So given to something dark that this man cannot be salvaged. In other words men with their greatest experience. Looked at this man and said no nothing can be done here, but look at him today. He's preached the gospel to millions of people all over the world.

His Family of all married godly people they're all in the ministry all serving the Lord. There's a normalcy there. It's undeniable that this man was given abilities that he does not naturally possess.

And folks. That's the way it should be. There should be something of God come into your life if you're a Christian that people have to look at you and say I know. That man I know that woman that's beginning in your own home and among your own kid.

I know they don't possess these abilities. My my father my mother my brother my sister. My daughter my son could never love like this could never give like this could never be generous like this. Could never speak about things that they're speaking about in the manner that they are.

God-Given Giftings in the Temple

A godly man was famous. According as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees in Solomon's temple. David said to Solomon in first Chronicles 22 15 when he commissioned him to build the temple he said there are with you workmen in abundance hewers and workers of stone and timber all manners of cunning and men experienced for every work and God sent to David and David commissioned them to Solomon men and women who are diplomatic.

That's what cunning means shrewd clever intelligent and Experienced. And when God's about to glorify himself in his temple There's going to be an increase of giftings that must be attributed to his hand.

Amazing when God's about to glorify himself in your life and in mine. There will be an increase of God's ability giftings that have come from his hand. God will send them to you through Jesus Christ. So all of a sudden you walk out of the back of this church.

And there's a compassion comes into your heart or perhaps a wisdom to know how to do things. You have to agree with me what the video you saw this morning. Is that not among the most intelligent missions?

You've ever seen in your life, but folks it doesn't come from the minds of men. It comes as we've been thoughtically pray and say show us the next step. Lord lead us guide us. How do you want this to be done and the giftings of God begin to come.

The wisdom of God is? Imparted and with all of that there is this incredible provision that begins to flow and feed thousands who otherwise have been without help and without hope. There's a cunningness that comes into worship again.

David said to Solomon in 1st Chronicles 25 7 the number of them. These are worshipers with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the Lord even all that were cunning again diplomatic. With knowledge were two hundred four score an eight or two hundred and eighty-eight worshipers amazing 288 given a skilled song a song of God.

Divine Order and God-Centered Worship

Now I want you to look at this song if you will go go with me to 2nd Chronicles chapter 5. Just for a moment keep up a marker in Psalm 74. Go to 2nd Chronicles chapter 5. I'm going to show you divine order in the house of God.

I'm going to show you the only song that God ever wrote about himself. Did you know that God wrote a song about himself? The scripture says that the whole temple was given in pattern by the Spirit to David.

David gave it to Solomon. Solomon constructed it exactly the way the Holy Spirit said it was to be built and When it was done they gathered in the house and I can see these two hundred and eighty-eight singers all gathered together given skill and song by God Almighty Himself and they began to sing in verse 13 in Chapter 5 of 2nd Chronicles and it came to pass.

It came even to pass as the trumpeters and singers were as one to make one sound. To be heard and praising and thanking the Lord. That was the sound. Oh We praise you you have to have seen something of God you have to know something about God to truly praise him.

It's not just a choreographed thing. We do. Oh, yes. You can get together and you can clap your hands and sing some nice songs. But there's there's there's a sound that's going to be missing and folks.

I hear that sound in this sanctuary. Thank God for that sound and I know that you hear it, too. There's a sound that comes when people have been instructed by God In worship and the instruction of God that comes with this worship is not just okay.

Here's the high note. Here's the low note. No, no, it's a people who have been walking with God they're starting to understand the majesty of God the greatness of God the mercy of God and the goodness of God and Everything is about God.

Everything is about Christ when they come in. It's not about how is everyone around me doing? How's anybody else looking is men and women walking into the temple like you and I this morning able to raise your hands?

I was able to do that this morning on the platform. I was thinking of my daughter who's in Guatemala right now with Doctors going and I understand into a remote village where there's been no contact with the outside world before.

Bringing in the good news of Christ and medical help for those who need it. I think of my children living for the Lord. I think of my son who called me on the way in this morning. I thank God with all of my heart.

He has been so faithful to me. I don't know how I just want to explode this morning. I just want to dance all over the platform. I just want almost to dispense with everything and just get into the business of praising him and worshipping him and thanking him for his goodness.

Praise be to God. Praise be to God. Praise be to God. He's taken me so far beyond where I ever could have gone so far deeper than anything I ever could have been. I never could have gotten there through study.

I never could have arrived through experience not that I've achieved as Paul says. But I'm pressing on to the high mark of the call of God in Christ Jesus. I'm pressing on to a place where I say God be glorified.

God be more glorified be Glorified in the deeper way be honored be esteemed be loved be seen. Oh God be glorified. It came to pass as the trumpeters and singers verse 13 Whereas one to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets.

We have those this morning and cymbals instruments of music and praise the Lord. What were they saying? What was their song for he is good and his mercy endures forever. He is God. People looked around and perhaps if there was a mirror in the temple.

They knew what they were they knew what they used to be and they said could say God you've been good. And I don't deserve to be where I am and I don't deserve to be who I am. I don't deserve to be doing what I'm doing.

I don't deserve to be here with joy in my heart, but you are good and your mercy endures forever. When they began to sing that song the scripture says the house was filled with the cloud. Even the house of the Lord that means the glory of the Lord came down.

The manifestation of God was in this physical temple because there were finally of people on the earth that knew God is good. And his mercy endures forever. Praise be to God and they knew it by experience.

Not because somebody was telling them God was good. They knew it because they are walking in the goodness of God. They've seen this divine favor in their lives and in their homes. Verse 14 said the priest could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud for the glory of the Lord and filled the house of God.

And when the glory of the Lord touches your soul, you don't care who's standing in this pulpit. It doesn't matter who's preaching to you as long as they're preaching Christ. Your eyes are not on men anymore and on women your eyes are on the one who gave you life the author the finisher of your salvation.

Praise be to God. The glory of the Lord filled the house. A lot of people talk about the glory of the Lord filling the house in our generation. But when the glory of the Lord fills the house, you're not mindful of any man.

You're not mindful of any person. Only one name is above every other name in your mind and in your heart the name of Jesus Christ. When the glory of God is in the temple. Everything points to new life in Christ present life and Expected life now in first Kings.

The Temple as a Picture of Christ and His People

I'll just read it to you. Chapter 6 in verse 18 Tells us the cedar of the house was within was carved. With knobs that's KN OPS and open flowers all was cedar. In other all folks it's amazing when you begin to see it and there was no stone seen all was cedar.

You see everything pointed to the cross. It was all about wood. There were magnificent stones according to the. When you read the account of that there were of the temple being built. There were stone squares that went into the mountains with such precision and such skill that they brought stones into the temple.

They were so precisely and divinely cut that they fit in the wall. Without even having to do any extra work on them. The scripture says that the stones were brought out of the mountains and they were put in place with this.

Holy house. Can you imagine? Everyone had to know this is divine and there would be stones that had come in and they were superbly crafted and I suppose they could have drawn the people's attention for a season people would have perhaps looked at the walls and say boy that look.

Look at that one in 1st Peter chapter 2 verse 5 Peter says you also as Lively or living stones are built up a spiritual house a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices. Acceptable to God by Jesus Christ, but folks the stones were not to be seen there are there are not to be individual personalities.

Thank God for people who are used by the Lord. Thank God for those who stand and preach and those who teach and publish and defend the gospel of Jesus Christ. I give praise with all my heart for this, but I'm not looking for men.

I'm looking for God in everything the cross has to cover everything everything. We are everything we have. Everything is about him. Praise be to God. Oh Jesus, thank you Lord. Everything was cedar. Everything was about the wood.

You couldn't see any stones. They were all covered with cedar when you came into the house. And all around the house the scripture tells us were these carvings that were done By skilled craftsmen and these carvings were it's called knops and flowers.

No. It's really interesting when you look at it and they were all connected to a vine and you'd find them all around the sides of The temple if you if you took the time you'd see they were around the base of the laver different Specific things in the temple you'll find these carvings of knops and flowers and it's amazing because when you look at the knops.

They were fruits or vegetables and quite often Cut in half so that you could see coming in that the seed was in them. They possessed a seed of life in them and that seed of life was a promise. Now in some cases the seed was depicted as actually pouring out onto the ground and then next to this knop as it was called Would be a flower.

Which is we see the seed of promise and then and there were flowers actually the scripture says in full bloom. There were seeds of promise and then there were flowers in the completeness I guess of what that promise or that seed is supposed to produce and in the true church of Jesus Christ in this sanctuary this morning, there are Two ends of the spectrum.

There are people have come in this morning and your life is a mess, but you've got this promise. There's a seed a promise and when you give your life to Christ The Bible says clearly Jesus himself said there's a seed of life that is planted inside of you and that seed even though It's just as big as a mustard seed might be the smallest seed in the world.

Jesus said it will grow and have become a great tree that where the things of this world will find shelter in its branches and find sustenance in its branches and then there are flowers people who have Walked with God and you've known in areas of your life.

The fullness of these promises has come into effect and you can honestly lift your Pedals as it is to God and say Lord Thank you. God you opened my heart and every promise you made to me has become a reality.

Lord let the beauty of your life emanate from me. Let it be all about you. Let my hands truly truly be raised to praise you. You see in the temple, there's seeds and flowers and seeds and flowers and Those of us who have walked in a measure of victory and we know Delightful Christ and we know the promises of God to be true are to be an encouragement to those who are coming in Who just simply have the seed of promise and but they have to be able to look Beside them and miss and in front and behind and say oh god.

I see something I see more than just promise. I see the fulfillment of the promise. I see that you change people. I see that you can take a hundred nations and they can truly love one another. When it's in your presence and when you're the author and initiator of it praise be to God.

Strange Fire and the Corruption of the Sanctuary

Now back in Psalm 74 again The psalmist cries out. He knows that the house is supposed to look like this. He says a man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees verse 6. He says but now They break down the carved work with axes and hammers.

In other words crude unskilled workmen, they're unable to explain Preserve or lead people to the supernatural workings of God. They claim a divine mandate, but in ignorance. They're destroying that which is proven holy and has stood the test of time and the psalmist knew this is a God.

I know the history of this place and I know That you have raised up men and women of renown. I know it's been a supernatural house. But now I see natural men coming in and they're breaking down. They mocked this card work.

They mocked this supernatural working of God. They're very distance mocks it and they're crude workers and they're taking axes and hammers and they're smashing Everything that has been proven for thousands of years to be holy and to be God.

They're casting fire into the sanctuary says in verse 7 in the word fire. In the sanctuary means they're bringing something unholy into the place where God has dwelled and where he's not to be profaned.

They're bringing a fire, but it's not the fire of God. It's another fire. It's it's a strange fire. It's not producing this life of Christ. It's not producing this blessing of God. But the people are held in sway by it and he goes on.

And he said they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place your name to the ground. The word defiled in the Hebrew means they've desecrated that which is holy and they've done so by casting it to the ground.

The word ground in the Hebrew text means they've Thrown it to the earth as opposed to lifted it to heaven. That's what it means. They've they've taken this dwelling place of God and they've cast it to the earth.

They've shaken it violently and they've shouted fire as if this is supposed to be the presence of God in the midst of the people. But it's a violent shaking. It's a casting down. They brought the people into worldly thinking.

And they've not lifted them up to heaven. They've they've not set their focus on things about they've not brought them into the supernatural life of God which ultimately Will be manifested in the kindness and provision of God through our lives to others who have no hope and 74 verse 8 they said let us destroy them together.

The psalmist says they've burned up all the synagogues of God in the land and It's very very interesting because when you look at the word destroyed, this was what was in their heart. Let us destroy them.

Now we're talking about demonic powers. The Bible warns that in the last days that angels of light are going to arise. They're going to be purporting to be preaching Christ, but they aren't and the word destroy.

Here's what it means in the Hebrew. It's the opposite of loving one's neighbor as yourself. The very opposite that's how the church will be destroyed that men women will rise. Saying I'm bringing you the fire of God, but will turn your thinking inward to yourself.

And it'll be a self-focus then the Apostle Paul warned in the last days that men would be lovers of themselves. Having a form of godliness that has no power. It does not manifest the life of Jesus Christ.

It has no divine ability. It has no supernatural mind. It has no compassionate heart of God at the center of it. And that's the destruction that the psalmist saw coming into the temple that everyone now is focused on themselves.

The psalmist begins to cry out to God and He says we don't see our signs in verse 9 anymore. Neither. Is there any prophet? We don't know how long this is going to go on verse 10. He says God how long will the adversary reproach?

Will the enemy blaspheme your name forever? Why have you withdrawn your hand even the hand of your power? That's his right hand pluck it out of your bosom. For God is my king of old working salvation in the midst of the earth.

Now He goes on to remind God how powerful he is. It's not that God needs to know this. He already does know but the psalmist is saying Lord you divided the sea. You broke the heads of dragons in the water.

You broke the heads of Leviathan verse 14 in pieces. You 15 you cleave the fountain in the flood. You dried up mighty rivers. The day belongs to you. The night is yours. You've prepared the light in the Sun.

You've set the borders of the earth. You've made summer and winter. Remember this. He said the enemy is reproached. O Lord and foolish people have blasphemed your name. Oh, he says in verse 19. Don't deliver the soul of your turtledove.

That's that which is precious to God to the multitude of the wicked. Forget not the congregation of that poor forever have respect. He said to the covenant for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.

Oh, let not the oppressed return ashamed. Let the poor and needy praise your name. Arise, Oh God and plead your own cause. Remember how the foolish man reproaches the daily. Don't forget the voice of your enemies.

The tumult or the increasing noise of those that rise up against you increases continually. The psalmist Is crying out for something to be born in true people of God by the Spirit of God. He says Oh God, please I beg you show your power again and deliver through this power many who live in the cruel places of this earth.

He cries out. He says Oh God, don't let the repressed oppressed man return ashamed. Let the poor and needy praise your name. He says God don't let this focus in the temple cause a poor man to come in and walk out saying well I guess that's good for them, but not for me.

There's no hope for me. Don't let the poor in this world be untouched by the compassionate hand of God. This was the cry of his heart. Now what will God do is our question when we begin to pray this way?

Boldness, Healing, and Signs in Acts 4

I'm gonna conclude in Acts 4 if you'll turn there, please with me. Now I know that many of you are hearing this and you feel I want this. This I do believe this is the pattern of God for my life. But we've all got things standing in our way saying this for this far rather and no further.

Their voices their pressing powers. There are people. The enemy will use you no matter how it happens. You find yourself in this hour that we're living and standing against this wall. That's trying to tell the true Church of Christ this far and no further.

This was happening in Acts chapter 4. In verse 23 They were threatened verse 21. These disciples were threatened. They let them go and Being let go verse 23. It says they went to their own company and reported all the chief priests and elders had said to them.

And when they heard that they lifted up their voice to God with one accord and said Lord you are God. You made heaven and earth and the sea and all that in them is very similar to this psalmist prayer in Psalm 74.

They're threatened. There's this power as it is whether it's in or out of the house of God now in this case. It was a religious oppression coming against them saying listen tone down this name. We don't care if people are getting healed through this name.

We don't care if powerless people are standing and walking and leaping and praising. It's affecting the religiousness that we're trying to procure in this hour. So tone down the name. I know many of you have heard this many of you have had to stand against this kind of a an oppression.

But they went to their own company they lifted up their voice and they said you're God who made heaven and earth in the sea and all that in them is. No matter who is standing in your way saying this far no further.

Just remember that God sets the boundaries of earth and heaven. That's how they started to pray. Hey, wait a minute. Nobody has the right to say I can't go any further. Nobody has the right to say this is God and that's all that God is God you set the boundaries of the universe.

You set the boundaries of earth and heaven. There's nobody alive that can say this is as far as I can go. Praise be to God if we can just get a hold of that one truth in this hour that we're living in.

The lame could take the prey once again. He said Oh who said by the mouth of David your servant. Verse 25 in Acts 4. Why did the heathen rage and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ.

Verse 28 says for to do whatsoever thy hand and my counsel determined before to be done. They're praying in the same God. They're only doing what you've allowed them to do. They can't go Beyond what you've said.

They're allowed to say or to do and they said now Lord behold their threatenings and grant to thy servants that with all boldness. They may speak thy word by stretching forth your hand to heal and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy Holy Child Jesus.

And when they had prayed the place was shaken where they were assembled together. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and they spoke the Word of God with boldness. Now this is where the fire of God truly comes to the church.

They said listen give us boldness to speak your word. But God hears how it happens. Stretch out your hand to heal, you know, how does God stretch out his hand? He stretches it out through his body the church.

They were praying Lord God give me boldness. Take the selfishness out of my heart. Take the fear of stepping into the marketplace out of my heart and through me. Stretch your hands out and begin to heal now.

It doesn't mean just sovereign supernatural healing. Thank God for that. But I'm talking about taking a handkerchief and with a hand drying and I that is full of tears. I'm talking about a hand on the shoulder of a young man or woman.

That doesn't have a father figure or mother figure and has nobody to tell them son. I'm proud of the fact that you've done good this week. I'm talking about hands that can lift up somebody who's down on the sidewalk and has no way of getting out of difficulty themselves.

Lest you and I as the Church of Jesus Christ and their prayer was God give us boldness to speak. By stretching your hands out through us to heal and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy Holy Child Jesus.

And when they had prayed the place was shaken where they were Assembled. The true fire of God came in other words. The place was shaken folks. I don't know about you, but I want the place where I am to be shaken all the time.

I don't want to stay stagnant in one spot. I want to keep moving forward in Christ and the prayer of my heart constantly as Lord shake me move me forward. Not a violent shaking like the psalmist says in Psalm 74 that leaves me the way I came.

No, I want to be shaken by the Spirit of God that means to be moved to deeper compassion in Christ to be moved to Wanting God to exhibit this heart that caused him to die on the cross to be made manifest through my life.

And they were all the and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and Renewed confidence came into their hearts and they were given the supernatural ability to care and to give for the needs of other people.

That's what happened. They were all shake. The place was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Ghost because their prayer was God. Stretch out your hands and let signs and wonders be done. Would you agree with me today?

That what you saw in Zambia is a sign and a wonder and what you saw in Argentina is a sign and a wonder. It came from prayer meetings in this church where people said Lord use us to make a difference.

Stretch out your hands and do the miraculous folks. If you had been in that barrio, I was in Argentina. You would know that what is happening today is a miracle. It is a sovereign touch of God has come upon these people.

If you had been in Zambia and seen the despair in the streets. You would know that the miracle power of God is being stretched out through the hands of his church. You would see brethren churches in Zambia are being encouraged.

They're getting a vision of what God can do. They're moving with the Spirit of God. We have patterned all that we do overseas that one day we can withdraw and the net the national churches can take it over.

Trusting God to Do the Impossible

Praise be to God. It's time to rise up and tell whatever is telling you that you can't that God can. It's time folks. It's time if all you have is that seed. It's time just to get up with that seed of faith if that's all you have if you've been a selfish man or woman all your life if you've lived in spiritual poverty and in Bondage and all you have is a seed of promise.

Maybe you're not an open flower in any area of your life yet. But even so it's time to get up and just speak to whatever stands before you didn't Jesus said speak to this mountain and tell it to be moved in the name of Jesus Christ and Begin to ask me.