You cannot appease God by working for Him. You cannot become spiritual by keeping very active in some form of church activity, or the like. Gods cry and longing throughout the ages of eternity has been for a home, a resting place in a people made in His own image…. and God will not allow you to find rest in your own works. God will not allow you to rest until you find that rest in UNION WITH HIMSELF ALONE. (George Warnock, Feed My Sheep, pg 7)
You see what George is saying? God is looking for a home. He is looking to abide not just in the individual believer but in the Body of Christ that stands as one. No amount of work or activity can make this come to pass for unless the Lord builds the house then we labor in vain. What house does God want to abide in? He wants to abide in the Body of Christ. A collection of stones does not make a temple. Yes we need the stones and they must be cut from the quarry of this world and they must be taken and shaped.
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.(1Pe 2:5) This is a painful but hard and vital part of the process. Yet, if the temple is to take shape then the stones must be taken to one place. They must be gathered together and transported to the proper location. What is the location of the temple of God that no human hand can build? The location is called unity.
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. ( John 17:20-21) Are we one brothers and sisters? Have we seen the fulfillment of the high priestly prayer of Jesus? Has the world seen this? Or, do they see the exact opposite? You see Jesus requires the unity of His people as a witness to the world.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light ( 1 Pet 2:9) Is this what the world sees? Do they see a holy people, a peculiar people , a people who is not like them? Christ will not return until we are a witness to the world .This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14).
God is gathering His stones together in this day. He is calling His priesthood to one place that they may show forth His praises. Now what does that phrase ” shew forth,” mean? It means to publish, to announce, to put front and center. Let me argue that we have never seen this unity but let me further argue that what Christ wants Christ gets. When Jesus prays to His Father that ” they all may be one,” then I put it to you that this will come to pass not just figuratively, for if it were simply figuratively then how could that be a witness to the world? Will Satan attempt to counterfeit this unity prior to the Lord revealing the true Church? Certainly he has already and will continue to until it culminates in the great whore church. Consider the words of pope Francis just this week ……. …
Our communities continue to experience divisions, which are a scandal. There is no other word for it: the divisions between Christians are a scandal…because they used Christ’s name to separate themselves from others within the Christian community. But the name of Christ creates communion and unity, not division! Baptism and the Cross are central elements in our common Christian discipleship. Divisions, on the other hand, weaken the credibility and effectiveness of our commitment to evangelization..Pope Francis ”“ General Audience ”“ 22 January 2014
You see brothers and sisters, Satan knows that the Lord is bringing the remnant saints together for the end days persecution so that they may be one and be a witness to the world and then Christ comes. And that old usurper and father of lies is already putting into place his own unity of ” believers,” for the end days that will be the deadliest enemy of the Royal Priesthood. The once born man understands what it means to work together in unity, to strive together to reach new heights. This is the symbolism of the tower of Babel where the brotherhood of man worked together to create their own monument to their own greatness. God’s monument, His own resting place is built by His own hand and He inhabits what He builds, He does not inhabit what men build. Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? ( Acts 7:48-49)
God is calling forth a people who will walk in the Truth and in Unity and be a resting place, a house to dwell in for Himself. It is prophesied by Jesus Himself in Matt 24:14 and in John 17: 20-21 and will most certainly come to pass. Perhaps you look at the landscape of Christendom and think that this is an impossibility? Yes indeed, with men and with the work of men this is impossible and has proven to be so, but with God all things are possible and when He says a thing will come to pass then it shall come to pass. Be encouraged brothers and sisters, God is at work and He is working with "lively stones,” all over the world. Prior to judgement , God called all the animals of the world to one place, to the ark of Noah. Now how did they come? How did they know to come and where to come to? If God can speak to animals and draw them together from all over the planet, He can and will speak to His people prior to the last judgement and He will bring them together and they will be a witness to the world and then He will come.