THANKSGIVING

Jack Davis

“Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift – II Cor. 9:15.” God’s immeasurable, inexpressible giving calls forth from us wholehearted thanks-living. That is thoughtful expression of real appreciation, not just lip service, but true deeper from the heart, activating our lives.

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us who can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered him up for us all,  how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Rom. 8:31-34.

We truly give ourselves to God’s beneficial will, when we presently realize how blessed we are even now. Then we also are blessed to consider how good He has been to us in the past. Then yet to know of the great goodness our Father has in store for us for ever with our Lord. Oh to realize that all is made abundantly available unto us is upon the basis of the unselfish sacrifice of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, what a long lonesome journey He traveled in order to prepare for us (the dreaded cross, even the lonely tomb), but then, thank God He arose, to return to the place of our soon to be heavenly home! The joyful presence of our Father’s welcome home.

But now thank God through out this age He has also been working in us to get us ready for that glorious place with Him. We now truly more fully express our appreciation as we keep coming back to Him for more and more of all that He has been preparing us for.

See I Thess. 2:11-13: Paul thanked God that those believers would walk worthy of God who had called them unto His kingdom and glory. Such manifested thankful hearts, of those that received the Word of God, not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which works effectually in those that believe. Phil. 2:13: For it is God that works in us the will and do of His good pleasure. 

Thank God for the developing of the life of  Christ in us, by the power of the Holy Spirit, and the effectual working of the Word in us. Oh yes, He said I go to prepare a place for you, and oh how He has faithfully worked. But yet not every eye has seen nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of every man all that He has prepared for them that love Him in return. This plan all originated with our loving Father and our gracious Lord. As we yield our life more completely to God, our lives are made more fruitful unto His glory. Thank God!

He has the best possible worth sharing program there could ever be; and the best security system. He said, I am thy shield and exceedingly great reward. Praise God! They are out of this world. When we give ourselves or of ourselves, let it be of loves appreciation rather than legal requirement. When we let the love of Christ constrain us, such is most beneficial, blessed and eternally enjoyable.

EXAMPLES  OF  THANKFULNESS

and encouragement thereunto

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.” Psa. 68:19. Can we believe it and back our wagon up and load up and share them with others? With thankfulness? When? Early? At midnight I will arise to give thanks unto thee. Psa. 19:62. Shall I leave my rest behind, at opportune times and otherwise? It is our privilege always to have an attitude of gratitude! Is such an aspect of overcoming? How would a full overcomer think of praise and thanksgiving as a sacrifice? Especially in view of all our dear Lord has done and is doing for us, and in us? Oh what a grand and glorious privilege! 

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy loving kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.” Psa. 92:1-2. When the writer says “good,” it is speaking of that which is most beneficial, to take highest enjoyment therefrom. “Thing” in italics would indicate far more than a singular act, but a precious privileged practice. Paul sings, “In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I Thess. 5:18. 

Thank God that we can expect Him to make all things work together for our good. Rom. 8:28. We know it is so good for us to enter such a state being thankful, because He repeatedly tells us so. We are glad to do it with delight because He enjoys it, and we have joy in pleasing Him, “Our beloved.”

“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.” Col. 1:12. “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him. Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Col. 2:6-7.  “...let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” Col. 3:15. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Col. 3:17.

God’s will for our thankfulness is abundantly stated. Our desire to please Him should equate thereunto.

Working Weakness

Gordon Crook - Pastor, Wichita, KS

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” II Corinthians 12:9

God wants to work weakness in your life. It is not really that He needs to “work” weakness; we are weak in ourselves, but that we need to recognize our weakness so that He can work in our lives. It is our very weakness that brings us to His presence.

The culture we live in does not value weakness, and encourages us to rely on ourselves and to be strong. We are told that we do need God. He is for weaklings and people who don’t know any better. Well, we do know better.

“Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.” Psalms 6:2. Our weakness is what causes us to cry out to God for His grace and mercy. When we are strong in ourselves, we have no need of God’s working grace. When we turn to Him in weakness, then He can show His power and then the glory goes to Him.

Our weakness is found in our humanity. We are unable to rescue ourselves or even help ourselves, even though we tend to want to do it all ourselves. Even Jesus experienced some of the weakness of this humanity. “For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.” II Corinthians 13:4. He was able to die because He had a human body that suffered the same weaknesses as we do. In His humanity, Jesus is able to understand all of our weaknesses. “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.” Isaiah 42:1. Notice that Jesus was upheld by His Father. He was completely dependant upon His Father when He was here.

We, more than Jesus, need to be dependant upon the Father. He is the only one that can sustain us. “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” Isaiah 40:29. Notice who receives strength and power from God. Not those that are strong and powerful in themselves; those that are faint and have no might.

There are so many examples in the Old Testament of those who God used through their weakness. Consider Abraham who had to wait until he was too old to have a child. God was only able to show His power when Abraham no longer had any chance of doing it on his own.

Consider Joseph who had to go through slavery and imprisonment before God could use him to bring about a great deliverance. Joseph had no possibility, while sitting in prison, of making something great of himself. But out of his weakness, God brought greatness and glory to Himself.

And Gideon, who recognized his weakness, but God still had to reduce his army to just 300 men with pitchers and torches so that God would get all of the glory.

There are many others as well. They are examples to us of what God can do in our weakness. “Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.” Hebrews 11:34.

Paul knew and understood the use fullness of weakness in his life, as God had allowed something that taught him to rely entirely on God. He gloried in his infirmities, not because he enjoyed the infirmities, but because he knew God would be glorified through them. “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” II Corinthians 12:10.

Weakness does not mean that we cannot do anything for Jesus. Quite the contrary, through our weakness, God is able to work more for His glory than if we were doing everything we possibly could in our own power. 

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13. Everything that God wants you to do is enabled by His power and His strength. God will work through your weakness if you let Him.

 SANCTIFICATION

Anita Clark – Pastor, Carbondale, KS

“Then, said He, Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God.  He taketh away the first that he might establish the second.  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”  Hebrews 10:9-10.

There are two phases to sanctification which need to be known by the believer in Christ.  First, in John 1:29, John the Baptist spoke out and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.” The first part of sanctification, which means “separation, consecration and setting apart,” which were brought about by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ.

II Thessalonians 2:13 Apostle Paul says, “”We are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to Salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” Here the “you” he is speaking of is the whole New Creation (every believer in Christ Jesus) who through the death and resurrection of Christ, were sanctified setting them apart to many benefits. These benefits listed are: our believing (faith), eternal salvation, made a New Creation in Christ, washed in the blood of Jesus and given a new birth and status as a child of God, and set apart for God and whatever He wants to work in us, or through us.  We are set or positioned in the body of Christ, into whatever places He destined us to be in, fulfilling His divine will for us as an individual in the body of Christ.  

I Corinthians 6:9-12, Apostle Paul writing to the Corinthian believers, says, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived.” It is plain that Apostle Paul is speaking of inheritance of the child or believer in Christ.  He lists ten things that are called “works of the flesh” in Galatians 5:19.  Note the word used in our text “inherit.”  Believers who walk after their fleshly desires will suffer loss of the greatest inheritance that the Lord will give to the overcomer once they are in heaven. Notice what Paul says in V. 11, “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”  After we are born again we are righteous in God’s sight. Also, we “are sanctified.” which means we are washed in the blood of Christ and made righteous in God’s sight, we are counted a New Creation in Christ. This is our standing before God.  However, as we yield our bodies as living sacrifices unto God and seek to do His divine will for our lives, we live a sanctified (separated) life in the will of God.

Hebrews 10:10-12 tells us “By the which will (God’s divine will) we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ once for all.” His offering set us apart from the penalty of sin.  We are declared “righteous” in Christ, in fact His beautiful righteousness is given to us.  We are redeemed and set free from sin. This power to be separated to God was brought about in our lives because Jesus bore all our sins past, present and future in His own body, with all the suffering He went through on the cross. Hebrews 13:12 says, “Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood suffered without the gate.  Let us go therefore unto Him without the camp bearing His reproach.”  

The Second Phase of “Sanctification” - we call “The Practical side.” This is the side which shows the actual gaining of deliverance from the power of sin.  It is not a one time event, but goes on continually until we stand before Jesus in heaven. In the book of Colossians 3:5-10, we read Paul’s admonition to this group of believers, which applies to all of us. “Mortify (give over to death) therefore you members (bodies) which are upon the earth.” In verses 5-9 He lists how the flesh of mankind operates.  Then, in verse 8 he says, “Put off all these - anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.  Lie not to one another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds. And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him.” Jesus said in John 17:17 in His prayer to His Father, “Sanctify them through Thy truth, Thy word is truth.”

Victory over the flesh (practical sanctification) and all it does is gained only by trusting in Christ for deliverance. Romans 6:9, 11-13, “Likewise reckon (Greek: “to take an inventory, estimate, think on,”) ye also to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin reign in our mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof.  Neither yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead. And your members (bodies) as instruments of righteousness unto God.”

Prophecy

Earlene Davis

Christ The Judge – Revelation 1

John the Beloved disciple was given visions which are recorded in the book of Revelation. John was on the barren isle of Patmos where they dumped criminals. He was put there for the word of God and for testimony of Jesus Christ (1:9). In spirit he was taken to the Lord’s day, Christ’s day to reign. He heard a great voice behind him as of a trumpet and he turned to see the voice and saw seven golden candlesticks (vs. 10-12). Verse 20 tells us the seven candlesticks are the seven churches. 

Looking back from the view point of the Lord’s day, John was seeing the Church Age. He sees Jesus in the midst of the churches, as Judge. He is judging believers and will give His verdict at the judgment seat of Christ (II Cor. 5:10). He judges by His Word. A nine-fold description of Christ as Judge is in Vs. 13-16. 

1. “Clothed (or endued) with a garment down to the foot.” Jesus Christ has been endued with the authority and power to Judge – (Jn. 5:22). When Christ was raised from the dead, God gave Him to be the Head, the Authority over the church, the body of Christ. He has the right to judge the church, for He gave His life for the church– (Eph. 1:20-23; 5:23,25).

2. “Girt about the paps (or breasts) with a golden girdle.” Breasts are for nourishment, love and mercy, but as judge Christ cannot show mercy, so the breasts are girded up with a golden girdle, gold speaks of deity. When God judges our flesh by the Word, He does not show mercy. Later on in the book of Revelation the saints are girt about the same way, agreeing with Christ when He comes to judge  the world.

3. “His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow.” White speaks of purity and holiness and white hair of His eternal being (ageless), Compare Dan. 7:9 where He is called the Ancient of Days. In Revelation He is seen as “God manifested in the flesh,” in the capacity of His majesty, the Judge.

4. “His eyes were as a flame of fire.” His eyes scrutinize and sees the hypocrisy of men. Heb. 4:13, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” 

5. “His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace.” Brass in scripture speaks of judgment. The brazen altar was made of brass, where the sacrifical animals were slain and burned, the judgment of God on the sacrifice, instead of on the people picturing the sacrifice of Christ. Also Moses was told to put a brazen serpent on a pole. When the snake bit people looked on the brazen serpent, they were healed. Christ likens Himself to that brazen serpent on that pole in Jn. 3:14. Fine brass speaks of intricate judgment, Christ judges thoroughly as He walks among the churches.

6. “His voice as the sound of many waters.” Dan. 10:6 likewise describes the voice of the Judge sounding like many waters. A great water falls makes a mighty roar.

7. “He had in His right hand seven stars.” V. 20 tells us these stars are the angels or messengers (pastors) of the churches. Christ holds them in His right hand, that means they are responsible to Him. Which is more serious then the responsibility to the people. Heb. 13:17, “they must give account.” Acts 20:28, Pastors are responsible to feed the saints which Christ has purchased with His own blood. 

8. “Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword.” Heb. 4:12, the sword is the Word of God. The sword going out of His mouth speaks of the Word by which He judges. He is the Word of God, the Word made flesh. He speaks the Word or causes others to speak it. We are responsible for the Word we hear, no matter who the vessel is that gives it forth. We are responsible to heed the Word and to let it judge us. The Word cuts back the flesh, but the Holy Spirit heals the hurt.

9. “His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.” His countenance is very bright, for He is the True Light – Jn. 1:4-5,9. Paul saw Him at noon and His countenance was brighter than the noon day sun. Compare Jn. 3:19-21 & 8:12.

John fell at His feet, seeing the awesome Personage of Christ as Judge – V. 17-19. Christ touched John and encouraged him. “Fear not,” I am the Eternal One.  Write the things thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be thereafter. 

Next issue: Christ’s message to the churches

JONAH

Debra Isenbletter - Pastor Springfield, Missouri

Jonah 2:8: “They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.”

After Jonah Fainted and Remembered and Prayed Jonah made a Confession.  At first glance when reading this you would think that Jonah is speaking of others but this is a personal confession and Jonah is speaking of himself. He begins with a Confession: “They that observe lying vanities” and he ends with a Conclusion: “they forsake their own mercy.”  

When Jonah says “They” he is not just referring to others, but himself.  He could be thinking about Israel, for “they” had trusted in “vanities” and of course he could be thinking about the Gentiles, for “they” too had done the same, though they did it in ignorance. But this is personal for Jonah, he is also speaking of himself, for he also had trusted in “vanities.” Jonah says “observe” which is another way of saying trusted.  It means “to regard, to guard and preserve,” that is a striking statement.  To “observe” means to look at and to recognize, the idea is that it is not done in ignorance. To “guard” means to accept it, to believe it, to protect it. That is what is so dangerous.  Jonah’s confession is that he knew what he was doing, he did it with his eyes open, he did it willing, knowing that it was wrong when he ran from the Lord.  

The word “lying” means emptiness” or “falsehood” and “vanities” means “emptiness, something transitory.”  It is like a double emptiness. How sad, how very, very sad for someone who knew the Lord, knew the Word to be taken in by something that was nothing, to be taken in by a lie, by lying to himself.  A lie has no truth, no substance, no reality and although Jonah did not worship an idol, he told himself a lie and believed it to justify himself. These “lying vanities” can be anything we tell ourselves to justify ourselves in disobeying the Lord.  In Jonah’s case I think there were two things that he put before his God that became “lying vanities” and he used them to justify disobeying God.  One was his Pride and the other was his Patriotism.  Pride in being a prophet for Israel, and Patriotism for Israel in his attitude against the Gentiles. When Pride and Patriotism were put before God’s Word and God’s Will they had become idols, something that was empty that could not support or satisfy in time of crisis and the Lord had to show him how very vain these things were.  

In our own lives, these “lying vanities” can speak of deception, either by ourselves or by others. Both are equally dangerous and destructive. We can believe the lies others tell us because that is what we want to hear and we can believe lies we tell ourselves for the same reason.  We can do this when we are discouraged or disobedient. We can do this when we are walking by sight and not by faith.  These “lying vanities” may not be physical idols or statues but they are just as powerless to help us when the time comes to face the consequences of our actions or decisions.  What is so striking is that Jonah, who would have shuddered to go to an idol for help, had fled to Tarshish, to those that trusted in idols. Now, a chastened Jonah, realizes what he has done and makes this confession and identifies himself with those who have done the same.  The result of trusting in “lying vanities” is trouble and turmoil (Psa.88:3; Psa.143:4) and the remedy for “lying vanities” is simply to trust the Lord (Psa.31:6).  

The conclusion that Jonah comes to is striking for he realizes that those who trust in these vain lies have “forsake their own mercy.”  Other translations for this are: “Forsake their own [Source of] mercy and loving-kindness. (Amplified Bible); “Forsake their faithfulness,” (New American Standard); and “Give up their source of mercy” (Complete Jewish Bible).

To “forsake” means to relinquish, to leave, to refuse.” Jonah knew what God’s mercy was, he knew that it belonged to him, that it was his privilege, as did the rest of God’s people. Yet, in disobedience he forsook it, he left it, he refused it, as did Israel in their disobedience.  Jonah, though he did not realize it at the time was refusing God’s “mercy,” His “loving-kindness,” His “goodness;” His “favor.”  He was refusing to believe in God’s “faithfulness” and refusing to be “faithful” in return.  He took it for granted and when he turned away from it, the Lord let him feel how empty his life was without it.  He did not realize what he had turned away from until he denied it and suddenly felt the need for it and could not seem to find it.  Another meaning for “mercy” is “steadfast love,” and despite Jonah’s departure, the Lord was still there and still loved him. Jesus made that same promise to us when He said, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee” (Heb.13:5).

The real lesson that Jonah learned was that he had mercy at his disposal and he did not accept it.  He failed to show mercy to others when he refused to go to Nineveh and now he saw how precious “mercy” was.  But, Praise the Lord, despite that and because of that realization, the Lord will show mercy to Jonah and he will preach to Nineveh and the Lord will show His mercy to them.

Psalm 23

Last Part

By Vicky Moots

Psalm 23:6a: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…”. Our good and merciful Shepherd goes before us to lead us, and goodness and mercy are following behind us (our rear-guard). We are therefore surrounded by His goodness and mercy and need not fear the attacks of the enemy. Blessings will follow us as we follow Christ. Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount in Matt. 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” As we receive His mercy, we show it to others.

Goodness is one of the attributes of God and actually means “God-ness.” The Scripture plainly tells us that apart from God, there is no goodness. Matt. 19:16-17 relates the story of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus and said, “…Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God…”. Jesus was trying to tell him that in order to call Him “good,” then he must believe that He is God, Emanuel, “God with us,” because only God is good. Did he believe that Jesus was really God in the flesh? We know that he did not actually believe that because verse 22 tells us that he went away sorrowful.

That young man had wanted to know what “good” thing that he could do to earn eternal life. This question is often asked today. In Rom. 3:12 the Apostle Paul quoted Ps. 14:3: “…there is none that doeth good, no not one.” There is therefore no “good” thing that we can do to earn eternal life because there is no “good” in the old creation. Any good that we do is through the life of Christ in us after we are born again, born of God, and become a new creation as sons of God.

Goodness is not a work of the flesh; it is a part of the fruit of the Spirit, listed in Gal. 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…”. God’s goodness will be manifested in us through the fruit that we bear in our lives as we walk in the Spirit, and not through any of our self-works. It is a result of the life of Christ in us.

Goodness and mercy are closely connected to each other as attributes of God. We see this in the words that God spoke to Moses in the mountain. Ex. 34:6-7: “And the LORD passed by before him [Moses], and proclaimed, The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…”. So, we see that the Lord is both merciful and abundant in goodness.

Goodness has already been discussed, but what is mercy? The dictionary meaning of mercy is “kindness in excess of what is expected by fairness; refraining from punishing offenders or harming enemies; the power to forgive or be kind.” All of these meanings were manifested toward us by God when He sent His son to die in our place and to bear our punishment for sin. God did this for us because of His mercy toward fallen mankind. When we deserved death, He gave us life.

Jeremiah declares God’s mercy in Lam. 3:21-23: “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” God’s mercies are new every morning because we need them to be able to start each new day.

Psalm 86 records a prayer of David. Verse 5, “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” In vs. 15-16 we see that David does call upon God’s mercy and says, “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me…”. David in his prayer is echoing some of the words that God spoke to Moses, and they are just as true for us today.

We are also encouraged by the writer of Hebrews to call upon God’s mercy, because we have a High Priest, Jesus, who understands our feelings and our infirmities and short comings, and He is able to intercede for us. Heb. 4:16: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Because of the blood of Jesus, we can come boldly into the presence of God without fear. The judgment for our sin was poured out upon Jesus on the cross so that we could receive God’s mercy instead of punishment. God’s goodness and mercy are always present and available in the person of our Shepherd who leads us.

How long will His goodness and mercy surround us? “All the days of my life,” just as David said. Throughout this life we need His goodness and mercy. His goodness and mercy are unlimited and have a life time guarantee. That means we can call upon His mercy everyday for the rest of our lives as we pray and come boldly unto the throne of grace. David realized that this was a sure thing and left no room for doubt when he said, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

We don’t have to guess or hope that God will show mercy to us, because it is based on His merit, not our works. Since God’s goodness and mercy are as eternal as He is, we can also say with the Psalmist, “I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever” – Ps. 89:1. So, lift up your voice and sing!

Psalm 23:6: “…and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” Notice that David says, “I will dwell.” He does not say, “I hope to dwell,” but “I will dwell.” If you were to die today, do you know without doubt that you would go to heaven to dwell in the house of the Lord? Perhaps you might say, “I think so,” or “I sure hope so; I’m trying to live right and do the best I can. That’s all God can expect, right?” Can we, like David, really be sure that we will dwell in the house of the Lord?

What does the word “dwell” mean? It means “to take up residence; to abide; to stay.” It does not mean just to visit for a short time, but to live permanently. David desired to dwell with the Lord, to be able to stay in His presence, and so should we. Ps. 27:4, “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life…”.

How can that be possible? What would be required of us in order to be able to do that? David asked that question in Ps. 15:1: “LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill”? There are qualifications for being able to dwell in the house of the Lord, and God showed David the answer in v. 2: “He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.” This is only possible after we are born again and become a new creation in Christ and receive His righteousness. As a new creation we become a part of His family and have a right to dwell in His house. We cannot earn that privilege; it is all by His grace.

Jesus, Himself, assured us of a dwelling place in His house. John 14:2-3, “In my Father’s house are many mansions…I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” The word “mansions” actually means “dwelling places” or “abodes.” 

When Jesus stated, “I go to prepare a place for you,” He meant that He was going to the cross, to prepare the way for us to have a place in heaven to abide with Him. The work was finished on the cross, and the only nails that were used to prepare that place were the ones in his hands and feet. He also promised that He would return for us to receive us unto Himself to dwell with Him. All we have to do is to believe.

But how long will He allow us to live with Him? Is there a limit? Not only was David sure of his dwelling place, but he knew that it would be forever, because God’s love is forever. We can be assured that this is true for us also who believe, because Jesus, our Good Shepherd, promised us that it would be so. John 10:27-28, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto the eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

If we are His sheep, then we are safe and secure in His hand. We are His sheep forever, and He has provided an eternal dwelling place for us so that we can dwell with Him in His house forever.

 THE ENCOURAGING WORD

“I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with Me.” Psalm 13:6

“You have enclosed me and shut me in behind and before and have laid your Hand upon me. Your (in Christ) knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high above me, I cannot reach it.” Psalm 139:5-6

“You are my hiding place and my shield. I wait for your word.” Psalm 119:114

“The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.” Psalm 118:14

“The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.” Psalm 138:8

Martha Wainright