I love today's Psalm for its applicability to my life, and it's ability to convict me when I need it! I like it better in the hard-cover version I read most days:
"I will study the way that is blameless. When shall I attain it?
I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is base." Psalm 101:2-3a NRSV
I've had years of practice at walking with the Lord at home-- from being a stay-at-home mom with three kids, to a work-at-home artist and writer. Most of the time it is only the Lord who knows whether I have lived with integrity or not, although the fruit that I have borne, good or bad, all comes from this tree, grown at home. Especially now, when the routine of raising children is over, there are lots of opportunities to waste time on worthless things. Even though I'm careful not to get into evil things, I've discovered that even "harmless" things can steal the fruit I was meant to bear. Since Jesus Himself is my righteousness, and the Way in which I'm to walk, staying in His presence is the only way I'm going to attain a useful and blameless life that pleases Him. If I don't purposely set myself to live before Him at all times, I can easily drift (and occasionally do).
As a person who spends a great deal of time alone, I've discovered that my worst enemy is myself. I believe David realized this as well, and expressed it in this Psalm. If I do nothing but look into the mirror, I'm going to have to deal with a person who could possibly: do something base, fall away from grace, be perverse of heart, think evil thoughts, secretly slander someone, have a haughty or arrogant attitude, practice deceit or utter lies. If I don't face up to the wickedness that dwells in my own selfish nature, I've already practiced deceit with myself. So I'm with David-- I'm not going to wear a mask to fool myself (and I can't fool God, of course). Instead, I'm going to get into conflict with all evil that thinks it wants to dwell in my private lodgings. "Morning by morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, cutting off all evildoers from the city of the Lord." vs 8 NRSV
And in the holographic sense, I'm the city of the Lord, and so are you.
Showing posts with label dwelling place of God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dwelling place of God. Show all posts
Friday, October 29, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
July 31, 2010 Suddenly
One of the reasons we're told not to judge others on "doubtful matters"-- things that aren't stated outright in Scripture-- is that we don't know what God is working on with someone else. We don't even know that about ourselves so often. Because Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith, it is His job to decide what needs to be changed when. Our job is receive one another, accept one another, and live according to the law of love in order not to trouble others with our mode of life. That is hard enough without trying to fix others.
If any correction needs to happen, let it be done by those with the authority to do so, and let it be on the clear doctrines of Christ, such as fornication.
When King Hezekiah-- grieved by the spiritual adulteries perpetrated by his predecessor-- desired to bring the nation back to a right relationship with God and reinstate the temple worship, he didn't seem to dictate exactly how that was to be done. He exhorted the priests and Levites to consecrate themselves and to cleanse out the temple. He told them to take out the rubbish, but he left it to them to do the work. Since we each are a temple of the Holy Spirit, and each of us kings and priests unto the Lord, it is the Holy Spirit's task to lead each one of us as to how to cleanse ourselves from dead works. Some of the rubbish in our souls might be obvious to others, but some of it might look OK to someone else, but the Lord reveals to us that it's not OK for us. "Whatever is not of faith is sin." This is a basic key to walking in holiness (wholeness), but it really comes down to the individual working out their salvation with Christ's leading. We are all in different stages of our growth and development.
The mysterious thing is how the Spirit works in each of us, deep inside our hearts, to prepare us for the next stage. Sometimes we observe a brother or sister who seems to be wandering around in darkness, and then, voila! All of a sudden they seem to have snapped out of it, moving forward in a level of glory that might even pass us by temporarily. We should rejoice when that happens. It gives me hope to know that if I'm struggling in life, God's got it under control, and He's leading me step by step out of the maze of confusion and darkness that I might be in.
I think we can anticipate a sudden "coming round the bend" for the Church in general. God is doing a work in His people, much of it unseen. Christ is still the head of His body. He is still in charge of each individual's salvation process, and of the building of His Kingdom, living stone by living stone. Maybe at this moment some of the trash is being taken out of the temple in one person's life, and another is getting their instrument of praise polished up and ready to go. At the proper time, all will be in order and the glory of God will be seen in a unity, joy and love that is greater than has ever been seen before. This verse will again be very relevant: "All the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly."
2 Chronicles 29:36
If any correction needs to happen, let it be done by those with the authority to do so, and let it be on the clear doctrines of Christ, such as fornication.
When King Hezekiah-- grieved by the spiritual adulteries perpetrated by his predecessor-- desired to bring the nation back to a right relationship with God and reinstate the temple worship, he didn't seem to dictate exactly how that was to be done. He exhorted the priests and Levites to consecrate themselves and to cleanse out the temple. He told them to take out the rubbish, but he left it to them to do the work. Since we each are a temple of the Holy Spirit, and each of us kings and priests unto the Lord, it is the Holy Spirit's task to lead each one of us as to how to cleanse ourselves from dead works. Some of the rubbish in our souls might be obvious to others, but some of it might look OK to someone else, but the Lord reveals to us that it's not OK for us. "Whatever is not of faith is sin." This is a basic key to walking in holiness (wholeness), but it really comes down to the individual working out their salvation with Christ's leading. We are all in different stages of our growth and development.
The mysterious thing is how the Spirit works in each of us, deep inside our hearts, to prepare us for the next stage. Sometimes we observe a brother or sister who seems to be wandering around in darkness, and then, voila! All of a sudden they seem to have snapped out of it, moving forward in a level of glory that might even pass us by temporarily. We should rejoice when that happens. It gives me hope to know that if I'm struggling in life, God's got it under control, and He's leading me step by step out of the maze of confusion and darkness that I might be in.
I think we can anticipate a sudden "coming round the bend" for the Church in general. God is doing a work in His people, much of it unseen. Christ is still the head of His body. He is still in charge of each individual's salvation process, and of the building of His Kingdom, living stone by living stone. Maybe at this moment some of the trash is being taken out of the temple in one person's life, and another is getting their instrument of praise polished up and ready to go. At the proper time, all will be in order and the glory of God will be seen in a unity, joy and love that is greater than has ever been seen before. This verse will again be very relevant: "All the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly."
2 Chronicles 29:36
Friday, June 11, 2010
June 11, 2010 When We Cover Our Ears
From the glory and rejoicing of the dedication of Solomon's temple to the hard-hearted stoning of Stephen: what a jolting and disturbing contrast!
I don't have a lot to say about this. Except: this could be us! At any time, it could be me. This is a stark picture of what happens to us when we habitually stop our ears from the Word of God, reject true prophetic expressions from the Lord, or refuse to receive a godly rebuke given in love. Taking the truth can be painful, but when we refuse it, we can kill. (Don't just limit killing to picking up a stone-- you know we can kill with words, with looks, with rejection.)
I pray that the Spirit of Wisdom and Discernment will show us the heart of the matter. One thing I see is that, if we get stuck where we're at and make a religion out of what's supposed to be a relationship, we are at risk of completely misunderstanding, and even outright rejecting, the next thing that God might do. His purposes have been flowing along, right from the beginning, and He's never turned back from where He's been going. The people of Stephen's day were right in the middle of God's river, the same river they were in during Solomon's reign, and yet they misinterpreted what was happening. He even told them in advance what He was going to do.
KEY:
God always goes higher and deeper! Instead of the commandments in the ark and the glory cloud in the holy place of the temple, the living Word was in Stephen and the glory of God had filled him, a temple "not made with hands." [Not just Stephen, but any Christian who allows Him to do so.]
I've seen and heard of God doing some pretty strange things. Sometimes I've misjudged these things, and later had to repent. I think God's going to be doing some very radical things in these days. I've heard some things, even just today, that fit that description, and I'm not going to disregard them. We need discernment, and we definitely need to stay close to Jesus and listen to His Spirit, Who is glad to interpret to us what He is saying and doing in these last days. Let's not cover our ears!
"But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse." Acts 7:57 NASB
Bonus: Discern the difference between following the crowd and the unity of the Spirit.
I don't have a lot to say about this. Except: this could be us! At any time, it could be me. This is a stark picture of what happens to us when we habitually stop our ears from the Word of God, reject true prophetic expressions from the Lord, or refuse to receive a godly rebuke given in love. Taking the truth can be painful, but when we refuse it, we can kill. (Don't just limit killing to picking up a stone-- you know we can kill with words, with looks, with rejection.)
I pray that the Spirit of Wisdom and Discernment will show us the heart of the matter. One thing I see is that, if we get stuck where we're at and make a religion out of what's supposed to be a relationship, we are at risk of completely misunderstanding, and even outright rejecting, the next thing that God might do. His purposes have been flowing along, right from the beginning, and He's never turned back from where He's been going. The people of Stephen's day were right in the middle of God's river, the same river they were in during Solomon's reign, and yet they misinterpreted what was happening. He even told them in advance what He was going to do.
KEY:
God always goes higher and deeper! Instead of the commandments in the ark and the glory cloud in the holy place of the temple, the living Word was in Stephen and the glory of God had filled him, a temple "not made with hands." [Not just Stephen, but any Christian who allows Him to do so.]
I've seen and heard of God doing some pretty strange things. Sometimes I've misjudged these things, and later had to repent. I think God's going to be doing some very radical things in these days. I've heard some things, even just today, that fit that description, and I'm not going to disregard them. We need discernment, and we definitely need to stay close to Jesus and listen to His Spirit, Who is glad to interpret to us what He is saying and doing in these last days. Let's not cover our ears!
"But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse." Acts 7:57 NASB
Bonus: Discern the difference between following the crowd and the unity of the Spirit.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
June 10, 2010 Why Does Beauty Exist?
Stephen's mention of Solomon's temple in his sermon (we're still in that!), and his quote from Isaiah, are nicely juxtaposed in our One Year Bible reading today. "But Solomon built Him a house. However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: ‘ Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the LORD, Or what is the place of My rest? Has My hand not made all these things?' " Acts 7:47-50 NKJV (Isaiah 66:1,2).
As I contemplate the beauty of the temple and furnishings that Solomon designed, I am quite certain that he created them as an act of worship. I remembered that Solomon himself mentioned that God doesn't live in a physical building, so I decided to look it up (we're coming up to it in just a few days): "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!" I Kings 8:27 There is so much more to be said about the dwelling-place of God, and I'm sure that topic will unfold as we continue reading throughout the year.
We read in previous chapters that Solomon was quite a naturalist (botanist/biologist). He appreciated how God expressed Himself through the intricacies of nature, and responded to that by echoing the beauty and excellence in his own creations. He wanted the temple surroundings to remind people that God was the creator of the world, and that He should be called upon and worshipped. Solomon knew the language of beauty.
As Stephen also pointed out, the creation itself is not to be worshipped-- when the people made idols and worshipped them, the end result was captivity. There is an obvious difference in decorating things beautifully with images from nature and making a golden calf and worshipping it. It's what's behind the image-making-- the purpose and spirit of it-- that makes artistic expression what it is. I may be stepping into a spiritual hornet's nest here, but the Muslim aesthetic is all about trying to avoid such idolatry (geometric adornment only; hide women's faces and bodies), but it does nothing to change the idolatrous heart of humankind. On the opposite end of the spectrum is the Western culture of idolizing beauty in general, and beautiful people particularly. This is where all of our hearts go when we are not letting the Spirit of Truth give our sinful hearts an overhaul.
God is beautiful, but beauty is not god! Beauty is an intrinsic quality of God-- you can't have God without getting extravagant beauty in the bargain! It springs forth from Him. Just look around! And God created human beings with an appreciation of, and an ability to create, astounding beauty. I am very thankful for that! I am a great fan of God's beauty, His artistic ability, and His awe-inspiring creations.
I believe that beauty on this earth exists to testify of God's Beauty, of Him. Getting religious about our attitudes about beauty just doesn't help anything-- it only spoils what God has given. But if we can see beauty as a interface of communion-- back and forth, giving and receiving-- we will enter into a greater realm of Heavenly worship and glory than we have ever been in before.
As I contemplate the beauty of the temple and furnishings that Solomon designed, I am quite certain that he created them as an act of worship. I remembered that Solomon himself mentioned that God doesn't live in a physical building, so I decided to look it up (we're coming up to it in just a few days): "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!" I Kings 8:27 There is so much more to be said about the dwelling-place of God, and I'm sure that topic will unfold as we continue reading throughout the year.
We read in previous chapters that Solomon was quite a naturalist (botanist/biologist). He appreciated how God expressed Himself through the intricacies of nature, and responded to that by echoing the beauty and excellence in his own creations. He wanted the temple surroundings to remind people that God was the creator of the world, and that He should be called upon and worshipped. Solomon knew the language of beauty.
As Stephen also pointed out, the creation itself is not to be worshipped-- when the people made idols and worshipped them, the end result was captivity. There is an obvious difference in decorating things beautifully with images from nature and making a golden calf and worshipping it. It's what's behind the image-making-- the purpose and spirit of it-- that makes artistic expression what it is. I may be stepping into a spiritual hornet's nest here, but the Muslim aesthetic is all about trying to avoid such idolatry (geometric adornment only; hide women's faces and bodies), but it does nothing to change the idolatrous heart of humankind. On the opposite end of the spectrum is the Western culture of idolizing beauty in general, and beautiful people particularly. This is where all of our hearts go when we are not letting the Spirit of Truth give our sinful hearts an overhaul.
God is beautiful, but beauty is not god! Beauty is an intrinsic quality of God-- you can't have God without getting extravagant beauty in the bargain! It springs forth from Him. Just look around! And God created human beings with an appreciation of, and an ability to create, astounding beauty. I am very thankful for that! I am a great fan of God's beauty, His artistic ability, and His awe-inspiring creations.
I believe that beauty on this earth exists to testify of God's Beauty, of Him. Getting religious about our attitudes about beauty just doesn't help anything-- it only spoils what God has given. But if we can see beauty as a interface of communion-- back and forth, giving and receiving-- we will enter into a greater realm of Heavenly worship and glory than we have ever been in before.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
June 9, 2010 The Spirit of Excellence
Being an artist, I always love reading the descriptions of the temple, in all of its stages throughout the Bible. They've become more vivid to me as I've practiced imagining the details in my mind's eye. The varied way that the Spirit of Wisdom worked in Solomon-- either in the practicalities of business, or in the beautiful details of an artistic vision-- is a vivid picture of how God's wisdom is a priceless endowment in every area of life. Christ is now building His temple, the Church, as a habitation for God's name, and the glory that permeates His workmanship, through the Spirit of Wisdom, is what sets the Church apart and makes her great in every area of influence.
The same Spirit of Wisdom works through the members of Christ's Body today. No matter what our endeavors and areas of gifting are, the Spirit of Wisdom, when allowed to guide and empower, will enable us to glorify God by helping us to achieve a level of excellence that shines. I am reminded that when people began to notice Jesus, they commented that He did "all things well." The fact that Solomon did "all things well" clues us in to the concept that he is a "type and shadow" of Christ. Think how glorious His reign will be! Do you ever let yourself imagine what that time will be like? I certainly do!
Nobody that I know does "all things well"! I'm good at several things, but I'm terrible with numbers! Lucky for me, my husband Bob is a whiz! He, on the other hand, has some holes in his abilities that I can fill nicely. We're a good team! And this is the glory of oneness: not only in marriage, but in the Body of Christ, the Church! As we each do our part by the Spirit of Wisdom and Excellence, we participate in building a living temple for the glory of God's name. "O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!" Psalm 8:9
We should never look down on someone because their part doesn't look spiritual to us. Everyone has a duty, whether they are prophets or plumbers, to walk in the Spirit, and thus shine with God's wisdom and excellence, which is part of His glory. As for the saints who are on the earth, "They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight." Psalm 16:3 Being excellent in all we do is not about getting glory for ourselves (which is worldliness), but is all about showing forth the glory of God.
Sadly, a religious spirit of false humility has, over the decades, tended to tarnish the Church's ability to shine forth the glory, promoting, in many individuals, a need to diminish the light of Christ in themselves. If we are truly walking in the Spirit, we will do whatever it is we do, whether small or great, in an attitude of worship, which will allow God's excellence to be seen.
Even when something is unnoticed by people, excellence glorifies God! One of the marks of quality-- for example, of a piece of designer clothing-- is that even the hidden seams are marked with excellence of workmanship. Never think that what you do doesn't matter-- it's all part of the Church's reason for existence: to glorify God's name.
Don't get discouraged if you feel like you're not doing excellently! Jesus is still the Author and Finisher! It's our job to take His yoke upon us and learn of Him, not stress and strive in a perfectionistic way. (see how today's Psalm addresses this: Psalm 127:1-2). He will teach and guide, and if we just keep on being faithful, we will eventually do excellently without even trying.
Jesus Christ is excellent. If you're born of God, and if the Spirit of God lives in you, you are made of excellent material! As Christ is formed in you, you will become-- you are becoming-- more and more excellent, just like Him!
The same Spirit of Wisdom works through the members of Christ's Body today. No matter what our endeavors and areas of gifting are, the Spirit of Wisdom, when allowed to guide and empower, will enable us to glorify God by helping us to achieve a level of excellence that shines. I am reminded that when people began to notice Jesus, they commented that He did "all things well." The fact that Solomon did "all things well" clues us in to the concept that he is a "type and shadow" of Christ. Think how glorious His reign will be! Do you ever let yourself imagine what that time will be like? I certainly do!
Nobody that I know does "all things well"! I'm good at several things, but I'm terrible with numbers! Lucky for me, my husband Bob is a whiz! He, on the other hand, has some holes in his abilities that I can fill nicely. We're a good team! And this is the glory of oneness: not only in marriage, but in the Body of Christ, the Church! As we each do our part by the Spirit of Wisdom and Excellence, we participate in building a living temple for the glory of God's name. "O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!" Psalm 8:9
We should never look down on someone because their part doesn't look spiritual to us. Everyone has a duty, whether they are prophets or plumbers, to walk in the Spirit, and thus shine with God's wisdom and excellence, which is part of His glory. As for the saints who are on the earth, "They are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight." Psalm 16:3 Being excellent in all we do is not about getting glory for ourselves (which is worldliness), but is all about showing forth the glory of God.
Sadly, a religious spirit of false humility has, over the decades, tended to tarnish the Church's ability to shine forth the glory, promoting, in many individuals, a need to diminish the light of Christ in themselves. If we are truly walking in the Spirit, we will do whatever it is we do, whether small or great, in an attitude of worship, which will allow God's excellence to be seen.
Even when something is unnoticed by people, excellence glorifies God! One of the marks of quality-- for example, of a piece of designer clothing-- is that even the hidden seams are marked with excellence of workmanship. Never think that what you do doesn't matter-- it's all part of the Church's reason for existence: to glorify God's name.
Don't get discouraged if you feel like you're not doing excellently! Jesus is still the Author and Finisher! It's our job to take His yoke upon us and learn of Him, not stress and strive in a perfectionistic way. (see how today's Psalm addresses this: Psalm 127:1-2). He will teach and guide, and if we just keep on being faithful, we will eventually do excellently without even trying.
Jesus Christ is excellent. If you're born of God, and if the Spirit of God lives in you, you are made of excellent material! As Christ is formed in you, you will become-- you are becoming-- more and more excellent, just like Him!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
May 26, 2010 The Prayer Jesus Vouches For
We've talked a little bit about getting our prayers answered, and today there's more. I think that this might be something important to Jesus-- that we pray and receive a "yes" to our prayer! I've come to realize, though, that every prayer is not answered. And that's because every prayer doesn't fit His criteria.
Since I'm not doing a comprehensive study here, we'll just have to go with what we've got so far. On the 24th, we saw that one of the requirements for answered prayer is that it is "in My name." That's a big topic in itself. Let's just say, would Jesus sign on this one? Since prayer is asking God to do something beyond what we can do, wouldn't it be reasonable to ask Him to do something He would actually do? That takes knowing Him and what He has done: does this request fit His character? does it fit Who He is actually is? The only way to know this is to know Him.
I'm grateful that He knows us completely, and takes into consideration our small viewpoint! The Holy Spirit is here to guide us into all truth, so if we need a little guidance in our prayer, He's there to help. He hears us at all levels of our maturity and understanding. But the more mature we are, and the more of the knowledge of God we have, the more effective our prayers are going to be. And the older ones should be teaching the younger ones to pray.
Yesterday, Jesus was saying He wants to dwell in us. Now He's saying He wants us to dwell in Him. When you actually live with people, you really get to know them! We find out who snores and who doesn't close up the cracker box right. We find out who actually walks in love. If you've ever had people in your house for an extended stay, you know you know them better than you did before. And they know you. Jesus is all about knowing each other.
So, if you got up in the morning, got some orange juice and toast, and sat down at the table with Jesus (and of course, the Holy Spirit and the Father are there, too), and you got into this great conversation about something in the Word, I guess you'd have a little better knowledge of Him. That Word would start to really be real. It would start to live in your heart. You would feel pretty confident about asking Him to do that thing He just pointed out in the passage you read together. Plus, you got to see how He acted when little dipsy-doodle two-year-old pee'd on the floor right next to His sandals!
I think we'd get to know Jesus a little more if we realized He's there all the time with us. Holy Spirit is giving us this insider-knowledge of just how Jesus is acting all the time. The ultimate Twitter!
When we really know Him, we ask things we know He'll vouch for. That's when we get our prayers answered with a big, resounding "yes!" And that, my friends, is God's will. It makes us really fruitful. It glorifies Him and pleases Him at least as much as it blesses us.
Since I'm not doing a comprehensive study here, we'll just have to go with what we've got so far. On the 24th, we saw that one of the requirements for answered prayer is that it is "in My name." That's a big topic in itself. Let's just say, would Jesus sign on this one? Since prayer is asking God to do something beyond what we can do, wouldn't it be reasonable to ask Him to do something He would actually do? That takes knowing Him and what He has done: does this request fit His character? does it fit Who He is actually is? The only way to know this is to know Him.
I'm grateful that He knows us completely, and takes into consideration our small viewpoint! The Holy Spirit is here to guide us into all truth, so if we need a little guidance in our prayer, He's there to help. He hears us at all levels of our maturity and understanding. But the more mature we are, and the more of the knowledge of God we have, the more effective our prayers are going to be. And the older ones should be teaching the younger ones to pray.
Yesterday, Jesus was saying He wants to dwell in us. Now He's saying He wants us to dwell in Him. When you actually live with people, you really get to know them! We find out who snores and who doesn't close up the cracker box right. We find out who actually walks in love. If you've ever had people in your house for an extended stay, you know you know them better than you did before. And they know you. Jesus is all about knowing each other.
So, if you got up in the morning, got some orange juice and toast, and sat down at the table with Jesus (and of course, the Holy Spirit and the Father are there, too), and you got into this great conversation about something in the Word, I guess you'd have a little better knowledge of Him. That Word would start to really be real. It would start to live in your heart. You would feel pretty confident about asking Him to do that thing He just pointed out in the passage you read together. Plus, you got to see how He acted when little dipsy-doodle two-year-old pee'd on the floor right next to His sandals!
I think we'd get to know Jesus a little more if we realized He's there all the time with us. Holy Spirit is giving us this insider-knowledge of just how Jesus is acting all the time. The ultimate Twitter!
When we really know Him, we ask things we know He'll vouch for. That's when we get our prayers answered with a big, resounding "yes!" And that, my friends, is God's will. It makes us really fruitful. It glorifies Him and pleases Him at least as much as it blesses us.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
May 25, 2010 A "Yes" Like David's
Sometimes I like to just sit and ponder a scene, such as we have here, with God and David discussing who's going to build who a house. If you want to know what real humility looks like, check out David's response. He didn't argue with God's plan, and he didn't get puffed up either. He simply acknowledged God for Who He is and praised Him for what He had done; David took God at His word and thanked Him. He gave God credit for the greatness, and he didn't say, "you shouldn't have."
This should be our response when we hear a promise from the Lord, no matter how far-fetched it might seem to us: “And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.” 2 Samuel 7:28-29
Solomon was the immediate fulfillment of that promise, but Jesus was the complete and eternal fulfillment of it. Because of this, we are included in God's promise to establish his kingdom and his throne forever, for the Son has the Father's blessing. Jesus' Kingdom will be established forever, and He shall build a house for God's name.
So then we see Jesus beginning to do this very thing: "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." John 14:23 I suggest reading again Jesus' words today and taking them personally. These promises are for you! Promises aren't activated in your life until you hear them, acknowledge them to be true, accept them for yourself and thank God for them. They are no less real for you than for the disciples who were sitting with Jesus at the time they were spoken.
God was building Christ's Kingdom through David. He is still building a holy temple for the dwelling place of His glory. He wants you to be part of this temple, this Kingdom, this royal family. The Spirit of Truth is here to bring this revelation into our hearts and make it a reality. He will help you to see it. When you do, may your "yes" be like David's.
This should be our response when we hear a promise from the Lord, no matter how far-fetched it might seem to us: “And now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord GOD, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.” 2 Samuel 7:28-29
Solomon was the immediate fulfillment of that promise, but Jesus was the complete and eternal fulfillment of it. Because of this, we are included in God's promise to establish his kingdom and his throne forever, for the Son has the Father's blessing. Jesus' Kingdom will be established forever, and He shall build a house for God's name.
So then we see Jesus beginning to do this very thing: "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him." John 14:23 I suggest reading again Jesus' words today and taking them personally. These promises are for you! Promises aren't activated in your life until you hear them, acknowledge them to be true, accept them for yourself and thank God for them. They are no less real for you than for the disciples who were sitting with Jesus at the time they were spoken.
God was building Christ's Kingdom through David. He is still building a holy temple for the dwelling place of His glory. He wants you to be part of this temple, this Kingdom, this royal family. The Spirit of Truth is here to bring this revelation into our hearts and make it a reality. He will help you to see it. When you do, may your "yes" be like David's.
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