dwell forever

 

June 29 2013

Dwell

If you were to look into the Bivins home back in 1972 ish on a given Sunday you would see the t.v. blaring with bugs bunny and the boys. Yes indeed, loved me some fog horn leghorn, yo simmity sam and tne irreplacable elmer fudd. Then the Notre dame reruns would follow. But after those shows a man in a suit would flash across the screen. It was a broadcast from Madison Church of Christ in Madison, TN and the man in the suit was none other than Ira North. Eight years old at the time,  couldnt and didnt quite grasp what he was thundering around about, but I do recall how each broadcast would end. The 23rd Psalm would be read and flash across tne screen

Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever

do you ever think about forever? I mean really dwell forever?

What we see is that dwell is:

cause to abide, to remain.. Live in. Abide in. Rest in to sit in with.

Let’s go back for a bit to see…. to where and God dwells with us and us with HIM

Hanging out with God was a bit different before Jesus, lets a peek.

we see in 2 Samuel chpt 7 where David (yes same david that was a sheperd, killed goliath) is now king and he is taking rest from the battles and the enemies are at bay. David realizes or takes notice, heck I’m in this cedar palace and the ark of the covenant (the incredible vessel holding the ten commandments) is under a tent…remember they have been traveling for years in this manner. David says let’s build a Temple for God….David summons his right hand man Nathan (a prophet) to let him know his wishes. Nathan initially blesses the project until that night God comes to Nathan and changes their direction. (go read that this week…cool read) here’s part of it..

Look what God says….

2 Samuel 7:6 I have never lived in a house, from the day I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until this very day. I have always moved from one place to another with a tent and a Tabernacle as my dwelling.

so God go’s on to say look David you will not be the one to build the temple but one of your descendants will be given that task.  That would be Solomon, David’s son…oh by the way Solomon’s mama….Bethsheba…yeppers…the one. Tell me we do not serve a redeeming God. WOW…

 

So to hang out with God or to dwell with God you had to go the Temple or referred to as MOST HOLY PLACE

now God who was really almost unapproachable… desires to change HIS dwelling placeS and here is how HE does…Emmanuel “God is with us”

the game is changing through JESUS.. messiah

Hebrews 9:12 With his (Jesus) own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—HE (Jesus) entered the Most Holy Place ONCE for all time and secured our redemption for ever

Mar 15:38 And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.k

Hbr 6:18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.

Hbr 6:19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.

Hbr 6:20 Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

what does this mean for me and you when we hear this news?

We read verses like John 15 where we are to abide in HIM, and we in HIM…we discuss constantly how we have the Holy Spirit of Christ residing in us.

or we see verses like this in regards to Temple. flip over to 1 Corinthians 3

1 Corinthians 3:16 Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

1 Corinthians 3:17 God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

do you see what Paul, actually God through paul’s hand is saying? If we look back to his dialogue beforehand we would see that he is reminding folks in Corinth of who they are in Christ. Look he refers to them as brothers and sisters in v1 and yet he or they are not disqualified in their learning how to live in this new of Christ with HIM dwelling in them…he says heck I’m still feeding ya milk. he told em look the world still has a grip on ya, so your operating out of unbelief…here is who you are

God hangs out in Most Holy places so that means that when we say yes we are a holy dwelling place for God. The holiness is through Acceptance of Jesus

1 John 4:16 All who confess (agree, confirm) that Jesus is the Son of God have God living (abide, remain, stay) in them, and they live in God.

me you others are the temple for Christ WHAT. hahahaha. that is CRAZY COOL!

So that we can dwell in the house of the LORD forever…its His favorite places to hang out…is within us….