Pure In Heart #3

Assembling To See God

We've looked at how God reveals Himself through situations past and present.  This week we look at how God reveals himself through our mindset towards His people and His Kingdom.

For this lesson, we will refer to Psalm 122

We start this Psalm with a celebration.  David was excited to be heading to God's house (v.1).  In David's time, there was only one house of the Lord: the tabernacle in Jerusalem that housed the Arc of the Covenant.  David was happy because he was heading to the place where God's presence dwelt.  He was excited to spend time with God. 

Today, we don't have to just go to one place to find God's presence.  There isn't one tabernacle that we go to praise God and offer sacrifice to Him.  God is in us and he inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3).  If we will seek God with gladness and praise He will meet us where we are.  As this Psalm suggests, though, there is more than just meeting God on our own terms. 

Getting Together Is Important

David intimates a companionship that exists between the people of Israel that are heading to Jerusalem to praise and sacrifice to God.  They all have the promise of the first covenant, yet they are still willing to come together in praise and sacrifice.  We cannot forsake the assembling of ourselves together (Hebrews 10:25).  We must find a way to connect with like-minded people in order to reveal the full power of God in our lives.

What We See When We Come Together

Thrones of Judgment:  Thrones here means a seat of honor and judgment means the ability to decide a case.  When we come into the house of God, we find ourselves within a place of honor because we have access to the strong presence of God amongst fellow believers..  In this place God's will can be expressed for our lives and the decisions we must make. 

Prosperity From Prayers For Peace:  We are told to pray for Jerusalem, which is something we must do to this day in the literal since.  Israel and Jerusalem need our prayers daily for God's protection and security, which is what peace means here.  However, where is our Jerusalem in our lives?  Where do we seek the presence of God?  We must pray for the security and protection of the houses of God throughout the land.  Not just from the physical threats that still exist, but from the spiritual attacks of the enemy.  Pray for our pastors and leaders that they will not be beset.  If we do this and do it with love in our hearts, we will find prosperity in God.

So, when we focus on coming into the house of God with our brothers and giving honor and praise to God, we can look forward to God revealing His will and direction in our lives.  Moreover, we discover a pathway to prosperity in that will when we seek to cover God's house and its leaders in prayer and intercession.  God wants us to succeed and he wants us to be in His perfect will.  we can see and find both when we commit to the House of the Lord.

Activation:

Renew your commitment to getting to God's House.
Start a streak of service attendance and see how many you can get to before you break it
Also, pray for your church and church leaders each day.
Pray for direction, protection, strength and blessings from God on them.
See how God blesses you simply by doing these two things.