Archive for the ‘Prayer’ Category
Just Imagine…
Just Imagine…
Just imagine a thoughtless and demanding husband that is married to a wife who caters to his every need. Imagine him sitting relaxed in his little command center, his Lazy-Boy, while he bellows out orders.
- “Hey Pearl, bring me a Diet Coke.”
- “Get me the newspaper.”
- “Did you call Bob like I asked you?”
- “Get the phone will you, I’m busy.”
- “How much longer do I have to wait for supper?”
- “Since you’re up, get my slippers.”
Just imagine a man that constantly makes demands like that on his wife. If she complied willingly and without comment, he’s a most fortunate man.
- Just imagine what she might feel like if he never thanked her for serving him.
- Imagine too what she would think of him if all he ever did was make more demands and never took time to talk to her or say sweet words of affection to her.
- Imagine what future the relationship would have if the man said, I don’t really have time to talk to you, I just need you to do what I asked you to do.
Some wives might be content to be in a relationship like that, but I have never met them yet. A loving relationship is not a one-way street.
Then There Is The Flip Side Of That Problem.
Imagine a demanding wife that is married to husband who she expects to cater to her every need.
- Her Honey-Do-List never ends.
- Her requests are only for her benefit.
- She nags him if she doesn’t get what she wants, when she wants it.
- She feels like he doesn’t love her unless he is always giving to her and doing things for her.
- His needs are not even on her radar screen.
- She has no time to just talk to him.
- He can’t remember when she last said, “I love you.”
- Her world is only focused on her own happiness.
What A Mess! I Can’t Imagine Living Like That!
I don’t know who would ever want to enter into any kind of relationship such as this. How could their life’s story have a happy ending? What future do they have? It’s a world without love!
Yet That Is Exactly The Spiritual Relationship Many Of Us Have With The Lord.
- The only time we talk to Him is to make more demands.
- Our prayers are only to ask for more.
- We ask for healing.
- We ask for finances.
- We ask for housing, transportation and employment.
- We ask for blessings for ourselves.
- And yes… We are invited to ask. But…
- We never just take the time to say, “Thank You Jesus.”
- We are too busy to just stop and ‘chit-chat’ with Him.
- We find ourselves so busy asking for more favors that we almost never stop to say, “Have I told You today Jesus, that I love You?”
What’s The Chances Of Our ‘Relationship’ With God Lasting Very Long?
- Actually, I am afraid it sounds one-sided.
- It doesn’t sound like much of a relationship.
- If it were a marriage, it might soon go on the rocks.
So, Where Is Our Walk With God Headed?
Just Imagine…
Just Imagine a husband been separated from his wife and writing over five dozen letters to her. Imagine the wife taking the unopened letters from the mailman and stacking them on the coffee table for all to see. Just imagine her never reading the letters from her husband. Imagine her thinking, “How precious of him to write, but reading his letters is boring to me.”
Imagine the two of them talking on the phone from time to time and him realizing by the things she says and doesn’t say, that she has not been reading any of his letters. Now what?
Absurd as it may sound, it happens everywhere, everyday. We have letters and epistles written to us. Although cherished by us all, The Holy Bible remains unread, and untouched. It is placed on the coffee table for others to see. But many of us will die, never reading what He wrote just to us. Now what?
Just imagine what our life would be like if we told the Lord several times a day that we loved Him, and not just asked for something every time we prayed.
Just imagine what our life would be like if we read the letters He wrote to us and got to know Him better.
Just imagine knowing Him in His fullness.
Just Imagine!
He Prayed For The Big Church Across Town
Pastor Miller hung the phone up and slumped into the chair. This was unbelievable! It was sickening. He sensed the pending devastation.
The voice mail on his cell phone announced that a 3rd couple in two months wanted to move their membership across town to the big church.
Only a handful of families were left here now. Would the nightmare ever stop? It was like a hemorrhage that was unending. The families that had left weren’t content to just go, they pulled on the remaining ones with reports of how wonderful things were at the new church. Their family and friends wavered in their loyalties. Who knew where it would stop. His church wasn’t growing. It was shrinking and he couldn’t stop the process.
No letter of transfer was ever asked for, and the other pastor had never called when someone moved in. He didn’t want to accuse the pastor across town of trying to proselyte, but the members there didn’t hesitate to do it for him.
The big church had quite a few people with money. They could afford to hire a full-time music director. They had also imported a youth pastor that was given full reign and a handsome expense account to attract and entertain young people. He did his job well, evidently. He personally encouraged all the young people in town to be a part of his youth group.
The bigger church had concerts, dramas, guitar driven worship, newer songs, fog machines, strobe lights, multimedia presentations, Power Points and many well-known guest speakers. A Starbucks type coffee shop was just down the hall from the entrance. The aroma always drew a crowd. Their church always had something going on there.
It was impossible for the pastor Miller’s small church to compete with the big boys. He had neither the resources nor the staff. He worked a secular job just to keep the wolf away from the door.
He had nearly broken his health trying to dig a church out of nothing. He had been ethical to a fault. He had never taken anyone from another church.
He personally had won most of the people in his church. He had taught almost every one there a Home Bible Study. He had prayed them through. He had baptized them. So this is the thanks he gets? How does he stop the migration? He didn’t want to feel jealous or harbor bad thoughts, but it still didn’t feel good. His wife was devastated. Now, there was little chance the church would be self-supporting anytime soon.
He knew the Pentecostals in town considered him “old school”. He still had testimony service. His church even sang out of the songbook. They sang many choruses were those sung by previous generations.
A piano and a box guitar provided the music. They used to have a drummer, but he had moved across town to the big church.
Bro. Miller had never been invited to preach a special meeting in his life. He knew he never would be asked.
Two special needs adults in his church always caused distractions to visitors. One often spoke out loud at the wrong time and had to be treated like a child.
The $41.43 in the Sunday night offering last week didn’t pay much on the utilities or church payment. His people were poor. He had to help most of them survive. He had paid utilities for many of his people, helped a few times with their house payments. He’d even co-signed for a car, once or twice.
The girls in the big church called the young girls in his church ‘grandmas’. Their modest apparel was scorned as unnecessary. At the big church, not much was said about standards evidently. (That was an unkind thought he knew, but he’s not been impressed by what he’d seen in the mall.)
There was no one for pastor Miller to complain to, confide in or cry with. He privately wished that the Prophet Nathan would go across town and preach the story of the ‘one ewe lamb’ again. It seemed fitting.
When he heard reports about ‘revival’ and church growth across town, he knew where some of the growth had come from.
Life didn’t seem fair. He made up his mind that he would paste a smile on his face, keep doing his best to have good church, preach like there was a house full, not talk about those that left, and encourage the rest.
God would sort it all out some how. He was trying to help build God’s Kingdom, not his own. He would not allow a war to go on. He didn’t know what to do.
So Pastor Miller took advantage of his off-night and went to his church by himself. He went up to the altar in the empty sanctuary and knelt down to pray.
He only prayed for one thing. He prayed for the church across town. He prayed that God would give them a great harvest of souls. He prayed that God would abundantly bless them. He prayed for the Pastor, for their leaders, and for the members. He prayed for their finances and for their outreach efforts.
He prayed for them, like he wished someone, somewhere would pray for him. He prayed for the big church across town, like he wished someone would pray for the church he pastored.
It’s Called Filth
It’s Called Filth
My mother was an expert on pigsties. She came into my bedroom one day when I was in the 7th grade and told me that my room looked like a pigsty. She ordered me to clean it up, in no uncertain terms. I did. Mama had zero tolerance for filth.
I recently went with a pastor to visit some sick people in the hospital. A small boy had contracted Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. He was 4 years old and refused to wear shoes indoors or out. His constant hand contact with his feet and then his mouth was a major issue.
His feet were covered with blisters, as well as his hands. His mouth was full of them besides. The youngster was in a coma.
As I left the Hospital, I looked for the hand Sanitizer dispenser in the lobby by the front door. I used two dozes just in case one application didn’t catch all of the germs.
I shake dozens of hands before and after church. It’s important to me to be able to wash the fellowship off of my hands before sitting down to eat after service. I don’t want the germs from their unwashed hands in my mouth.
It doesn’t take much for germs to spread. I do not which to get germs nor do I wish to spread them.
There are times when I wish I could wash my mind and my thoughts because of what I heard or what I saw that day. We may call the influence of the world in our lives by nicer names, but I’m afraid that most of it falls under the classification of filth.
Sometimes I wish I could pull my heart out and put it on the scrub board of God’s Mercy and scrub it clean. I wish I could scrub it clean of all impurities and filth. I am not talking about immorality, I’m just talking about the filth of this generation that swirls around us everyday. It’s called Life.
David even spoke of the same desire to be clean in Psalms. He also wanted to scrub away the filth of life and be clean so that he might be acceptable in the presence of the Lord.
Psa. 51:2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
Psa. 51:7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Peter warned us all that there would be a constant need to protect ourselves for the present evils of the age.
Acts 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
This indecent, unbecoming, uncomely, unseemly world of ours freely spreads it’s filth around every day. It infiltrates our ears, our eyes, our minds, and most of all our hearts. We must work constantly to keep ourselves pure.
1John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
We have to do some washing ourselves. That is the reason why daily devotions and our prayer closet times are so important to keeping ‘disease free’ in a filthy and sick world.
Thank God for the altars in our churches. Thank God for a place where hearts can be scrubbed clean.
No Levite or Priest could enter into the Holy Place of God without first washing the filth off in the Laver, and neither can we. Every one of us needs to be washed on a daily basis.
Saints of old sang songs about being washed and being clean. I wish they still did.
Search Me, O God
James E. Orr, 1936
Copyright: Public Domain
- Search me, O God, and know my heart today,
Try me, O Savior, know my thoughts, I pray;
See if there be some wicked way in me;
Cleanse me from every sin, and set me free. - I praise Thee, Lord, for cleansing me from sin;
Fulfill Thy word and make me pure within;
Fill me with fire, where once I burned with shame;
Grant my desire to magnify Thy name. - Lord, take my life, and make it wholly Thine;
Fill my poor heart with Thy great love divine;
Take all my will, my passion, self and pride;
I now surrender, Lord, in me abide. - O Holy Ghost, revival comes from Thee;
Send a revival, start the work in me;
Thy Word declares Thou wilt supply our need;
For blessings now, O Lord, I humbly plead.
15 Things To Do In Church Before You Die
15 Things To Do In Church Before You Die
1. Pray
- Pray till you get the absolute Victory.
- Intercede for a lost or wayward soul.
- Let God use you in the Spirit of Travail
- Pray till the Fire falls.
- Pray someone through to the Holy Ghost.
- Pray before church.
- Pray around the altar after church
2. Sing
- Don’t make the Song Leader beg you to sing.
- Don’t let the Praise Singers do your singing.
- Sing till you cry.
- Sing till you shout.
3. Shout
- Dance in the Spirit
- Leap for Joy
- Lead. Be the first one to shout.
- Run the aisles
4. Believe God
- Believe God for a Healing.
- Trust Him to supply your needs.
- Believe Him for a Miracle and see it come to pass.
5. Get ‘Lost in the Spirit’
- Be taken home drunk in the Holy Ghost
6. Witness
- Teach a Home Bible Study
- Win a soul
7. Say Amen
- Say Amen from your heart. Be willing to Obey.
- Stand to you feet and say Amen
- Say Amen from even if you’re the only one.
- Say Amen even when the Scripture or the Preaching touches a sore spot.
8. Give
- Give your last Dollar, if God impresses you to.
- Become faithful in your tithe and offerings
- Give without expecting anything in return.
9. Read
- Read the Bible through.
- Have a daily Scripture reading.
- Get a Revelation of One God.
10. Testify
- Don’t give some narrative about “he said, and I thought to myself.”
- Just brag on Jesus!
11. Fast
- Fast to crucify your flesh.
12. Love Your Brother and Sister
- Prefer them. Put them first
- Let all jealousy die
13. Refuse To Listen to a Rumor
- Tell the talebearer, “I really don’t want to hear this.”
- Refuse to pass a rumor on.
14. Forgive
- Put all your yesterdays behind you.
- Empty yourself of all Bitterness.
- Be merciful.
15. Get the Pastor’s Heartbeat.
- Try to feel what he feels.
- Work with him for Revival.
- Feel the Spirit of Unity
Now, Let’s Have Some ‘Church’ Around Here!
Give God What He Can Bless!
Give God What He Can Bless!
(Give God What He Likes, Give God What He Can Use.)
The song service had been sort of ‘average’. No one shouted. No one cried. We all just sang the songs and then waited for the prayer requests to be received. This Bible Study night was not going to be remembered for its worship service. I had done my best to lead the worship, but I just didn’t flow with the Spirit like I should.
On the way home, Dad said, “Son, have you ever noticed that God never blesses that last chorus you sang tonight?”
“No Sir,” was all I could say.
“If you lead long service in my church, then you need to be aware of what kind of songs God blesses.
“He doesn’t bless songs about ‘us’, He only blesses songs about ‘Him’. His Name, His Power, His Blood, His Love, His Mercy, His Grace. Sing about Him next time and He will bless it.”
“Thanks Dad.” I mumbled apologetically.
That, my gentle reader, is a lesson I never forgot. My Father was teaching me to give God what He could bless.
1. Cain
Cain never caught on to the concept. God was willing to bless a ‘lamb’ sacrifice. But, since Cain was not a sheepherder, but rather a tiller of the soil, he gave God fresh vegetables. God couldn’t bless a radish, an onion or a rutabaga. Blood had to be shed. God was only willing to bless a sacrificed lamb.
Because God ignored Cain’s sacrifice, and accepted Abel’s lamb sacrifice, Cain got mad and killed his brother.
Gen. 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
Gen. 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Gen. 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
- There are some Sacrifices God can’t bless.
- You will be disappointed when God doesn’t bless your sacrifice.
- He can’t bless that which is against His Word or His Will
Some want the Blessings of God regardless of how they have lived. Blessings never come when you starting thinking outside “God’s Box”.
2. Saul
In a spirit of disobedience and arrogance, Saul kept the spoils of war, spared King Agag and offered up a sacrifice. Samuel pronounced the curse of God upon him.
Saul admitted he had sinned; yet he wanted to be blessed in spite on his disobedience. He never understood that obedience was better than sacrifice. Not learning that lesson cost him his kingdom and the blessings of God.
1Sam. 15:30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.
Give God a life that He can bless.
Give him a heart that He can bless.
Give God an attitude He can bless.
If Your Life Is Filled With These, God Can’t Bless It!
- Disobedience
- Bitterness
- Unbelief
- Rebellion
- Unconcern
- Disrespect
- Un-involvement
- Addictions
- Worldliness
- Carnal Lusts
- Sinner Boy Friend or Girl Friend
- Immorality
- Love of the World
- Jealousy
- Hatred
___________________________________________________________
Our idea of what God will bless, may be different than His.
Samuel – at Jesse’s House. Samuel was willing to anoint Jesse’s older sons to be the next king. God did not like what He saw in their hearts. The lad David was anointed King.
- David’s heart was what God was looking at.
- David had a love for Worship. No one made him praise the Lord.
- David was always quick to repent.
- God can bless that.
Give God What He Can Bless. He will always Bless:
- Submission
- Tenderness
- Obedience
- Faith
- Trust
- Mercy
- Honor
- Sacrifice
- Repentance
- Worship
- Praise
- Brokenness
- Humility
- Modesty
- Holiness
- Willingness
- Hunger
- Prayer Life
- Faithfulness
- Consecration
If you will Humble yourself, pray, seek His face in worship, and quit your sinning, God will hear your prayer, forgive you, and even bless your finances.
2Chr. 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
How bad do you want to be blessed?
Jacob told the Angel that wrestled with him: “I won’t let you go until you bless me.”
When God blesses, He really blesses. He will bless you like this and more besides, if you just give him a life that can be blessed!
Deut. 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
Deut. 28:2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
Deut. 28:3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
Deut. 28:4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
Deut. 28:5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
Deut. 28:6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
Deut. 28:7 The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
Deut. 28:8 The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Deut. 28:9 The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.
Deut. 28:10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.
Deut. 28:11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
Deut. 28:12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
Deut. 28:13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
You’ll never be blessed living for God ‘Your Way.” God only blesses us when we do things “His Way”! Are you giving God what He can bless?
The Night Shipment Of Tears
The Night Shipment Of Tears
“The Night Shipment of Tears has arrived. We need to sort them first, according to the sender’s name, and then secondly by the fragrance of the prayer or tears. Make sure each golden bottle is properly sealed and labeled. They must be preserved and readily available for the 24 Elders when they bow before the Throne.
“Then, on this Leger here, I want you to enter today’s date, the sender’s name, and also the subject of their prayer, so we can sort these vials according to their specific odors.
“I don’t have to remind you to hurry, we’ve got more shipments on the way. A backlog is not acceptable.”
“The tears and the prayers of the saints have been captured on earth by our Angels and sealed into golden vials. They are Earth’s most prized possessions. There is nothing that the Lord counts more valuable than these.
“The tears of each prayer type have odors that only He can discern. It is the only earthly thing allowed to enter into this, the Holiest of all places.
“In a few more days, the Four and Twenty Elders will come and bow before His throne. They will bring their harps and they will bring these vials before the Lord.”
Michael the Archangel looked around at his fellow Angels. They all nodded their acceptance of the requests and turned to busy themselves.
They took each bottle and attached a small label that had this notation:
The vials were then stored in a large room of innumerable vessels holding the tears and the prayers of the saints. Their odors were a sweet-smelling fragrance that could only be enjoyed by the King of Kings.
(Your prayers and your tears are not unnoticed. They are not treated lightly. Heaven captures your tears and puts them into golden vials. Their fragrance will become the aroma around the throne of God.)
Psa. 56:8… put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
Rev. 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
He’s Worse Than A Stalker
He’s Worse Than A Stalker
When I was a kid, this guy I knew kept getting me in trouble. At times we had a lot of fun, but things turned ugly a time or too. My parents talked to me about him. The talks helped, it seemed like they didn’t do much lasting good.
It was like I couldn’t get rid of him. He kept getting all up in my business and everything. He followed me everywhere. He was worse than a stalker.
He went to our church. He would talk to me sometimes during the service. During worship he would occasionally smirk at me with disapproval when I lifted my hands. He would try to intimidate me. In the prayer room he sometimes tried to distract me and shorten my prayer time.
I talked straight to him many times. I told him how I hated what he did to me. I told him how I hated how he got me in trouble all the time. How he let me take the blame for his stupid ideas. I told him I didn’t want him messing up my life anymore.
My Pastor read him the riot act too. My Parents even told him they disapproved of his conduct. My Friends talked about him. It was unbelievable. He still never went away.
He was nice enough and apologetic. But he somehow always slipped back into his old ways as soon as the pressure was off.
We went to the same school together and he got me in trouble there too. I was dumb enough to do most of the things he dared me to do. He would tell me stuff and when I repeated it, it got me into a lot of trouble.
I spent a lot of time in the Principals Office and in Detention because I did what he told me to do. It was like I couldn’t help myself. I was weaker than I thought. He brought me much shame and embarrassment. I paid dearly.
My friends got frustrated and sometimes put some distance between him and them. My family tried to not hurt his feelings, but I can tell, he sometimes maxes them out.
I’ve even taken him over to the Prayer Room several times and told him in no uncertain terms that I wanted to pray him through. And a few times I did.
This dude has interfered into my life more times than I can count. The Police won’t arrest him for stalking. They haven’t been successful with running him off either. He ignores restraining orders. It’s like I can’t get away from him. Every time I look into the mirror, he stares back at me.
†††
Rom. 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom. 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Rom. 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom. 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom. 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom. 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom. 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Don’t Come Out Of The Closet!
Don’t Come Out Of The Closet!
That’s my advice.
My opinion is that it’s safer to be “In” the Closet, than “Out.”
People will talk about you more when you “Come Out” of the Closet, than if you had stayed “In”.
You will be more respected by the world and even by the church if you don’t “Come Out”.
Your friends and especially your spouse will love you more if you stay “In” the Closet.
More negative things happen to those that “Come Out” of the Closet, than to those that stay “In”.
Those that stay “In” the Closet are a bigger blessing during the Worship and are a better witness to the lost.
God will bless you more if you stay “In” the Closet.
- Matt. 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
- 1Th. 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
Stay In The Closet!
Building A Nest In The House Of God
Building A Nest In The House Of God
Have you ever needed to escape? Ever gotten weary of dealing with life’s wear and tear? I know just the place for you to go. No, it won’t even cost you any money. You can go by yourself or with the ones you love. I’ve been there and it’s all they ever told me it could be and more besides.
How did I find out about this place? I read about it in a book. Psalms 84 described it to me. I daydreamed about the place and then I went to check it out for myself.
Psalms 84 was actually written to the Chief Musician and was designed especially for the sons of Korah to sing. They were the descendants of the man who rebelled against Moses. It starts out like this:
Psa. 84:1 How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!
- How comfortable
- How likeable
- How lovely
- How beloved
Psa. 84:2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
- My souls longs for His House
- My soul can’t stand to be away from His Courts
Psa. 84:3 Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.
- A nest for the most restless of birds, the swallows.
There Are Five Things That Are Found In The House Of God.
1. Praise – Worship is always resident in His House.
- Psa. 84:4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.
2. Power – His House is where strength is found
- Psa. 84:5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.
- Psa. 84:7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.
3. Prayer – Here is where our prayers get heard.
- Psa. 84:8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.
4. Protection – We are vulnerable in life. We need Him to be our shield.
- Psa. 84:9 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.
5. Privilege – It’s an honor to just to get to come into His House.
- Psa. 84:10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
- Psa. 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
- Psa. 84:12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
Although the passage is powerful and beautiful, it brings me to the unanswered question:
Why Do The Swallows Build Their Nests In The House Of The Lord?
1. The nest is a refuge from the storm, a place to hide. It’s a place of safety.
2. It’s for reproduction. The nest is where new life begins.
3. It’s for rest. The nest is a hideaway where the weary can recover their strength.
4. It’s where the baby swallows are raised. The nest is a place of growth and maturity.
- Swallows are transient birds. They are only here till they make their flight. We too are only here till we make our flight.
- Jewish custom forbade anyone to kill or drive away a bird from the Temple. It’s nest was to be left undisturbed.
Oh, did I tell you where the swallows in Psalm 84 built their nests? They built them on the altar.
Psa. 84:3 Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.
We as ‘spiritual’ swallows will never enjoy the benefits of God’s House until we build ourselves a nest on the altar.
1. Jacob was forever blessed when he wrestled with an angel at his altar of prayer.
2. A nature change overcomes those that build an altar. Ananias was comforted by God over the news that Saul of Tarsus was on his was over to meet him.
- Acts 9:11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
It takes a while to build a nest.
There is where our peace comes from. There is where prayers get answered. They that build their nest at the altar, enjoy safety from the storm. Never fear. No one can run you away from there or disturb your nest.
Have you built yourself a nest yet?
Every bird has a nest somewhere. Where’s yours?
Apostolic Expository Series
Christy Ballestero (My Beautiful DIL)
http://marciaballestero.com/
Pastor Anthony & Kim Ballestero, New Destiny Worship Center, Clearwater, FL (My Son)
Pastor Bryan & Christy Ballestero, Temple Of Pentecost, Raleigh, NC (My Son)
James Groce Blog – "Toward The Mark"
Kenneth Bow Blog
Kingdom Speak Podcast
Philip Harrelson – "The Barnabas Blog"
Verbal Bean Ministries
Holy Ghost Radio
The Ballestero Blog 