THE HABITATION OF THE LORD

DATE: TUESDAY 19TH JULY 2016

THEME: THE HABITATION OF THE LORD

Memorise:

If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous. Job 8:6

Read: Psalms 97:10-11

97:10 Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

97:11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

Message:

The characteristics of the habitation of the Lord attracts our attention because of the blessings awaiting us there. The qualification of those who can be part of the habitation of the Lord is worthy of note. Our memory verse says:

"If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous." Job 8:6

The habitation of the Lord is the place where God blesses His people with diverse kinds of blessings- spiritual, physical and material. Only the pure and upright can enjoy the blessings of God's habitation one of which is security. 

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1

The issue of holiness is not a subject of debate for those who know what they stand to gain by living holy. If you live holy, you live holy for yourself as the Lord watches over the righteous (Psalms 5:12). Also, there is promotion for those who abide in the habitation of the Lord (Hebrews 1:9). Moreover, the Bible says;

"Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walk-through uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. Psalm 15:1-2

In other words, the habitation of the Lord is not an "all comers" affair, even though whoever chooses to be there can be there if the fellow is ready to pay the price. The price of living holy is what those who want to abide in the habitation of the Lord must pay. Our text for today emphasises  the necessity of righteousness viz-a-viz divine protection:

"Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart." 

Psalm 97:10-11

Nobody is careless about his precious possession. Anybody who chooses to live a consecrated life will enjoy divine protection. Such are precious stones in the sight of the Lord. The Lord watches over His heritage, i.e. His saints. This is why Psalms 125:3 says:

"For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. "

He keeps them under His protection and ensures no evil befalls them. My prayer is that you will live under the watchful eyes of the Almighty. 

Action Point:

Search the scriptures and find out all you must do to be able to abide in the habitation of the Lord. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 

2 Corinthians 10-13 and Psalms 15-16

AUTHOR: Pst E. A ADEBOYE

HYMN 4: TAKE MY LIFE AND LET IT BE

Take my life, and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise. 

Take my hands, and let them move

At the impulse of Thy love;

Take my feet and let them be

Swift and beautiful for Thee,

Swift and beautiful for Thee. 

Take my voice, and let me sing

Always, only, for my King;

Take my lips, and let them be

Filled with messages from Thee,

Filled with messages from Thee. 

Take my silver and my gold;

Not a mite would I withhold;

Take my intellect, and use

Every power as Thou shalt choose,

Every power as Thou shalt choose. 

Take my will, and make it Thine;

It shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart; it is Thine own;

It shall be Thy royal throne,

It shall be Thy royal throne. 

Take my love; my Lord, I pour

At Thy feet its treasure-store.

Take myself, and I will be

Ever, only, all for Thee,

Ever, only, all for Thee.