ENTERING INTO HIS STRENGTH
Psalms 84
I. finding the beauty of the Lord
· His tabernacle the place of fellowship
· His courts the place of praise and worship
· His altars the place of consecration
· Blessed are those who dwell in your house! there are those who are called to be in the house of God, not just the pastor but those who cannot stay away, who "have to be here" not because they are constrained by agenda or program but because the longing is too strong to stay away.
II. Creating a longing spirit within you; what an attitude, I wonder how God views our attitude about coming to his house. "I got nothing else to do, I better go I need something, o boy gotta get to church, its gonna be a long hard day.
· Heart & flesh cry out for the living God
· My king and my God (a longing for his authority over me)
· A longing to fellowship with Him, (hear my prayer)
Look upon the face of your anointed.
III. Setting your heart on pilgrimage
· As they pass through ( a passing through spirit)
· Rather be a doorkeeper (not giving great value to the temporary) "he that has this hope purifies himself"
IV. Trusting in God
· Sun and a shield we are here in darkness, but if God be our God, he will be to us a Sun, to enlighten and enliven us, to guide and direct us. We are here in danger, but he will be to us a Shield, to secure us from the fiery darts that fly thick about us.
· Will give grace and glory And what is grace, but heaven begun below, in the knowledge, love, and service of God? What is glory, but the completion of this happiness, in being made like to him, and in fully enjoying him forever?
· No good thing will he withhold from those who walk uprightly Let it be our care to walk uprightly, and then let us trust God to give us everything that is good for us.
These get stronger and stronger, they find water even in the deserts of life, and these find great favor! Come out of your weakness (that which quenches your spiritual hunger that which fights to take the place of God.
