James 1:5-6 (ESV)
“[5] If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ASK GOD, WHO gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. [6] But let him ask IN FAITH with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”
Exodus 25:1;8 (ESV)
“[1] The LORD said to Moses,….
[8] And let them make ME a sanctuary, “THAT I MAY DWELL IN THEIR MIDST”.”
As I sit here alone in my house in solitude, I am awaiting a WORD FROM THE LORD about these verses of Scripture that I shared with everyone this morning.
In my Brain Damaged mind, I cannot imagine that THE ONE WHO CREATED me and THE ENTIRE WORLD would continually give me BREATH (Isaiah 42:5) when I fail to worship and adore HIS MAJESTY??? HE is requesting me to “sit down for a spell” with HIM, but I seem to think that I don’t have enough time for that!!
I see my family on a digital screen in my living room and my thoughts are WHAT IF they only acknowledged me was when they needed me?? Isn’t that what I usually do to my HEAVENLY FATHER??? I generally “present HIM my wish list” while praying and then get up and “run the race” I feel HE has assigned to me!
But what about me simply spending time with THE LORD?? THE ONE WHO CREATED me?? Can I NOT simply WORSHIP HIM because HE IS WORTHY??
HIS WORD says in Exodus 25:8 “And let them make ME a sanctuary, “THAT I MAY DWELL IN THEIR MIDST”. But do I spend enough time with HIM to GAIN WISDOM!. James 3:13-18 (ESV)
WISDOM from Above
Says “[13] Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of WISDOM. [14] But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, DO NOT boast and be false to the TRUTH. [15] THIS IS NOT THE WISDOM THAT COMES DOWN FROM ABOVE, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. [16] For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, THERE WILL BE DISORDER and every vile practice. [17] BUT THE WISDOM FROM ABOVE IS FIRST PURE, THEN PEACEABLE, GENTLE, OPEN TO REASON, FULL OF MERCY AND GOOD FRUITS, IMPARTIAL AND SINCERE. [18] And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
Physical intellect, riches or capabilities WILL NOT have HIS WISDOM, without HIS BLESSING!! HE IS SAYING TO US “And let them make ME a sanctuary, “THAT I MAY DWELL IN THEIR MIDST”.
HE DESIRES MY PRESENCE WITH HIM………. ON HIS TERMS!!!
Exodus 25:1;8 (ESV)
“[1] The LORD said to Moses,….
[8] And let them make ME a sanctuary, “THAT I MAY DWELL IN THEIR MIDST”.”
How often do I attend the church where GOD has me attending totally unprepared to HEAR from THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES??? Worse still, how often do I take advantage of the GIFT HE provided me when the “veil was rent from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:51) on the Holy of Holies???
IF WE UNDERSTOOD what a GIFT HE PURCHASED for us, certainly we would spend more time ALONE with JESUS?!? We have DIRECT ACCESS to the KING OF KINGS and LORD of LORDS, but do we take advantage of this GIFT?? We seem to have an understanding that we can provide HIM “tithes and offerings” from our professions, and we expect that to be enough?? But is that what HE says in the Scripture passage above??
GOD’s PLAN all along was to have an unabridged relationship with HIM, to have NO BARRIERS between HIM and us! But the PRICE FOR OUR SIN precluded this from being a reality. When JESUS paid the ULTIMATE PRICE for my sins, the barrier (veil) was torn from top to bottom, a display of our access to our SAVIOR!!!
THE PRICE for my salvation was PAID IN FULL on Calvary! “THAT I MAY DWELL IN THEIR MIDST” required a GIFT that ONLY JESUS could PROVIDE!!! I pray “THAT I MAY DWELL IN THEIR MIDST” will be made known by HIS CHOSEN and we will enjoy HIM FOREVER!!!
Isaiah 55:10-11 (ESV)
“[10] “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
[11] so shall “MY WORD” be that goes out from MY MOUTH;
IT SHALL NOT RETURN TO ME EMPTY,
but IT SHALL ACCOMPLISH THAT WHICH I PURPOSE,
and SHALL SUCCEED IN THE THING FOR WHICH I SENT IT.”
As I have written before (many times!), my grandfather was a “gardener extraordinaire”! He had the knowledge and experience to cause any seed to flourish and produce rewards! A graduate of the fifth grade, he was not proficient in book studies, but he KNEW how to grow a garden and flourished in his efforts!!
In the two verses shared above, ALMIGHTY GOD is saying that “MY WORD” SHALL NOT RETURN TO ME EMPTY! GOD then says that “IT SHALL ACCOMPLISH THAT WHICH I PURPOSE, and SHALL SUCCEED IN THE THING FOR WHICH I SENT IT.” “MY WORD” which comes to us via “MY MOUTH SHALL ACCOMPLISH THAT WHICH I PURPOSE” is a rather bold statement that humanity appears to almost ignore??
When do we have the WISDOM to turn off the television, radio, social media, and any other noise, and simply LISTEN TO GOD for direction in our lives?? Isaiah 42:5 and Isaiah 43:2-3 have been used by THE LORD instrumentally in precise manners to mold me to LISTEN TO HIM FOR HIS GLORY! Today THE LORD caused me to search for “bible go limp and absorb my word” and the first verse that came up was Isaiah 55:11! GOD can use HIS ENTIRE WORD, but HE is keeping me in Isaiah for now, maybe because most of what I read are WORDS spoken by HIM to guide and direct one of HIS CHOSEN???
Just like my grandfather learned his gardening skills from his HEAVENLY FATHER, the same HEAVENLY FATHER is teaching me to HEAR from “MY WORD” and be USED for HIS GLORY! It isn’t about anything other than me listening to “MY WORD”!!!
