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“And David danced before the Lord with all his might;” 2 Samuel 6:14
The Lord said of David, he was a “man after my own heart.” Does this mean that David was like God? No, it means he was a man pursuing, knowing, and pleasing God.
David had a desire to be in the presence of God.
He wrote things like…
Ps 27:4-5 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple. 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
He was obsessed to be in the Lord’s house. God loved and honored David because David loved and honored God.
Read what David said in the most famous of all the Psalms in the Bible.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalms 23:6
This is yet another scripture that highlights David’s passion to be in fellowship with a mighty God.
Ps 65:4 Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.
I wonder what kind of Giants would fall in our lives if we had such a passion for fellowship with God.
Upon becoming King of Isreal, David’s first plan was to set the Ark of the Covenant in the Capitol of Isreal and Judah. David felt guilty for living in a fine house, and the Ark of the Covenant was in a tent.
When God forbade him from building, his life project was to pay for it.
One account of the estimated amount that David saved for the building of the temple is mind-boggling.
”He prepared about 3.3 million kilograms of gold and 33 million kilograms of silver for the work of the temple. At today’s prices, silver is worth $537 per kilogram, and gold $43,352. A little simple math gives $17,721 per talent of silver and $1,430,616 per talent of gold.”
17.7 billion dollars worth of silver
1.4 trillion in gold.
His number one goal was to build the Lord a house.
David stored up the substance of his life so that generations following him would build and have a glorious temple to worship.
David was a man after God’s heart.
Look at some basic instructions for those who want to be in the presence of God.
“This is how you do it!”
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” Psalms 100:4-5
What is the outstanding characteristic of those who inhabit heaven? The only way we know is by reading the prophetic writings of Scripture.
In summation, the visions of heaven show us that Heaven is a place of worship, adoration, and praise of God.
“Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”
“In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah 6:1-3
We see an echo of this same account in the New Testament.
“And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Rev 4:8-11
“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty,”
In these scriptures, we gain an insight into what Heaven is and will be for eternity.
There ain’t no party like a Holy Ghost Party!
The Dance Floor never closes.
I suggest that there is such an unspeakable blessing we will have eternal access to: the ability to walk into the throne room of God and worship God.
The closest you will get to heaven in this world is that place of sincere and honest worship.
“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” John 4:23
A significant feature of heaven is that it is a place filled with worship, praise, and rejoicing.
Heaven is inhabited by praise. A way to prepare yourself for what eternity holds is develop a pursuit of the presence of God.
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
Look at the revelation of praise the Apostles possessed.
“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.” Acts 16:25 & 26
In this world, praise and worship are a way we invite heaven into our circumstances. No matter your circumstances.
I suggest this is what John was doing that opened the gates of heaven where John was to gain a revelation of the Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. Past, present and Future.
“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,” Revelation 1:10
Even on a Prison Island, in a place of prayer and praise, John had a revelation of Heaven.
You and I have access to that same kind of peace and joy.
Do you want a revelation of Heaven?
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
A legacy recipe for those who want to live a life of fellowship with Jesus.
Thanksgiving, to give God thanks for all your blessings and difficulties.
Giving Praise for His strength and grace.
To develop the vocabulary, the words we think, whisper, speak, and shout connect us to God’s divine presence. This habit is a type of brain training. To be mindful. To be thoughtful. To honor God.
Step by Step, Day by Day, Mile by Mile, Year by Year… I will make my sojourn into heaven, by keeping myself in the presence of the Lord.
The presence of God is accessed by those who are in pursuit of fellowship
Jesus gave us this insight.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33
Everything starts with proper thoughts, motivations, plans, and goals.
With a grateful heart…
The scripture details the deplorable description of our generation. Two of the characteristics of this Godless culture is unholy and unthankful.
“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,” 2 Timothy 3:2
One way we differentiate ourselves as the children of God is to be Holy and Thankful.
Many times, people see praise as a ritual of religion. Others see it as a tool to get what they want. Many treat God like our children treat us. If we butter God up, we think he will do what we want. That is not praise, that is manipulation. Spiritual manipulation is witchcraft. Witchcraft is doing certain things repetitively for some desired results.
The virtue of worship to God is not some ten-step plan for success. The virtue of thanksgiving and praise is simply recognizing what is. To be able to look and identify and give an honest and heartfelt recognition to the one from whom it came.
Gratitude is the emotion of thanksgiving.
I believe the one emotion required to gain access to heaven is Gratitude. Gratitude opens us to many other awesome experiences.
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
You and I can enjoy an increased level of God’s presence on earth by remembering God’s extraordinary grace and kindness bestowed on our lives.
Seeking the presence of heaven on earth connects us to the coming reality in eternity.
“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8
I am Thankful!
In Him, By Him, Through Him,
Scott Phillips
Rebirth of Faith – https://a.co/d/hTVFwdg
Reflections on Forgiveness – https://a.co/d/1l7ntsT
Ps 100:1-5
CHAPTER 100
1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
Rev 12:10-11
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.