HEART PREPARATION/NEEDS MET

I am so glad the Reformers wrote numerous times saying they had to repeat themselves often because God’s people needed to be constantly reminded of Kingdom Truth because they forgot so often. So what I want to share today is not at all new, and I have shared about this truth many times, but I trust the illustration I will use today  will reinforce the truth to our hearts more.

When I was a young person (60+years ago)  living in Melbourne Victoria and wanted to catch up with a friend in the city for say a meal or a movie, I would need to take public transport, and the common saying was I WILL MEET YOU UNDER THE CLOCKS AT FLINDERS STREET.

Flinders Street was the main railway station in the city, a lovely old building, and at the top of the entrance was a horizontal line of clocks indicating the arrival times of the various trains that used this station as its terminus.

I read afresh today Psalm 80:1 NLT O God, ENTHRONED above the cherubim, which immediately reminded me of God’s awesome promise to His people in Hebrews 4:16 NKJV Let us therefore come boldly to the THRONE of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

WE MUST LEARN TO MEET REGULARLY WITH THE LORD

We read in the Old Testament that in the Tabernacle and the Temple, only the High Priest could go into the Holy of Holies, I am so glad that when Jesus died every New Covenant Priest (every born again Believer) can now enter God’s throne room because Jesus removed the veil between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.

HEART PREPARATION is so important before we can meet the Lord BETWEEN THE WINGS OF THE CHERUBIM,  Just as much as  I had to dress and change, then   walk to the railway station and travel in the train to Flinders street and go to the clocks at the entrance.

King David in Psalm 100:4 reminds us

NKJV Enter into His GATES with thanksgiving, and into His COURTS (The Holy Place) with praise, be thankful to Him and bless His Name.

PASSION You can pass through his open gates with the password of praise.
Come right into his presence with thanksgiving.
Come bring your thank offering to him
and affectionately bless his beautiful name!

MESSAGE Enter with the password: “Thank you!”
Make yourselves at home, talking praise.
Thank him. Worship him.

beyond the gates, were the Brazen ALTAR that speaks of REPENTANCE & CONFESSION. The Psalmist tells us in Psalm 66:18 NLT If I had not confessed the sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened. THIS IS THE START OF HEART PREPARATION

Then there is the Brazen LAVER where the Priests washed their hands and feet in the water. Eph. 5:26 PASSION to make us holy and pure, cleansing us through the showering of the pure water of the Word of God.

As we confess and repent, and let the Word do its sanctifying work in our life we GIVE THANKS FOR GOD’S SO GREAT SALVATION

Then we enter the Holy PLACE where we see the Golden Candlestick burning brightly, with the oil of the Holy Spirit, we THANK AND PRAISE  God for His ministry in our life, then we see the Table of Shewbread which to me speaks of abundance and blessing, then we see the Altar of Incense which speaks of prayer.

Then with our heart fully prepared:

WE MARCH BOLDLY INTO THE THRONE ROOM AND WE BOW DOWN AND WORSHIP THE LORD.

Many times I trust we enter in and we are so overwhelmed with God’s blessing and presence, but at Heb. 4:16 PASSION tells us So now we come freely and boldly to where love is enthroned, to receive mercy’s kiss and discover the grace we urgently need to strengthen us in our time of weakness.

There are times we desperately need God’s grace and help, simply prepare your heart, and rush into the Holy of Holies and throw yourself at the Father’s feet. .He has promised

TO MEE ALL YOUR NEEDS ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS.

HALLELUJAH.