ASCE LIVING WITH THE PERSPECTIVE OF HEAVEN A

ASCE LIVING WITH THE PERSPECTIVE OF HEAVEN A STUDY ON PSALMS 120 - 134 AUTUMN 2015 SERMON SERIES www. hbc. org. uk

Songs of Ascent • Psalms of pilgrimage § Pilgrims on a journey § “. . . to the place that I shall choose to put my name” § Passover § Pentecost § Tabernacles

Living with the perspective of heaven • Living with the perspective of heaven § The feasts as “Rehearsals” § Passover § Pentecost § Tabernacles

Psalm 132

Psalm 132 1 LORD, remember David and all his afflictions; 2 How he swore to the LORD, and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob: 3 “Surely I will not go into the chamber of my house, or go up to the comfort of my bed; 4 I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, 5 Until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob. ”

Psalm 132 vv 3 – 5 (Amplified Bible) “I absolutely will not enter my house, Nor get into my bed— I certainly will not permit my eyes to sleep Nor my eyelids to slumber, Until I find a place for the LORD, A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob (Israel). ”

Deuteronomy 16 v 2 “Therefore you shall sacrifice the Passover to the LORD your God, from the flock and the herd, in the place where the LORD chooses to put His name. ”

Deuteronomy 16 v 2 “Therefore you shall sacrifice the Passover to the LORD your God, from the flock and the herd, in the place where the LORD chooses to put His name. ” • Shekinah – The place where God chooses to put his Presence – The dwelling place of a dwelling God

The dwelling place of a dwelling God • Key instances in the Old Testament § Garden of Eden § The Ark of the Covenant § The tabernacle

Exodus 40 vv 34 - 35 34 “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. ”

The dwelling place of a dwelling God • Key instances in the Old Testament § Garden of Eden § The Ark of the Covenant § The tabernacle § The temple

2 Chronicles 6 vv 18 - 20 18 Then Solomon prayed. . . , “But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? . . 19 Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O LORD my God, . . 20 that your eyes may be open day and night toward this house, the place where you have promised to set your name, . .

2 Chronicles 7 v 1 1 As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.

The dwelling place of a dwelling God • New Testament - Jesus § John 1 v 14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth”.

The dwelling place of a dwelling God • New Testament - Jesus § John 2 v 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. ” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body.

The dwelling place of a dwelling God • New Testament - Jesus § John 2 v 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. ” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. § John 12 v 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

The dwelling place of a dwelling God • New Testament – You and me! § 1 Corinthians 6 v 19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. § Colossians 1 v 27 God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Psalm 132 – The Lord has chosen Zion 13 For the LORD has chosen Zion; he has desired it for his dwelling place: 14 “This is my resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. ”

Colossians 1 v 27 (The Passion) This is a divine mystery, a secret surprise that has been concealed from the world for generations, but now it has been revealed, unfolded and manifested for every believer to experience. Living within you is the Christ, who floods you with the expectation of glory. This mystery of Christ embedded within us becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of God’s glory for his people and God wants everyone to know!