Spiritual Growth · Abundant Life

The Abundance of the Lord's House?

6 min read, approximately

“Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are a great deep. LORD, you preserve both people and animals. How precious, O God, is your mercy! That is why people take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They will drink their fill from the abundance of your house, and you will give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we will see light.” (Psalms 36:6-9)

Often…

we go to the Lord’s house and leave our briefcase full of problems at the entrance. Then we go in, sit down, listen to the message, sing, and praise the Lord. When it is over, we say goodbye and return to the entrance: we pick up the briefcase full of problems that we left there when we arrived.

Relationship problems, family problems, financial problems, employment problems, unfulfilled dreams… problems upon problems keep us worried, downcast, and frustrated, to the point of saying to God, ‘Lord, wait! Can’t you see that I’m looking for a solution to my problem?!’… Yet the Word teaches us the opposite:

“I remember these things and pour out my soul within me: how I went with the crowd and led them to the house of God, amid shouts of joy and praise from the celebrating people. Why are you downcast, my soul, and why are you troubled within me? Hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my salvation and my God.” (Psalms 42:4-5)

The Abundance of Your House?

The Word of God refers to the abundance of his house in connection with everything that is good and deeply necessary for our lives! For example,

What abundance was good and necessary for Jacob’s household?

“Pharaoh said to Joseph: Tell your brothers to do this: Load your animals and go back to the land of Canaan. Bring your father and your families and come to me, because I will give you the good things of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the rich produce of the land.” (Genesis 45:17-18 BJ2000)

And What Can We Receive from the Abundance of the Lord’s House?

We find the answer in 2 Chronicles 6:20-35; we receive:

\1. Answers to Our Circumstances

“May your eyes be open toward this house day and night, toward the place of which you said: My name will be there. May you hear the prayer your servant offers in this place. Hear also the plea of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray in this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place; hear and forgive.” (2 Chronicles 6:20-21)

\2. Abundant Protection

“Then you will hear from heaven and act, and judge your servants, repaying the wicked by bringing their conduct down upon their own heads, and vindicating the righteous by rewarding them according to their righteousness.” (2 Chronicles 6:23)

\3. Forgiveness of Sins

“If your people Israel are defeated by the enemy because they have acted unfaithfully toward you, and they turn back, confess your name, and plead before you in this house, then you will hear from heaven, forgive the sin of your people Israel, and bring them back to the land you gave them and their ancestors.” (2 Chronicles 6:24-25)

\4. Guidance to Keep Us from Going Astray

“If the heavens are shut and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, and they pray to you toward this place, confess your name, and turn from their sins when you afflict them, then you will hear them in heaven. You will forgive the sin of your servants and your people Israel, teach them the good way in which to walk, and send rain on your land, which you gave your people as an inheritance.” (2 Chronicles 6:26-27)

\5. Grace, Favor, and Victory in Our Cause

“If your people go out to war against their enemies by the way you send them, and they pray to you toward this city you have chosen and toward the house I have built for your name, then you will hear their prayer and plea from heaven and uphold their cause.” (2 Chronicles 6:34-35)

We see that the abundance of the Lord’s house is wonderfully pleasing, good, and necessary for us… but who will be fully satisfied with the abundance of your house?

“If they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their captivity, where they have been taken captive, and pray toward the land you gave their ancestors, toward the city you chose, and toward the house I have built for your name, then you will hear their prayer and plea from heaven, your dwelling place. You will uphold their cause and forgive your people who have sinned against you.” (2 Chronicles 6:38-39)

Do We Long for That Abundance in the Lord’s House?

Let us reflect on these questions:
\1. How can we taste the abundance of the Lord’s house if we do not set ourselves apart and consecrate ourselves to God? (Galatians 5:13)
\2. How can we taste the abundance of the Lord’s house if we lack conviction? (Daniel 1:8)
\3. How can we taste the abundance of the Lord’s house if we do not meditate on the Lord’s Word? (Joshua 1:8)
\4. How can we taste the abundance of the Lord’s house if we do not pray? (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
\5. How can we taste the abundance of the Lord’s house if, when we attend, we give the Lord only part of ourselves because our mind, heart, and soul are not truly there? (Matthew 22:37)
\6. How can we taste the abundance of the Lord’s house if, just as God is about to give to us, we hurry out of his presence? (Ecclesiastes 8:3)

Do we now understand why some are fully satisfied with the abundance of his house while others are not? What will we do today?

_**Remember to stop by the Songbook

May God continue to bless you, and may you continue to have a wonderful day in Christ Jesus!