"Habitat" is defined by Webster's Dictionary as:
'the place or environment where an animal or plant naturally occurs.'
'the place or environment where an animal or plant naturally occurs.'
After years of woefully neglecting this delicate habitat we call home, concern for the earth has reached fever pitch. While care and concern for Creation are noble and necessary, Ecology has evolved. Morphing from science, 'green' philosophy has spawned a peculiar, pantheistic idolatry which now drives national and international policy.
WE HAVE MISSED THE POINT ENTIRELY.
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In packing up to move two years ago I realized I had a serious addiction to books. Paying by the pound to ship our belongings more than 5,000 miles, I was forced to be ruthless, bidding farewell to many a treasured tome. As I sorted, a handful of volumes cried out to me from the rubbish heap, reclaiming their place in my limited library.
 Happiness at Little Halley Last week I returned to one of these treasures, a book called "They Drank from the River and Died in the Wilderness," written by David Ravenhill in 2000. |  |
I read Chapter Seven last night. The words, sweet as honey and bitter as gall, have forever altered my perception/perspective on "HABITAT." I want to share what has impacted me so deeply.
Man was created to be the HABITAT of Almighty God:
"At the far-in hidden center of man's being is a bush fitted to be the dwelling place
of the Triune God. There God planned to rest and glow with moral and spiritual fire."
(A.W. Tozer)
We KNOW habitat is important...we spend millions creating habitats for animals in zoos. Appropriate habitat can actually make the difference between life and death. Imagine a habitat for pandas that contained no bamboo! In the wild, bamboo comprises 99% of a panda's daily diet! An inappropriate habitat would spell starvation.
In Chapter Seven of "They Drank from the River and Died in the Wilderness," Pastor Ravenhill reminds us that:
"God Himself has a 'natural habitat, a culture...a way of doing things that is different than ours. Unless we understand that we can offend Him and end up puzzled as to why our relationship with Him is not everything we would like it to be."
"WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE HABITATION OF GOD
IF WE WISH TO ENJOY THE FULLNESS OF HIS PRESENCE."
Man was created to be the HABITAT of Almighty God:
"At the far-in hidden center of man's being is a bush fitted to be the dwelling place
of the Triune God. There God planned to rest and glow with moral and spiritual fire."
(A.W. Tozer)
We KNOW habitat is important...we spend millions creating habitats for animals in zoos. Appropriate habitat can actually make the difference between life and death. Imagine a habitat for pandas that contained no bamboo! In the wild, bamboo comprises 99% of a panda's daily diet! An inappropriate habitat would spell starvation.
In Chapter Seven of "They Drank from the River and Died in the Wilderness," Pastor Ravenhill reminds us that:
"God Himself has a 'natural habitat, a culture...a way of doing things that is different than ours. Unless we understand that we can offend Him and end up puzzled as to why our relationship with Him is not everything we would like it to be."
"WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE HABITATION OF GOD
IF WE WISH TO ENJOY THE FULLNESS OF HIS PRESENCE."
From the beginning God has expressed His desire to dwell in the midst of His people. In Exodus 25 the Lord said to Moses:
"Let them construct a sanctuary for me, that I may dwell among them."
Notice that it is GOD who takes the initiative. Moses didn't come along saying:
"You know Lord, it's about time You paid us a visit.
After all, we're supposed to be Your kids!"
No, God expresses His exacting demands:
"According to all that I am going to show you...
JUST SO you shall construct it."
A quick read through Exodus reveals, the Lord is concerned with EVERY DETAIL of His Dwelling Place!
"Let them construct a sanctuary for me, that I may dwell among them."
Notice that it is GOD who takes the initiative. Moses didn't come along saying:
"You know Lord, it's about time You paid us a visit.
After all, we're supposed to be Your kids!"
No, God expresses His exacting demands:
"According to all that I am going to show you...
JUST SO you shall construct it."
A quick read through Exodus reveals, the Lord is concerned with EVERY DETAIL of His Dwelling Place!
You can learn a lot about people simply by visiting their homes. In Revelation Chapter 4, John takes us on a 'guided tour' of the House of God, His heavenly Tabernacle...
"After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven...
immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven,
and One sitting on the throne."
(Revelation 4:1-2)
The first thing John sees in Heaven is the Lord sitting His throne. There is no question about who is 'in charge.' Now pay attention:
"If God is going to reside in your house or in mine, if we are going to experience the fullness of His presence in the way we desire, then HE DEMANDS THE THRONE. It's just that simple. He demands the right to govern, the right to rule, the right to control our lives. When God comes to reside in us, He comes as Lord, Master and King."
"If God's presence is to be fully manifested in us,
then He must fully reside on the throne of our lives."
(p. 85)
As my mother used to say when I was argumentative:
"NO 'BUTS' ABOUT IT, Anne Marie, NO 'BUTS' ABOUT IT!"
If God is going to feel at home in our hearts, if we want a lasting, abiding and growing relationship with Him, then we MUST give Him the throne.
"After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven...
immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven,
and One sitting on the throne."
(Revelation 4:1-2)
The first thing John sees in Heaven is the Lord sitting His throne. There is no question about who is 'in charge.' Now pay attention:
"If God is going to reside in your house or in mine, if we are going to experience the fullness of His presence in the way we desire, then HE DEMANDS THE THRONE. It's just that simple. He demands the right to govern, the right to rule, the right to control our lives. When God comes to reside in us, He comes as Lord, Master and King."
"If God's presence is to be fully manifested in us,
then He must fully reside on the throne of our lives."
(p. 85)
As my mother used to say when I was argumentative:
"NO 'BUTS' ABOUT IT, Anne Marie, NO 'BUTS' ABOUT IT!"
If God is going to feel at home in our hearts, if we want a lasting, abiding and growing relationship with Him, then we MUST give Him the throne.
Now, back to the scene of God's home in heaven:
"And the four living creatures...day and night they do not cease to say,
'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty,
who was and who is and who is to come."
(Revelation 4:8)
"If God is going to dwell in our lives on a permanent basis, if we are to enjoy the full richness of His presence, not only must we give Him the throne, but we also must provide Him with a HOLY PLACE...many of us expect Him to dwell with us when there is uncleanness, rebellion, lust, worldliness, or other unholy things in our lives. Part of the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to point out those things to us and clean them up.
OUR part is to OPEN UP AND LET HIM WORK. As long as we are cooperating and dealing with those things everything is fine. It's when we resist that we grieve the Holy Spirit. Persistent resistance will eventually quench the Spirit and He will withdraw. IF WE WANT GOD TO DWELL IN US, WE MUST PRESENT OURSELVES TO HIM AS CLEAN AND PURE."
(p. 86-88)
"And the four living creatures...day and night they do not cease to say,
'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty,
who was and who is and who is to come."
(Revelation 4:8)
"If God is going to dwell in our lives on a permanent basis, if we are to enjoy the full richness of His presence, not only must we give Him the throne, but we also must provide Him with a HOLY PLACE...many of us expect Him to dwell with us when there is uncleanness, rebellion, lust, worldliness, or other unholy things in our lives. Part of the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to point out those things to us and clean them up.
OUR part is to OPEN UP AND LET HIM WORK. As long as we are cooperating and dealing with those things everything is fine. It's when we resist that we grieve the Holy Spirit. Persistent resistance will eventually quench the Spirit and He will withdraw. IF WE WANT GOD TO DWELL IN US, WE MUST PRESENT OURSELVES TO HIM AS CLEAN AND PURE."
(p. 86-88)
God dwells in an atmosphere of continual thanksgiving:
"Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power;
for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will
they existed and were created." (Rev. 4:11)
Scripture exhorts us OVER AND OVER to give thanks to God. It is God's will that we give thanks in EVERYTHING! How faithful am I in obeying this??? I am ashamed to admit that I am guilty of ingratitude. The early Christians, despite immense suffering and persecution, learned to LIVE AND BREATHE thankfulness.
"If God sniffed the air of your 'sanctuary', would He smell the sweet,
fragrant incense of praise and thanksgiving, or the stench of bitterness,
pride and ingratitude?" (p.89)
"Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power;
for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will
they existed and were created." (Rev. 4:11)
Scripture exhorts us OVER AND OVER to give thanks to God. It is God's will that we give thanks in EVERYTHING! How faithful am I in obeying this??? I am ashamed to admit that I am guilty of ingratitude. The early Christians, despite immense suffering and persecution, learned to LIVE AND BREATHE thankfulness.
"If God sniffed the air of your 'sanctuary', would He smell the sweet,
fragrant incense of praise and thanksgiving, or the stench of bitterness,
pride and ingratitude?" (p.89)
Why is gratitude so vital? Because, according to Psalm 22:3
GOD INHABITS THE PRAISES OF HIS PEOPLE!
"Thanksgiving and Praise are part of God's HABITAT. Genuine worship comes from a heart that is in absolute agreement with God, absolutely committed to God, and resolutely, radically obedient to God...God is looking for those who will abandon themselves COMPLETELY to Him, casting everything at His feet. These are the ones who will take their crowns--all their achievement, their prestige, their recognition, and their rewards--cast them down and WORSHIP HIM. These are the ones in whom God will choose to dwell in His fullness. We must come to the place of absolute surrender to God's will and His ways." (pp.91-93)
GOD INHABITS THE PRAISES OF HIS PEOPLE!
"Thanksgiving and Praise are part of God's HABITAT. Genuine worship comes from a heart that is in absolute agreement with God, absolutely committed to God, and resolutely, radically obedient to God...God is looking for those who will abandon themselves COMPLETELY to Him, casting everything at His feet. These are the ones who will take their crowns--all their achievement, their prestige, their recognition, and their rewards--cast them down and WORSHIP HIM. These are the ones in whom God will choose to dwell in His fullness. We must come to the place of absolute surrender to God's will and His ways." (pp.91-93)
"Lord, take the throne of my life. I give it to You. Make me into a holy HABITATION acceptable to You. Clean out the worldliness that has so controlled my life--the lust, the pride, the bitterness, the resentment, the uncleanness. Take it ALL out. I want to be a clean vessel, a holy habitation for Your presence and glory. Teach me to be grateful. Let thanksgiving rise up new every morning, like Your mercies, for GREAT is Your faithfulness. Teach me how to worship in spirit and in truth. give me an 'amen' in my heart of absolute surrender and radical obedience. Amen. So be it!"
(p. 93)
Soli Deo Gloria
(p. 93)
Soli Deo Gloria
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