BE THANKFUL UNTO GOD AND BLESS HIS NAME
“BE THANKFUL UNTO GOD AND BLESS HIS NAME”
Sunday, November 18, 2012, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Psalms 120-134
Thanksgiving unto the Lord is commanded as part of worship throughout the Holy Bible.
Lev. 22:29: “When you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the Lord, offer at your own will.”
Ps. 107:22: “Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and declare his works with rejoicing.”
When I was preparing for The Prayer Conference hosted by Celebration of Life Church, the Lord spoke to me to preach on the Sacrifice of Prayer. That we ministered on election night, Nov. 6th, was a sacrifice of prayer. When we fast and pray, it is a Sacrifice of Prayer.
In the midst of our greatest trial of faith, the way through to become an overcomer is the sacrifice of thanksgiving for all the wondrous works of the Lord.
Col. 4:2: “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.”
The Greek word for thanksgiving means to give freely; gratitude; giving of thanks.” The giving of thanks unto God for benefits received from Him and for who He is. Thanksgiving is part of our approach to God through praise and then worship.
The book of Psalms shows us Praise and Thanksgiving through prayer.
The years seem to spin from one year to the other. Each year is filled with its own challenges of success, joy, birth, marriages, deaths, changes, growing, learning, laughing and crying. The Lord is for us and the world system cannot swallow, sink, or snare us! Dependence upon the Lord creates stability and a security that enables us to combat the inner struggle to trust in the flesh.
Psalm 120-134 describe this spiritual journey in Christ and our growing from longing to peace; to the union with the God of peace; and from prayer to worship.
Without the Lord we are homeless. As a congregation this past year, we knew what it was like to be tent dwellers with God. His permanent residence is in us and our permanent residence is in Him. He has tested us as to whether we are serving Him, or serving in His house.
Like Abraham, we have been called into a place which has been promised to us, yet not seeing the promise. The Old Testament patriarchs died in faith not seeing the promises, but having seen them afar off, were persuaded of them and embraced them…”He looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
Wherever we go, we have found the city. Heb. 12:22: “You have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels. To the general assembly, and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.”
Psalms 120-134 are identified as the Songs of Degrees. The principles are growth, movement, progression, maturity, change, formation, development, restoration, repentance and transfiguration of the Christian pilgrimage.
We are being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. We are ascending into the higher realms of the Spirit. We are growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. We are ascending into Zion and the full authority of His Throne. We are ascending into the Hill of the Lord. We are becoming just like Jesus.
Psalm 134: “Behold, bless you the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord. The Lord that made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.”
There are 15 of these Psalms. There were 15 steps into the Temple described by Ezekiel in his prophecy (40:6, 22-31), by which the priests ascended. Fifteen is the number of rest. The first seven of the Psalms of Ascent can be likened to the seven steps up in to the Most Holy Place in the temple of Solomon. (1Kg. 5-8). We can also compare this to the seven principles of 11 Pet. 1: 4-9; the seven churches of Rev. 2-3 (seven steps to the throne of Rev. 3:21); the steps of Solomon’s throne (1 Kg. 10: 19-20); the days of Creation; the water pots of John 2 and many other teachings.
These Psalms were sung by the people of God as they went up to the Temple at Jerusalem for the Feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. They were sung by the people of the post-exilic restoration as they returned to Jerusalem from the Captivity in Babylon.
In our Tuesday teaching of the Marriage Feast of the Lamb, the Lord revealed we are being prepared for the greatest feast of all. Let us ascend in the Spirit in preparation for this great feast.
We have been participating in the Feast of Tabernacles – the Glory of God since the year 2000. There was a call to “go beyond Pentecost”; and to “go Beyond the Bride” now Let us “go beyond Tabernacles” to the Marriage Feast of the Lamb.
In Mt. 22:14, Jesus’ earthly ministry is likened to a wedding feast. The parable of the king’s wedding feast for his son, presents Jesus as the son/groom and a rejection of the invitation as a rejection of Jesus himself. No one can participate in this feast unless they are born again into the family of God.
Our participation in the Lord’s Supper is a continuity of the feast of his life, death, burial, resurrection and the covenant of the New Testament. Every feast celebrated to the Lord is but a foretaste of the greatest feast of all.
Christ’s second coming is described as a marriage feast or the marriage supper of the Lamb. Though Jesus feasted with his followers as a human (the wedding feast of his earthly ministry), the consummation of Jesus with His saints at the second coming is described as a wedding banquet between the Lamb of God and his bride, the church.
On Mount Zion (the church) is the central location of all biblical feasts, the Lord Almighty has prepared, as Isaiah prophesied:
“A feast of rich food for all peoples,
A banquet of aged wine—
The best of meats and finest of wines,
On this mountain he will destroy
The shroud that enfolds all peoples,
The sheet that covers all nations,
He will swallow up death forever
The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears
From all faces
He will remove the disgrace of his
People from the earth.”
Psalm 120 – Deliverance from the confusion of a deceitful tongue; renunciation and separation from Babylon, self and others, a cry for a change of dwelling-place from an alien place to an abiding place. Rising above sharp arrows (harsh words) or Juniper fires (spreading lies) ---entering the rest of God, the Lord of Peace (James 3).
Psalm 121 – Preservation – looking up—aware of self inadequateness---delivered from weight of sin (unbelief) -- weightless state of trusting in the Lord. My help comes from the Lord (supernatural realm) --- Drawing on the power of God and the keeping power of God.
Psalm 122 – Peace within God’s Habitation ---looking within the gates of the city from sorrow of worldly friendships to gladness of corporate fellowship---not sitting outside the gates of the city, but standing within with prayer and praise---fellowship with the Saints, vision of local church.
Psalm 123 – Patience in vision; Psalm of the eyes; Passover Lamb---looking within the Master’s house---know the Lord’s acts but not ways---“To you I lift up my eyes, O you that dwells in the heavens” ---going from the hills to the heavens---not the support of the world (or self), but the hand of the Father. The Lord is Savior and Master---need for training and discipline.
Psalm 124 – Dependence upon the LORD (consequent thanksgiving)---Looking back with praise for God’s deliverance---from carnal to spiritual, from kingdom of darkness to Kingdom of the Son---not carnal weapons of warfare, but the Lord Himself---The world would swallow, sink, and snare, but the Lord is on our side.
Psalm 125 – Trust with resultant confidence –Looking at the inner conflict between the spirit and the soul---from realm of feeling to the realm of faith---not confidence in the flesh, but trust in the Lord---Increasing consecration, vision of Zion, awareness of spiritual warfare.
Psalm 126 – Joy in communion – Looking at the death of flesh’s hard shell, release of life from within---From the Lord’s turning to the turning of Zion---sowing to reaping---not bondage to self, but freedom in Zion (The Lord has done great things for us). Seed is sown during drought, and the nations will recognize the change (harvest).
Psalm 127 – Total commitment of works; the Builder’s Psalm---Looking at the house and the household of God---from tearing down to building up---from self-labor to the Lord’s inheritance---not the vanity of self-labor, but the Lord’s building---progression and purpose of Jesus building His Church (vanity of human energy).
Psalm 128 – Fear of God and consequent blessings ---Looking at the fruitfulness in this house---from futility to fruitfulness---not in carnality but in the fear of the Lord---walking and working in power of the Spirit, fruitfulness of Spirit-filled life. It is a family hymn to be sung by a happy household who have met to praise the Lord. It is a Psalm for those who are about to marry.
Psalm 129 – Victory over affliction – Looking at suffering in the flesh---from suffering to blessing from life in the flesh to Spirit---not in emptiness of passing frailties, but in fullness of His eternal blessings. Flesh = emptiness (Jacob) –Spirit = fullness (Israel). This is a prayer for the downfall of all who have crushed God’s people.
Psalm 130 – Looking up from the depths of the soul---from darkness of night to morning from Jacob to Israel---not a prayer for a hurried deliverance, but a hope in the Lord and His faith---Without Him, life does not go on; rest which comes from waiting.
Psalm 131 – Humility, lowliness, and meekness – looking within---from haughtiness to humbleness---not a hope I His blessings, but in Him---not in questioning why from trust the who---from brokenness comes humility; the process of maturity (weaning of Isaac)---childlike trust in the Lord.
Psalm 132 – Determination motivated by desire ---looking at the Lord’ heart – from a divided heart to a whole heart (James 1:8)---not in trying to build Him a house, but in allowing our house to become His---merging of desires (God and man; spirit and soul); God rests in man (who loves Him). This Psalms was written by David in commemoration of the Day the Ark was brought up to Jerusalem.
Psalm 133 – Unity, anointing, and blessing (one with Him)---looking at the Lord’s Body ---from oneness within to harmony without---from duplicity to singleness (oneness)---not in inward expression only, but in outward manifestation---merging of head and body---rest in each other---body, life and ministry. At last the pilgrims are in the city. In finding Jehovah they have found each other! A new social order has been created.
Psalm 134- Thanksgiving, Praise and Worship, perfected ministry, constant blessing of God is flowing out of Zion, the place of His habitation---from longing for peace in Psalm 120 to the union with the God of peace in 134. From prayer (120) to worship (134). Not in temporary location, but a permanent dwelling-place (habitation, Temple of living stones); not in window shopping, but in moving in. Without the Lord we are all homeless, wandering aimlessly through life.
The journey is completed! The soul has ascended into Zion and is one with the Spirit.
We see a perfected people ruling in Zion and flowing out of the Most Holy Place to bless the nations.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries, Inc.
Scripture from K.J.V.; I entered into the labors of Kelly Varner principles of Present Truth from: The Psalms 73-150. Bible Study by: Pastor Carolyn Sissom on Revelation - Chapter 19; Comments and conclusions are my own and not meat to reflect the views of those whom I entered into their labors.