Psalm 50:5 “Gather My saints together to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”
“All of God’s people are ordinary people who have been made extraordinary by the purpose he has given them.”
Oswald Chambers
The status of the church has always been a mixed report, victory in one camp and trouble in another. Poor doctrine has attempted to infiltrate the church from the beginning, men who exalt themselves, false teachers who fleece the flock but never nourish it. For those weak in the faith, the deception may overtake them, but there will always be a remnant who remain.
For those people who choose to go the way of the world, the expectation of things to come grows dim. For those who know the fellowship of the Spirit, they understand the hope and peace the world is searching for. In the midst of so much dissolution, with persecution on the rise and every form of corruption infiltrating the church, the remnant who remains steadfast will find the irrepressible hope in Jesus Christ not to be in vain.
What is it that separates God’s people from the people of the world?
They listen and obey God.
Following Jesus
A distinct quality of God’s people is found in their desire to follow Jesus.
Exodus 24:7 “Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient.”
Without purpose the world is left aimless, void, and without direction. Godly obedience believes in the One doing the leading, it responds in faith even if understanding is lacking, it presses on when the road is difficult, and doesn’t deviate when the journey is long.
God’s people obey because God is Trustworthy.
When the Lord brings His people into His presence, there are common events that occur during those moments.
The Gathering
The gathering of God’s people now is a taste of what is to come. In God’s presence there should be great expectation. When the Lord is in the midst of the assembly, the people rejoice, there is great conviction, and worship springs forth from His anointed.
Psalm 68:1-3 Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly,
And works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart;
He who does not backbite with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
In whose eyes a vile person is despised,
But he honors those who fear the Lord;
He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
He who does not put out his money at usury,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.”
The people of God approach the Lord in humility and with a contrite spirit. The holiness of the Lord permeates their assembly and the Lord establishes them. They cannot be moved because they are kept by the power of God.
The presence of God is everywhere, but to actively enter into the presence of God is to come with expectation. The world experiences the presence of God everyday unaware. The blindness of sin has darkened their understanding as to what is good and holy, they might see the evidence of God but attribute something else to it. For believers, entering into His presence requires a humble and contrite spirit. Acknowledging God’s sovereignty and willing to turn from sin is the only path for the righteous.
Psalm 139:7-10 “Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.”
Right Perspective
There are people across the globe who fight to preserve the Earth, the hope that every species of animal is kept alive is a major concern for large groups of well funded people. Saving the whales, preserving the dolphins, rescuing dogs, you name it, if it’s an animal you can bet there are people trying to protect it.
Why are people willing to spend millions of dollars protecting the Earth and the species that live upon it?
Because they appreciate the beauty within it and that beauty comes from God. The world can appreciate the world’s beauty but they cannot appreciate the One who formed it. The world is bound to their own understanding and it is lost in darkness.
2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
In the presence of God, there is freedom for God’s people.
What freedom do God’s people enjoy?
Freedom from the slavery of sin. Freedom as they walk in obedience to God’s commands. Freedom to dwell in peace.
God’s people are no longer under sin because Jesus paid the price for their sin. Jesus has made His people free from the curse of death. Because of His great gift, God’s people rejoice.
Psalm 95:2 “Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!”
In the presence of the Lord, God’s people rejoice in thanksgiving. The reality of God’s purity, His holiness, and His power, will be reason enough to rejoice for they no longer stand condemned.
When we examine our lives before God’s Word, we stand convicted by the righteous standard it represents. Likewise, the Spirit of God brings conviction of sin.
* Imagine what it will be like when we stand before God in the fullness of His glory, the radiating power of His majesty permeating every ounce of our being, the penetrating gaze of His eyes that looks into our soul where nothing is hidden from Him—imagine how thankful you will be at that moment—knowing Jesus has purified you and cast all your sin away. One speck of sin would be like a small cancer that went undetected; nothing impure can remain.
Psalm 16:2 “I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”
The reality of who we are is exposed in the presence of the Lord. We will see the reality of our works and know that nothing will remain that was apart from Him.
When we submit to Christ in obedience, we are allowing His work to be manifest in and through us.
His work is good because He is good.
Even though His Spirit dwells within us, we still have a fallen nature that resides. If we act according to that fallen nature, we lack the sustainability of doing anything with eternal value.
Psalm 97:5 “The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth.”
Everything diminishes before God. Our pride, our accomplishments, our wealth, our power, or position….there is nothing that will be able to stand before Him. Whenever we grow prideful, it would be wise to remember this verse and bow in repentance.
It would be far better to melt before Him now in humility, than to be forced to your knees one day in rebellion and judgement.
Exodus 33:15 “If Your Presence does not go with us,” Moses replied, “do not lead us up from here.”
When we experience the presence of the Lord, there will be no other place we will want to be.
God’s people realize that there is no life apart from Him. Every aspect of our being resonates with His presence—it is like we were meant to be with Him all along.
There is a reason why life has meaning in Christ and lacks meaning apart from Him. He created people for a purpose, His people are an extension of His love and will never find solace apart from being in His arms.
The common bond of every saint is the infilling Holy Spirit. The love of God overwhelms their lives and spills forth into the church and out to the world.
One day, all workers of righteousness will gather and worship the King of kings. Stories will be told, unity of the Spirit will be perfected, and the love of God will be known in full.
What a day that will be.
U.T. 