FAITH IS YOUR TENT
Sunday, January 21, 2007
And it shall be that whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord
[invoking, adoring, and worshiping the Lord--Christ] shall be saved. 22
You men of Israel, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a
Man accredited and pointed out and shown forth and commended and
attested to you by God by the mighty works and [the power of
performing] wonders and signs which God worked through Him [right] in
your midst, as you yourselves know--23 This Jesus, when delivered up
according to the definite and fixed purpose and settled plan and
foreknowledge of God, you crucified and put out of the way [killing
Him] by the hands of lawless and wicked men. 24[But] God raised Him up,
liberating Him from the pangs of death, seeing that it was not possible
for Him to continue to be controlled or retained by it. 25 For David
says in regard to Him, I saw the Lord constantly before me, for He is
at my right hand that I may not be shaken or overthrown or cast down
[from my secure and happy state]. 26 Therefore my heart rejoiced and my
tongue exulted exceedingly; moreover, my flesh also will dwell in hope
[will encamp, pitch its tent, and dwell in hope in anticipation of the
resurrection]. 27 For You will not abandon my soul, leaving it helpless
in Hades (the state of departed spirits), nor let Your Holy one know
decay or see destruction [of the body after death]. 28 You have made
known to me the ways of life; You will enrapture me [diffusing my soul
with joy] with and in Your presence. Acts 2:21-28 AMP
On the Day of Pentecost, Peter stood up to address the people of
Jerusalem and in the course of his speech, he quoted King David:
"Therefore my heart rejoiced and my tongue exulted exceedingly;
moreover, my flesh also will dwell in hope" and the Amplified Bible
expands on this statement, adding the words: "will encamp, pitch its
tent, and dwell in hope in anticipation of the resurrection." A tent is
a temporary dwelling – it is not meant to be a permanent dwelling.
Today we use them to go on a camping vacation; people use tents in
emergencies, as temporary housing; in turbulent parts of the world,
tents are used to house refugees. Except for certain peoples like the
Bedouin, a tent is not where we ultimately aspire to be – it is not
permanent - it is just something we have and use on the way to our more
permanent and fixed habitation.
Hope is like a tent – it is
not our house, but it is an appropriate temporary habitation on the way
to our permanent house – the fulfillment of the promise. We may not
have the promise – we may not be living in the house yet - but we know
its coming! Not only is hope the tent, but hope is a tent pitched in a
particular place – the place where it expects the house to be built.
[Urged on] by faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth
to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he
went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was
to go. 9 [Prompted] by faith he dwelt as a temporary resident in the
land which was designated in the promise [of God, though he was like a
stranger] in a strange country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob,
fellow heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was [waiting
expectantly and confidently] looking forward to the city which has
fixed and firm foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God.
Hebrews 11:8-10 AMP
Abraham was prompted by faith to leave
his home and family and live as a temporary resident in a strange land,
while he expectantly and confidently waited for a city with fixed and
firm foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God. Abraham pitched
his tent, and lived in it, in the land, promised by God to his
descendants. This is the land in which his children and grandchildren
would be born and the land they would eventually occupy. Abraham never
built a house there – he lived in his tent until he died - because
Abraham was not only looking forward to an earthly city – he was
looking forward to a heavenly city! Faith confidently expects God to
answer prayers and fulfill His promises. Abraham's faith was his tent
while he patiently waited and looked forward to his permanent
habitation in the glory of God.
Now faith is the assurance
(the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being
the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality
[faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].
Hebrews 11:1 AMP
Our faith is the proof that we have what we
are believing for. We cannot see it yet, but the answer to our prayer
of faith is on its way. We live in our tent of hope and faith while the
house is being built for us and before long we will move into the house
and experience the blessing we hoped for and confidently expected!
Recent:
Righteous Now
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP
“Therefore if any man be in Christ…” What does it mean to be “in Christ”? Galatians 3:27 says, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” You are baptized into Christ when you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” And Romans 10:13 says, “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The moment
Defeating Strife
These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19 AMP
Faith Facts
Faith is persistent
Luke 11:9-10 AMP
So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened.
John 16:24 AMP
Up to this time you have not asked a [single] thing in My Name [as presenting all that I AM]; but now ask and keep on asking and you will receive, so that your joy (gladness, delight) may be full and complete.
Faith is single-minded
James 1:5-8 AMP
If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him. 6 Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the