(Psa. 84:1-12) "Blessed are they that dwell in thy house..."
The word "Blessed" in the Bible means "contentment, happiness, fulfillment!"
The implication is that those that are content, happy and fulfilled are truly BLESSED!
In this wicked, lost and dying world, we can still have peace and contentment.
There is hope for the Child of God, because in Christ, we are BLESSED!
The Psalmist wrote:
Blessed are they that dwell in thy house!
> There is a promised BLESSING to those whose lives revolve around the House of God!
Notice the Psalmist’s admiration for the House of God (v. 1-2).
He uses STRONG words to describe how he feels about God and God’s House...
> LONGETH - to pine after; to desire, to long for.
> EVEN FAINTETH - to desire so passionately that it causes you to faint.
> My Heart and Flesh Crieth Out - It was both external & internal.
> He loves God’s House!
He realizes that even the birds know of the BLESSING of being in God’s House (v. 3).
The birds know this is the place to raise your children.
> If a bird-brain knows this, how is it that so many people do not?
(v. 4) IS OUR TEXT...
"Blessed are they that dwell in thy House..."
STILL BLESSED
I. The Blessing of Being In God’s House.
A. A Propensity for Praise (v. 4).
1. It speaks of Calmness.
> They will BE STILL praising Thee!
> During troubled time, and in a troubling situation, you are not overtly excited.
> Things are going to pieces all around you, but you can BE STILL.
2. It speaks of Continuance.
> Many will quit when things get rough, but not those that stay in God’s house.
> Many will turn back to the world, but those that stay in Church will STILL BE PRAISING GOD!
3. It speaks of Confirmation.
> The word "Amen" implies "I Agree"
> It is a AUDIBLE confirmation.
4. It speaks of Cheerfulness.
> Shouting and carrying on, like a bunch of Comanche Indians...’
> Because you get excited about the things of God!
> That’s why at a sporting event they call it CHEERING!
> We ought to be MORE excited about the Eternal Things of God...
A PROPENSITY FOR PRAISE...
B. A Tendency for Toughness (v. 5;7).
1. There are too many crybaby Christians.
> We would have never made it in the early Church.
> Foxe’s Book of Martyrs would never have been written.
2. But there is something about those who stay with God’s people, and love God’s House.
> They learn some Stick-To-It-Ness.
> They get rough and tough, hard boiled, and thick-skinned.
3. The wimpy crybaby’s come and go.
> They are in and out.
> Here today, gone tomorrow!
4. Those that stay... go from Strength to Strength.
> This is a military term, meaning going from 1 squadron to another
> Implies that once your strength is gone, another fresh squadron comes along to re-enforce you.
A PROPENSITY FOR PRAISE.
A TENDENCY FOR TOUGHNESS...
C. An Inclination toward Improvement (v. 6).
1. The Valley of Baca - Tears.
> Even God’s people will go through valleys.
> Some will be tougher than others.
> The Valley of Baca, is the Valley of Tears.
> The Valley of Sorrow and the Shadow of death.
2. This Valley is common to all.
> No one is exempt from the Valley of Baca.
> No one can simply avoid this Valley.
> We must all PASS through this Valley.
3. "It came to Pass..."
> Thank God we do not dwell in the Valley, we just pass through.
> We dwell in the Courts of God, but we pass through the Valley!
4. But, those that have the strength, stamina and character to stay with God make it a well.
> A Valley is a dark and often dreadful place...
> A well is a refreshing and helpful place.
> We will all pass through the Valley of Baca...
> But, those that have the Blessing of God upon them MAKE IT A WELL!
SOME PASS THROUGH THE VALLEY AND IT CHANGES THEM!
OTHERS PASS THROUGH THE VALLEY AND THEY CHANGE IT!
5. Some enter a dark, dismal place and MAKE IT A PLACE OF REFRESHMENT.
> They enter a Dry, Dark, Dismal Valley and make it a WELL!
> The have an INCLINATION TOWARD IMPROVEMENT.
D. A Promise of His Presence (v.7-9).
1. Everyone will APPEAR before God.
> This is not talking about standing before God in judgement.
> It clearly implies that to appear before God is a privilege.
2. Look upon my face (v. 9).
> Again speaks of the great joy and honor to be in God’s presence.
3. It may be months or years in between, but each time it was well worth the wait!
> Perhaps God will only show up once in a great while...
> But, just one glimpse of Him, makes it seem as nothing!
> Jacob desired Rachel... the years seemed as nothing!
A PROPENSITY FOR PRAISE.
A TENDENCY FOR TOUGHNESS.
AN INCLINATION TOWARD IMPROVEMENT
A PROMISE OF HIS PRESENCE.
II. How to Remain Still Blessed!
A. Make the Church Your Home (v.3; 4; 10).
1. (v. 3) The birds made God’s house, their home...
> A good place to bring up kids.
2. (v. 4) The word DWELL means Live There!
> Your second home. The place you spend the second most amount of your free time!
3. (v. 10) Living one day in God’s house is better than living 1000 days in the devil’s palace.
> Even if it means being in God’s house as the most menial servant it’s still better!
4. There are great blessings available to them that make God’s house their home (Psa. 91:1-10).
> Dwelleth & Habitation are words that describe your home!
5. The Church needs to be as much a part of your life as your home life.
> It is NOT just a place you come and go to on Sundays.
> Its not a small token of your week. IT’S A LIFE OF SERVICE!
B. Make the Church Your Help (v. 7).
1. We learned earlier that "Strength to Strength" is a military term meaning going from camp to camp.
> It means getting re-enforcement when you get weak.
2. The Church is the place we get re-enforced.
> Its where we get refreshed, renewed, REVIVED!
3. Do you have a NEED? (v. 11).
> The Lord will give GRACE & GLORY.
> Mercy and honor. Forgiveness and BLESSING!
> NO GOOD THING WILL HE WITHHOLD!
> But, this is conditional (v. 11b)
> The Psalmist could claim the BLESSINGS of verse 11, because of how he felt in Verses 1 and 2.
4. HERE IS THE BIG SECRET (Matt. 6:31-33).
> Stop trying to find your fame and fortune in this world, and find God in the Church.
> When you do, God will take care of these things!
> God will BLESS those that BLESS Him (Psa. 115:11-18).
> Where are we to Bless the Lord (Psa 134:1-3).
THIS IS THE SECRET TO STAYING BLESSED...
MAKE THE CHURCH YOUR HOME - MAKE THE CHURCH YOUR HELP...
C. Make the Church Your Happiness.
1. The word BLESSED means "contentment, fulfillment, and happiness."
> Part of the BLESSING is happiness and contentment.
> When you are part of the things of God, you will get a sense of purpose and fulfillment.
2. (Isa. 58:13-14) "Call the Sabbath a delight!"
> This means to MAKE THE CHURCH YOUR DELIGHT!
> When your make the Church your happiness, God will make you HAPPY in church!
III. The Verse that Most Do Not Believe (v. 10).
A. If this verse is not true, then neither is John 3:16.
1. If God’s word cannot be trusted in one verse, it cannot be trusted in another.
> Either this is ALL God’s word, or its not God’s word at all.
2. This is not Luby’s, where you pick and choose.
> You either accept it as a whole, or you reject it completely.
3. We have AMPLE reason to receive this Book as the very Word of God.
B. Five Proofs that You Don’t Believe this verse (v. 10 "I’d rather...")
1. You would rather go to work than to Church.
> I’d almost rather slide down a ten foot razor blade into a bowl of alcohol...
2. You would rather attend a sporting event than Church.
> If your little league, dance class, soccer game... is on SUNDAY - QUIT IT!’
> You would be better off raising your kids in Church than on a soccer field.
PROOF!
3. You would rather sleep an extra 30-45 minutes.
> You will give up the BLESSINGS of God for 30 more minutes of sleep?
> You will give up your FUTURE for a few more minutes in bed?
PROOF!
4. You would rather make up some lame excuse, than to be in Church.
> If you wake up sick every Sunday, I would worry.
> You might have more than a physical ailment.
> There could be an underlying SPIRITUAL problem...
PROOF!
5. You would rather let a hypocrite be more spiritual than you.
> One of the most prevalent excuses for not attending Church is...
> There are too many hypocrites there!
<1> There are just as many hypocrites everywhere else.
<2> If you miss Church because of this, then the Hypocrite is MORE spiritual than you!
I’m Talking about STAYING BLESSED!
