THE COMPLETE CHRISTIAN
Psalm 27:4
[NIV] One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.
[BBE] One prayer have I made to the Lord, and this is my heart’s desire; that I may have a place in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, looking on his glory, and getting wisdom in his Temple.
[NLT] The one thing I ask of the LORD—the thing I seek most - is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.
I THE CARE OF REQUEST
One thing I ask of the LORD
Divided aims tend to distraction, weakness, disappointment (Spurgeon)
a. DESIRE TO MEET THE LORD
Psalms 26:8 I love the house where you live, O LORD, the place where your glory dwells.
b. DESIRE TO WORSHIP THE LORD
Luke 10:42 only one thing is needed Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
c. DESIRE TO FULFIL HIS WILL
Philippians 3:13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead.
II THE CONSTANCY OF RESOLVE
this is what I seek
Holy desires must lead to resolute action. Desires are seed which must be sown in the good soil of activity, or they will yield no harvest. We shall find our desires to be like clouds without rain, unless followed up by practical endeavours. [Spurgeon]
Grant me thyself, O Lord, and I will ask no more. [Jeremy Taylor.]
a. REAL PURPOSE
Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
b. RIGHT PRIORITY
Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Luke 11:9 & 10 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
c. REWARDS PROMISED
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
III THE CLOSENESS OF RELATIONSHIP
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life
David desired above all things to be one of the household of God, a home born child, living at home with his Father. [Spurgeon]
If we love the Lord, we "will love the habitation of his house, and the place where his honour dwelleth;" Thomas Adams.
a. THE CENTRAL ASPIRATION
Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
b. THE CORRECT APPROACH
Psalm 26:6 I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, O LORD,
c. THE CONSEQUENT APPRECIATION
Psalm 84:4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Selah
IV THE CONTEMPLATION OF ROYALTY.
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
the beauty of the Lord is seen in Christ. It is seen in Christ, for he is the brightness of the Father’s glory, and the express image of his person; and he that hath seen Christ, hath seen the Father. [Andrew Gray]
a. THE AWESOME PERCEPTION
Psalm 50:2 From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.
Psalm 63:2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
b. THE APPRECIATING PRAISE
Psalm 63:3 & 4 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
c. THE ACTUAL PLEASURE
Psalm 63:5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
V THE CONTINUANCE OF REFLECTION
to seek him in his temple
We must not enter the assemblies of the saints in order to see and be seen, or merely to hear the minister; we must repair to the gatherings of the righteous, intent upon the gracious object of learning more of the loving Father, more of the glorified Jesus, more of the mysterious Spirit, in order that we may the more lovingly admire, and the more reverently adore our glorious God. We must enquire as to the will of God and how we may do it. [Spurgeon]
a. LEARNING TRUE VALUES
John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ
b. LEARNING TRUE VISION
II Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," {Gen. 1:3} made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
c. LEARNING TRUE VOCATION
Philippians 3:8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.
