Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. One of the most glorious
manifestations of love set forth in the Scriptures is seen in
the delight which the Lord has in Zion. Zion first appears in
the Scriptures immediately after David was anointed as the king
of Israel. His first official act as the
king was to conquer the stronghold, that is a fort, of Zion, destroying
its inhabitants and taking up residence there. So David dwelt
in the fort and called it the City of David. This city is in
all probability the same as Salem, which was the dwelling place
of Melchizedek, who was the priest of the Most High God. It is one
and the same with Jerusalem, which is the city chosen by God
to put His name there. Some miss much of the glory which
surrounds Zion in the Scripture because they think of a geographical
location whenever Jerusalem is mentioned. While we believe that
the Bible is literally true, we do not believe that the primary
meaning of it is always literal. As Ralph Barnard said so eloquently
years ago, the Bible does not always mean what it says, but
it always means what it means. So when the scriptures speak
of Zion or Jerusalem, they on occasion do so in a historic
sense, speaking of a spot on a map. But they are most often
referring to a municipality which cannot be seen with the natural
eye. Some think that there are pieces of real estate on planet
Earth that are holy. Some lead tours to these spots
on the globe, which are supposed to bring spiritual renewal because
of the sanctified soil upon which one's feet tread. While we are
mindful of the historic nature of the literal city of Jerusalem,
and as such we have great respect for it, we are quite certain
that the Scriptures aren't concerned with its physical location. Zion
is a city wherein the Lord dwells. Howbeit, the Most High dwelleth
not in temples made with hands, as saith the prophet. The apostle
Paul said, Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that
the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? The only place where the
Lord dwells in the earth is in His people. This is why the Lord
Jesus said, He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood dwelleth
in me, and I in him. The Lord is pleased to indwell
those who belong to Him. He has sent His Holy Spirit to
dwell in each one of His elect and regenerated children individually. Yet when the Scriptures speak
about the Lord's dwelling in Zion, the primary references
emphasize the fact that He dwells in the midst of His children
as a gathering or assembly, which is often called the church. The
Lord Jesus said, For where two or three are gathered together
in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Of him it is said,
but thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. By establishing denominations
and organized religions, they do gather and scatter God's people
in one fell swoop. We often see groups of God's
people gathering together week after week, content to live on
the glory given in time past. Organization and habit, rather
than the power of God, is that elixir which is drunk by many
of the Lord's people. Many saints go through the same
motions they have gone through for years, singing the same songs,
praying the same prayers, hearing the same messages, occasionally
being stirred to desire some of that old-time religion. The
problem is that old-time religion is like day-old manna. It breeds
worms and stinks in the present time. We should learn from the
past. Thank the Lord for a godly heritage.
and the examples of those who have walked with God in time
past. But we need a present outpouring of His presence for the time
in which we live. Except the Lord build the house, they labor
in vain that build it. Has not our Lord said, Behold,
I stand at the door and knock? If any man hear my voice and
open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him,
and he with me. It is the Lord's purpose to dwell
in the midst of His people and bring forth the perfection of
beauty in His church by establishing fellowship among His people.
But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have
fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ
His Son cleanseth us from all sin. It is the Lord's purpose
to dwell in the midst of His people and bring forth the perfection
of beauty in His church by giving them a delight in His ways. If
a man love me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love
him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him.
And finally, it is the Lord's purpose to dwell in the midst
of his people and bring forth the perfection of beauty in his
church by conforming them to his image. But speaking the truth
in love may grow up into him in all things, which is the head,
even Christ, from whom the whole body fitly joined together and
compacted by that which every joint supply, according to the
effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase
of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. For a free
CD containing 15 of these radio broadcasts, send an email to
forthepoor at windstream.net.