From Visitation to Habitation
“A little boy opened the big and old family Bible with fascination, and looked at the old pages as he turned them. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible, and he picked it up and looked at it closely. It was an old leaf from a tree that had been pressed between the pages.
'Momma, look what I found,' the boy called out.
'What have you got there, dear?' his mother asked.
With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered: 'I think it's Adam's suit!'
Is it the culture of Christianity or is it the Christ of Christianity?
Everywhere you go, the word is out: God is about to do something. (But then, God is always about to do something; He's just waiting for us to say "yes.") We have made the mistake sometimes of praying for a "visitation”. Visitation has NEVER been His plan. God is determined to establish habitation, not visitation. He is looking for a people in whom to dwell, not to visit.
(When Jesus taught us to pray, His words were clear, "thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.") He is not coming to visit. He is coming to stay! Habitation in the Greek and Hebrew both mean dwelling and as a Home.
Genesis 8:8 Read with the people Noah sent forth a Dove but it found no Rest (home) Doves Represent or signifies the Holy Spirit
Jesus when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water, and lo the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and coming upon Him (Matthew 3:16; John 1:32; Luke 3:21, 22; Mark 1:10, 11).
-John the Baptist prepares the way Matthew 3:3-11 -John Baptizes Jesus Matthew 3:13-17
Exodus 15:2; 13 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.
v.13 – Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed; thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.
v.2 – WE prepare a habitation...v. 13 – HE leads us to HIS habitation! When you spend time making room for the presence of God, He shows up and brings you into His presence...(God says WOW! You did this for me, let me show you something.... when you get in THAT realm you know it’s nothing you did...it’s His love & mercy!
Zechariah 2:10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.
11 And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee. 13 Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.
Psalm 132:13 - For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.
God has chosen us to be His habitation! WE are where He LONGS to dwell!
Psalm 26:8 - LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house, And the place where Your glory dwells.
The glory of God can only be with us if we are in HIS habitation...it won’t fall unless we GO THERE...His glory shows up when we GO TO HIS HABITATION.
Pastor Chris Rich