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January 2008 A Time of Restoration and Preparation |
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What an awesome year we are embarking upon, a year of new beginnings and a year of unprecedented glory. As we are leaving a season of war and wildernesses and tribulations for many I have already spoken with, we are entering into a season of peace and resolution of former things and the promises we have each held dear to our hearts.
God's Promise to David
1 After the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 he said to Nathan the prophet, "Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent." 3 Nathan replied to the king, "Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for the LORD is with you." 4 That night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying:
5 "Go and tell my servant David, 'This is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling.
9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men of the earth. 10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies." 'The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you:
12 When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. 15 But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.' " 2 Samuel 7:1-6, 9-16
David handed off the awesome responsibility and privilege of building the Temple, the House for the Name of the Lord to his son Solomon, according to the Word of the Lord. As a man of war, David was not allowed to build the House for the Lord he loved so much. God gave him rest from all his enemies, and established a time of peace for his son Solomon to then build the Temple and receive the promises God gave to his father David. This time of peace was for His Glory to take up residence in the Temple and His Glory to be published all over the earth in an unprecedented way.
Family, I believe we are at the same precipice that Solomon found himself in, a time of peace in order to build the House and to see the infilling of his Glory take up residence in our hearts, in our families, in our churches and to the world around us. Do not misunderstand, in the world there is trouble. But in the midst of the world’s trouble, God is establishing a time of peace from “our enemies” in our lives in order to be the lighthouse and the refuge of peace that His Glory becomes evident to the darkness around us. What separates us from the world is His Presence and His Glory. So take hold of your promises and expect the Lord to show Himself mighty on your behalf. And let us worship in this New Year as we see His Glory come down!
We look forward to a wonderful time of worship with you in this year of New Beginnings and we expect His Glory to be manifested in yours and our lives in unprecedented ways. God Bless You!
In Christ’ Service,
Raelynn Parkin
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