1 LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?

I. Enjoying The Delights Of God’s Presence Is Dependent Upon Dependent Obedience

Ps 16:11  You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Jn 14:21  "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." (See My Heart Christ’s Home)

Jn 15:5  "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 7  "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8  "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples 10  "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11  "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12  "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Isa 57:15  For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name [is] Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy [place], With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

II. Dependent Obedience is reflected in our Walk, Works, Words, Wealth and Relationships

Ps 16:2  He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart;

A. Walk: We walk according to the light of Scripture braving storms and bettering others

1Jo 1:7 if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Ps 84:11 LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.      1John 2:6  He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

B. Works: We labor to accomplish God’s purposes (via good works) every day

Ac 10:35  "But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. (cf Rev 22:14 right to enter the city)

C. Words: We speak edifying words of love which come from a purified heart

3  He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;

Ps 34:12  Who desires life… that he may see good? 13  Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit.

Mt 12:34  "Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

1Pt 1:22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit for a sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart (cf Eph 4:29)

III.  Those Basking in God’s Presence absorb God’s values re: Relationships and Possessions

A. We fellowship with God-fearers and view others as God views them

4  In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

1Sa 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king."

B. We use our possessions and power to help others as good stewards of God’s blessings

5a  He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.

C. We rest secure in constant communion with God as we look at all things from His perspective

5b He who does these things shall never be moved.

Ps 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. Why do we trade in the abiding joy and pleasure of God’s presence for the quickly tarnishing and fading sparkle of worldly pleasure?

2. If abiding isn’t automatic, why do some folks enjoy a fruitful reproductive relationship with God and others are withered raisins?

3. How do you balance the dual responsibilities of being accepting and rejecting? Is there a limit to God’s patience? (Num 14; 1Co 11)

4. What lies are most likely to tempt us to abandon God’s presence? How can we decrease our susceptibility to them?

5. How will you develop and deepen your relationship with God this week? What will give you the greatest delight?