TEXT: "The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them." (Psalm 34:7)
I. HEAVEN ON EARTH
A. There is more heaven here on earth than most people suspect. "Encampeth" would indicate a lifestyle of place and condition. "Around those who fear Him, and rescues them" would indicate the place to be on earth.
"For He will give His angles charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways." (Psalm 91:11)
B. The Word indicates that there is a lot of heaven with us in the here and now. When you are taken into the wilderness, heaven goes with you. For heavenly beings to stay with us, they must live here. For the sake of the prophet. Elisha says,
"And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." (II Kings 6:17)
C. Of what are you afraid? Angels?
"Are they [angels] not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation." (Hebrews 1:14)
There is nothing to fear. The provisions of God for you are more than you can possibly imagine. Even food was brought from heaven to the wilderness to feed the needy people.
D. Most believers have the dream of going to heaven. But before that happens, God brings heaven, with all its appropriate provisions, to us.
"But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)" (Romans 10:6)
E. Rather believe that God has brought heaven to you. There is no need to live there now. For the present you are stuck on earth. Live in God's presence and enjoy heaven in the wilderness.
F. If we deny ourselves the nearness of heaven, then where is God? Where are the angels of God? Where is the work of Christ? Where are the provisions of God? If heaven were not near us, all these would be out of reach.
G. As in the Wilderness of Sinai, God has brought heaven down among us. If salvation is in heaven, how are you going to receive it? If you need physical healing and it's in heaven, what good is it going to do you? If you need deliverance and it's in heaven, how are you going to get it?
H. But it all comes down and touches our lives right here on earth. A song by John W. Peterson, expresses it this way, "Heaven came down and glory filled my soul." God Himself expresses it this way,
"That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth." (Deuteronomy 11:21)
This is God's intention for us. He is doing His utmost to get heaven down to man on earth.
II. PARTING THOUGHTS
A. The purpose of the wilderness is to get heaven into your soul. Heaven came down in the Wilderness of Sinai. If that truth is worked into our living, then our hardships, our trials, testings, and temptations, as well as our sufferings, fade into nothingness.
B. The glory of heaven overwhelms the situations, circumstances, and difficulties. It brings down to us the victory we need. In it we can see God and learn of Him and His ways. In it we partake of His provisions.
Come let us follow the beckoning of God toward the wilderness that we may experience HEAVEN ON EARTH.
C. Rise up move! Look to the northeast. The Wilderness of Paran is waiting. Lessons learned training completed for now. God met with man, but did man met with God? God's laws and patterns of worship was given a place of personal benefit, prosperity, success, and victory. Eleven months have passed around the mountain. His vision, strength, and faith has been developed in us. The glory of God is next or is it?
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