Discipleship Prayer Study 1

Psalm 24:1-10

Psalm 24:1–10 ESV

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah

New Living Translation Psalm 24

Psalm 24

A psalm of David.

1 The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it.

The world and all its people belong to him.

2 For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas

and built it on the ocean depths.

3 Who may climb the mountain of the LORD?

Who may stand in his holy place?

4 Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,

who do not worship idols

and never tell lies.

5 They will receive the LORD’s blessing

and have a right relationship with God their savior.

6 Such people may seek you

and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob.

Interlude

7 Open up, ancient gates!

Open up, ancient doors,

and let the King of glory enter.

8 Who is the King of glory?

The LORD, strong and mighty;

the LORD, invincible in battle.

9 Open up, ancient gates!

Open up, ancient doors,

and let the King of glory enter.

10 Who is the King of glory?

The LORD of Heaven’s Armies—

he is the King of glory.

Interlude

We don’t necessarily need context with the Psalms and what I mean by context is the occasion for which it was written, but sometimes it helps. But what we do need to remember is the Psalms location in the Bible. What do I mean by that and why is it relevant? In the O.T. and Jesus has not made atonement yet and there is no once and forever cleansing and forgiveness yet.

Salvation is still by grace through faith, the permanent cleansing has not happened. Ones permanent righteousness has not happened yet.

So what is the purpose of V’s 1&2? Who is the Lord? The owner/creator of everything and everyone, the builder, architect. These are perspective verses. He is great, mighty, huge, and we are not. He is bigger than the earth, out there, while we are down here, small.

How about V3? Questions to ponder as we consider V’s 1&2. Thankfully David answers it for us with V4.

So, who may climb the mountain and stand in His presence? No one literally, except Jesus that is. None of us have pure hands, pure hearts, who don’t worship idols and never tell lies. We are lying if we think we are pure.

1 John 1:8 ESV

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

But because of Jesus, our placed faith in Him, we are righteous, He has made atonement.

How did right standing with God occur in the O.T.? Through sacrifice and offerings, faith in the ability of a substitute and belief in the grace of God to accept this offering.

So where does the clean hands, pure heart etc. come from?

The pure heart offers to God an acceptable offering, which brings a pure heart and clean hands.

The result of the offering and the evidence of a close walk with God that tries to honor Him.

With the right heart and right offering, what is received? V5, How? Look at V6

Those who seek Him, to know Him, seek the face of God, not the hands of God, to know Him because of who He is, not for what He can do for us or give to us.

V’s7-10, first we are trying to get to God, now God is coming to us. The gates and doors led to the temple, the inner sanctuary of the temple.

Lift up your heads/gates to Him, lift the doors/heart to Him

The King of glory, LORD, all caps = Adonai, a focus on His sure existence, true God, and His relationship to His covenant people, Yahweh, Jehovah is salvation

King, ruler or all glory

Hosts—armies and all peoples

John 14:1-3

John 14:1–3 ESV

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

New Living Translation Chapter 14

Jesus, the Way to the Father

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

Why did the disciples have a troubled heart? One would betray Him (13:21), one would deny Him(13:38), all would abandon Him(Matt. 26:31) and He was leaving them and they can’t come with Him.

John 13:33 ESV

Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’

What does Jesus say to give them comfort in this passage?

Trust in God—see Psalm 36, remember who your God is and what He’s promised and done. Remember He’s promised the Messiah, Isaiah 53,

Trust also in Me—see John 11:25-26, John 10:25-30, see Matthew 26:2 & 32. Remember who I Am, what I’ve done and what I’ve promised.

In my Father’s House are many rooms, house/building rooms/dwelling places

He’s going to prepare dwelling places for them

He’s going to come again to bring them to where He is, in Heaven, with God, to live, to be with Him, Heaven is about being with God and Jesus, not seeing loved ones, the mansions, the streets of gold or pearly gates, it’s being with God, all those other things will pale in comparison.

I’m leaving you now and you can’t come with me, but I will come back to bring you to be with me. Rest assured, I can be trusted, I will do this.

Colossians 3:1-4

Colossians 3:1–4 ESV

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

New Living Translation Chapter 3

Living the New Life

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

Revelation 21 & 22, also chapter 4