DELUXE PAVILION - PART 3

WEDNESDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2023

Jesus Christ is a great mystery hidden in God. He is the hidden part of the Father that has been made known to us bodily and in the heavenly realms. In Colossians 1:26, apostle Paul called Him the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord's people. As we study Him in the Word of God, we get to know more about our deluxe pavilion.

Reference: PSALM 27:4-5 The Message (MSG) "I'm asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with Him in His house my whole life long. I'll contemplate His beauty; I'll study at His feet. That's the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world, The perfect getaway, far from the buzz of traffic."

David asked God for one thing, only one thing: To live with Him in His house His whole life long. This implies that where we dwell or reside spiritually is of paramount importance. God Himself heard David and even planned for a greater pavilion for us, through His dynasty. To that effect, prophetic utterance attributed to Prophet Isaiah reads, "Then a Shoot (the Messiah) will spring from the stock of Jesse [David's father], And a Branch from His roots will bear fruit" (Isaiah 11:1 AMP). We are in the era of grace, which is the righteous reign of the Branch, Jesus Christ and those who have received Him as Lord (see Romans 5:17 NIV).

Jesus Christ is the root and the offspring of David. Now if you are born again, you belong to Christ and that's where you reside. 2 Corinthians 5:17 reads, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature..." meaning that the person's spiritual state, nature and residence have changed. To that effect, Jesus said, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation..." (John 16:33 ESV). So we dwell in Christ, which is an answer to David's prayer.

As a further blessing of our heritage in Christ, Jesus promised us in John 14:2-6 saying, "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (KJV).

Many of us must have wondered why I used a mansion with luxurious surroundings to illustrate the theme of this message. The idea came from John 14:2 (NKJV), which reads, "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."

Although the mansion used is a typical illustration, the aim or purpose is to draw our attention to many dwelling places in heaven, prepared for God's own children. Jesus specifically mentioned, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" which is symbolic of King David's prayer: "To live with God and dwell in His presence."

Therefore, as you remain spiritually minded, do not be provoked by the "well-furnished" mansion illustration that denotes our deluxe pavilion in this article. It is only a shadow of great things to come as Jesus comes back for us to set us up in a position of eternal glory. Don't see it in the wrong way because there will be even greater supernatural and majestic designs in heaven with eternal value - from a spiritual standpoint, especially when we consider the detailed account of Holy City, Jerusalem, that will come down out of heaven from God (study Revelation 21).

What is more important is to develop the fixed awareness that you have been raised with Christ, so as to get serious about living the new resurrection life with Christ and in Christ, and more so, act like it. How? By setting your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. That way, you can have the right perspective about this topic, known as deluxe pavilion and also, pursue the things of the Spirit which Christ presides.

Beloved, be alert to what is going on within and around Christ because that's where you live. That way, you can see things from His perspective and function accordingly. Stay tuned for part 4. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Ephesians 2:19; Colossians 2:17; Colossians 3:1-3; Revelation 21.

Exuberant Declaration: The Lord is my deluxe pavilion, my eternal portion and my cup of delight; He makes my lot secure. Surely, the boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a delightful inheritance in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!