WEDNESDAY'S WORD - LIFT - 11/14/18 Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

"I'll lift you and you lift me, and we'll both ascend together."  

- John Greenleaf Whittier    

 

Tomorrow night we celebrate our monthly Thursday night worship, prayer and prophetic service at the home of a sister church in Cincinnati  We'll also be worshiping with them this Sunday. (See flyers below) We call our Thursday service LIFT - which means to raise to a higher position or level; to move one's eyes or face upward to look at someone or something; to increase; to raise a person's spirits or confidence. We believe as we lift up our eyes to the LORD Jesus - focusing our attention on Him, we will be elevated in the Spirit. As we lift our hands and our voices in praise, the spirit of heaviness will disappear. As we ascend into God's holy hill, His grace and mercy will increase us in every way. As we bask in His presence and love one another, burdens will be lifted and yokes will be destroyed. The Bible says:  

 

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.

For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.

(Ecc. 4:9-10)

 

In Psalm 24, King David speaks of ascension into the presence of the LORD which requires clean hands, a pure heart, and the removal of all idols from our lives. (vs. 3-4) This lifting of the entire person toward God, seeking His face not just his hand, will bring both a blessing and vindication from Him (vs. 5-6) Scholars suppose that this psalm marks the carrying of the Ark of the Covenant into the City of Zion. Upon reaching the zenith, the following was chanted to open the doors wide for the King: 

 

7Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 8Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. 9Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 10Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty, He is the King of glory. (Psalm 24:7-10)  

 

Now, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 6:19-20) We can open wide our hearts to receive the weight of Christ's splendor. His glory, and reputation is displayed though His Word with miracles, signs, wonders, salvation and deliverance as we worship. When we lift Him up, El Shaddai - the LORD God Almighty, sets a guard against our enemies. Jehovah Sabaoth, the LORD of Hosts, the captain of angelic armies favors and fights for us.  As we call on the resurrected (lifted) Savior Jesus Christ, He will draw all men to Himself. (John 12:32) We hope to see you at LIFT tomorrow night!