Guard Your Heart - - Guard Your Approach To God

 

Ecclesiastes 5:1

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 7272

Steps: foot (by extension: any part of the foot or relating to the foot: toe, heel, sole or pluralized (feet, toes, heels, soles)

From the Hebrew word 'regel' (pronounced reh'-gel); footstep(s),  journey (Genesis 29:1), pace (Genesis 33:14), follow (Exodus 11:8), times (Exodus 23:14).

    So many seemingly different ways to express the word 'steps' and yet they all make sense. In our study today we learn how to guard our hearts when we approach God in His house, whether that house is His sanctuary in heaven, His designated house of worship or His presence (in prayer when we speak together). 

    In Exodus 3:5, when God spoke to Moses from the burning bush, He instructed Moses to remove the sandals from his feet for the place in which Moses stood was holy ground. Where God is is holy and nothing unholy can be where God is. Moses, just like Joshua, needed to be obedient to the voice of God or he would not be able to obey God.  This same instruction would be repeated to Joshua (Joshua 5:15). 

PREPARE TO MEET YOUR MAKER (James 4:7-10)

      When we approach God we are to resist the temptation to turn aside from God. We choose to be resolute in our desire to hear what our God has to say to us. We put on our Helmet of Salvation, which blocks our 'hearing' what the devil is saying, for he can neither step into nor cross the blood which flowed from Calvary. 

    In our approach to God we are fully dressed in the armor of God, ready with our Swords (the Word of God) to repel the enemy of our souls, having fully applied said Word to ourselves. 

    We are to submit to God, with a desire to draw near to hear what He has to say to us that we might obey Him and do the work He has for us to do, whether it's cleaning the bathrooms or preaching from a pulpit, whether it's resting in His presence or fixing the roof. God has a work for us and we need to be ready to do it, according to the Word He gives us to do. (James 4:7)

    Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Approach God with clean hands (in good conscience [cleansed by faith, repentance and transformation into a changed attitude]) and a pure (sanctified) heart (James 4:8).

    Grieve, mourn and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. (James 4:9) When God sends afflictions (tribulations, persecutions, distresses) on us, it is to our benefit that we accept such trials and not rebuff them, nor be antagonistic against our persecutors (Matthew 5:11). Mourn and weep over our sins, and the sins of others, when we approach God. For it is God who turns our mourning into dancing (Psalm 30:11), it is God who wipes away our tears (Isaiah 25:8; Revelation 21:4).

    Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up (James 4:10). Both Moses and Joshua had to remove their shoes, a sign of humility in obedience to the voice of God. Both men were elevated to a higher place of position amongst the people they would be in charge of. While a higher position in this lifetime is not guaranteed to us when we obey God, the obedient Christian will still be in an exalted position during the millenial reign of Christ (Revelation 20:4. 6) . And 1 Peter 2:9 tells us that even now we are 'a royal priesthood, a chosen people, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession'. 

OBEDIENCE BETTER THAN SACRIFICE (1 Samuel 15:22)

    Having guarded our heart in such a manner, we are now prepared to enter His presence. Almost. This verse in Ecclesiastes tells us we need to obey God and not offer sacrifices to Him that will not be accepted. If God is telling us to do something and we are not doing it, no amount of 'sacrifice' on our part is going to be accepted by Him. King Saul learned this the hard way: he lost his kingship (1 Samuel 15). 

    Though animal sacrifices were instituted by God in the Old Testament under the Old Covenants, they were but shadows of the ultimate sacrifice which Christ would make when He became God's Lamb who once and for all Redeemed us to Himself. 

    Sacrifices done not according to God's Holy Word are not going to be acceptable to God at any time ever. Even before Christ arrived on the scene, David wrote in Psalm 51;17 that "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." A broken and contrite heart is the sacrifice God now requires of the people who want to be in His presence. 

    Broken spirit. Broken and Contrite Heart. Humbled, not self-centered. Not self-indulgent, not self-involved. Not a willful, disobedient heart, not a rebellious spirit. A God-centered heart. A heart and spirit that are ready to receive from God, not reject God. These are the sacrifices which God has approved for us. Anything less or more will be rejected by Him. We must prepare ourselves to be in His presence or we will not be allowed entrance through His gateway, His doors. 

THIEF IN THE NIGHT (1 Thessalonians 5:2)

    Are we ready now to approach God? Let us get ready. For the day is fast nearing when God will send His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to return  for His bride, for His church, to bring her into the kingdom of heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:17). On the Day of The Lord, when He returns to set up His kingdom here, unlike His birth here, His arrival  will be unannounced (1 Thessalonians 5:2). 

TODAY IF YOU WILL DRAW NEAR TO GOD

    The Word tells us we only have "Today" to hear God and obey (Psalm 95:7; Hebrews 3:7, 15; Hebrews 4:7). What will happen "Today" when we respond to God's voice? Hebrews 10:15-22

15. "The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First He says, 

16. '“This is the covenant I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their hearts and inscribe them on their minds.” 

17. Then He adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” 

18. And where these have been forgiven, an offering for sin is no longer needed. 

19. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 

20. by a new and Living Way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,

21. and since we have a great Priest over the house of God,

22. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

GUARD YOUR STEPS MEDLEY

Little Pieces of Clay~Making a Christian~7.Feet of Worship

Habakkuk 3:19
The LORD GOD is my Strength, and He will make my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
     I have no strength of mine own; therefore I need the LORD my GOD to be my Strength. It is His Strength that makes my feet like hinds' feet, sturdy and able. It is He who makes it possible for me to walk on mountains. On mountainsides, which are steep, cracked and rocky. On mountaintops, which sometimes peak and sometimes plateau. It is His Strength that keeps me going to reach my destination.

   

Psalm 27:5
For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock.
     Mountainsides have caves, waterfalls and secret places. Mountaintops have snow-covered caps and sun-warmed mesas. With my hinds' feet I leap across crevices, for faith is my bridge. I dance on mountaintops in the presence of my LORD, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made by He Who is my Strength. 

Psalm 18:29, 31-33, 36
For by Thee I have run through a troop; and by my GOD have I leaped over a wall.
For Who is GOD save the LORD? or who is a rock save our GOD? It is GOD that girds me with strength, and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like hinds' feet, and sets me upon my high places.
You have enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.
     Running and leaping and praising GOD. We know that running and leaping require feet. Now we learn that our feet are used to praise GOD. We run through a troop because "no weapon formed against us shall prosper". We leap over walls; walls are built to prevent access to. Regardless of the height of the wall, it is fear that built it. Fear is our enemy and by our faith in the GOD Who is our Strength, we have overcome fear.
     GOD is our Strength and He girds us: binds us, wraps Himself around us like a belt or sash, with His Strength. He makes my way perfect because He is perfect. He makes my feet strong and sturdy. It is His Strength that carries me to my destination, my high places. My mountaintops.
 

Psalm 18: 46 
The LORD lives; and blessed be my Rock; and let the GOD of my salvation be exalted.
     I will dance like David danced: with exceeding great joy to be in the presence of GOD. My feet dance on my mountaintops, the high places which GOD has prepared for me. The LORD GOD lives. He is my Rock and my Salvation. I will praise Him with my feet.

I Samuel 2:9
He will keep the feet of His saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. (part of Hannah's prayer)
Proverbs 4:26, 27
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
     And because my feet are instruments of praise, I must take great care to protect my feet. I must choose my steps carefully and direct them away from places of temptation, places that would cause my feet to stumble and fall. I must walk gently and not in anger and judgment. But walk in compassion and love.

Hebrews 12:11-14
Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight the paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the LORD.
     To be chastened is to be pruned. GOD prunes, or removes, the unfruitful things in my life. And I praise Him for it. Though discipline is painful at the time it is rendered, the result brings a change of heart and a peace of mind that was not present beforehand. Chaos and confusion leave; righteousness and a sound mind remain.
      I raise my hands and bow my knees, knees which once were feeble and unable to bend or stand straight. I choose my steps wisely, watching out for curves and sharp turns. Anticipating with joy every step I take, knowing that my journey brings me closer to my GOD. Watching out for potholes, pits (Psalm 119:85), that would take me down. Sinkholes that grab at my feet (Psalm 119:110)and would drag me under.  My feet are to follow peace and holiness; for my desire is GOD's heart: that all men would be saved.

Ephesians 6:15
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Isaiah 52:7
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace; that brings good tidings of good, that publishes salvation; that says unto Zion, Thy GOD reigns!
     My feet are prepared now. Prepared to publish, or proclaim, peace. The Prince of Peace is Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of GOD. He is the Good Tidings of Good. He is Salvation to all men. With my feet fully shod, protected and prepared to stand and withstand, I walk upon my high places. With my feet I will praise Him. For my feet are beautiful; beautiful because I preach and proclaim the Good News: Jesus died for you, Jesus conquered death and walked out of the grave for you, Jesus ascended into heaven and will return for you. Ready or not, Jesus is coming.

The LORD my GOD directs my paths, 

the paths that my feet take,

the paths wherein I choose to walk.

PSALM 119

Psalm 119:1 

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

Psalm 119:3

They also do no iniquity: they walk in His ways.

Psalm 119:32 

I will run the way of Thy commandments, when Thou shalt enlarge my heart.

Psalm 119:45

And I will walk at liberty: for I seek Thy precepts.

Psalm 119:35

Make me to go in the path of Thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

Psalm 119:59

I thought on my ways, and turned my heart unto Thy Testimonies.

Psalm 119:101

I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep Thy Word.

Psalm 119:105

Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a Light unto my path.

Psalm 119:133 

Order my steps in Thy Word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

Pretty Feet

WHY I WALK

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that brings good tidings, that publishes peace;  that brings good tidings of good, that publishes salvation; that says unto Zion, your God reigns." Isaiah 52:7

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Luke 2:10

"And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15

"And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them who preach the Gospel of Peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" Romans 10:15

WHERE I WALK

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 

I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me; 

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

 Psalm 23:4

* * * * * * * *

He makes my feet like hinds' feet,

and sets me upon my high places.

Psalm 18:33

* * * * * * * * *

Our feet shall stand within thy gates,

O Jerusalem.

Psalm 122:2

HOW I WALK

Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet,

and a Light unto my path.

Psalm 119:105

* * * * * * * * * *

For thou hast delivered my soul from death: 

 wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, 

that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

Psalm 56:13

* * * * * * * * *

And your feet shod with the preparation

of the Gospel of Peace.

Ephesians 6:15

* * * * * * * * * * 

You shall walk in all the ways 

which the LORD your God has commanded you, 

that you may live, and that it may be well with you, 

and that you may prolong your days

 in the land which you shall possess.

Deuteronomy 5:33

WHO I WALK WITH

Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life:

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23:6

* * * * * * * *

You make the path of life known to me. 

In your presence there is complete joy.

Acts 2:28

* * * * * * *

Therefore, we also, 

who have all of these witnesses 

who surround us like clouds,

 let us throw off from us 

all the weights of the sin 

which is always ready for us,

 and let us run with patience

 this race that is set for us.

Hebrews 12:1

* * * * * * * * * 

You are Christ's body

and each of you is an individual part of it.

1 Corinthians 12:27

* * * * * * * * * * * *