Psalms 100:1-5 (KJV) Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.
Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
The focus of this message is in verse
James 4:8 (KJV) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.
We need to understand the architectural structure of the Temple of Old
The outter court -/where everyone else could be
The inner court -/for the privileged Jews
The hollies of bullies – where only the Priest could enter.
Notwithstanding our privileged positions as the redeemed, we have not fully utilized the privilege.
Psalms 100:2, 4 (KJV) Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
This means there are levels for different people
There is a corporate and general presence, but not everyone gets to enter the courts.
The courts Are where decisions are made, where life decisions are taken, and only those who enter with praises can access the hollies of hollies.
Are you in the Court or at the Gate?
Many believers are merely at the gate!
Esther 4:1-2 (KJV) When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry;
And came even before the king’s gate: for none might enter into the king’s gate clothed with sackcloth.
There was a problem…Mordecai fasted, cried, and prayed to God but was limited because he could not enter through the gate of the King’s house because of his appearance.
Esther 5:9-10 (KJV) Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he stood not up, nor moved for him, he was full of indignation against Mordecai.
Nevertheless, Haman refrained himself: and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends, and Zeresh his wife.
Mordecai was wailing but the King was never aware that he was at the outer gate.
Esther 6:4-6 (KJV) And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.
And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.
So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?
Here the King was interested in who was in the inner court
Esther 5:1-2 (KJV) Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house, over against the king’s house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.
And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
You have been making noise from the outer court…IT IS TIME TO DRAW NEAR!
Mordecai was wailing and rolling in the mud but was not heard.
If Esther had not shown up in the inner court, nothing would have changed for Israel.
The place that makes the difference is the entrance into the inner court!
It is time to go beyond just:
-Singing
-Thanking
And into the realm of Praise.
Put on the oil of gladness
Put on the garment of praise…
The God who called you will accomplish what He has purposed for your life.
THE 5Cs
If you want to enter into the realm of praise, there are 5 things you must do.
1. CHEER UP
Any time you look downcast, you go down quickly I don’t care what you have been through, cheer up
Nehemiah 2:1-2 (KJV) And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king. Now I had not been beforetime sad in his presence.
Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,
It is against the dictates of God to come before Him in mourning!
You should not appear before the King with a sad countenance.
Isaiah 61:1-3 (KJV) The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Every time you complain, you remain where you are…
Every time you praise, you are raised!
The King does not hear you from the gate.
2. CLEAN
To operate in the court, you must be clean.
Psalms 92:12-13 (KJV) The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.
The righteous are those who are planted in the court
You cannot enter into His court with unclean hands
You can not even make a prayer that will.shake the heavens
3. Make God the CHIEF
It is not about you, but about God.
Esther 5:2 (KJV) And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.
It is not about you. To be in His court, it is only an audience of one who is Jehovah!
Psalms 96:8 (KJV) Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.
Give God the glory.
If you try to share His glory, you will be kicked out!
Psalms 84:2 (KJV) My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.
He wanted to be in the court where one word from him can change the verdict.
Psalms 84:10 (KJV) For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
His
My life is a product of being in the courts of the King.
When you are in His court, only the opinion of the King matters.
The machinations, bickerings, gossip, backstabbing, and blackmail notwithstanding, the King will vindicate and establish you in the Name of Jesus.
Ecclesiastes 8:4 (KJV) Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou?
4. Come with CONFIDENCE
Hebrews 4:16 (KJV) Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
You can determine what happens in your bedroom but you must come BOLDLY.
Too many Christians do not. have power in the court because of fear and timidity.
They disqualify themselves with their words
Esther enter with confidence as the Queen, notwithstanding that she had not called in three months
Too many believers come to God begging rather than believing.
This does not have God. Faith does
5. CHASE
YOU HAVE got to become a God chaser
Psalms 42:1 (KJV) As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
The deer has a 360° vision because he is easy prey to bigger animals like the lion, but when he is thirsty; and finds water, he puts his head down and does not care about anything and anyone
Psalms 135:1-2 (KJV) Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD.
Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God,
The people who are willing to stand are people who are willing to go into the house of the Lord.
Many have been standing outside and God wants you to come inside
The question is…..Are you in the court or at the gate?
Ezekiel 44:17 (KJV) And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.
To get inside the court, DONT STRUGGLE, JUST SURRENDER!
If we spend much time talking inside the court, rather than complaining, things must change. Things must happen.
Get out of the gate
Stop hanging out with those at the gate
Cheer up
Go in majestically like Queen Esther
Ask me of the nations
Psalm 2:8 Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance,
God wants you to change things from his court because this is where everything changes
If you move from the gate into his courts,
Sickness will become health;
Poverty will become properíty;
Sadness will become rejoicing.
James 4:8 (KJV) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.
God says Draw nigh to me…you have got to take the first step.
Philippians 3:10 (KJV) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Step into the Court of Heaven. Cry to God to give you the heart of a God chaser
Dr. Tobe Momah, is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine and the President, Faith and Power Ministries, USA
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