Principals of the House of God: A Psalm 127 Study
Today’s Focus: Contrasting Cultures
Scripture: Psalm 127; Matthew 6:31-33
Greetings Kingdom Citizens
Psalm 127:2: It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so He giveth His beloved sleep.
When we look at the first part of this scripture we see the Lord describing the lifestyle of many people and sadly the lifestyle of many believers. When the Lord speaks of rising early and sitting up late tells us that this a extension in the day for work. The Lord has granted us a time for work and a time for rest, each and every day. However when work extends into the time of rest then the body cannot properly refuel and be ready for the next day, resulting and stressful physical state. Now many people will say, I had to do this to provide for my family. Understandingly so, but what about God in these circumstances? Where does He fit in? There are two lifestyles that a believer can live but one that they should live. Let’s deal with the first.
The Culture of the Orphan
In our series on Sonship and The House of God we dealt extensively on this so please download those series and study. For the sake of time we will broad stroke this study. In the Garden, Adam and Eve were sons of God. The result of the fall was a separation from the Father and their Creator and left them in a state of fatherlessness. This state of being un-fathered is called being an orphan. Now the culture of the orphan is a culture of a child who seeks their own provision and protection because they do not trust anyone but themselves to meet these needs. They view discipline as violence, hence they reject the correction and rebuke that a father brings to their lives. The orphan toils and stresses over getting basic needs met. Now Jesus makes mention about this in a scripture that we will view later.
The Culture of the Son
The culture of the son is completely different from that of the orphan in the sense that the son is AWARE that because the son is in their Father’s house, hence everything belonging to the Father is available to the son. Moreover, the son is never worried about provision and protection because the Father takes care of that. They are solely focused on being the exact representation of Christ in the earth. This is achieved by being discipled and brought into maturity to handle the affairs of their Father’s house. Now let’s look at this scripture because Jesus makes a contrast between the two cultures and if you are a believer, Jesus will tell us the culture we should be exhibiting.
Matthew 6:31,32: Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? Or What shall we drink? Or Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Do we see this? Jesus said take no thought, or do not worry what you shall eat, drink or wear. What is He referring to when He says eat, drink or wear? Jesus is speaking about provisions. Remember the orphan is obsessed with meeting their provisions. Jesus tells them that the Gentiles seek after these things. Why does Jesus say this? Because the children of Israel should and do remember how the Lord fed them, clothed them and gave them water in the wilderness. He provided for them when they could not provide for themselves. So Israel had a template and example to know that the Lord can meet provision and protection. Hence the reason Jesus makes this statement and notice He does not say God, “For your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. Jesus refers to the Almighty God as the Heavenly Father. Every good father provides for his house and notice that children who are fathered do not worry about provision, they expect it. Now we have parents who do not provide for their children and God will handle that issue because God does not pass the buck of responsibility from the parent. They will have to answer for how they brought or failed to bring their children up.
Now if God is your Father then here is the answer for the sons of God:
Matthew 6:33: But seek ye FIRST, the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.
So we as the sons of God seek the rulership of God over our lives (Kingdom) and His way of doing things (Righteousness) and God will add (not work) all things unto us. An orphan will toil and stress over food, water and clothing and while they toil, stress builds and this leads to disease and pre-mature death. In the next message we will look at the state of mind of the sons of God.
Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,
Calvin Calhoun, Jr.
