ASCEND INTO THE HILL OF THE LORD

1. Ascend into the hill of the LORD

a) Psalms 24:3-5 New King James Version (NKJV)

3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive blessing from the Lord,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.

b) In Psalms 24:3, it mentions about "Who may ascend... " and "Who may stand... ", may suggest Psalmist David is looking for a person or someone. Obviously, the person needs to do something. "Shall ascend" suggest that person is obviously going up into a place where many people are not. This idea of ascending means that the person is going into a higher place.

c) "Into the hill of the LORD" obviously speaks of a place where God is; it speaks of his presence. When we understand each word in this Psalm, we can realize the meaning of this Psalms.

d) This Psalms is all about Jesus. When this was written, only Jesus had clean hands and a pure heart, but He did not just stay on that hill; He came down to bring us up. Because of what Christ has done, YOU can ascend to the hill (presence) of the Lord!

@1. Hebrews 4:16 New King James Version (NKJV)

16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

e) Now, we can come boldly into the presence of God knowing the price has been paid. But you may say, “But only the ones with clean hands and a pure heart can ascend to the hill of the Lord.” You are totally correct! That man is Jesus, and you are in Jesus! If Jesus can ascend to the hill so can you in Him.

f) Have you forgotten that you have been cleansed of your old sins?

@1. 2 Peter 1:5-9 New King James Version (NKJV)

5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

g) The Bible says that we have been CLEANSED of our sins! People still think they have dirty hands and a dirty heart, but you have been cleansed of all of your sins! You are a new creation, and all old things (sin) have passed away! You have a new heart!

h) It is self-righteousness to say you can ascend to the hill of the Lord on your own strength. People think, “Well if I obey God’s word as much as I can, then I will get clean hands.” The truth is that, you  cannot do anything to get a pure heart without the blood of Christ!

i) Psalms 24 says that we shall ascend into the presence of God because God has cleansed us of our sin, and Jesus has cleaned our hearts and hands! Psalms 24:5 is the reason for us today:

@1. Psalms 24:5 New King James Version (NKJV)

5 He shall receive blessing from the Lord,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.

j) Psalms 24:5 says that these people who ascend to the hill “shall receive a blessing." So, what is that blessing? Also, what is the righteousness from God? When someone is righteous that means that person is right with God. This person is YOU! You have been given a blessing, right standing with God.

@1. 2 Corinthians 5:21 New King James Version (NKJV)

21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

k) Anytime, anywhere, and any period in time you need God, you can go to Him! You may ascend to the hill of the Lord; you have clean hands, and you have a pure heart. Isn't that awesome

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