The Characteristics of Tent Dwellers

By: Shawn Daniels Thesis: to study and understand the characteristics of true worshipers of God those that dwell in that holy hill the church

Introduction:
I. (Psalms 15) 1 L !D" who shall a#ide in thy ta#ernacle$ who shall dwell in thy holy hill$ % &e that wal'eth upri(htly" and wor'eth ri(hteousness" and spea'eth the truth in his heart. ) &e that #ac'#iteth not with his ton(ue" nor doeth e*il to his nei(h#or" nor ta'eth up a reproach a(ainst his nei(h#or. + In whose eyes a *ile person is conte,ned- #ut he honoureth the, that fear the L !D. &e that sweareth to his own hurt" and chan(eth not. . &e that putteth not out his ,oney to usury" nor ta'eth reward a(ainst the innocent. &e that doeth these thin(s shall ne*er #e ,o*ed. / 0. 1hese are (ood characteristics for all to stri*e for 1. 1hese are (i*en" howe*er" as a standard ,ust ha*e these characteristics not an optional thin( B. 2ho needs to ha*e these characteristics$ those that will a#ide in God3s tent those that dwell on God3s holy hill 1. 1o li*e and dwell in God3s tent" we ,ust confor, to God3s attri#utes

Who are these Tent Dwellers? What is this Holy Hill?

I. 1a#ernacle 0. 2rapped up in one *erse 1. ( Exodus 25:8) 0nd let the, ,a'e me a sanctuary- that I ,ay dwell a,on( the,. / %. 4enter of 2orship to God B. 1here is now a true ta#ernacle/ 1. (Hebrews 8:1-2) 1 5ow of the thin(s which we ha*e spo'en this is the su,: 2e ha*e such an hi(h priest" who is set on the ri(ht hand of the throne of the 6a7esty in the hea*ens- % 0 ,inister of the sanctuary" and of the true tabernacle" which the Lord pitched" and not ,an. / 4. 1he 4hurch (house/ of 4hristians) is that true ta#ernacle/ 1. ( Hebrews 3:6) But 4hrist as a son o*er his own house- whose house are we" if we hold fast the confidence and the re7oicin( of the hope fir, unto the end. / %. ( !orinthians 6:16) ...8e are the te,ple of the li*in( God- as God hath said" I will dwell in the," and wal' in the,- and I will #e their God" and they shall #e ,y people. / ). ( !orinthians 3:16-1") 19 :now ye not that ye are the te,ple of God" and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you$ 1; If any ,an defile the te,ple of God" hi, shall God destroy- for the te,ple of God is holy" which te,ple ye are. / D. 2e are a Built &ouse/

1. ( E#hesians 2:2$-22) %< 0nd are #uilt upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets" =esus 4hrist hi,self #ein( the chief corner stone- %1 In who, all the #uildin( fitly fra,ed to(ether (roweth unto an holy te,ple in the Lord: %% In who, ye also are #uilded to(ether for an ha#itation of God throu(h the Spirit. %. ( Peter 2:5) 8e also" as li*ely stones" are #uilt up a spiritual house" an holy priesthood" to offer up spiritual sacrifices" accepta#le to God #y =esus 4hrist. / II. &oly &ill 0. 1his holy house of God was #uilt upon &is holy hill 1. ( saiah 2:2-3) % 0nd it shall co,e to pass in the last days" that the ,ountain of the L !D3S house shall #e esta#lished in the top of the ,ountains" and shall #e e>alted a#o*e the hills- and all nations shall flow unto it. ) 0nd ,any people shall (o and say" 4o,e ye" and let us (o up to the ,ountain of the L !D" to the house of the God of =aco#- and he will teach us of his ways" and we will wal' in his paths: for out of ?ion shall (o forth the law" and the word of the L !D fro, =erusale,. / %. ( Psalms 2:6-") 9 8et ha*e I set ,y 'in( upon ,y holy hill of ?ion. ; I will declare the decree: the L !D hath said unto ,e" 1hou art ,y Son- this day ha*e I #e(otten thee. / B. 1his :in(do, is an e*erlastin( 'in(do, 1. ( %aniel ":13-1&) 1) I saw in the ni(ht *isions" and" #ehold" one li'e the Son of ,an ca,e with the clouds of hea*en" and ca,e to the 0ncient of days" and they #rou(ht hi, near #efore hi,. 1+ 0nd there was (i*en hi, do,inion" and (lory" and a 'in(do," that all people" nations" and lan(ua(es" should ser*e hi,: his do,inion is an e*erlastin( do,inion" which shall not pass away" and his 'in(do, that which shall not #e destroyed. / III. 1he tent dwellers in this holy ,ountain is the church of 4hrist 0. Da*id (i*es us certain characteristics to these tent dwellers Let3s loo' at these

Characteristics Listed by David:

II. !i(hteous: (Psalms 15:2) &e that wal'eth upri(htly" and wor'eth ri(hteousness" and spea'eth the truth in his heart./ 0. 2al's @pri(htly 1. :eywords: a. @pri(htly Aerfection" Bla,eless/ Gi*en co,pletely to God #. 2al's a 1ra*eler/ 5ot yet ho,e %. 1his is a person that is loo'in( to God for the path to the hea*enly ho,e a. 'ay(arin) *an: ( saiah 35:8) 0nd an hi(hway shall #e there" and a way" and it shall #e called 1he way of holiness- the unclean shall not pass o*er it- #ut it shall #e for those: the wayfarin( ,en" thou(h fools" shall not err therein. / Bool ne that does not ha*e 'now the landscape Loo's to God for direction Shall not err/ Bla,eless" perfectionC

#. +i,e -eremiah: ( -eremiah 1$:23) L !D" I 'now that the way of ,an is not in

hi,self: it is not in ,an that wal'eth to direct his steps. / c. (Pro.erbs 2:") &e lays up sound wisdo, for the ri(hteous: he is a #uc'ler to the, that wal' upri(htly./ ). 2al'in(/ i,plies a continuin( effort 2e wal' to(ether with God on this 7ourney a. If wal'" we ,ust a(reeC ( /mos 3:3) 4an two wal' to(ether" e>cept they #e a(reed$ / ( -ohn 1:") But if we wal' in the li(ht" as he is in the li(ht" we ha*e fellowship one with another" and the #lood of =esus 4hrist his Son cleanseth us fro, all sin./ #. 1his is why =ohn proclai,ed:

B. 2or's !i(hteousness 1. !ender the thin(s that are 7ust 1his is doin( what we 'now to #e ri(ht a. 5ot hypocritical" ritual worship or ser*ice not 7ust (oin( throu(h the ,otions &e has duties to perfor,. 1he law of ri(hteousness has placed hi, in certain relations" and each of these relations has its peculiar duties./ (4lar')

%. Gi*in( God &is due !eturnin( #ac' to God what is due &i, a. (/cts 1$ :3&0 35) )+ 1hen Aeter opened his ,outh" and said" f a truth I percei*e that God is no respecter of persons: ). But in e*ery nation he that feareth hi," and wor'eth ri(hteousness" is accepted with hi,. / #. ( -ohn 2:21) If ye 'now that he is ri(hteous" ye 'now that e*ery one that doeth ri(hteousness is #orn of hi,. / ). Gi*in( your nei(h#ors their due a. ( 2omans 15:2) Let e*ery one of us please his nei(h#or for his (ood to edification./ #. Sa,e thin'in( as in the (reatest co,,and,ent ( *atthew 22:36-&$) )9 6aster" which is the (reat co,,and,ent in the law$ ); =esus said unto hi," 1hou shalt lo*e the Lord thy God with all thy heart" and with all thy soul" and with all thy ,ind. )D 1his is the first and (reat co,,and,ent. )E 0nd the second is li'e unto it" 1hou shalt lo*e thy nei(h#or as thyself. +< n these two co,,and,ents han( all the law and the prophets. /

+. Gi*in( your own soul its due a. 8ou owe it to your soul to see' sal*ation 1he lac' of sal*ation results in the eternal destruction of the soul ( Thessalonians 1:8-1) D In fla,in( fire ta'in( *en(eance on the, that 'now not God" and that o#ey not the (ospel of our Lord =esus 4hrist: E 2ho shall #e punished with e*erlastin( destruction fro, the presence of the Lord" and fro, the (lory of his power./

#.

nce sal*ation is found ,ust not let the flesh rule o*er the spirit

( 3alatians 5:160 1") 19 1his I say then" 2al' in the Spirit" and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 1; Bor the flesh lusteth a(ainst the Spirit" and the Spirit a(ainst the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the thin(s that ye would. / ( 2omans 8:6) Bor to #e carnally ,inded is death- #ut to #e spiritually ,inded is life and peace./

4. Spea's 1ruth in &is &eart 1. 5ot a person of pretense Genuine %. &is actions follow his intentions ). ur hearts ,ust #e a ha*en for truth 1ruth ,ust #e stored up in our hearts a. God3s word is truth (-ohn 1":1") #. 2ord of 4hrist 6@S1 dwell in us I,perati*e co,,and (!olossians 3:16) Let the word of 4hrist dwell in you richly in all wisdo,teachin( and ad,onishin( one another in psal,s and hy,ns and spiritual son(s" sin(in( with (race in your hearts to the Lord. /

c. 2ith a heart of truth" we will perfor, truth d. 2ith a heart of lies and falsehood" we will perfor, e*il ( *atthew 15:180 11) 1D But those thin(s which proceed out of the ,outh co,e forth fro, the heart- and they defile the ,an. 1E Bor out of the heart proceed e*il thou(hts" ,urders" adulteries" fornications" thefts" false witness" #lasphe,ies./

D. 1he person that a#ides in God3s tent ,ust #e ri(hteous 1. ( E#hesians &:2&) 0nd that ye put on the new ,an" which after God is created in ri(hteousness and true holiness. / II. Aeaceful 0. (Psalms 15:3) &e that #ac'#iteth not with his ton(ue" nor doeth e*il to his nei(h#or" nor ta'eth up a reproach a(ainst his nei(h#or./ 1. 2ho is our nei(h#or$ a. (+u,e 1$:25-&2) #. 1he Gentiles all that are around the, where the =ews3 nei(h#ors a fellow =ew was a #rother Sa,e in the church today 0nyone outside of the church is our nei(h#or those in the church are our #rothers and sisters sa,e household

%. 1hose that dwell in the tent of God shows respect and well#ein( to his nei(h#or ). 1he (oal of those dwellin( in God3s tent is peaceC a. ( *atthew 5:1) Blessed are the peace,a'ers: for they shall #e called the children of God. / B. Does not #ac'#ite e*il words 1. 5o slanderin(

%. (Pro.erbs 25:18) 0 ,an that #eareth false witness a(ainst his nei(h#or is a ,aul" and a sword" and a sharp arrow. / a. 6etaphor pointin( out the destructi*eness of #earin( false witness a(ainst a nei(h#or 6aul 6ace for #ashin( in the s'ull 4haracter #ashin( Intentionally sets out to hurt another 4haracter assassination Sword 1actical weapon of s'ill 0rrow @sed in Lon( distance fi(htin(

4. Does not do e*il to his nei(h#or e*il deeds 1. Does all that you can do to li*e at peace with your nei(h#ors a. ( 2omans 12:1"0 18) 1; !eco,pense to no ,an e*il for e*il. Aro*ide thin(s honest in the si(ht of all ,en. 1D If it #e possi#le" as ,uch as lieth in you" li*e peacea#ly with all ,en. / D. Does not ta'e up reproach leads to scorn" 7ud(,ent" or conde,nation of his nei(h#or e*il conclusions 1. 1hese are those that will accept so,e #ad infor,ation a#out so,eone without such a hint of e*idence and spread it (ossip a. ( Timothy 5:13) 0nd withal they learn to #e idle" wanderin( a#out fro, house to house- and not only idle" #ut tattlers also and #usy#odies" spea'in( thin(s which they ou(ht not. / %. It is #ecause of these conclusions that people will wron(fully 7ud(e another a. (2omans 2:1-5) 1 1herefore thou art ine>cusa#le" ,an" whosoe*er thou art that 7ud(est: for wherein thou 7ud(est another" thou conde,nest thyself- for thou that 7ud(est doest the sa,e thin(s. % But we are sure that the 7ud(,ent of God is accordin( to truth a(ainst the, which co,,it such thin(s. ) 0nd thin'est thou this" ,an" that 7ud(est the, which do such thin(s" and doest the sa,e" that thou shalt escape the 7ud(,ent of God$ + r despisest thou the riches of his (oodness and for#earance and lon(sufferin(- not 'nowin( that the (oodness of God leadeth thee to repentance$ . But after thy hardness and i,penitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath a(ainst the day of wrath and re*elation of the ri(hteous 7ud(,ent of God./ =ewish 7ud(,ents a(ainst the Gentiles F. ( 2omans 13:1$) Lo*e wor'eth no ill to his nei(h#or: therefore lo*e is the fulfillin( of the law. /

III. Desires what is !i(ht o*er the 2orld 0. (Psalms 15:&) In whose eyes a *ile person is conte,ned- #ut he honoureth the, that fear the L !D./ B. Gile person no ,atter what social standin(" rich" powerful" influential" etc... they are" those that dwell in God3s tent will detest their ways 1. 1hat ,eans that we do not en*y the wic'ed and their standin(s a. ( Psalms "3:2") Bor" lo" they that are far fro, thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all the, that (o a whorin( fro, thee. / 4. 2e are to honor the, that fear the Lord 1. ( *atthew 12:&8-5$) +D But he answered and said unto hi, that told hi," 2ho is ,y ,other$ and who are ,y #rethren$ +E 0nd he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples" and said" Behold ,y ,other and ,y #rethrenC .< Bor whosoe*er shall do the will of ,y Bather which is in hea*en" the sa,e is ,y #rother" and sister" and ,other. / D. 1his desire is the sa,e as hun(er and thirst after ri(hteousness found in *atthew 5:6 1. (*atthew 5:6) Blessed are they which do hun(er and thirst after ri(hteousness: for they shall #e filled. / %. 1he (ospel will fill this person that desires ri(ht o*er world a. Gospel is only persuasi*e in its power not coerci*e #. Aerson ,ust desire itC IG. 6ee' 0. (Psalms 15:&) &e that sweareth to his own hurt" and chan(eth not. / 1. Swears to his own hurt" stands his (round %. 6FF: a. (*atthew 5:5) Blessed are the ,ee': for they shall inherit the earth./ #. 6ee' ,eans the sa,e as ,ild Fndurin( in7ury with patience and without resent,ent/ (6erria,H2e#ster3s) ). 4o,,on *iew of ,ee' so,eone that you can wal' all o*er" #eat up" push around" lac's coura(e. not ,ee' in Bi#lical sense of the word a. 6oses (4umbers 12:3) (5ow the ,an 6oses was *ery ,ee'" a#o*e all the ,en which were upon the face of the earth.) / B. 1he characteristics of dwellers in God3s tent will deny the,sel*es and follow God 1. ( *atthew 1$:38) 0nd he that ta'eth not his cross" and follow after ,e" is not worthy of ,e. / %. (*atthew 16:2&) 1hen said =esus unto his disciples" If any ,an will co,e after ,e" let hi, deny hi,self" and ta'e up his cross" and follow ,e. / ). 2e lay down our will for God (*atthew ":21) a. (3alatians 5:2&) 0nd they that are 4hrist3s ha*e crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. /

4. 4han(e not/ 1. ( +u,e 1:62) 0nd =esus said unto hi," 5o ,an" ha*in( put his hand to the plow" and loo'in( #ac'" is fit for the 'in(do, of God. / %. 1hose that dwell in the tent of God resol*es to follow God and follows throu(hC G. 6erciful 0. (Psalms 15:5) &e that putteth not out his ,oney to usury" nor ta'eth reward a(ainst the innocent./ B. Lends ,oney to help" not to e>tort doesn3t ta'e ad*anta(e of so,eones disad*anta(e is ,erciful 4. (*atthew 5:") Blessed are the ,erciful: for they shall o#tain ,ercy./ D. 2e are ,erciful in our #ene*olence 1. ( 3alatians 6:1-1$) E 0nd let us not #e weary in well doin(: for in due season we shall reap" if we faint not. 1< 0s we ha*e therefore opportunity" let us do (ood unto all ,en" especially unto the, who are of the household of faith. / %. 1his is how we ser*e God a. ( -ames 1:2") Aure reli(ion and undefiled #efore God and the Bather is this" 1o *isit the fatherless and widows in their affliction" and to 'eep hi,self unspotted fro, the world. / Ser*ice (Gisit) and !i(hteousness (@nspotted) #. ( *atthew 25:3"-&$) ); 1hen shall the ri(hteous answer hi," sayin(" Lord" when saw we thee an hun(red" and fed thee$ or thirsty" and (a*e thee drin'$ )D 2hen saw we thee a stran(er" and too' thee in$ or na'ed" and clothed thee$ )E r when saw we thee sic'" or in prison" and ca,e unto thee$ +< 0nd the :in( shall answer and say unto the," Gerily I say unto you" Inas,uch as ye ha*e done it unto one of the least of these ,y #rethren" ye ha*e done it unto ,e./

Conclusion:
I. 1hose that do these thin(s shall not #e ,o*ed 1. ( Psalms 15:5) &e that doeth these thin(s shall ne*er #e ,o*ed. / 1. 8ou will continue to dwell in God3s tent II. Do you ,atch that profile$ III. If so" continue in that wayC If not" resol*e to ,a'e those characteristics your characteristics.