THE DWELLING PLACE | Segun M. Alonge Jr

God's love is universal and His thoughts are higher.

CHAPTER TWO

“And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the East that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and they dwelt there” Gen 11:2

“And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying” Acts 1:13

THE DWELLING PLACE
THERE REMAINS THEREFORE A REST to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter that rest (Heb. 4:9-11). So many of the life-giving truth in the Word consists of two interwoven halves that cannot be separated. ‘Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest’.

As for labour, it is true that there is a great deal of struggling and searching and pleading and agonizing in the process of discovering and understanding truths fitted to our needs. And much of the same pathway is trod in an effort to appropriate and enter in. All this is not in vain, it is necessary. But it is not the key that opens the door to reality. We would do well to rely on the key that opens the door.
Rest is the key to entering into rest.

The Psalmist further stated, ‘He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty’ (Psalm 94:1).

The first part of the text indicates firstly, a dwelling place and secondly a covering. I would here illustrate with the texts we here consider.
Mankind was seen to journey from the East and they found a plain and dwelt there. The plain signifies a suitable place to dwell and rest.

The disciples of Jesus, in the same manner, entered into Jerusalem and went up into the upper room where they were staying. I would like to clearly state that there must be a dwelling before a covering. “As many as come into the ark of grace enjoyed the covering of the Almighty because they were first seen to dwell in it”.

I could recall a study class I attended sometime ago and the argument was on God’s exclusive choice of who he decides to have mercy upon. The next prayer line was a loud cry unto God to have mercy upon us. Although they all cried with a loud voice and for some with a genuine heart but I do not see this as the right approach to that scripture in the new creation. Very accurately, God says to Moses, I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion. But we do not have an identity before God in ourselves. I clearly explained to them that we are in Christ and God has chosen to have mercy on his son. We stand before God in the identity of Christ. When he looks upon us, he sees his son. We do not live in probability assuming that God might choose to have mercy on us or decide to withdraw it completely.

In the absence of God’s mercy is judgement and mercy has prevailed over judgement on our behalf. If you are a disciple of Christ, you have obtained mercy. You do not need to press into it as to attain it. It was imputed into you. If I should make a transfer (cash) into your savings account and you have the knowledge of the deposit, it would be unwise of you to still keep praying and tarrying to attain the financial status of the amount credited. For instance, if I had transferred a million naira, you can boldly go about and announce to friends and family that you are now a millionaire. It is already yours – all you need is to receive via ‘obtainment’.

Most times, there would be need to journey from where you are into the place of rest (Promised Land). Mankind was seen to journey from the East to the plain in the land of Shinar (Gen 11:2), Abraham left Ur of the Chaldeans for the promised land (Gen 11:28), the disciples of Jesus left Galilee where they gazed upon to behold the ascended Christ on Mount Olivet and journeyed to Jerusalem – they entered in and went up into the upper room where they were staying.

How long have you dwelt on the mountain of struggling and striving with the flesh? By strength shall no man prevail! Rise up and enter into the rest of your maker. Are you not tired of perpetual trials and failures? All he requests from you is to lay it all down at his feet. Submit wholly to him. You need not pray an elongated prayer with many words. You can take a cue from Apostle Peter – he saw Jesus walk on water and he said, ‘if it is you, bid me to come’. He stepped out hinged on the authority of the command ‘to come’, but he looked away and saw the raging storm. He began to sink and he cried out – Lord, save me!

(culled from the book, 'Gaining more Grounds' by Segun M. Alonge Jr with Olufemi T. Olayinka)