| It is not only the ministers (priests) that should purify | | | | spiritual weapons to unlock. But for the gate of heaven, |
| themselves, the congregation should also. This must | | | | you must use the prescribed keys - Praise and |
| happen before God would come down to dwell | | | | worship. David gave us an insight into this in Psalm 100: |
| amongst us in the fullness of His glory. There is so | | | | 1-4, "Shout with joy to the LORD, O earth! Worship the |
| much filthiness in the church today. You find people | | | | LORD with gladness. Come before him, singing with |
| who tell you they are Christians but live like devils. | | | | joy. Acknowledge that the LORD is God! He made us, |
| Today, harlots claim to be Christians. Thieves, cheats, | | | | and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his |
| cultists, liars are all Christians. Why? Because they | | | | pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his |
| bear Christian names and also go to church. And who | | | | courts with praise..." |
| are you to query their Christianity? They also speak in | | | | Praise will open (at any time) the courts and gates of |
| tongues like you, sing well and involve in all the | | | | God for you. David knew this secret and that was |
| charismatic displays. But did God not say that He sees | | | | why he said that God's praise will continually be on his |
| beyond the outward displays, that He looks at the | | | | lips. He also said that he will sing of His praise all the |
| inside? We must all come before God in repentance | | | | days of his life, and also to all the generations. No |
| today. We must purify ourselves if we expect His | | | | wonder, God could not resist favouring him. No |
| presence to come and abide with us. | | | | wonder, God gladly said that David was a man after |
| Look at what happened in Exodus 19; when God | | | | His heart. David was faithful in giving Him His 'food' - |
| decided to come down on Mount Sinai to meet the | | | | praise. He praised him in the morning, afternoon and |
| children of Israel. He first told Moses His intention of | | | | night. A man of praise and worship will constantly dwell |
| bringing them out of Egypt: to be a special treasure, | | | | in the presence of the Most High. He will always |
| Kingdom of priests and a holy nation to Him. After that, | | | | attract the king of Glory and His hosts around him. I |
| He told Moses to go and purify the children of Israel | | | | have personally seen hosts of heaven around me |
| for He would come down to meet them, "Go down | | | | during and after long high praise. A man/woman of |
| and prepare the people for my visit. Purify them today | | | | praise wiil always be a friend of the angels. He/she will |
| and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. Be | | | | never expire in His presence. I totally agree with David |
| sure they are ready on the third day, for I will come | | | | on this. One of the things that triggered and sustains |
| down upon Mount Sinai as all the people watch (Verse | | | | my relationship with God and growth in the ministry is |
| ten). When Moses came to them he relayed God's | | | | praise (and worship). Most of the divine revelations, |
| message, and I love the words he used for that, "Get | | | | empowerment and covenants I have with Him also |
| ready!" Bringing down God's presence needs a | | | | came through this process. Praise will always touch |
| conscious arrangement. It takes a process. It involves | | | | God's heart. So if you want to endear yourself to Him, |
| obedience, discipline and purity. Moses told them, "If you | | | | become from today a man/woman of praise. When I |
| desire it, then put yourselves in order. Purify yourselves! | | | | say that I love doing my battles through midnight |
| They did just that and heaven came down. | | | | prayer, it may interest you to know that I spend most |
| The bible said that on the morning of the third day, | | | | part of the period on praise and worship. When you do |
| "There was a powerful thunder and lightning storm, | | | | that (I mean spend hours to praise God in the midnight |
| and a dense cloud came down upon the mountain. | | | | ), God will lead you to some top secrets of life, secrets |
| There was a long, loud blast from a ram's horn, and all | | | | of His kingdom, and also take you through His gates |
| the people trembled. Moses led them out from the | | | | and courts. Live a life of praise and thanksgiving and |
| camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of | | | | you will always be in the presence of God. Praise Him |
| the mountain. All Mount Sinai was covered with smoke | | | | day and night. Praise Him in your bedroom. Praise Him |
| because the LORD had descended on it in the form | | | | while driving. Praise Him in the midst of difficulties. |
| of fire. The smoke billowed into the sky like smoke | | | | Praise Him for He is our maker. Praise Him for He is |
| from a furnace, and the whole mountain shook with a | | | | the king of the whole universe. Praise Him from a holy |
| violet earthquake. As the horn blast grew louder and | | | | life. |
| louder, Moses spoke, and God thundered his reply for | | | | PRAYER |
| all to hear. The LORD came down on the top of | | | | After the musicians performed, king Solomon began to |
| mountain Sinai..." (Verses sixteen to twenty). Great! | | | | pray. Praise and worship before prayer. You can only |
| When the people obeyed God and purified | | | | get things from God (prayer), when His gates have |
| themselves, He had no choice than to come down | | | | been opened for you through praises. Solomon prayed |
| with the majesty of His eternal throne. His supernatural | | | | and reminded God of all His promises to Israel and to |
| manifestation of His presence was the result. The bible | | | | his father David. When you pray according to the |
| said that there was powerful thundering and lightning | | | | word and promises of God, you leave Him with no |
| storms, blasting, fire and heavy smoke. And tell me | | | | choice than to show up. This is simply because He can |
| what can stand these. When we do our part, then we | | | | never deny His words. You must throw them back to |
| will see God in the fullness of His glory. | | | | Him in prayer. When you do this He will come down in |
| PRAISE | | | | His supernatural presence to confirm them. |
| Now, go back to our main story in 2 Chronicles 5. | | | | Solomon took time to pray. He prayed throughout the |
| After the priests purified themselves and performed | | | | whole chapter six of the second chronicles. A whole |
| their duties, it became the turn of the musicians. The | | | | chapter! It was a comprehensive prayer session. I will |
| music ministers and different musical instruments were | | | | always support Christians (churches) praying long |
| assembled, and they sang praises to God. They sang | | | | enough. It is very true that the longer you stay in the |
| that God is good and that His faithful love endures | | | | presence of God, the higher His manifestation. We |
| forever. They praised God. We cannot draw down | | | | must spend time before God, if we actually want the |
| the presence of God without praise and worship; | | | | manifestation of His presence. We must curtail the |
| especially the praise that comes from a clean life. | | | | time and resources we put into wasteful, competitive, |
| When you praise God, the gates of heaven will open | | | | ego-boosting programmes and activities, and give |
| for you. Some of us do not know that as you have | | | | more time to real praying. Only then will we start |
| the gates on earth and in hell, that there are also gates | | | | witnessing the fullness of His abiding presence. Till next |
| of heaven. For the gates on earth, you use physical | | | | week, God bless! |
| keys to open them. For the gates of hell, you use | | | | |