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Introduction
this tIME
I was determined to change “this time.”
There must be happiness for me somewhere. Finally, I made my formal declaration of, “I mean it — this is it. I will become that person I’m supposed to be.” But days lengthened on into years and nothing really happened. I tried… just couldn’t make it.
Why is it that we can’t find contentment? Why do we fail? What’s wrong? We want easy steps and then we forget to do them. We blame evil conditions on the devil, a circumstance, or someone else. But blame never changes the situation. Truth is, God gave us the responsibility of directing our lives. If we’re honest with ourselves as individuals, we will realize that each one of us has the capacity to choose happiness or misery.
Get happy:
Proverbs gives us the biggest clue to happiness; Happy is the man that findeth wisdom… (Prov. 3:13a). Happiness. Who could ask for more? Here we’re told that a person who finds wisdom is happy. In other words, happiness is a by-product of finding wisdom.
What is happiness? It means different things to different people. While the world searches for happiness in drugs, sex, and entertainment – people are still sad. Even worse, believers often get discouraged and slip back to their old ways. Of course, there’s always the confusion of our words trying to express the phenomena what makes us “feel” happy. We know that momentary merriment quickly fades, while long lasting happiness comes only from the ability to receive from God and to wisely respond to His intentions. He has only the best to give us.
The Tree of Life stands offering the reality of LIFE to all who will partake of it. Jesus, our Tree of Life, sits in the center of our garden on the throne of our heart – His blood still provide the power to fully enable us to embody His nature and blessings. Now’s the chance for you to decide to change forever by finding wisdom. Finding THE wisdom that brings happiness is the focus of this book.
So here we stand this day at the door of the outer court of our Temple, seeking entrance into a better life. Yet, no one can give us admission, and we can’t sneak in the back door. It takes preparation for a Christian to enter into this new dimension of happiness, and a great deal of importance must be attached to this truth of preparation. If we aim for greater happiness then we must understand what it is... What makes me happy? Why does it make me happy? Do I really want to be happier? Now listen, if we really want to be happy, then we have to become wise. Where do we start? If we lack wisdom, James tells us to “Ask of God” (James 1:5). And so we ask today, in all sincerity.
Happiness is not a goal in itself, but a result of being. We can’t own happiness, or possess it, but we can “be” happy. Happiness is not life’s pursuit, but rather life’s essence. We are happy when we find wisdom. We’re happy when our life has relevance and potency. Happiness is the awesome ability to do the work of God. Happiness is the expression of entirely living in wisdom and resonating with the frequency of heaven.
God gives us the position of “sonship” and “adoption” (Gal. 4:5). That means we are heirs of all things – including wisdom. All believers, both men and women, have the right of inheritance as “sons.” That adoption occurs when we’re come of age (see Romans 8:14, “For as many as go in the Spirit of God, they are the sons (grown up sons) of God.” But, this inheritance isn’t ours unless we walk in it in every area of our life – body, soul, and spirit. There can be no happiness unless we learn to recognize the activity of the presence of the eternal God within our being. Wisdom completes and fulfills our life with the happiness and contentment of becoming and being who we were created to be.
So how do we find this wisdom that makes us happy? Second Timothy tells us that the Holy Scriptures are able to make us wise. In this book, we’ll study a lot of scripture. We’ll learn the necessity of becoming a people intent upon challenging the present “weak and beggarly elements” (Gal 4:9) of this world. We will see how wisdom forms the basis for our lives, and we will learn to use this wisdom for our happiness and well-being.
The book of Proverbs likens finding wisdom to building a house on a sure foundation. Wisdom alone builds (1 Kings 6:7, Prov 3:7-12) through right choices that create a life worth living. Happiness is possible when we become aware of our life and where we’re going. We have to open our eyes and not just allow whatever comes along to happen.
We have to wake up! (Rom. 13:11) And this waking up can be uncomfortable. If you do what you always have done, then you will get what you’ve always gotten.
finding wisdom
It’s finally time –
Yes, it’s time to wake up.
We must awaken to an apprehension of life. But, life isn’t lived in one fell swoop (or “one swell foop” – as my kids would say). It isn’t defined by a single event, but rather comprises a process of continuous growth and becoming. As believers, we’re not just passing through this lifetime to get to another, but we’re living NOW in eternity present. If there’s any one right answer to finding success and happiness, it’s learning to enjoy this here and now process of growth and change. That change continues with us. Through healthy planning, we participate in our destiny instead of accidentally wandering and stumbling over missed opportunities. The intentional process of getting to that precise result brings success and happiness.
Happiness acknowledges the inner revelation of our individual purpose and direction. Happiness drives toward maturity and the fulfillment of our responsibilities in life to ourselves, others, and to our environment. Happiness isn’t just making money or becoming popular. True, profound happiness and the joy of well-being is derived from becoming what you can become: kind and good, secure and committed, faithful and God fearing. Yes, we can be quickened with an awakened personality and loving intentions.
Yet we often fail to get there. These non-physical virtues do not exist in a dimension that our rational mind can detect. Soooo — we almost never appreciate ourselves in the process of being and becoming. We generally spend our time unable to distinguish between the real potential and the illusion of our mind. Yet, we must be discerning in order to build a real place for ourselves and become real people.
We also almost never realize that our choices determine the quality of life we live and the contribution we have on others. Life is a gift that we can’t create, but we can direct. It’s sacred. What we are born with is God’s gift to us. Each of us only has one short lifetime on earth – our upcoming future can become our gift back to God.
Our past tells us how it’s been so far. Learning to assess how we’ve spent that lifetime isn’t easy. One way to begin to know who we really are is to examine how we’ve used our time. It's much like the old song, “The Way We Were.” While singing, perhaps we can logically take a look at ourselves. Are we disorganized? Spoiled? Discouraged? Perhaps we’re like Phyllis Diller, who joked about how she kept a desk drawer full of “get well” cards. Then, if unexpected company caught her sleeping late and still in her pajamas, she could strew the cards about her entry, and claim that she had the flu – “Please excuse the mess – just couldn’t make it to work today.”
Of course, perfectionism is the enemy on the other extreme. We’ll talk again about that later. But, the point is, we don’t impress God through vain self-works. We can never EARN blessings – but can only accept them as gifts. It’s not what I DO that matters – but rather, who I AM.
However, our Godly inspired effort is the natural outcropping of a sincerely planted seed. We need to act upon God’s directions. Remember, we labor WITH God and not FOR Him. He’s our life-source on earth. He alone is omnipotent and divine. The Holy Spirit allows us to hook arms with the Lord and walk toward our common goal in true synergy – the sum total of the whole becoming greater than the sum of its parts. Synergistic living is birthed from the passionate longing to know and understand God’s will for your life.
The reason most of us begin to find life boring or meaningless is because we have not determined God’s ultimate goals or purposes toward which we can aim our lives. There’s a lack of meaning. When we live only for today, then today can become unendurable. When each day is lived to the fullest, we experience the catalyst dynamic of fulfilling purpose.
Happiness is a state of mind that is filled with positive thoughts of internal contentment from abiding in that fixed upright order.
Worn out excuses for bad habits:
I have too much to do. I don’t have the energy.
I don’t have enough time. Nobody helps me. Nobody cares.
I’m sick and weak. Let someone else do it.
I don’t want to. Why bother?
I’ll start tomorrow.
I had to stay up all last night.
It’s too hot, too cold, too late, too early, etc.
No one likes to talk about the life that got away. The scenario’s too familiar – you meant to keep those goals, pay those bills, take that class… there just wasn’t time.
But don’t forget, He... won’t let you get by with sloppy living.
Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God.
It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life
you grew up in. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood...” (1 Pet. 1:8-19 Message)
Your talents:
Happiness? You know, humanity has always searched for that magic answer of finding true satisfaction. Thankfully, God has already placed the answers to success within you. Way down deep, you know that there’s no “one” answer… but there are many things that will help you accomplish your destiny. You just have to recognize your talents, and then allow them to spring forth. These answers lie hidden in God's purpose – the ‘how and why’ He created you.
Happiness = Becoming what we are supposed to become —
discovering God's plan and accomplishing it.
**Write about what do you love to do. What do you do well? (You won’t get much out of this book if you don’t do the assignments.)
Do you recognize your reason for life? A talent can be described as that which you can do easily, that others may find difficult. The test of your life is how well you use your talents (Matt. 25:20). Not only do you need to accept your gifts and talents, but also you need to love them – the Lord does! He accepts you. You are your natural and spiritual talents – that’s you. You can’t be someone else. Few people ever fully see with that single eye (Matt. 6:22, Luke 11:34). But, you’ll soon see how this illumination increases as you allow yourself room to breathe and grow.
If we feel that this process of "being a success" depends on us, then we frantically live for ourselves and our self-driven plans. If we assume that it’s all up to God, then we probably won’t live up to our part of the deal. We’re co-laborers. Remember — “A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Prov. 16:9 RSV).
Your talents point you to your destiny. Doing unnecessary things counts for very little. Doing big things that don’t contribute to your meaning in life also count for little. Do what matters.
Your God-given talents are what you need to succeed; you won’t have to strive.
There are eternal consequences to the use of talents.
Moses’ rod wouldn’t work until he lifted it (Ex. 4:20). Your ability won’t produce until you use your talents.
Surely, the Lord in His mercy gives gifts and then frees you to use them. If you decide to join up with Him, then He will see that your joint-plans happen.
Choose to use your talents to productively cause Kingdom–advancing works to go forward in the earth.
Acknowledge that success does not happen by your own power, but only when you become the agent of God, participating with His plan.
Realize that to continually waste time is a sin against vision.
Prophetic vision:
I spent most of my life not knowing how to be happy, what to do, or how to get things done. Anger and disappointment became a routine that caused things to not work out. I did my best, but nothing happened. Repeated failure overwhelmed me. I felt like life owed me an explanation because I was trapped into a short-circuited lack of progress. My motivation was to please others. But, deep inside, I knew that I had to move beyond dysfunction and victimization. How? I was frightened of the answer.
Recently, I saw a picture of the Lord playing jacks with a friend named Susan. The jacks represented the way her life was going— just like she planned. Susan methodically threw out the jacks and never missed catching the ball — until the game was finished — and she won. She loved winning all the time. Suddenly, God scooped up the silvery jacks and held them in His closed fist. He then explained that He would like the next turn… and He would throw out the jacks for her to play the next game. Soon, the jacks went far and wide. She was alarmed, as I had been, to lose control of the future. His plan was far greater and more complex than hers. She couldn’t imagine that it could be possible to have her life positioned on such a grand scale.
Finally, we begin to understand... we’ve been like children building our own castle in the sand according to our plan and our ways. Soon the vast ocean rushes towards our schemes, washing away the sandy foundations, lapping over the walls. “We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts…” Now, it’s time to release that old sand castle – it can’t survive — no matter how much prayer goes forth. The tiny castle is not the right one. Every house will be tested when the storms come. It’s time to arise and build from a new schematic. Build on the Lord, His tides pull us toward Him and carry us great distances with His forceful current. From beneath the surface of the sea, the water itself redistributes new sand dunes in strange new places.
Vision = the ability to clearly see into the
progressive direction of the will of God.
In each of us, much remains to be healed. No one is totally whole. Everyone is in process. The realization of needing to restructure our life may be instantaneous, but the pursuit of that goal is a life-long process. Embracing wisdom means that you decide to become conscious of the areas of your soul (personality) that need to be healed. Only then can you begin to reshape your responses. You and you alone give God permission to start working on what needs to be done. Your responsible choices cultivate and nourish your garden and allow the growth inside.
Listen, if you don’t care what happens, then any ol’ road will do. Whatever will be, will be – as they say. If you don’t want to hit a target, then don’t aim at all. Go ahead, play golf in a parking lot – you don’t need the holes. Shoot arrows into the air. Why not? People without purpose have no reason to care. Without revelation, people perish. They cast off restraint (Prov. 19:18). Vision gives purpose. Central vision could be defined as the expressed prophetic purpose of your life – not just what you should DO, but also the character and nature you were created to express.
without prophetic vision:
Without a vision, people perish. This famous verse of Proverbs 29:18 has often been misquoted because the word “vision” has taken on new meaning since AD 1611. The Hebrew literally means, “Where there is no prophetic vision, the people perish.” The
RSV is right – “Where there is no prophecy.” Our response to our prophetic (God given) vision, determines our future. The meaning of “the people perish” also has many significations which may apply here.
The people are made stripped bare, made ashamed, exposed to danger because of lack of prophetic vision.
The people rebel, because they know no better. As several translations say, “they cast off restraint.”
The people are idle, they do nothing to any good purpose, for want of instruction what to do and how to do it.
They are scattered as sheep having no shepherd. They are scattered from their duty to God (2 Chron. 15:3,5).
They perish; they are destroyed for lack of knowledge, (Hos. 4:6). The Hebrew word for perish means to wander in confusion. If you don’t identify your prophetic vision, then you’ll wander and let whatever comes along just happen. Without vision, your life’s direction could be adversely defined by your woundedness or by coincidence.
We must have prophetic vision. Vision brings foresight with insight. Vision sees where God wants to take us. This prophetic vision is not necessarily seeing a supernatural or angelic apparition, or hearing an audible voice concerning the future. We don’t have to be translated to a heavenly realm to receive prophetic vision. Most of the time it comes naturally out of the acknowledgment of our talents.
How you respond to your present existence TODAY
determines your future.
You need perseverance in prayer (Lk. 18:1), expecting to receive clarity of vision. It’s the receiving of answers that’s important, not just letting the request be known. It’s not wrestling with Satan, nor banging on closed gates. God’s ready to activate positive action in you. Suddenly, life’s no longer a struggle, but a privilege.
Embracing vision and deliberate purpose drives you into progressive changes. Aiming toward vision always solves your decisions — it orders your day. It determines your life’s agenda. What you do, who you really are, and even your personal style reflect the divine purpose of your life. Vision can be detected in your true passion, talents, and responses. Once found, it defines the design for your life and the dream in your heart. Expect a prophetic revelation of the Kingdom that will change the your destination.
Arise from depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you – rise to a new LIFE! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!
(Is. 60:1 AMP).
Wisdom is a force:
Wisdom is the power by which we journey to our highest spiritual and emotional wholeness. That wholeness of wisdom manifests itself in a positive outlook, controlled emotions, willing obedience, readiness to withstand opposition, eager enthusiasm, and a love for people. It brings all the personal elements into harmony with God’s image and likeness. (Gen. 1:26). We finally realize that God no longer placates our idolatry or allows us to conceive of Him in our image. God’s plan becomes foremost. He’s all that stands behind door number three. There’s nothing else.
We must have no identity outside of Christ.
The realization of identity starts small, but we’re not supposed to despise the days of small beginnings. We don’t have to stay small. Abraham Lincoln wrote on the back of a shovel with coal – but he moved on. There’s power to expand our lives — but only if we believe God’s Word. Remember, God won’t respond to our discouragement and He won’t confirm our fleshly desires. Bur, He does respond to our faith in His plan.
We must see the reality of the unseen. Faith is our response to God’s tug. Like the Samaritan woman who left her waterpot to evangelize her city, we respond with action to accomplish what was already established in heaven. Jesus gave us “all authority.” There’s nothing greater than that.
Check list toward getting there:
Decide what God wants for you (vision & purpose).
Come into agreement with that plan and be radically obedient to the Holy Spirit when given particular instructions (Rm. 8:26-27).
Believe when you pray. Believe you receive. (Matt. 11:24, Jn. 16:23, Matt. 21:22).
Find rest. Strife and confusion can shut you down.
Cast down wicked imagination (2 Cor. 10:4) and works of the old nature.
Find God’s applicable promises and meditate on them.
Wake up! Be thankful (Phil. 4:6). Worship. Receive the will of God.
Hope in the future. Maintain your confession of faith.
Act on the plan. Mental assent is the most subtle enemy; it agrees but doesn’t act.
Every dream follows the law of seedtime and harvest. All day, every day, you plant and tend your future into your garden. That planted vision must be watered constantly. It is never in competition with another person’s vision. But the vision is forward and direct for you. There’s a special fragrance about knowing who you are – a quality of calmness and unshakable confidence. People will suddenly want to be around you. Your targeted life will also affect the course of others around you for good.
But life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus –
(Acts 20:24 TLB).
The Rampart Vision
Let’s continue the idea of diligently finding your vision by examining several translations of what Habakkuk said about the rampart (NKJ, TLB, NIV, ASV combined). 2:1 I will climb my watchtower (station or better. “stand myself on the ramparts”) now and wait to (look forth to) see what answer (what He will speak with me) God will give to my complaint (or what answer I am to give concerning this request).
RAMPART:
The Hebrew word translated as rampart means encirclement; but the general sense of the word is that of the front line of defense that protected a city. (Of course, we see the typology that Jesus Christ is the High Tower that we can run into.) A rampart, watchtower, or battering ram tower consisted of an elevated and often portable structure that was positioned next to the city wall. The watchman would peer over the city wall and observe the attacking enemy. From this protected vantage point, he would then tell his soldiers how to gauge a counter attack.
STAND
Habakkuk had a “complaint” about the adverse circumstances that he faced. He decided to “stand” there on the rampart. Vines Expository Dictionary explains various ways of standing. One may "stand" for a definite purpose at a particular spot: "...stand upon the rampart..." From the basic meaning of this verb comes the definition "to be established, immovable, and standing upright" on a single spot. The verb suggests being "immovable," or "to abide and remain."
Standing is synonymous to the meaning we have discussed before when God put Adam into the Garden of Eden to “dress it and to keep it" (Gen. 2:15). Proverbs uses this word of guarding "to watch" one's mouth (Prov. 13:3), the tongue (Ps. 34:13), and the lips (Ps. 141:3). It’s our job to guard our garden vision.
Why did Habakkuk stand? So that he could keep watch and guard. In this case, guarding signifies a watchman fulfilling the responsibility of guarding. We also see that standing/guarding is also mentioned in Genesis 26:5, “Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws."
WAIT
Many times it seems that God is silent. Waiting sometimes seems to take forever. It took Israel forty years to climb out of the desert, Jesus waited all his life until He was 30, and it took 50 days from the crucifixion to the coming of the Holy Spirit. My waiting through limbo times is no longer a problem when I can have faith without ambiguity and the assurance that God is working “in the meantime.”
This word is also translated “set,” which implies something or someone that will not fall over. Like the crouching catcher waiting to catch the baseball, Habakkuk would wait and not be moved.
WATCH
Tsapah ^6822^ is found in the text of the Hebrew Bible about 37 times. The meaning in this context is “to anxiously lean forward with anticipation” and with a purpose of seeing.
TO SEE, PERCEIVE:
Habakkuk stood guard on the rampart watching to see what God would say. The verb ra'ah ^7200^ means, "to perceive, get acquainted with, gain understanding, or examine..." This verb has several further extended meanings. For example, this idea of seeing pertains to our spiritual vision.
SPEAK:
Here we focus on the content (meaning) of what was said — the actual "words" themselves. It was the "word of the Lord" that came to Habakkuk as he stood and waited. The question here is, will you stand and wait until you see what God will say to you?
The standing, waiting, watching, and seeing gave Habakkuk the answer. And what did God answer? Here it comes in the next verse! VISION! Hab. 2:2, And Jehovah answered me, and said, ‘Write the vision, (write my answer on a billboard) and make it plain upon tablets (large and clear), that he may run that readeth it. So that anyone can read it at a glance and rush to tell the others.’
This activity of recording vision develops the reason WHY you will do something later – it becomes your conviction – the driving force to your actions.
**Begin to write your answers now as you read. Let this be a time to spark ideas about what you desire. Make it plain. Now’s the time to write a philosophy of life. Can you find Scriptures that encourage you in this quest? What do you want to accomplish in this lifetime? In one year? In one month? Ask yourself, what gives me joy and contentment? Why was I born? What is my vision? What gives me energy? When do I have a sense of achievement? What do I hate to do? What will I do today? What moves me forward beyond my limits? **
Your Godly vision is a plan waiting to become a reality.
The Godly vision creates a reference point – what you steer toward. Clarification comes when each area of life directs itself toward the same ultimate goal. Your vision is like the great North Star — you know where to go and what to do by looking at it.
If you need to find your way again, you can adjust your course toward the vision.
Other things may change, but the North Star remains fixed in the center – and everything rotates around it.
Lives that are fixed upon Godly vision have a constant sense of the magnetic pull of direction.
The North Star (vision) establishes location as a personal coordinate.
It takes time to build a dream:
To dream – the godly imagination hitches your soul to a star.
To work – the price of accomplishment.
To think – the source of renewed power.
To play – the secret of staying young.
To read – the foundation of obtaining knowledge.
To understand – the action of realization.
To worship – the door to fear and reverence.
To love – the one sacrificial sacrament of life.
To laugh – the way to ease the load.
To see—to recognize beauty and appreciate it more clearly.
To plan – the secret of getting something accomplished while still having time for the more important things.
The prophetic VISION of the house of God:
How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God,
and this is the gate of heaven
(Gen. 28:17).
Many studies say that 87% of our nation is dysfunctional. That’s almost inconceivable! It’s a huge identity crisis. Most people are insecure and have little sense of self-worth. They’ve been like Jacob, who had no personal vision. He just wanted to be like his brother. To Jacob, the most important thing was to get his dad’s approval. But his dad loved Esau (Gen. 25:28).
Perhaps you have often felt like Jacob – trying to behave like someone else in order to measure up or deserve your birthright. Jacob was caught in a trap of performance; he didn’t know who he was. He was first born and the legal inheritor; but he couldn’t believe it.
Eventually, Jacob fulfilled the meaning of his name – liar and supplanter. His idol, Esau had a better life, and Jacob tried to copy him. Jacob tried to produce something of his self-nature. Esau was unaware of the value of his inheritance, and tried to sell it for a pot of soup. Often, we do not realize what we possess. We believe what others tell us — and deny who we are. Like Jacob and Esau, we’re balanced in the tension place of finding God’s will for our lives and not walking in the flesh. It’s only through a yielded and open heart that we can receive the revelation of who we really are.
No one else can replicate who you are. Of the six billion on earth, no one else has the same fingerprints, the same memories, the same voiceprint, the same eye print, the same DNA, or the same mind. No dead person has had your same uniqueness either!
“Who are you?” That’s what the blind father said as he fondled Jacob’s fur covered arms. And, that’s also what Boaz said to Ruth. “Who are you?” To answer that question, we need prophetic vision – to discover who we are. God sees beyond the skins of the animals on our arms – the pretenses and facades. He looks into our heart… under our skin. He loves us. We don’t have to perform or mimic someone else to get His acceptance. We don’t have to work to get approval.
God has a plan!
Later on in life, Jacob wanted to be blessed. He wrestled with the angel of God and wouldn’t let him go. It took determination on Jacob’s part to alter his life. Finally, at age 72, the Lord finally got the Jacob nature (liar, supplanter) out of him. Let’s look at what happened: Jacob had traveled from Beersheba to Harran and stayed the night sleeping outdoors on stones. Genesis 28 tells how Jacob dreamed of a ladder set on earth that reached to heaven. Angels ascended and descended on it. The ladder represents the connection between heaven and earth. Jesus told the disciples, “Behold… The kingdom of God is near you” (Luke 10:9 NIV). He told Nathaniel that the ladder ascended and descended “on the Son of Man!”
BEHOLD
Behold = it’s time to see! That kind of beholding must come through revelation. Behold, God’s kingdom comes on earth as it is in heaven. That hallowed kingdom appears because we release it. Upon our decree, it comes violently advancing (Matt. 11:12) against oppositional forces that cannot peacefully coexist with it. It never retreats. Beholding connects us with heaven and earth. Our prayers then unify with heaven (the place where God’s presence dwells.) and press into forward activity.
It was there at Bethel (see also Jdg. 20:18-27). that God re-connected and re-confirmed the covenant promises and blessings previously made to Abraham and Isaac. It was there at the time of coupling, that the Lord God changed Jacob’s name, giving him a new identity and personality.
From then on, Israel limped (God touched the hollow place) – and his daily walk was different. Through the internal relationship of connecting with God’s plan, we become whole. God works inside. He lives in us. We’re not what we do or what we preach. But out of our innermost being (hollow place, place of conception) we find the authentic signature of Truth… Who we are. We become who we’re meant to be. We do the things that are no longer external but ETERNAL.
When Israel woke up he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place…. How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God and this is the gate of heaven.” Then he poured oil on his stone pillow and called that place Bethel, which means the “House of God.”
how awesome is this place”
FEARFUL and AWESOME
This same word repeats= Strong’s Dictionary defines # 3372 yare’ as to revere, be made afraid, stand in awe, fear. This word is used concerning a person “standing in awe.” This does not mean to be afraid, but to reverence – whereby an individual recognizes the power and position of the individual revered and renders him proper respect... So Jacob said of Bethel: “How awesome is this place!”
PLACE
Strong's # 4725 maqowm standing, i.e. a spot … This noun is used to signify a sanctuary – i.e., a “place” of worship” in our body, mind, or in this world.
“This is none other than the house of God.”
HOUSE
Webster’s defines the house as follows: “A place or house of worship, especially a synagogue. A place devoted to a special purpose.” Matthew Henry defines the house: “He that is joined to Christ is one spirit. He is yielded up to him and is hereupon possessed and inhabited by His Holy Spirit. This is the proper notion of a house or temple – a place where God dwells and that is sacred to His use.” Jesus is the Father’s house (Jn. 14:2).
HOUSE = bayit ^1004^ "First, this noun denotes a fixed, established structure as a "permanent dwelling place.” Bayit also represents a place of worship or "sanctuary. A third use of bayit sometimes refers to the place where something or someone dwells or rests. In other words, this could mean, this place “in me” where God dwells.
So far, by using these definitions, we can re-word this verse and hear Jacob say, “I stand in awe over this place of worship where God dwells inside of me right now...”
“The gate of heaven.”
GATE
Sha'ar ^8179. Basically, this word represents a structure closing and enclosing a large opening through a wall, or a barrier through which people and things pass to an enclosed area. The "gates" were the place where local courts convened.
Building this house of God becomes the gate of heaven — the entrance into heavenly communion and God’s nature. The gate inside of us becomes the entrance into eternal concerns. Through these gates we connect with God. The Psalmist says, Lift up your heads, O you gates and be lifted up, you everlasting doors! Then the King of glory shall come in. Yes, believers are God’s gates of entrance upon the earth.
Our wise prophetic decree appeals, “Let us go into the GATE of the house of the Lord.”
Our gates are praise (Is. 60:18). When our praise gates are opened wide, we will possess the gates of the enemy (Gen. 24:60). Now, don’t gloss over this point. The abiding presence of God inside means that the enemy’s gate of hell shall not (and can not) prevail against us (Matt.
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