House Of The Lord by Phil Wickham

Verse 1:

We worship the God who was

We worship the God who is

We worship the God who evermore will be

He opened the prison doors

He parted the raging sea

My God, He holds the victory

Chorus:

There's joy in the house of the Lord

There's joy in the house of the Lord today

And we won't be quiet

We shout out Your praise

There's joy in the house of the Lord

Our God is surely in this place

And we won't be quiet

We shout out Your praise

Oh-oh, oh, we shout out Your praise

Oh-oh, oh

Verse 2:

We sing to the God who heals

We sing to the God who saves

We sing to the God who always makes a way

Cause He hung up on that cross

Then He rose up from that grave

My God's still rolling stones away

Bridge:

We were the beggars

Now we're royalty

We were the prisoners

Now we're running free

We are forgiven, accepted

Redeemed by His grace

Let the house of the Lord sing praise

There's joy in the house of the Lord. Joy is different from happiness. Happiness is fleeting. It's an emotion that lasts only as long as that which is making one happy. But joy, the joy that is found in the house of the Lord, is everlasting. "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." - Psalm 16:11. It's present all the time, even in the many adversities of life. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds." - James 1:2.

You may ask, "How do I find this 'house of the Lord?' The 'house of the Lord' is your church, a family of people who experience this ever-present joy. People who make it visible, as you know they are going through a devastating time in their life but are still able to exude joy. People who have given their life to the Lord and know that whatever circumstance they find themselves in, it's part of God's plan for their life. "We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28.

The 'house of the Lord' is a spiritual dwelling place. A place where Christians abide in heart and mind, while living in this fallen and sinful world. "The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." - Romans 14:17. They know who God has been in the past, who He is now, and who He will be in the future. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." - Revelation 1:8. They have become followers of Jesus, the Son. Through His sacrifice on the cross, they know that whatever sin had them in prison has now been forgiven and removed. They have been set free from a life of begging and accepted into the family of God as royalty. They know that through Jesus' resurrection, His defeat of death, they now have eternal life. Their raging sea of brokenness has been parted and victory is now theirs. "My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you - I whom you have delivered." - Psalm 71:23. Their faith and trust have been placed in the God who heals, the God who saves, and the God who always makes a way. "By his wounds you have been healed." - 1 Peter 2:24.

Oh No! There's no being quiet about this joy. "He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy." - Job 8:21. Those that experience it want others to experience it also. It's impossible to hold it in. As stated in Jeremiah 20:9, "His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." The Lord's goodness and mercy must be shouted. It fills your heart with overwhelming hope and thankfulness that bubbles up and out with shouts of praise. "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy spirit." - Romans 15:13.

We are currently living in a time of grief, but we know we will see Him again. This is joy, a joy that no one can take from us. A joy that is our strength and has made us complete. We are to clap our hands and shout to God with cries of Joy. We are to declare with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, believing in our heart that God raised Him from the dead. We are not to fear or be dismayed, as He is our God. He strengthens and helps us, while upholding us with His righteous right hand. No weapon forged against us will prevail. We bring all our weariness and burdens to Him and He gives us rest. His name is a fortified tower to which the righteous run and are kept safe.

"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." - Psalm 91:1.

This is the House Of The Lord.

So, what house are you living in?