PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: 1 Chronicles 16-17
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“You have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him.” (1 Chronicles 17:25)
So much of our focus is on our churches and making them bigger.
We want bigger gatherings, bigger worship, bigger programs, and bigger buildings.
We measure gospel success by church success, and look to leaders to help us do this.
David had just established ‘bigger worship’ (ch.16), now for a bigger better building.
David is focused on a physical house, but God wants a relational house, a family.
God promises to establish and build David’s house, and restore God’s kingdom.
God is not impressed by our buildings, God wants to dwell and work with us.
The temple became a distraction for Israel, and ‘churches’ are the same for us.
How much of my time and energy has been on maintaining or building the church.
God wants to build his family, not our bigger worship, programs, buildings, etc.
“I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16:18)
Jesus comes as ‘God with us’ to temple (dwell) with us and restore God’s family.
He will build his church (family) through all his children – not just the Davids or Peters.
Am I focusing on the church as institution, or on the church as mission?
PRAYER
Lord, so much time and energy if focused on building institutions, instead of reaching and blessing the nations. Save me from churchianity, so that we can build God’s family together!
Settling down and moving in! May God move in on me! As David says: “Now you have been pleased to bless the house of your servant” – I and we all need God’s blessing. Please let the Lord move in with his Spirit! Not contained by walls – but dynamic and ready. In today’s scripture – it is a wonderful time of blessing for David – because God’s covenant presence had moved into Jerusalem. I am blessed too when Jesus moves in. Help me Lord to be faithful to your presence! Help me keep my ‘temple’ clean!
Emmanuel. God living among His people. And the people see what the Lord God has done among them. The Lord led His people and the people saw His leading when they left Egypt land. But He also needs to lead the people by residing in their hearts. He is the driving force. He needs to be in residence there. The church is not the building but the people giving whole hearted service to their King. Living for Jesus.
Wholehearted thanksgiving to thee I will bring,
in praise of thy marvelous deeds I will sing;
in thee I will joy and exultingly cry,
thy name I will praise, O Jehovah Most High.
Refrain:
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
let the earth hear his voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
let the people rejoice!
O come to Jehovah, declare ye his fame,
and give him all honor, for just is his name.