GOD’S PROMISES CONCERNING YOU! - PASTOR DAVID J. LEET

To start off our study.

1 Chronicles Chapter 17

Have you ever wondered what your life is all about?

What you were ‘cut out’ to do, or be in life?

Your rightful place in God's plan?

In the following series of studies, we shall discover the answer to these three (3) very special and important question for all mankind today.

Prayer:

Our father in heaven, help us to open our hearts, our spirits, and our minds, to your Holy Spirit of Truth, so we cando as the scriptures say :- " He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says".

This we ask, and believe that we have received, in Jesus name, Amen.

Now as we read our text - 1 Chronicles 17:- and go over the main points, we will see a plan unfolding, which envelopes us and, the Israelites, together, as God's people.

What can we see in verses 1-4?

1 : Now it came to pass, as King David sat in his house, that David said to Nathan the prophet, Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord remaineth under curtains.

2 : Then Nathan said unto David, Do all that is in thine heart; for God is with thee.

3 : And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

4 : Go and tell David my servant, Thus saith the Lord, Thou shalt not build me an house to dwell in:

As we read on and go over the main points, we will see a plan unfolding, which envelopes us and, the Israelites, together, as God’s people.  What can we see in VS 1 ?

Verse 1: King David observes that, God is kept in a box, under wraps, until the Sabbath Day, or when needed, for various ceremonies or events. 

How often have you thought this way?

Sadly, this is so very true of the world’s view today, isn’t it?  People are so afraid to let go, and let God come into their lives, for fear that they will be made fun of or thought strange.

Do you know churchies, ie:- church goers like this?

But look what happens when we do let God move in our lives !

King David saw past this view with his heart’s desire, to build God a house to dwell in, so that God is with us. However, as we will see, this desire though honourable, was still not enough, because he could not see the big picture as God saw it. 

At what point in your Christian walk, did you get a glimpse of God’s big picture?

Verse 2 : The prophet Nathan, knowing David’s heart, said go ahead and do what your heart is telling you to do.  For God is with thee.  (He knew David was wanting a closer relationship ), but God’s promise through Nathan to David started out with God saying, don’t build me a house to dwell in"!

Do you think Nathan had neglected something before instructing David ?

Verse 3 : And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying ,

Verse 4 : Go and tell David My servant, Thus saith the Lord , thou shalt not build Me an house to dwell in :

What a perplexing problem for the King and for us!  If not this, then what can be done for God?  So many of us today, myself included, have come to this point.  After God shows us the same grace, mercy, and forgiveness, that he showed Israel, we want to do something for Him so badly, that we miss what He wants us to do for him.  So we go ahead and do something that we simply are not cut out to do. We then fail and feel hurt and rejected, then discouraged and confused. 

We have all been there and done or seen that, but can you discern a basic oversight that people make?

Finally, look at what the scriptures are saying in Verse 5 : “And the Lord said to him, thou shalt not build Me an house for Me to dwell in : for I have not dwelt in any house since the day that I brought up the children of Israel even unto this day ; but have walked in a tent, and in a tabernacle from one place to another where I went.

Brought up from EGYPT, or our sinfulness, and places of torment and captivity.

Verse 6 : With whom I have walked and talked I have not spoken to any man the words of this place, which I have spoken to thee ".

As we read these verses, let's transpose them into modern day reality. What is God saying about Tabernacles, or the place that He dwells ?

1 Corinthians 6 V 19 - 20:

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 : What ? For ye are bought with a price : therefore glorify God in your body and your spirit, which are God's.

The apostle Paul, is saying that this earthen vessel, your body is the dwelling place of God!

In this stark reality of the old and New Testament scriptures, can you see what God is pointing out in 1 Chronicles verses 5 and 6 of our study ?

5  For I have not dwelt in an house since the day that I brought up Israel unto this day; but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another.

6 Wheresoever I have walked with all Israel, spake I a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people, saying, Why have ye not built me an house of cedars?

Now in the new Testament teaching by Paul the Apostle in 1 Chorintians 6 verse 19 he says,

" What ? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, whichye have of God, and ye are not your own ? ".

The Apostle Paul, is saying that this earthen vessel, your body is the dwelling place of God !

In this stark reality of Old and New Testament scriptures, can you see what God is pointing out in verses 5 and 6 of our text ?

This is what King David was realising and wanting. A personal everyday relationship with God!