May 22, 2006 - I Chronicles 16-18 and John 7:28-53
This morning I hope we can see some major spiritual principles from these passages. The more time you can take to meditate on these verses the more the Lord can show you. Please, don't rush through it. Take time to allow the Lord to speak to you. It will be a great blessing for you.
Chapter 16 is all about worshiping God. David made sure that worship was a priority. He appointed the Levites to lead the worship in the Tabernacle on a continuous basis, just like the Lord said in His Word.(v.40) The main part of the chapter is a Psalm of David. It shows us how well David had come to know God and to love Him. His worship flowed out of his love, and I am sure God loved David because of his heart for Him. The spiritual principle here is that true worship comes first. We come to know God, and then, we worship Him with all of our hearts on a continual basis. That is what God wants, because it keeps us focused on what is important. "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His mercy endures forever. (v.34) How is your heart for worship? Do you worship Him each day continuously?
Chapter 17 tells us that David wanted to build a house for God, but God built a house for David instead. It was not a physical house, but God promised to keep David's house or his family on the throne, as long as they were true to Him. This was God's blessing based on David's heart of worship. The principle here is that the greatest blessings of life come as a result of true, continuous worship of the Lord. Worship precedes blessing. If you are missing God's blessings, maybe it is because you are missing God's worship.
In chapter 18 we read a run down of all of the conquests of David. We read how God gave him victory over his enemies. This was a result of the power God gave David. The power of God came after the worship was established, too. If you have a lack of power, there may be a lack of true worship. God is not going to bless anyone with power unless He knows their heart is set on Him. Set your heart to worship the Lord, and see if the power does not come as you trust Him and do His will, instead of doing your own thing.
John 7 shows us what happened at the end of the feast. Jesus knew that the majority of the people and especially the leaders did not know Him. (v.28) They could not really worship Him until they came to know Him. Therefore, He called them to come unto Him and to be spiritually nourished. Then, they would not be dry spiritually, but His Spirit would fill them and even overflow to others.(v.37-39) There was a great division at this point between those who would believe and those who would not, because they thought they knew right already. Nicodemus began to see the light. (v.49) What about you? Do you know Him? Do you trust Him and give Him all of your worship? That is the result of truly knowing Him. He is worthy of all of our worship.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Chronicles 19-21 and John 8:1-27.
Chapter 16 is all about worshiping God. David made sure that worship was a priority. He appointed the Levites to lead the worship in the Tabernacle on a continuous basis, just like the Lord said in His Word.(v.40) The main part of the chapter is a Psalm of David. It shows us how well David had come to know God and to love Him. His worship flowed out of his love, and I am sure God loved David because of his heart for Him. The spiritual principle here is that true worship comes first. We come to know God, and then, we worship Him with all of our hearts on a continual basis. That is what God wants, because it keeps us focused on what is important. "Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His mercy endures forever. (v.34) How is your heart for worship? Do you worship Him each day continuously?
Chapter 17 tells us that David wanted to build a house for God, but God built a house for David instead. It was not a physical house, but God promised to keep David's house or his family on the throne, as long as they were true to Him. This was God's blessing based on David's heart of worship. The principle here is that the greatest blessings of life come as a result of true, continuous worship of the Lord. Worship precedes blessing. If you are missing God's blessings, maybe it is because you are missing God's worship.
In chapter 18 we read a run down of all of the conquests of David. We read how God gave him victory over his enemies. This was a result of the power God gave David. The power of God came after the worship was established, too. If you have a lack of power, there may be a lack of true worship. God is not going to bless anyone with power unless He knows their heart is set on Him. Set your heart to worship the Lord, and see if the power does not come as you trust Him and do His will, instead of doing your own thing.
John 7 shows us what happened at the end of the feast. Jesus knew that the majority of the people and especially the leaders did not know Him. (v.28) They could not really worship Him until they came to know Him. Therefore, He called them to come unto Him and to be spiritually nourished. Then, they would not be dry spiritually, but His Spirit would fill them and even overflow to others.(v.37-39) There was a great division at this point between those who would believe and those who would not, because they thought they knew right already. Nicodemus began to see the light. (v.49) What about you? Do you know Him? Do you trust Him and give Him all of your worship? That is the result of truly knowing Him. He is worthy of all of our worship.
Tomorrow, I intend to read I Chronicles 19-21 and John 8:1-27.