LSM Sunday Message December 27, 2020
Theme: Godly Inclination and Overflowing Divine presence
TOPIC: Except The Lord build the house
TEXT: 1Chronicles 17:10-14
INTRODUCTION: Psalms 127 declares that except the Lord build the house those who build it labor in vain. David wanted to build a house for God, it was a good thing he indited on, but God does not live in houses built with human hands. He told David “Wheresoever I have walked with Israel, spoke I a word to any of the leaders of Israel, whom I have commanded to feed my people, saying, why have ye not built me an house of cedars? In our text of today the reply of God to David is consistent with His principle that He only can build a house that can contain Him. In the fulfillment of the word of the Lord, Solomon acknowledged that the Temple he built was just a present manifestation that looked forward to ultimate fulfillment in Christ. “But will God in very deed dwell with men on earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of Heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have built! (2Chr. 6:18). The challenge to us is to let God have His way in all that we do and God will enable us in Jesus name. When God decides to build He does it completely and perfectly.
1.The Preparation: As the perfect builder God, in wisdom makes preparation. It is said that those who fail to plan, plan to fail. Since God can never fail, it is given that He planned. Our text informs us that God made preparation by first clearing the ground before the building started. Enemies have to be subdued before any house is built or else they may interfere. All the enemies standing in the way of building your spiritual house for God will be subdued in Jesus name. God subdued Israel’s enemies and when the road was clear, Solomon started building (1 Ki. 5: 2-5). The enemy is today being subdued under Jesus feet by God until He comes to take over the house (Heb.10:13). Secondly, since every man would die and David was not to build the house, when David expired, God would raise a seed after him. God has a role for everyone in the master plan just like every block, column, lintel have their functions in the building of a house. In this text, David would lay the groundwork and collect materials and Solomon would build. Let us not try to take up all assignments for which God has not given us the skills. The emphasis is on the fact that the seed would be one of David’s sons. Many would not qualify by reason of disobedience including Solomon who was in immediate focus. Jesus who learnt obedience was in view (Heb. 5:4-10). God said concerning Jesus “ He shall build a house for me I will be His father and He shall be my son, and I will not take mercy away from Him”. I pray that God would grant us the grace to be obedient in Jesus name to build through us.
2. The building: God is a spirit and His house must therefore be a spiritual house. The physical temple is just a symbol of what God wanted to portray so that we do it properly. Ephesians 2:19-22 makes this clear to us. Christ is the cornerstone on which each and all who are in Christ will have to build. How does Christ build as God proclaims here? “He will build me a house and I will establish His throne forever” Christ through His spirit, reconciles us gathers us and through His word sanctifies us as we work in His vineyard. The emphasis here is to keep to the roles for which God has given us skills, and do the work complementing others; The evangelists to evangelize, preachers to preach the truth, prophets to prophesy truth as God illuminates, teachers to teach true doctrine and administrators to administer well as new souls are brought into God’s kingdom so it can grow to the expectation of God. Building takes the mercy of God because those just coming newly bring all sorts of baggage. Solomon, the wisest man still made mistakes which cause him to have many foreign wives that drew his heart away eventually from God. “In Him (Jesus) the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God in His Spirit.
3. The finishing: God heard David’s humble and fervent prayer to fulfill the Davidic covenant. God indeed settled Solomon on the throne, but ultimately Jesus who in obedience, remained faithful even unto death and because of this, God highly exalted Him and gave Him a name above every name that at the mention of His name every knee should bow (Phil. 2:8-11). He is established now as the shepherd and husband of the Church which He heads and at rapture will take to heaven before coming to reign with them for a thousand years. The bible declares that we do not have a high priest who has not been touched by the feelings of our infirmities but who is seated at the right hand of power, advocating and perfecting us (Matt. 26:69; Mk.13:26; 16:19; Ps.110:1) transforming us into His image to be acceptable to God (2 Cor.3:16-18). One day we will be with Him and He will be with us and we will be His city and Temple and He will dwell with us forever (Rev. 21:2-5). May we learn obedience like Christ and be faithful so we not fail, falter or fall in our journey to eternal glory, in Jesus name.