1Kings 8: 12-13 Excited to go to Church Part 2

INTRODUCTION:

·         We continue the series “Excited to go to Church” by slowing down and covering just two verses.

·         Before we look at what King Solomon says to the assembly, we will look at what he takes time to say to the LORD.

SCENE 1: The Lord has . 

·         This fact, “The LORD said”, is either true or it not true.

·         If it is not true, then what we read has little to no value.  The Apostle Paul put it this way:

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say, “There is no resurrection of the dead”? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith. Moreover, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified wrongly about God that he raised up Christ ​— ​whom he did not raise up, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Those, then, who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone. — 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 (CSB)

·         If it is true, then what we read has infinite value.  The Apostle Paul again:

But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at his coming, those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he abolishes all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be abolished is death. For God has put everything under his feet. Now when it says “everything” is put under him, it is obvious that he who puts everything under him is the exception. When everything is subject to Christ, then the Son himself will also be subject to the one who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all. — 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 (CSB)

Ways God Speaks:

1.     

Listen, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. — Psalm 86:1 (CSB)

I call on you in the day of my distress, for you will answer me. — Psalm 86:7 (CSB)

·         Answered prayer is a way God speaks.

2.      The

For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account. — Hebrews 4:12-13 (CSB)

3.      The

Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. But the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually. The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, and yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone.  — 1 Corinthians 2:10-15 (CSB)

4.     

Long ago God spoke to the ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him. — Hebrews 1:1-2 (CSB)

5.      The Church

And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, 25 not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching. — Hebrews 10:24-25 (CSB)

6.      People

Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another.  — Proverbs 27:17 (CSB)

7.      Creation

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge. There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard. Their message has gone out to the whole earth, and their words to the ends of the world. — Psalm 19:1-4 (CSB)

SCENE 2: The Lord .

·         “dwell” – to settle down, abide, reside or tabernacle

And the people remained standing at a distance as Moses approached the total darkness where God was. — Exodus 20:21 (CSB)

·         The promise to once again dwell with man is throughout the OT

The Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt. Live in the land that I tell you about; stay in this land as an alien, and I will be with you and bless you. For I will give all these lands to you and your offspring, and I will confirm the oath that I swore to your father Abraham.  — Genesis 26:2-3 (CSB)

·         Also, a foreshadowing of a greater dwelling.

Isaiah said, “Listen, house of David! Is it not enough for you to try the patience of men? Will you also try the patience of my God? Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel.  — Isaiah 7:13-14 (CSB)

Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” — Matthew 28:18-20 (CSB)

Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: About sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged — John 16:7-11 (CSB)

SCENE 3:  God allows man to .

·         From the beginning man has been given the privilege of stewardship and building.

The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. — Genesis 2:15 (CSB)

·         Even today God is building and allowing us to be part of it.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. — Ephesians 2:10 (CSB)

EMERALD CITY:

1.      Road to Emmaus. (Luke 24:13-35)

·         Sometimes we need to stop and reflect:

o   What is the LORD saying?

o   Where is the LORD dwelling?

o   What around us is being built?