God's Power In Our Lives

“God’s Power in our Lives”

1 Chronicles 13:14

INTRODUCTION:

David, the great king of Israel wanted to go and retrieve the Ark of the Covenant which represented the very presence and power of God.

The Ark had not been in the midst of the people for some time. It had been stolen by the Philistines, then moved to Beth Shemesh and finally ended up at Kirjath Jearim where it had been since the reign of Saul.

1 Chr. 13:5 says, “So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor in Egypt to as far as the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjath Jearim.”

On the way back one of the Israelite men, Uzzah, touched the Ark and died. So instead of taking the Ark into the City of David, the King decided to take the Ark to the house of a man called ‘Obed-Edom’

ILLUSTRATION: You can imagine the surprise of Obed-Edom. Here is the entire assembly of Israel outside his home. (knock, knock – act out coming to the door in surprise) The king of Israel is at his door and says, “Excuse me, Mr. Obed-Edom, we need to leave this Ark with you for a short time”. “Say what?” would have probably been the response of Obed-Edom.

But Obed-Edom allowed the Ark in his home, and that brings us to today’s text:

1st Chr. 13:14 “The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months. And the Lord blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that he had.”

QUESTION: What was so special about the Ark that when it was left at the home of Obed-Edom, that his entire house received a blessing?

The answer is the Ark contained the

very PRESENCE AND POWER OF GOD

I. The Presence and Power of God changed Obed-

Edom’s Home life

A. The Bible declares that his house and ALL that

was in it was blessed

1. Now I don’t think his life was perfect, but

it was blessed

2. He probably started noticing his life

changing [– His car ran a little better,

his wife looked a little more attractive

and his kids actually started listening

(smile)]

B. This blessing was in response to the presence

and power of God moving into his life

1. When we allow God to come in and start

blessing us, He will change our lives

C. Without the power and presence of God in our

lives, we will be living under our own power

1. How many of us are happy to live our lives

without the power of God?

2. How many of us are willing to have church

without the power of God? Just go through the

motions!

3. How many of us speak about worship, but

never experience the power of God?

II. The Presence and Power of God changed Obed-

Edom’s priorities

A. One day there came another knock on the door of

Obed-Edom’s house

1. It was David again, returning for the Ark

2. I can imagine that ol’ Obed-Edom didn’t want

to part with the presence of God

B. David began retrieving people for singing before

the Ark

1. 1st Chr 15:16 “Then David spoke to the leaders

of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be

the singers accompanied by instruments of

music, stringed instruments, harps, and

cymbals, by raising the voice with resounding

joy.”

2. A hand went up in the back – it was Obed-Edom

(15:18)The following men were chosen as their

assistants: Zechariah, Jaaziel,

Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab,

Benaiah, Maaseiah,Mattithiah,

Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-edom and

Jeiel, the doorkeepers.

3. He said to himself, “the Ark needs singers?

I’ll sing!”

c. David then looked for people to be doorkeepers

1. A hand went up again – it was Obed-Edom (15:23)

And Obed-edom and Jehiah guarded the Ark.

2. Here he is again saying, “the Ark needs a

doorkeeper – that’s me!”

d. Then David asked for people to be ministers before

the Ark when it was finally in place within the new

tabernacle David had built for it

(16:4)

4David appointed some Levites to serve in front of

the LORD’s ark by offering prayers, thanks, and

praise to the LORD God of Israel.5Asaph was the

head; Zechariah was second, then Jeiel,

Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah,

Obed Edom, and Jeiel with harps and lyres. Asaph

played the cymbals.

1. Again we find the name of Obed-Edom, now a

minister before the Ark

E. Finally David said, we need gatekeepers to minister before the ark regularly (16:37)

37David left Asaph and his relatives to serve

continually in front of the ark of the LORD’s

promise, as the daily work required. 38David

also left Obed Edom and 68 of his relatives

ëto serve thereû. Obed Edom (Jeduthun’s son) and