What Church is God at Tonight?
1 Kings 8:22-30
Feb. 24, 2008(PM) FBC, Chester Mike Fogerson, Pastor
Introduction
A
B The temple was complete...but Solomon didn’t start it. Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. 1 Kings 8:17 (NASB)
1 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven. 23 He said, "O LORD, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing lovingkindness to Your servants who walk before You with all their heart, 24 who have kept with Your servant, my father David, that which You have promised him; indeed, You have spoken with Your mouth and have fulfilled it with Your hand as it is this day. 25 "Now therefore, O LORD, the God of Israel, keep with Your servant David my father that which You have promised him, saying, ’You shall not lack a man to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your sons take heed to their way to walk before Me as you have walked.’ 26 "Now therefore, O God of Israel, let Your word, I pray, be confirmed which You have spoken to Your servant, my father David. 27 "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built! 28 "Yet have regard to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today; 29 that Your eyes may be open toward this house night and day, toward the place of which You have said, ’My name shall be there,’ to listen to the prayer which Your servant shall pray toward this place. 30 "Listen to the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place; hear in heaven Your dwelling place; hear and forgive. 1 Kings 8:22-30 (NASB)
2 Amazing sight, dedicating the temple
C The temple-presence, praise
1 What temple, house of worship is God at tonight?
2 Let’s look at two truths
I The holiness of the temple of worship
A Solomon’s daddy was so preoccupied with wars (1 Kings 5:5), conflict, that the temple didn’t get built (the work of one generation is the blessing of the next).
1 God commissioned the building of the temple.
a The temple provided a point of contact between Him & His people, a way for sinful man to approach God, find forgiveness of sin, fellowship between Him & His people.
b The temple was a multi-billion-dollar facility, perhaps the most beautiful ever. Nothing has compared since.
2 Solomon knew the temple didn’t "fit" God. But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built!
a KJV: heaven & the heaven of heavens; NIV, NASB: heaven & the highest heaven
b God, You’re not limited to the temple, this little space that we’ve built.
aa Pagan limited their gods to regions, locales, temples.
bb Baal, Ashtoreth, Milcom, Chenosh, Molech...
c Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol , behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me. Psalms 139:7-10 (NASB)
aa God is God no matter what, where, or when
bb The temple was just a little model for heaven...not heaven.
cc (IL) Model: imitation of the real thing. Praise/worship/ presence...nothing like what we’re in for when we reach the golden city.
B Tonight, people all over the world believe that God is in their "temple".
1 It’s dishonoring to God when we assume that God is with us "more’ than He is with other members/parts of the body of Christ.
a God doesn’t fit into any of our buildings.
b Solomon knew that, we must learn that.
2 Which church is God at tonight?
a Any that bring glory to His Son through the power of the Spirit.
b It’s all about a name, but not Martin Luther, Pope Benedict, Billy Graham...the name is JESUS! Crucified! Resurrected!
3 He’s in the temple...if you call Him Lord, He’s in you! Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Cor 3:16 (NASB)
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God , and that you are not your own? 1 Cor 6:19 (NASB)
II Humanity of the worshipers at the temple
A Solomon had the wisdom to know that he had no merit for answered prayer. Yet have regard to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Your servant prays before You today
1 Now therefore, O God of Israel, let Your word, I pray, be confirmed which You have spoken to Your servant, my father David. Solomon claims God’s word, spoken promises as the reason to pray.
a His prayer must have sounded "bold"-confident!
b Solomon understood God’s word was true, and His promises are never broken.
aa Nobody forced God to make the promises, He was not coerced while being tortured.
bb He promised because He loves His people!
2 Solomon prayed, claiming the promises of God, because that’s all he had.
a That’s all I have! He promised me...
aa I’m saved by grace through faith
bb Confess & believe
cc My name is eternally in the book
dd He will never leave or forsake the least of His children.
b All I have is God’s promise!
c He doesn’t lie!
Conclusion
A Solomon prayed a promise...
1 God, we’re sinful...You’re not
2 Don’t give up on us! Don’t leave our temple!
B Maybe that’s your prayer, or it needs to be your prayer.
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Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
