God’s favorite house!!!
Part 1 the tabernacle of David
Acts 15:16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
Acts 15:17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
What does it take to be called God’s favorite House!!!
Intro.
I have never lived anywhere for a long time I have always since I can remember moved around quite a bit. My father being a Pastor we moved quite a bit. We might stay somewhere for a while but before long we were on the move again.
I have been back to some of those houses or homes that I lived in as a kid and have shared memories with my wife and with my children.
Needless to say they were not as enthused to hear about or to experience it as I was.
Not long ago my wife and I were going through Arkansas and she wanted to stop in a town where she had grown up. I remember thinking “well this is going to be boring.”
I conceded and we drove up and down some back streets of a town in Arkansas called, Earl. When we finally reached our destination, I knew more about that town than I really cared to.
No offense to my wife but it just was not as important to me as it was to her. Until recently I did not realize the significance to that revelation.
Where our memories are our heart is also.
Maybe not to the point that we live there in our every wakening hour but most likely we live there in the backs of our minds often times.
My wife is kinda like me in the sense that neither one of us really has a place we call home.
My wife has a grandfather that passed away in 1995 that lived in a small town called Marshall Arkansas which would probably be the closet thing she would have to a home but that is gone now too. The house has been sold and the place deserted of everything we know as family except memories.
In our text today we have read the words of James as recorded by Luke in the book of Acts. We have read I believe the very heart of God which is worship.
Today I want to try and take us yet even closer to God’s word and God’s Will.
2 weeks ago we embarked on a journey to know God more and I think that to stop now would be a mistake.
I. Passion or Palace
A. Our church is Awesome
So many times we as Christians get caught up in the fact that “OUR CHURCH” has to be the best or look the best or have the prettiest windows and seats.
But I want you to know God does not come down to a place because of how much it is worth or even how nice it looks. God comes down based on the worship in the building not the building of the worship.
Turn with me for a few moments to 1 Kings 6:17
B. Solomon’s House was Awesome
We find here that God’s house that Solomon built was absolutely the most fantastic wonder of that time and even in our day would be considered an architectural phenomena. Not to mention that it would be priceless.
C. Moses’ House was Awesome
There was another temple that was built for the Lord it was Moses temple not as nice but was grand compared to the one David had built.
What we have to realize here is although Moses’ temple was a tent it was more than a tent it was an awesome display of beauty and craftsmanship. And by all means nothing could be compared to Solomon’s magnificent temple
Yet God in the 15 chapter of Acts declared “… I will return and build again the Tabernacle of David…”
So why do you think that is?
Why? Because God is not looking for a building that get the Glory.
God is not looking for a man that will get awarded great awards for building an awesome building.
God is looking for a man that will stand up against the tide.
A man that will stand against the evil that has come in to this present world.
God is looking for PASSION NOT PALACE
It’s not a building it’s the builder that God is interested in.
II. Where is the Glory?
A. David’s Passion
God had a favorite house and that house was the one David built.
However the most powerful component of David’s tabernacle began long before the actual tent was constructed. It began in the heart of David. It began in the fields where he watched over his sheep.
When David would sit with God and write songs about his love for God.
When David would look to God for strength and thank Him when it came.
B. The Ark is coming Home
When David began talking about bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem, he wasn’t interested in the things that were placed in the ark or the Gold-Covered box itself. David was interested in the Blue flame or the Glory of God that rested between the outstretched wings of the cherubim on the top of the ark. Which represented to David that God was truly coming home to be with him in his house.
I believe this is represented in the fact then when David came home with the Ark he was dancing “Before the Lord with all his might”
Now I don’t believe David was dancing because of a battle won or a victory accomplished I believe that David was dancing because God’s coming to his house.
C. David a man after God’s own heart
Acts 13:22 (KJV) And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
David was a man after God’s own heart David knew how to worship and when to worship.
D. Being Like God
I believe that the interpretation of this has been and is that David was truly a man that was “like” God.
E. Being After God
However I believe that this could also be interpreted as a man that was “after” God’s own heart someone who is constantly chasing God to become closer to Him which is the only way a man could be like God.
E. The Ark of the Covenant was veiled
In the old Testament we find that when Moses was to build the ark of the Covenant he was to place it in the Outer court then in the Holy place and even further into the Holy of Holies.
This was a constant thing in Moses’ tabernacle in Solomon’s.
F. In David’s tabernacle the Ark was not kept behind walls
However it was not in David’s tabernacle God was not veiled in this temple.
But after David’s temple had fallen God was then veiled again until Jesus died.
G. The veil was rent
However when Jesus Christ died on the cross we have the description of what took place in Matthew 27:50-53
Mat 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
Mat 27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
Mat 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
Mat 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
H. The meaning of the veil being rent
I submit to you today that the meaning of this was that Now man could go to God face to face as intended by God in the beginning, as did Adam.
It truly meant that.
But it also has a meaning that few of us if any of us have ever noticed.
I. God came running out to see man
It also means that God came out to see man.
Can you imagine being forced to live behind a curtain for hundreds of years not being able to see your children face to face not being able to play with them.
When that bell sounded and you were let free you would not come out slowly trying to check everything you would come out with all your power and might as fast as you could to be with your family.
As did God He came out so fast so violently that graves were opened and the earth shook with every footstep
III. Do we want God to show up?
A. Is God in the house?
I believe that most if not all of us would love for God to show up on the scene. We would love to experience God on a plateau like we have never seen but we are not willing to pay the price that it is going to take to get that plateau experience.
B. When He comes do we really know how to handle it?
What happens most of the time is that God will show up and we shout for 2-3 minutes and say “ O look at the time gotta go God thanks for the touch.”
We then go to dairy queen and tell everyone how God really moved in our services. What we really don’t realize is that God is back at the church building wonder what happened and where everyone went.
He comes in ready to move and we move out.
C. Isn’t there more than the same old ways?
There has to be more to serving God than chills and thrills. David wasn’t satisfied with a temporary visitation.
He wanted more and more and more of God.
D. David found a way to “USHER” in God’s Glory
That is why David had worshippers at “his” tabernacle 24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 days a year for an estimated 36 years.
What would happen if we had that kind of worship in our churches?
With very few exceptions a church sanctuary is the most unused buildings in America. We have our doors open for approximately 8 hours a week out of 168 hours in a week.
Go to an all night convenient store you could see people all hours of the night coming and going.
Yet we limit God to 8 hours a week.
This sermon is not advocating leaving the doors open for a facsimile this is a call to worship.
E. God does have a favorite house
God has a favorite House and that favorite house is in the heart of David’s worship.
We have built magnificent buildings and beautiful places of worship but there is nothing but a handful of people because we don’t have the heart of worship. God wants us to praise Him and lift Him up.
In song in dance.
F. Hosting the Holy Ghost
We have lost people because we have lost the ability to host the Holy Ghost.
G. Memories
God’s favorite house was David’s tabernacle why? Because He was in constant worship. There were no walls of separation and God loved being there.
When I first started preaching this sermon I said
Where our memories are our heart is also.
God has great memories of David’s worship.
Of his dance and his singing
Of his worships and his poems.
As God takes us on a trip down memory lane do we sit and think as I did when my wife was looking at her former home “This is going to be boring?”
Or with the voice of Triupmh do we raise our hands in PRAISE?
God has a plan and a purpose
He does not want palace he wants passion.
Not the building but the Builder
He does not want complacency He wants renewal
Not the same old grind but a fresh connection
He does not want your church He wants your worship
God wants you today.
