Bringing Back The Ark

It is wonderful when a man - father is a confidant of God.

When God was about to destroy Sodom, he said Gen. 18: 17 "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do?"

The reason for this statement was because of v19 "For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him"

A NATION IS AS STRONG & GOOD AS IT'S HOUSEHOLDS / FAMILIES.

Obed-Edom is an outstanding example of reverence without inhibition

2 Sam 5: 23 To 6:12 so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, "Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. [24] As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army." [25] So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

[6:1] David again brought together out of Israel chosen men, thirty thousand in all. [2] He and all his men set out from Baalah of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on the ark. [3] They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart [4] with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it. [5] David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals. [6] When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. [7] The Lord's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God. [8] Then David was angry because the Lord's wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. [9] David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, "How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?" [10] He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. [11] The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire household. [12] Now King David was told, "The Lord has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God." So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing.

The background to this event was as a result of an unreal action. The Ark Of The Covenant - The symbol of God's presence had been lost. 1 Sam 4:11. The ark of God was captured, and Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died. Why was it lost Psalm 78:56 - 61 Psalm 78:56-61

But they put God to the test and rebelled against the Most High; they did not keep his statutes. [57] Like their fathers they were disloyal and faithless, as unreliable as a faulty bow.[58] They angered him with their high places; they aroused his jealousy with their idols. [59] When God heard them, he was very angry;he rejected Israel completely. [60] He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh,the tent he had set up among men. [61] He sent the ark of his might into captivity, his splendor into the hands of the enemy.

How sad for 21 yrs 10 Months Israel were without the Ark. This was all through the unfortunate and unhappy reign of Saul.

The presence of God in a nation

The presence of God in a church

The presence of God in a community

The presence of God in the home

:- IS MOST ESSENTIAL - THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE

Neither noise, nor silence, or rules or orders is of any meaning unless there is the presence of God.

The presence of God can be devastating! If it is amongst ungodly. 1 Sam 5:3 - 4. 1 Samuel 5:3-4

When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. [4] But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the Lord! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained.

The Philistines had taken the Ark into their temple, and on two consecutive nights their god Dagon had fallen before the Ark. The effects of the Ark amongst the heathen Philistines was devastating, as they moved it around various towns.

Parents, but particularly FATHERS the most valuable asset in your home is the sense of Gods presence. It's more than any other commodity.

Praying around your home, children before they are born, whilst asleep, even your work place.

Make sure like the two men who walked the road to EMMAUS that he is invited in. Luke 24:28 "They urged him strongly"

1) He Accepted It - Made Room For It

Dimensions of the Ark 54.5" x 33" x 33"

It doesn't say what Obed Edom's reaction was to David directing the Ark to his home after the tragic deaths.

Making room for the presence or increased presence of God will require sacrifice.

We can not find an alternative method in endeavouring to produce the presence of God.

We can not use carts. i.e. Someone else's experience, fabricating, copying. Many books on revival have been written, there are principles we can learn, but we can not use them as text books.

So this will mean no compromise, a dying to self.

There isn't a formula.

There isn't a technique.

For us to live constantly in the presence of God demands our death.

Luke 14:27 Jesus said "And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple" If anyone was seen in bible times carrying a cross then it could be safely assumed that the person was about to die.

What is dying to one self? Paul said Philippians. 1:21"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." & Philippians. 3:7 "For whatever things were to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ." It is letting go of selfish attitudes and ambition, and totally abandoning yourself to Gods will and purpose.

There is no mistaking the presence of God. Have you ever been in a meeting a home and sensed the acute presence of God. Well God desires us more than we desire him.

2) He Respected It

The presence of God has a healthy, restorative, corrective, wholesome, beneficial effect on the home. Its not the domination of house rules, nor the licence of self pleasing, but the presence of Jesus that dominates and directs.

1 Sam 6:11 "The Ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed Edom the Gittite for three months, and the Lord blessed him and his entire house. At the time of the final complete return of the Ark, Obed Edom was appointed as a Harpist in the worship team.

3) His Testimony Reached The Nation (King)

2 Sam 6:12 "Now King David was told, "The Lord has BLESSED the household of Obed Edom and EVERY THING HE HAS, because of the Ark of God"

Testimony of God's presence travels, and has an impact. The report to King David produced a response 2 Sam 6:12 So David went down and brought up the Ark of God from the house of Obed Edom to the city of David with rejoicing"

The presence of God creates desires in others. David's response was that he wanted to go for the Ark, he didn't send his minions he went himself. The scripture states "So David went"

Oh that it could be said "The Lord has BLESSED the household of ............ Your Name .............. and EVERYTHING HE HAS BECAUSE of the presence of God"

You are awesome in this place mighty God!

Samuel did not hear God, he ran back to Eli several times, until eventualy he was instructed by Eli.

There are times we don’t hear because we don’t recognise the voice of God.

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