LESSONS TO LEARN

 

 1 Chronicles 16:11 – April 6, 2008 – The Lessons of 1 Chronicles

 

Intro:  The Book of 1 Chronicles, it is so rich with history, pageantry, stories of faith, victories and defeats, deceit and honesty, love and hate and of course David, a man after God’s own heart is the central character.   Today I am going to look four lessons we can learn from this book.

 

The Spiritual point of view of life brings clarity to all other areas. 

 

1.  We live in an era and society that tries to divorce spirituality from everyday life.  We

      Can’t bring our religious beliefs into politics, business or economics.  Yet it is a

      Relationship with God that helps to bring integrity, honesty, fairness, transparency

     And other positives attributes into these areas.  David showed this in his dealings with

     Individuals and his nation. 

2.  You need God to be your anchor in the storms of life.  You need the word to be your

     Compass to & through the many path ways the world offers.  You need prayer to

     discern the will of God, his plan and purpose for your life.  You need the counsel and

      support of other believers to be that iron to sharpen and focus you.  You need the

      Holy Spirit to be your teacher, counsellor and indwelling strength.

3.  This book talked about the spiritual state of David’s kingdom.  Recounting from

     History.  The author Ezra who wrote this between 430 and 400 B.C. used David’s

     Kingdom as an example of how God could rebuild a nation.  Remember when David

     Became King of the Israel it had been many years under the leadership of

     Saul who started off well but through his own pride and sin led it to the civil war and

     Witchcraft.  Saul’s ultimate defeat was his own suicide.

4.  Ezra through David’s example shows God mercy and judgment.  God is with David

     But when David fails judgment comes.  Yet God is merciful because David repents

     And this heart of repentance is the key to God calling David a man after His own

     Heart.  Our nation needs healing, rebuilding and restoration.  This will only be done

     When men begin to focus again our relationship with God.  Matt 6:33 is a key. 

 

Individuals and nations need spiritual foundations.

 

1.  For us as believers Jesus Christ is the foundation we build upon.  Paul stated that he

     Had made a decision to know Christ and Him only.  Jesus told the parable of the

    House on the Sand in Matt 7 and Luke 6.  The one on the rock stood firm during a

    Storm, the one on the sand fell.  Who or what you build your life on will determine

    Your outcome when a major storm of life comes.

2.  Nations are the same.  Pr 14:34, states “Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a

     Reproach to any people.  Ezra knew this so as he was writing this history, he needed

     To keep the focus on God Ezra recounted from Jewish history that importance of

     Keeping God as the forefront.  He uses David and his descendents as examples. 

3.  Ezra used these writings to uplift the nation of Israel who had just returned, rebuilt the

     Temple and its walls to see God and his hand upon their lives.

 

 

4.  The promise of David’s line and kingdom was first and foremost a spiritual Kingdom.

     Ezra believed as we do that the spiritual always leads the natural.  Your focus,

     Decisions, belief systems, priorities, attitudes, speech patterns and actions will be

     Determined by who or what you believe in.  

5. The word tells that the spiritual foundations are built on faith, (Heb 11:6), trust,

    (Is 28:16), Putting God’s word into practice, (Mt 7:24), taking hold of the life given by

    God, (1 Tim 6:19) and turning away from wickedness.  (2 Tim 2:19).

 

This book as a warning of how a nation can go from Chaos to stability or vice versa.

 

1.  Ezra saw that true stability surrounds the presence and power of God.  The symbol

     Of that was the ark.  It was a symbol of God’s symbol of God’s promises.  He also

     Spends a lot of time talking about the priesthood, the law and the religious rites.

2.  True stability is when you allow God’s presence, power and promises flow through

     Every area of your life.  1 Chron 4:10, talks about a man named Jabez who asks God

     To bless him enlarge his territory and influence, keep you hand on me or be with me,

     Keep me from harm and pain or causing it.  God granted it.  This is a promise God

     Will keep us in perfect peace when on minds are focused on Him.

3.  Through David we see when He follows God he is successful.  When he doesn’t

     Failure and chaos follow.  That is why we must stay close to the Lord.  We have an

     Adversary an enemy called the devil who will pounce on any failure, weakness or

     Situation.  David learned the hard way the price of this lesson.  Let us learn from his

     Example and not make the same mistake.  Gal 6:8 remind of this.  Talk about pastor

     Who lost it all because of his pride?

 

God keeps His promises.

 

1.  In this book we see David calling on the Lord in times of trouble and peace.  He

     Knows how to communicate with God and because of his faith, a messiah was

     Promised to his line.  Jesus is that Messiah.

2.  I know from experience that God keeps his promises.  Paul says in 2 Cor 1:21,

     That no matter how many promises God makes, they are yes and Amen through

     Christ.  God keeps his promises church.  He heals, saved, delivers, restores,

     Forgiveness, restores, reconciles, encourages, strengthens and so much more. 

     Through David we see that.  Ezra when he wrote these accounts wanted to remind

      His audience and us.  God is faithful and he keeps his promises and agreements.

      The only thing that violates his promises is disobedience.  On this day as we prepare

      To take communion, let us realize God greatest promise which came through Jesus

      Christ.