THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING

God had delivered David from his enemies and reunited the kingdom under him, but there was something still missing—the presence of God was not in Zion. Zion was the capital under David. Moreover, David wanted to make the ark (the presence of God) the center of worship and everything they did as a nation!

A few years into His reign, David began to experience a great deal of success. God had united the kingdom under his hand, and he was now enjoying peace and favor. However, there was one thing missing—the presence of God. David wanted God to be the center of national life. He wanted God’s presence to be the focal point of the kingdom. David made several attempts to bring the ark back to the capital city of Jerusalem.

David made an attempt to bring the ark to Zion, but he failed. His failure was due, in part, to the fact that he used the wrong people for the job. Instead of enlisting the Levites, God’s appointed keepers of the ark, David used common men. He also incorporated common methods. Instead of having the Levites carry the ark on their shoulders, they placed the ark on the back of a new cart.

David’s failure was due, in part, to the fact that he used the wrong people. Instead of enlisting the help of the Levites, as God commanded, David used common men. He also used the wrong method. Rather than carrying the ark on men’s shoulders, they placed it on a new cart. These two things was the reason he failed.

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This is why we are meeting with failure—either we have the wrong people attempting to do the right job, or we have the right people incorporating the wrong methods. Moreover, we “stumble” every time we try to do this!

In fact, God will always cause the strength of man (Uzzah) to perish! (Uzzah means strength.)

BTW, the name “Uzza” means strength. God always causes the strength of man (Uzzah) to perish.

Furthermore, there’s a burden that comes with carrying the ark or the presence of God (, ).

Fortunately, David discovered the cause of his failure and the second time around He enlisted the Levites and he required that they transport the ark upon their shoulders.

This is a lesson for us today. We must use the right people and we must require them to serve the right way—according to God’s order!

I believe this is a lesson for us today. We can want to do the right thing, but unless we use the right people and unless we require them to serve the right way, we will fail. In fact, whenever there’s failure, either we have used the wrong people, or the right people are performing their job the wrong way. We have have to do it according to God’s order (, ).

What did David have to do to bring the Ark of God to Zion? It didn’t start with enlisting the Levites. It actually started back in Zion, the place they were bringing the presence of God.

Part of the reason David was successful this second time around was because he prepared a place for the ark in advance. If we want the presence of God in our life, we must make preparation for it (, ).

Remember that before Jesus was sent to the earth, God prepared for Him a body ()!

We spoke last time about the things a person must do before they can receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

The first thing they must do is “repent” (). Repentance is preparation for receiving the Spirit.

The second thing they must do is “ask” (). You don’t receive the Spirit just because you’re a child of God. You have to ask God for it. (“You have not because you ask not.”)

The third condition for receiving the Spirit is you must “believe” ().

The final condition for receiving the Spirit is “obedience” (). What kind of obedience is required for receiving the Holy Spirit? One of the things Jesus commanded His disciples to do after His resurrection was “wait on the Spirit” (). Moreover, God gives the Spirit to those who obey this same command. Waiting is a normal procedure for receiving ANYTHING from the Lord (, ).

The final condition for receiving the Spirit is must “obey” (). You may ask, “Why is obedience a prerequisite for receiving the Spirit when we need to Spirit to obey?” We must remember that Jesus told His disciples to go into all the world “teaching them to observe (obey) whatsoever I have commanded you.” One of the things Jesus commanded His disciples to do after His resurrection was to “wait on the Spirit” (). Therefore, God gives the Spirit to those who obey the same command Jesus gave to His disciples. Those who obey will receive!Waiting is a normal procedure for receiving ANYTHING from the Lord (, ). Waiting says to God that you are earnest (serious) about what you are asking Him for. And God releases gifts/power to thos freely to those who earnestly and diligently seeks Him (; ).

When we look back at the story of David, we see these same four conditions playing an integral part of him bringing the ark of God to Zion.

After David successfully brought the ark of God to Zion, he shared a fellowship meal with all the people.

This feast (ceremony) was a sign to the people that now God was in their midst, there would be great fertility and blessing in the land. In fact, the blessing that was once enjoyed by one man, Obededom, would now be enjoyed by everyone. Everyone’s house (household) would be blessed!

Part 2

David realized that the ark (presence of God) is supposed to be carried “on the shoulder” by the Levites. In other words, there’s a “burden” or responsibility that comes with being in possession of the presence of God. We want God in our midst, but we do not want the responsibility that comes with having Him in our midst?

I find it interesting that originally the presence of God added a burden to those in possession of it. Larter the presence of God would remove burdens from those who were in possession of it!

We want God in our midst, but we do not want the responsibility that comes with having Him in our midst?

What is the responsibility that comes with being in possession of the Spirit of God?

You must bear the burdens of others ().

You must glorify God in your body (1Corinthians

This is an example of what it is like to have God in your midst—sin is judged more severely and rapidly. Remember, God told Israel to “sanctify themselves” before He came and appeared in their midst (, ). If we want God in our midst, we must be willing to sanctify ourselves ().

By the way the “Levities” were the ‘sanctified ones’ or the ones who consecrated themeselves before the Lord ().

David told the Levites to “sanctify” themselves to bring up the ark (, ). Those who carry the ark must be sanctified.