Close Only Counts...

Today, I’d like to minister to you on the blessing of having the Presence of God completely in your life & world.

The Ark = A wooden box, covered in solid gold that “housed” the manifest (“uncovered”) presence of God on earth

It’s a picture of a Christian

God’s Presence in Your Home:

Here, we pick up on the story of The Ark being brought back to God’s people after being taken from them by their enemy.

The Ark was supposed to be carried by the priests, not put on a cart. (Exo. 25:13-14, Num. 4:15, Num. 7:9)

2 Samuel 6:6–12 NKJV

6 And when they came to Nachon’s threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 7 Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God. 8 And David became angry because of the Lord’s outbreak against Uzzah; and he called the name of the place Perez Uzzah to this day. 9 David was afraid of the Lord that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” 10 So David would not move the ark of the Lord with him into the City of David; but David took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 11 The ark of the Lord remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite three months. And the Lord blessed Obed-Edom and all his household. 12 Now it was told King David, saying, “The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness.

When The Ark was not in Obed-Edom’s home, it didn’t bring blessing into his home.

We must invite the manifest presence of God to live inside of our home in order for the blessing to come upon it.

The Ark of God only ended up in Obed-Edom’s home because David was afraid to have it in His home.

The visible blessing of God on Obed-Edom’s home & everything in it caused David to want to have the Ark in his home.

The visible touch & blessing of God on your home will distinguish your home in your community.

Colossians 1:27 NKJV

27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

It’s Christ IN US the hope of glory.

God desperately wants to show up in & show out of your life!

Does Jesus want to live in your home?

Ephesians 3:15–19 AMP

15 For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name]. 16 May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. 17 May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, 18 That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; 19 [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

When we don’t even want to invite other people into our home, it is possible that we also wouldn’t want to invite Jesus in?

7 Things that God hates (there are more) - Proverbs 6:16 :

Pride (“Self-Confidence”)

Lying

Hands that shed innocent blood (Hating someone - 1 John 3:16 )

A heart that makes evil plans

Feet that quickly run to evil

A false witness

One who sows discord among the brethren

Things That Attract God:

Humility

Sacrifice

True Worshippers

Praise

Hearts that are completely His

Prayer

Faith

Chaos (if we let God move in/on it)

Hearing God:

One of the greatest “skills” you can develop in the Christian life is the ability to hear and know the voice of God.

1 Samuel 3:1–5 NKJV

1 Now the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. 2 And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, 3 and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, 4 that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!” 5 So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down.

Staying close is a secret to hearing a whisper

James 4:8 NKJV

8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Psalm 27:4 NKJV

4 One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple.

Just One Thing:

Do whatever you need to do to welcome the manifest presence of God into every spot in your life & home - watch the blessing of God flood in!

Discussion Questions:

What’s the grossest food that you just can’t get enough of?

What stood out and impacted you most from this sermon? Tell us more.

Please read Ephesians 3:16-19 (especially the Amplified Translation if possible). What does this passage mean to you & how can you apply it in your life?

What can you do to welcome the presence of God into your life & home in a bigger way?