Speed Limits

My niece posted a meme this week that had a picture of a speed limit sign…that said 80ish with the questions do you know someone who reads speed limit signs like this? I have to admit....we all know people that struggle with limits....is the speed limit a suggestion?

What limits are truly important and what are limits we should break through? How can we tell the difference? That is what we are going to talk about today.

Pray.....

He had been preparing for it…He had the plans, the desire, the money and had been compiling the materials. The only thing he had not done was announce. I mean he didn’t really have to announce…in fact it was the worst kept secret in the kingdom.

So when David called the leaders of the kingdom together there was a sense of excitement in the atmosphere. Everyone was expecting....waiting, and yes even wanting to hear the words that David had to say.

1 Chronicles 28:1–11 NLT

1 David summoned all the officials of Israel to Jerusalem—the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of the army divisions, the other generals and captains, the overseers of the royal property and livestock, the palace officials, the mighty men, and all the other brave warriors in the kingdom. 2 David rose to his feet and said: “My brothers and my people! It was my desire to build a Temple where the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, God’s footstool, could rest permanently. I made the necessary preparations for building it, 3 but God said to me, ‘You must not build a Temple to honor my name, for you are a warrior and have shed much blood.’ 4 “Yet the Lord, the God of Israel, has chosen me from among all my father’s family to be king over Israel forever. For he has chosen the tribe of Judah to rule, and from among the families of Judah he chose my father’s family. And from among my father’s sons the Lord was pleased to make me king over all Israel. 5 And from among my sons—for the Lord has given me many—he chose Solomon to succeed me on the throne of Israel and to rule over the Lord’s kingdom. 6 He said to me, ‘Your son Solomon will build my Temple and its courtyards, for I have chosen him as my son, and I will be his father. 7 And if he continues to obey my commands and regulations as he does now, I will make his kingdom last forever.’ 8 “So now, with God as our witness, and in the sight of all Israel—the Lord’s assembly—I give you this charge. Be careful to obey all the commands of the Lord your God, so that you may continue to possess this good land and leave it to your children as a permanent inheritance. 9 “And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. 10 So take this seriously. The Lord has chosen you to build a Temple as his sanctuary. Be strong, and do the work.” 11 Then David gave Solomon the plans for the Temple and its surroundings, including the entry room, the storerooms, the upstairs rooms, the inner rooms, and the inner sanctuary—which was the place of atonement.

Well that did not go the way they expected. But for whatever reason David did not push back against God…at least not that we know of.

At first glance the challenge of building the temple would seem like an easy thing to overcome…I mean he had the money, materials, manpower and desire to build the temple, but he lacked one thing....The mandate from God.

I can only imagine the feelings flowing through Davids mind and body…God gave a reason and even though David may not have understood it he accepted it.

Instead he accepted this limit even though it was truly the only thing he really wanted to accomplish from God.

So how did David overcome his disappointment?

David accepted God’s limit

David chose thankfulness over bitterness. V 4-7

David helped others overcome bust limits that would stall God’s will.

David gave spiritual guidance. Verses 8-10

David Turned over the plans and material for Solomon to execute. Verse 11

God decided and David accepted that he would not build the temple even thought it was what David wanted more than anything.

There are two types of limits those God imposes and those God wants us to break through.

David in this passage was experiencing a limit form God....yet most of his life David had worldly limits imposed that God helped him bust through.

Being anointed

Dealing with a Jealous King

Slaying Goliath...

The idea that there are limits that God imposes on us for our good is a very foreign concept for some... for a couple of reasons.

First the idea that Freedom to do whatever we want when ever we want seems to have taken the place of thoughtful pursuit of God’s will for our lives.

It is true we can do whatever we want whenever we want…but just becuase we can does not mean we should.

I Corinthians 6:12

1 Corinthians 6:12 NLT

12 You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything.

Even though the context of this is in regard to sexual sin it applies to all things. God does not take away your free will…but God often places limits on our lives designed to keep us safe. IE....Lottery winners…some people are not made to have a lot of money.

Second Many have bought into the idea that if we follow Jesus He is obligated to make everything we touch a success. So in essence Outward Success = God’s will for my life…or limits = attack from satan.

So how are we supposed to know what limits are to be honored and which ones we are to bust through?

Settle the question of whether we believe that God is good and has a grip on all things.

This seems like a no brainer…yet it is the one question that many have not settled becuase it takes time effort and commitment…all of which are given mostly to outside pressures.

It takes:

Normalizing Healthy Self Care

Managing influence of invasive people

Setting Healthy boundaries and respecting other people boundaries.

The only way to know what limits are from God to accept and what limits are to be broken though is to be able to hear the voice of God.

Over the next few weeks we are going to talk about how we can hear the voice of God when we are trying to determine whether a limit is from God or something God wants us to break through.

These next few weeks will not be excuse for indecision but for thoughtful action.

Don’t miss a Sunday! Invite your friends and Neighbors you will be glad you did.

Communion…dismissed