It is now September, the kids are back in school, and vacations are behind us. Gas prices continue to climb as we all adjust to its affect on our lives. We have all experienced unpredictable weather this summer, from fires in California, devastating storms in the Midwest and the rain and thunderstorms here in New England.
I was praying the other day, thinking of folks that I know who were affected by these terrible storms in someway. I was reminded of the many storms that so many Pastors and Churches are facing. I receive so many calls from pastors who are facing storms in their ministry. It seems you no sooner get through one storm and you’re faced with another one. THE STORMS JUST KEEP COMING…
So when pastors call me about storms they are going through, I remind them that the storm will surely pass. I share with them the words of Solomon upon the completion of the House Of The Lord, seeking simply to assure them of the promise of His presence…
(1 Kings 9:1-3) THE PROMISE OF HIS PRESENCE:
“And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the Lord and the
King’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he was pleased to do, That the Lord appeared to
Solomon the second time, as He had appeared unto him at Gibeon. And the Lord said unto him,
I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hollowed this
house, which thou hast built, to put My Name there forever: and mine eyes and mine heart
shall be there perpetually.”
History will affirm and all the ages attest that it is unwise, ill-advised, and inexpedient to build a House for God and not be certain that God Himself has decided to be its resident. God’s House is His House. If it is His House, and not our house, He alone must determine if this house is a suitable house in which He will dwell.
Maybe you have not considered the options of God or the Preferences of God. We say it is His House; we built it for Him to serve Him. It is our offering and our sacrifice to Him, and then He must give us a sign and a signal that He will accept it as His sanctuary and designate it as a habitation for the Holy. Just because we built the house does not give us the right to force it upon Him, press it upon Him, or require His residency within it. We must give Him the Key; assign Him both deed and title. We must divest ourselves of any options of ownership, abandon any claims we may think that we have, and let Him decide for Himself if indeed this House will be His House. I am simply convinced today that it is unwise, ill-advised and inexpedient to build a House for God and not be certain that God has decided to be its resident.
A Church Is Not A Church If God Is Not There…
Men will pray, but there is no power if He is not here.
Gold-gilded organs may play, but there will be no sweetness in the notes if He is not here.
Robed choirs may sing, but the music will not saturate the soul, if He is not here.
Tithes and offerings may abound, but “the windows of Heaven” will not open up if He is not here.
Preachers may proclaim the Word, but souls will not be saved, sinners will not be converted, the lost will not be found, the blind will not see, the deaf will not hear, and the sick will not be healed if He is not here.
The Church is only the Church where the insecure and the uncertain are able to find,
in this place, a blessed assurance and a foretaste of Heaven.
But I assure you that the Church is not the Church if He is not here.
The Presence Of God is so critical, important and crucial to the existence of the Church.
And the Presence Of God is so vital and necessary to the power and permanence of the Church.
If you have a moment, I want to turn back the pages of History…Now the record says that when Solomon had finished building the House of the Lord, the Lord appeared unto Solomon a second time. When God has a work for you to do, He not only appears one time, but a second time. If I might offer some advice, I wouldn’t move out to build a House for the Lord in the first place if the Lord has not revealed it to you. I may as will be honest with you, if the Lord doesn’t reveal Himself the first time, He will not be back for a second time. When the Lord lays His hands on you, the Lord reveals His work for you:
The first time He assigns you, but the second time He confirms you
The first time He gives you sight, but the second time He gives you insight
The first time He reveals His plan, but the second time He reveals His purpose
And so, when He appeared to Solomon the second time, God said several things to him which had to do with The Promise Of His Presence. At the outset God said, “Solomon I have heard your prayer and your supplication.” I don’t care what you say, whenever God’s house is built, somebody has been praying. You can’t build His House unless somebody knows the worth of prayer.
But that’s not all that God said, not only has He heard our prayer, but the revealed Word says, “I have hallowed this House which thou hast built.” Now my dear brothers the Word tells us that there is only so much that we can do. If He’s going to live in it, if it’s going to be His House, we can build it, but God has to bless it.
We can build it, but God has to put His benediction on it.
We can design it, but God has to dedicate it.
We can structure it, but God has to sanctify it.
We can plan it, but God has to purify it.
THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH WE CAN DO…
The brick mason put it together with mortar, but God put it together with Mercy.
The quarry provided the stones, but God is the Chief-Cornerstone.
The Contractor worked by blueprints, but God has a divine design.
The structure is welded steel, but the superstructure is the Plan of Salvation.
The draftsmen said build it on the rock foundation, but the great Architect of the
Universe said, Build it On The Word.
I can tell you that we have the Promise of His Presence. It’s not a conditional Promise and it’s not a provisional Promise. I’ve put My Name there.
He will be here…If we stay on the Word and under the Cross, He will be here.
Through the storm and through the rain, He will be here.
In the good times and in the bad, He will be here.
When the hosts of hell assail, He will be here.
When the winds blow and beat upon the House, He will be here.
When the death angel comes and bear some home, He will be here.
When we walk though the valley and the shadow of death, He will be here.
When high mountains get in our way, He will be here.
When deep valleys make us stumble and fall, He will be here.
When men won’t do right, He will be here.
When the Heavens weep, the seas and rivers fill, He will be here.
“Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain, that build:
except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.”
Well now my brothers as I come to a close I need to tell you that anything that belongs to you, if it’s really and truly yours, you put your name on it. He also told Solomon not to worry because I will come because I put My Name on it. You can hang up a sign and call it what you want…but I have put My Name there…THE PROMISE OF HIS PRESENCE…Let all of us make sure that we seek God in prayer, build His House on His Word and that He has put His Name there…
We love you and appreciate your ministries so much. Remember when you are in a storm that Jesus said, “Peace Be Still” just as He calmed the sea He will also calm not only the storm you’re in, but He will also calm you as you face the storm.
