Nov 09, 2014 |Questionable

A Questionable Plan

11.09.14 | Questionable

A Questionable Plan

Noel Heikkinen

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Then King David rose to his feet and said: “Hear me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord and for the footstool of our God, and I made preparations for building. But God said to me, ‘You may not build a house for my name, for you are a man of war and have shed blood.’ Yet the Lord God of Israel chose me from all my father’s house to be king over Israel forever. For he chose Judah as leader, and in the house of Judah my father’s house, and among my father’s sons he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. And of all my sons (for the Lord has given me many sons) he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. (1 Chronicles 28:2-5)

He said to me, ‘It is Solomon your son who shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues strong in keeping my commandments and my rules, as he is today.’ Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the Lord, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of the Lord your God, that you may possess this good land and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever. (1 Chronicles 28:6-8)

Know God your father serve Him with a whole heart and with a willing mind.

“And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. Be careful now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.” (1 Chronicles 28:9-10)

Sometimes, God does provide us with direct plans on what to do next.

“All this he made clear to me in writing from the hand of the Lord, all the work to be done according to the plan.” (1 Chronicles 28:19)

Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the Lord God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished. And behold the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; and with you in all the work will be every willing man who has skill for any kind of service; also the officers and all the people will be wholly at your command.” (1 Chronicles 28:20-21)

Riverview exists to proclaim the liberating power of the Gospel as we grow, serve, and go.

We believe that Jesus Christ has set us free from the eternal consequences, guilt, and power of sin. No longer enslaved to our own sinful desires,

We are set free to walk in step with the truth of the Gospel;

We no longer live for ourselves, but for the name of Jesus, for the glory of God the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit;

We will proclaim this message of freedom until every man, woman, and child in the Greater-Lansing area has repeated opportunities to hear and respond to Jesus;

We will plant churches throughout the state of Michigan, proclaiming the message of the Gospel from there to our nation and world.

King David reminds his people that everything is to be done for the Kingdom of God and not for man.

And David the king said to all the assembly, “Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is great, for the palace will not be for man but for the Lord God. (1 Chronicles 29:1)

So I have provided for the house of my God, so far as I was able, the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, besides great quantities of onyx and stones for setting, antimony, colored stones, all sorts of precious stones and marble. Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my god i give it to the house of my God: 3,000 talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and 7,000 talents of refined silver, for overlaying the walls of the house, and for all the work to be done by craftsmen, gold for the things of gold and silver for the things of silver. (1 Chronicles 29:2-5)

Who then will offer willingly, consecrating himself today to the Lord?” (1 Chronicles 29:5)

Rejoice when giving [Questionably] with a whole heart.

Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly. (1 Chronicles 29:9)

“But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. For are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding. O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own. I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. (1 Chronicles 29:14-17)

Let’s close by reading this prayer that King David prayed.

Therefore David blessed the Lord in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: “Blessed are you, O Lord the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. (1 Chronicles 29:10-13)

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