What True Worship Looks Like

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 16:31-43.  Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 16:36 (NIV) 
36  Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the LORD.”

On verses 31-36:   David finishes his beautiful worship song and the people respond by saying “Amen”.  “Amen” means “it is true”.  When we say “Amen” in prayer or in response to preaching, three things happen: (1) you take personal ownership of what is being prayed or preached, and that strengthens your own faith; (2) you encourage the person who is speaking, building an atmosphere of faith and unity with that person and others who hear; and (3) you invite God to build His church in your midst, for God loves to work in an atmosphere of unity and faith.  In other words, each time you say “AMEN”, you get edified, your church gets unified, and God’s name gets glorified.  So be out loud and responsive to the prayers and preaching of others at church.

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God’s Complete Word of Protection Over Your Life

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 16:7-18.  Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 16:19-22 (NIV) 
19  When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it,
20  they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.
21  He allowed no man to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings:
22  “Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm.”

On verses 19-22:  Here David recounts how God protected the nation of Israel, even from its humble beginnings.  What can we learn from this?  God is a protector.  If you have trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you have the most complete protection of any human being.  Because of Jesus Christ, you have protection from the wrath of God, protection from the enemy’s attacks, protection from any ultimate pain or harm, and protection for an awesome destiny.  For You have God Almighty on your side, who keeps you from harm and who has spoken the most complete word of protection over your life.

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6 Practical Ways You Can Draw Near to God

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 16:7-18.  Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 16:7 (NIV) 
7  That day David first committed to Asaph and his associates this psalm of thanks to the LORD: 

On verses 7-18:  David wrote this song and instructed his worship band to lead it on the day that they brought the ark to Jerusalem (v7).  You can find part of it in Psalm 105. 
 
Want a simple and effective plan for drawing near to God and experiencing His joy and peace?  Take each of the following lines in David’s song and live it out.  Verses 8-18 give us 6 practical steps you can take to draw near to God today. 
 
For example:
 
1 Chronicles 16:8 (NIV) 
8  Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 

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Be a Participant in Worship, Not a Spectator

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Hi GAMErs,
 
Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 15:25-16:6.  Let’s go!
 
1 Chronicles 15:25-28 (NIV) 
25  So David and the elders of Israel and the commanders of units of a thousand went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-Edom, with rejoicing. 
26  Because God had helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, seven bulls and seven rams were sacrificed. 
27  Now David was clothed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and as were the singers, and Kenaniah, who was in charge of the singing of the choirs. David also wore a linen ephod. 
28  So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouts, with the sounding of rams’ horns and trumpets, and of cymbals, and the playing of lyres and harps.

On verses 26-28:  Here David leads all of Israel in welcoming the ark into Jerusalem with rejoicing (v25), sacrificing (v26), singing (v27), shouting (v28) and musical instruments (v28).  If that is the way God’s people in the Old Testament worshiped in God’s presence, how much more do we have reason to rejoice, sacrifice, sing, shout and play music in the presence of the Lord, who died for us, rose again and is alive today.

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Accessing the Presence of God

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Hi GAMErs,
 
Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 15:1-24.  Let’s go!
 
1 Chronicles 15:13 (NIV)
13  It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the LORD our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way.”
 
On verses 1-15:  Here David makes a second attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem.  The first time David tried moving the ark, he didn’t inquire of God as to how to do it.  The result was death for one, and trouble, grief and embarrassment for many.   This time David has learned his lesson and done his research.  He has searched the Scriptures so that he can understand what is God’s prescribed way for moving the ark.  In accordance with Scripture David makes sure that only the Levites are to transport the ark and that they are to do so by carrying it on poles, rather than pushing it on a cart. 
 
What can we learn from this? 

1. Here we see the importance of inquiring of God before you make an important decision.  Before you make an important decision, seek guidance from the Holy Spirit.  Get into God’s Word.  Spend quality time in prayer.  Seek godly counsel.  This will save you trouble, embarrassment and grief later on. 

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Consult God First

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 14:1-17.  Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 14:1 (NIV) 
1  Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons and carpenters to build a palace for him.
 
On verse 1:  As the newly crowned king of Israel, David enlists a non-believer King Hiram of Tyre to provide workers and supplies to build a palace for him.  I like what Pastor Jon Courson says on this point when he writes:

Hiram was not a believer and yet he provided materials and skilled workmen to build a house for David. In this, I am reminded of the time Jesus asked a Samaritan woman for a drink of water in order to give her the opportunity to give something to Him (John 4). Sometimes I feel that we in the Christian community have so barricaded ourselves in some ways that we have not allowed the Hirams or Samaritan women of the world to interact with us and, in the process, be exposed to the things of God. I think there are times when the Lord would have us involved with people who don’t know Him in order to open the way for the gospel.  (from Jon Courson’s Application Commentary Old Testament Volume 1)

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Don’t Let Fear Keep You from Experiencing God

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 13:1-14.  Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 13:1-4 (NIV) 
1  David conferred with each of his officers, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
2  He then said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you and if it is the will of the LORD our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our brothers throughout the territories of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites who are with them in their towns and pasturelands, to come and join us.
3  Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul.”
4  The whole assembly agreed to do this, because it seemed right to all the people.

On verses 1-4:  When considering whether or not to bring the ark back to Jerusalem, David confers with his leaders to determine the best course of action.  What can we learn from this?  When making an important decision, get good advice.    As Proverbs19:20 (MSG) says, “Take good counsel and accept correction— that’s the way to live wisely and well.”  Is there a decision you are in the process of making where you would benefit from consulting others?

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United and Fighting for the Same Goal

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Wednesday January 31, 2018 on 1 Chronicles 12:23-40.  Let’s go!

On verses 23-37:  Here the Chronicler lists how many men from each tribe of Israel came to David to help turn Saul’s kingdom over to him.   Notice how often these verses repeat the words “armed for battle” or “ready for battle”.  What can we learn from this?  When you want to join with others in seeing God establish His kingdom where you are, you need to be ready and prepared for battle.  That is why Paul says in Ephesians 6 that we must put on the full armor of God so that when our enemy comes we will be ready to take our stand against Him.  As Peter says, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.   Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (1 Peter 5:8-10)

How do you get yourself ready for battle? Spend time in God’s Word daily.  Ask His Holy Spirit for help and depend on Him.  Meditate on God’s Word often.  Pray often (for with much prayer comes much power).  When you face different situations, ask the Holy Spirit for insight, discernment and an alert heart.

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Unity Makes Us Unstoppable

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 12:1-22.  Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 12:18 (NIV) 
18  Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said: “We are yours, O David! We are with you, O son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you.” So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands. 

On verses 1-22:  In these verses we see gifted and outstanding leaders from various tribes of Israel – from Benjamin (v1-7, 16), Gad (v8-15), Judah (v16) and Manasseh (v19-21) – rallying around David.  They came at a time when David was running for his life from a jealous King Saul and masquerading as an ally of the Philistines.  You can sense the pressure and hurt David has been through when he says in verse 17, “If you have come to me in peace, to help me, I am ready to have you unite with me. But if you have come to betray me to my enemies when my hands are free from violence, may the God of our fathers see it and judge you.” It’s because David has been hurt before by people he trusted, so now David is wary of too trusting others too quickly. 

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The Fighters on Your Side

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Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is 1 Chronicles 11:20-47.  Let’s go!

1 Chronicles 11:22-25 (NIV) 
22  Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab’s best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.
23  And he struck down an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall. Although the Egyptian had a spear like a weaver’s rod in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.
24  Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty men.
25  He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

On verses 21-25:  Continuing his description of David’s mighty men, the Chronicler turns his attention to Abishai  and Benaiah.  Benaiah was the son of a priest and a valiant fighter, whose exploits in verses 22-23 could be made into a movie.  Benaiah was so trustworthy and loyal to David that when David’s son Solomon became king, Solomon made Benaiah his own commander-in-chief over Israel’s army (1 Kings 4:4).  It’s appropriate that Benaiah’s name means “edified” for he certainly edified King David and King Solomon.

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