Subject: How Does God Choose a Place for His Glory to Dwell
by Rick Welborne
2 Chronicles 7:1-16 (NKJV)
1 When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.
2 And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house.
3 When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying: "For He is good, For His mercy endures forever."
4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.
5 King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand bulls and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
6 And the priests attended to their services; the Levites also with instruments of the music of the LORD, which King David had made to praise the LORD, saying, "For His mercy endures forever," whenever David offered praise by their ministry. The priests sounded trumpets opposite them, while all Israel stood.
7 Furthermore Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that was in front of the house of the LORD; for there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat.
8 At that time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly from the entrance of Hamath to the Brook of Egypt.
9 And on the eighth day they held a sacred assembly, for they observed the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.
10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their tents, joyful and glad of heart for the good that the LORD had done for David, for Solomon, and for His people Israel.
11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king's house; and Solomon successfully accomplished all that came into his heart to make in the house of the LORD and in his own house.
12 Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: "I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.
13 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people,
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.
16 For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.
1 When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.
2 And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house.
3 When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying: "For He is good, For His mercy endures forever."
4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.
5 King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand bulls and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
6 And the priests attended to their services; the Levites also with instruments of the music of the LORD, which King David had made to praise the LORD, saying, "For His mercy endures forever," whenever David offered praise by their ministry. The priests sounded trumpets opposite them, while all Israel stood.
7 Furthermore Solomon consecrated the middle of the court that was in front of the house of the LORD; for there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the peace offerings, because the bronze altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat.
8 At that time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly from the entrance of Hamath to the Brook of Egypt.
9 And on the eighth day they held a sacred assembly, for they observed the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.
10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people away to their tents, joyful and glad of heart for the good that the LORD had done for David, for Solomon, and for His people Israel.
11 Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD and the king's house; and Solomon successfully accomplished all that came into his heart to make in the house of the LORD and in his own house.
12 Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: "I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.
13 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people,
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.
16 For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.
--Yesterday I was in the sanctuary praying and seeking God and I felt Holy Spirit visit me in such a beautiful way…what a privilege for us to be able to seek the Lord in His House!
--As I worshipped and prayed in the Spirit, I felt God again directed me back to our text that we used while we were praying for our nation and the elections. I read it again.
--Holy Spirit spoke to me and said re-read it but read the whole chapter…so I prayerfully did. What a joy to read God’s Word but to be directed by Holy Spirit to read something is like wow! He has something to say!
--My heart was filled with excitement when I saw what God wanted me to see…He directed me to verse 12 where He said to Solomon, "I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.”
--Then again, He directed my attention to verse 16 For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.
--When I saw these two portions of scripture immediately a question popped into my mind and heart…a question I had for the Lord.
--Before I give you that question, let me tell you a story. My son Joshua had always heard me say when I invited people to our church…The church is great but the pastor is questionable.
--He was sitting on the counter in the bathroom and I said to him…did you wash your ears, did you brush your teeth, did you use soap this time, have you said your prayers? On and on I went! He was only 3 or 4 at the time
--He looks at me and says…now I know why you tell everyone that you are questionable…why is that? You ask more questions than anyone I know.
--The question I had for the Lord was this…what has to happen for you to choose a place, a house, a church that Your Name, Your eyes, Your heart will be there perpetually?
--What would we have to do as a church, a congregation of people to have God’s glory, to have His presence here perpetually? That is what I want us to look at tonight.
1. For God to choose us there must be an attitude of prayer.
2 Chronicles 7:1 (NKJV)
1 When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.
1 When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.
--Prayer, communicating with God, talking to God, listening to God must be a vital aspect of any church that desires for God to choose them for His glory and presence to dwell.
--Unfortunately many churches have become anything but houses of prayer…places where God can be sought and where He can be found. Too much entertainment.
Mark 11:17 (NKJV)
17 Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.' "
17 Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.' "
--Think about it…Jesus said His house shall be called a house of prayer…His house should be known for being a place where you can lift up prayers and receive prayers for your needs.
--You have made it a den of thieves…the money changers in that day were taking advantage of worshippers who came to Jerusalem…changing exorbitant prices for animals for sacrifice.
--I personally believe churches should be known for their giving not their taking…the gospel is not for sale. God has taught us here that if He can get it thru us He will get it to us…missions and benevolence.
--If we want God to come with His glory and His power we must be a church that earnestly prays.
--How exciting would it be to have a tangible presence of God so strong in the church that people would have to fall down on the pavement or grass outside the church and worship God?
2. For God to choose us there must be an attitude of humility and worship.
2 Chronicles 7:3 (NKJV)
3 When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying: "For He is good, For His mercy endures forever."
3 When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying: "For He is good, For His mercy endures forever."
--I personally believe that humbling ourselves before God shows that we have a healthy fear of the Lord. A person who has this fear will definitely be a sincere worshipper.
Proverbs 14:26-27 (NKJV)
26 In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge.
27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.
26 In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge.
27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.
--Hear this from our text: if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways…
--If we humble ourselves thru repentance, praying, seeking…it opens us up for pure worship…It causes us to be chosen by God to dwell with us. New Testament equivalent.
James 4:8-10 (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.
9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
--If we want Life Church to be chosen by God, if we want to be chosen by God for His glory to dwell with us, we must humbly and broken come into His presence and worship…He will show up.
3. For God to choose us there must be an attitude of extravagant generosity.
2 Chronicles 7:4-5 (NKJV)
4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.
5 King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand bulls and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.
5 King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand bulls and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
--Can you imagine in Israel’s economy what the cost of 22,000 bulls and 120,000 sheep would have been. The world would have said that is ridiculous. Simon the Leper…why all this waste. Really?
--When was the last time you would have been accused of giving an extravagant offering to God, to His house, or to Missions?
--Is God worth us being so generous? Absolutely! Are lost souls worth us giving to Missions? Absolutely! God has taught us to be generous by giving His best offering…His Son, Jesus Christ!
--Some may think it is a bunch of bull to give generously or they may think it is baaaad, but I think God chooses people who are generous for His glory to dwell.
2 Chronicles 7:12 (NKJV)
12 Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: "I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.
4. For God to choose us there must be an attitude of service in God’s House.
2 Chronicles 7:6 (NKJV)
6 And the priests attended to their services; the Levites also with instruments of the music of the LORD, which King David had made to praise the LORD, saying, "For His mercy endures forever," whenever David offered praise by their ministry. The priests sounded trumpets opposite them, while all Israel stood.
--When the priest, the ministers, are doing what they are supposed to be doing, when the musicians are doing their music from a pure heart, and praise is lifted to God…God chooses us for His glory to dwell.
--When every believer becomes a participator instead of a spectator, God shows up…He chooses us…jump in!
5. For God to choose us there must be an attitude of His Name being lifted up.
2 Chronicles 7:16 (NKJV)
2 Chronicles 7:16 (NKJV)
16 For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.
--We must always be careful that Life Church is known, not by its pastor, not by its music, not by all its programs but known because of the Name of the Lord!
Isaiah 42:8 (NKJV)
8 I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images.
8 I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images.
Deuteronomy 5:8-10 (NKJV)
8 'You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
9 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
10 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
8 'You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
9 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
10 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
--If we want to be chosen by God we must lift up the Name of the Father, the Name of the Son, and keep inviting Holy Spirit to come.
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