Supporting His Work - Part 2
Date: November 8, 2017
Text: I Chronicles 29:1-14
Title: Supporting Our King
Introduction:
We need to fullly support the work of our King Jesus! Can we not say of our King's church ....
1 Chronicles 29:1 ...and the work is great: for the palace is not for man, but for the LORD God.
1 Chronicles 22:5 .... the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries:
How are you supporting His work today? Do you want to participate in building something that will bring great glory to God?
Support this work with all your might.
A. Give your brain a work out in God's work.
I Chronicles 22:5 And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it.
B. Give your body a work out in God's work.
I Chronicles 22: ....So David prepared abundantly before his death.
I Chron. 29:2 Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God ....
II. Support this work with all your heart!
3 Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God,
A. Let your heart give a personal offering for God's house.
3 Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,
B. Let your heart challenge others to consecrate themselves unto the Lord.
And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?
C. Let your heart be inspired by your King's giving.
9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD:
III. Support this work with all your soul! (your will)
A. Because there is a need that must be met by God's people.
6 Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king's work, offered willingly 7 And gave for the service of the house of God...
B. Because God only wants a willing offering.
9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD:
IV. Support this work with all your spirit!
exp. The other three aspects of giving are all tied into this right here - You give by Might, by Heart and by Choice - AND IT MAKES GIVING A GREAT JOY (YOUR SPIRIT.)
2Co 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
A. Rejoice in your offering.
9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD:
B. Rejoice in the offering of others.
and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
summary - SUPPORT THIS WORK WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT, HEART, SOUL, SPIRIT....
ill. Our philosophy of life - is WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO. I can rightly preach this morning as I did last week that we need to support the Kings work with all our might, heart, soul and spirit.
However - this morning from our text in I Chronicles 29 we are going to answer that WHY question. Why should I support God's work with all my might, heart, soul and spirit?
Our message this morning is the final point of the message from last week which is....
V. Support this work with all your mind! (think about it)
exp. Paul used "reason" (thinking) as a motivator for sacrificial support.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
exp. It isn't acceptional giving to offer everything to God - because we can understand from God's Word WHY WE OUGHT TO DO THAT.
App. David is going to remind Himself and God's people why their giving is not exceptional but is what God deserves.
And so - support this work with all your mind.....
A. (mind) Think about it - God is everything.
1. God is great and the giver of greatness.
11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness,
a. He is greater than everything.
exp. I've not ever felt particalarly big - but expeciallly in comparison to God. GOD IS TRULY GREAT!
Isa 40:12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
ill. God put incredible detail into His creation - looking through microscope at a cut from a tree or looking at a very tiny (incredibly beautiful agate) - cutting a diamond with incredible precision....
exp. That is very small and intricate - and then we turn to the greatness of God's creation and examine the vastness of our planet - all the water - all the dust, all the mountains, all the hills (And God views them as nothing.) We look at the stars which are inumerable and vastness of space and it fits into the span of God's hand.
song: Patch the pirate - "Your so great and I'm so small...."
app. In comparison to God this morning, you and I are nothing and WHATEVER GREATNESS WE POSSESS it is only because God has given it to us.
b. He makes great or small. "Thine Oh Lord is the greatness"
exp. David had been a shepherd boy. You would not have looked at David the shepherd and said, "Here is a great man." But, he became a great man who was King of Israel. Why? Because God chose him and promoted him to greatness.
2Sa 7:8 Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:
Psalm 75:6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
app. Don't be proud this morning and think that your "greatness" is achieved. God is the giver of greatness AND He is greater than all. - THAT IS WHY WE OUGHT TO GIVE OUR SUPPORT TO HIM.
2. God is power and the giver of power.
and the power,
exp. Power is essential for life. Without power - we don't achieve anything.
ill. You came to church by power.
physical power - achieved through nutrition and health.
mechanical power - achieved through fossil fuels and electricity.
question: Who gave you that power?
ill. Our world is illumined today by power?
Gen 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
ill. Our world is sustained today by power.
Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
ill. If you are saved today, it is by His power.
1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
ill. You live the Christian life today - by the sustaining power of God.
1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
2Co 6:7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
2Co 13:4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
2Ti 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
app. Do you not have a reason today to support the King's work because HE IS THE POWER OF EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE? Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. TO FORGET HIM IS TO LEAVE THE SOURCE OF POWER.
3. God is glorious and the giver of glory
and the glory,
exp. Glory is something that makes you go, "Wow!"
ill. Fireworks Display after St. Paul St.'s game - Power given to us by God put together in an incredible way. Wow!
ill. Have you never seen a sunrise and said, "Wow!"
exp. I run in the mornings and get to enjoy the sunrise over the countryside. (greens, blues, reds, purples, yellows....) Wow!
ill. Have you never heard a powerful piece of music and said, "Wow!"
exp. A symphony can play incerdibly glorious music as they rightly apply the ingredients of good music. (Hearing orchestral performances and Operas at Bob Jones.)
ill. Have you never looked at God's creation and said, "Wow!"
exp. The Isle of Skye - waterfall cascading into the sea.
note: And YET nothing begins to compare with the glory of God!
Psalm 8:3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
exp. David looked at the glory of God's creation and said, "Wow!" (If creation is this glorious how glorious is my God!
app. This morning, we ought to give to God because of the Glory of God!
4. God is victorious and the giver of victory.
and the victory,
ill. Our world today is anti-God. They are up in arms against Him and His authority over them. David spoke about their rebellion in Psalms.
Psalm 2:2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
exp. David knew that a person on God's side is on the side of Victory.
ill. Growing up - playing sports - nobody wants to be on a losing team. ("It doesn't matter if you win or lose, it's how you play the game.") Why do we say that - because nobody wants to lose and that isn't a bad thing - God has put a competitive spirit into us. IT IS GREAT TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE ON THE WINNING SIDE.
exp. As believers WE ARE ON THE WINNING SIDE.
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
1Jn 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
app. If you are living in victory today - it is because God is the God of victory. Are you on the winning side? It's ok to lose in life -but it is NOT OK TO LOSE IN ETERNITY.
5. God is majestic and the giver of majesty.
and the majesty:
exp. David had just been a shepherd boy - now he was king. He was, "your majesty" to the children of Israel. But, the majesty (respect and authority) he was given had been given to him by the Lord.
ill. Joseph as a young lad had a dream that his brother and his father would bow down to him. He made the mistake of telling his brothers. They hated him and sold him into slavery. Potipher's wife lied about him because he wouldn't lie with her and he was put into prison. He was forgotten there until he was given the answer to the king's dream by God and given second place, next to the Pharoah of Egypt. (Majesty - respect and authority) Why? Because God gave it to him.
app. We are wise today to support our King. He is both Majestic (ultimate authority - worthy of ultimate respect.) And the giver of authority and respect.
B. (mind) Think about it - God owns everything.
for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine;
exp. As you came to church this morning you saw a lot of things.
1.) You saw people.
2.) Cars, houses.
3.) Shops and Warehouses.
4.) You saw fields and livestock.
question: Did you know that you didn't see one thing that is not owned by God? There are a lot of things you can't see - minerals and resources under the earth - They are his as well.
Psalm 50:9 I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.
10 For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
11 I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
12 If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
app. The reality is this morning, what we possess is a stewardship because God owns it all. How are you using GOD'S WEALTH?
C. (mind) Think about it - God rules over everything.
thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
exp. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords spoken of in revelation.
ill. Online - you can find articles about earning respect. Football captains or military leaders want to earn the respect of their subordinates. Why? Because - it is one thing to deserve respect and demand it - it is another thing to earn it so that it is willingly given!
Jesus doesn't just deserve our respect (although He does) he has earned our respect (IN SO MANY WAYS BUT PRIMARILY by dying on the cross for our sin.)
app. If you aren't humbled by Jesus this morning - you will be.
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
app. Think about it - Give support to YOUR KING! IT IS REASONABLE BECAUSE HE HAS EARNED IT AND DESERVES IT.
D. (mind) Think about it - God bestows everything.
12 Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
exp. This repeats a truth which David has already mentioned about God - but applies it to us. David is acknowledging that everything whether material or immaterial is from God and He is over all.
saying "Don't bite the hand that feeds you."
ill. United Breaks Guitars - Untied forgot that their support is through their passengers and offended a man who held the powerful weapon of music. He wrote a song and the stocks plummeted. You shouldn't offend someone who has the power to destroy or make you.
app. God isn't trivial this morning as he works in our lives. But, he will use this principle to make us realize the need to bow the knee or to reward us for doing so.
E. (mind) Think about it - everything we give to God was given by Him to us first.
13 Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.
ill. Mac likes to put some money in the offering. When our kids are little, we give them money to put in the offering because they don't have money of their own. They can't be proud of what they give because it was put into their hand by us.
exp. David and his people were not great because they had given so generously to God. What they had put in the offering was given to them by God.
app. When God blesses us with the ability to give greatly we ought to be humbled. What we have given to God is only a reflection of what He has given to us.
conclusion: I can say with authority from God this morning that we ought to give to God with all our Might, Heart, Soul and Spirit. But, I'm thankful this morning, that we can consider Why? we ought to do that and it is reasonable. (Because of who God is and what He has given.)