Having A Heart After God

by guest speaker David Umstead

David has a heart after God: 1st Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22 

1) An upside down Kingdom.

Isaiah 55:8-9

2) Unity

Amos 3:3

Psalm 119:89

1 Cor 2:16   

Col 3:10

3) Power –To regain what we lost. But also, to have a heart after God.

ischus {is-khoos'} bodily Strength. 

exousia {ex-oo-see'-ah} the power of authority (influence) and of right (privilege).

dunamis {doo'-nam-is}1) strength power, ability 1a) inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth 1b) power for performing miracles 1c) moral power and excellence of soul.

energeo {en-erg-eh'-o} to be operative, be at work, put forth power.  

Exousia: Col 1:13 

Dumamis: Romans 1:4 and 8:11. 

Energeo: Eph 3:20

Eph 2:10

1 Chronicles 13:1-8  1 Then David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.  2 And David said to all the assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you, and if it is of the LORD our God, let us send out to our brethren everywhere who are left in all the land of Israel, and with them to the priests and Levites who are in their cities and their common-lands, that they may gather together to us;  3 "and let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we have not inquired at it since the days of Saul."  4 Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.  5 So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor in Egypt to as far as the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjath Jearim.  6 And David and all Israel went up to Baalah, to Kirjath Jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who dwells between the cherubim, where His name is proclaimed.  7 So they carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.  8 Then David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets.

1) As soon as David was seated his first actions were spiritually minded.

  • To honor God and bring the Ark a symbol of His presence.

  • To ensure a blessing on them from God’s presence.

2) David was a wise leader.

  • He gathered his captains and honored them. He did not command them.

  • He sought council to ensure unity.

  • Unity commands a blessing.

3) David was Humble and a unifier of the nation.

  • He called his people brethren.

  • Advises people to forget personal issues and seek unto God.

  • He challenged and encouraged the religious to unify and get active.

4) David said “if it be of the lord.”

  • The premise has to be “is it of the Lord?”

  • The attitude has to be “If he’s not in it; then we don’t do it!”

5) David changed their relationship with God.

  • Identified the absence of God and the results.

  • David didn’t blame Saul and he included himself in the offense by saying “we.”

  • Took ownership and created a plan to move forward. He assumed responsibility for His and their spiritual welfare.

  • David led in a good thing and had influence over others. We can do the same.

6) The bringing of the Ark (the presence of the Lord).

  • They traveled far to get it. They valued it.

  • They rejoiced in their decision.

  • But, they used a cart (Familiarity).

1 Chronicles 13:9-14   “9 And when they came to Chidon's threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled.  10 Then the anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark; and he died there before God.  11 And David became angry because of the LORD's outbreak against Uzza; therefore that place is called Perez Uzza to this day.  12 David was afraid of God that day, saying, "How can I bring the ark of God to me?"  13 So David would not move the ark with him into the City of David, but took it aside into the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite.  14 The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house three months. And the LORD blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that he had.”

7) What do we learn from the (spiritual) death of Uzza?

  • Presumption in dealing with God. Good intentions do not justify bad actions.

  • Familiarity breeds contempt. God is not beholden to us.

  • We do not trifle with God in our approach to Him. We come boldly by the works of Jesus Christ.

8) If God be angry with us, shall we dare to be angry with him?

  • David shouldn’t have been driven off from following the plan by something that was meant to drive them off from sin.

  • If David would have received God’s correction in meekness he could have gone on with the work.

9) The house of Obededom.

  • They welcomed the presence of the Lord into their house.

  • The lord blessed his house and all that he had.

Terri Smith