When God is Blessed

When God is Blessed
1 Chronicles 17:1-27                          
June 11-12, 2022          

Now it's important to know why this book was written and when it was written because it has everything to do to how to apply it. After Israel was defeated by the Babylonians, destroyed, Jerusalem destroyed, they were exiled there in Babylon those 70 years. Now, they've returned, and thus this book is written to those who have returned. The nation is a remnant of what it once was. They are such a small people now, weakened, downhearted, discouraged, they have no king.

The book is written to stir them up in their faith, to bring some revival, to take hold of God's promises yet again. I'll tell you, this is important because God is stirring revival today. That's what God is doing, He's reaching out, calling people to Himself, stirring people up to believe God's promises are sure.

He tells them, "Look, you have every right to that land, God gave you that land," and He's giving them the history of that rich heritage. Then He wants to give them a hope, a messianic hope. They had no king, so it goes back and shows them the promises of God to give them that king, who would be called the son of David. That Messianic hope, our hope, is still alive today. There are many in Israel, still looking for the son of David.

Now we know his name. His name is Jesus, the Messiah. He is the Messiah of Israel and the Redeemer of the world. He will come at the end of the age, He'll set foot in the Mount of Olives, He'll enter Jerusalem and He'll rule and reign the nations of the world from that place. The promises are to be taken hold of even today.

Let's look at 1 Chronicles 17. The backstory is that David has come to the point of his life where he looks back now and he can see how God has blessed him. At this point in his life, he is sitting in a house in Jerusalem, a house made of cedar and stone. Now, this was quite something in those days to have such a house. He's sitting, he's looking around the city of Jerusalem now called the City of David, and he's realizing how blessed he is. He looks back on his life, "How blessed I am, God has been with me. All of these years God has been with me."

Now, it doesn't mean that David's life was easy. David had a tremendously difficult life, but yet he knows that God was with him every step along the way. Then he's sitting here looking out over the city, he's in a house of cedar and stone, and then he looks, and he sees that the Ark of God is in a tent of curtains, and he says to himself, "This isn't right. I'm here in a house of cedar and stone, but the ark of the covenant, that which represented the very throne room of our God is in a tent."

He thought, "I want to do something to bless God. God's blessed me. Oh, God's blessed me amazingly. I want to do something magnanimous. I know what," and he came up with a tremendous idea. I want to build a house for the ark of the covenant and it is going to be magnanimous of glory. Oh, what he envisioned. He said this to Nathan, the prophet, who said to him, "No, God says, 'No, you will not build my house, but I love the fact that you wanted to. You want to build me a house? I'm going to bless you even more.'" That's part of the great story of 1 Chronicle 17.

Let's read it. We're going to read the whole chapter. It's just an amazing chapter. Chapter 17:1, "It came about that when David dwelled in his house, that David said to Nathan, the prophet, 'Behold, I am dwelling here in the house of Cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is on the curtains.'" Nathan said to David-- Now, Nathan didn't check with God, he just said it off the top of his heart. He said, "Do all that's in your heart, for God I know is with you".

That night, the Word of the Lord came to Nathan saying this, "Go and tell David, my servant, thus says the Lord, 'No, you shall not build a house for me to dwell in.'" Now he loves that he wanted to, but the answer is no. "For I have not dwelled in a house since the day I brought up Israel to this day, I've gone from tent to tent from dwelling to another.

In all places where I have walked with Israel, have I ever spoken a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people?

Did I ever say, 'Why haven't you built me a house of Cedar?' Did I ever say that? Now, therefore, thus you shall say to David, my servant, thus says the Lord of host, 'I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep and made you ruler or leader over my people in Israel.

I did that. I have been with you wherever you have gone, I did that. I've cut off all your enemies from before you, I did all of that, but now I will do something even yet greater," he's going to say. "You wanted to bless me, you want to bless me by building a house for me? The answer is no, but I'm going to do something even greater for you." Listen to this, "I'm going make you a name, like the name of the great ones who are on the earth.

I.  Never Forget What God has Done

When they look over the history of the world, they will count the name of David as one of the greatest names in the history of the world. That's what I want to do for you, sir. Not only that, I will appoint a place for my people, Israel. I will plant them that they may dwell in their own place and be moved no more."

Now that is the heart of God after Israel. God has the same heart after Israel today. It's very important to recognize that God is not done with Israel. Those who bless Israel will be blessed is as true today as when God said it all those years before. Do you believe that? It's a very important thing to grasp, because God is promising this to David.

"Neither shall the wicked waste them as formerly, even from the day I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I tell you, you wanted to build me a house, I will build a house for you, and it should come about that when your days are fulfilled, that you must go to be with your fathers," in other words, you die.

"That I will set up one of your descendants after you, who shall be one of your sons. I will establish his kingdom and he shall build for me that house, and I will establish his throne forever. I will be his father, he would be my son, and I would not take my loving kindness away from him like I took it from him who was before you," from king Saul, "But I will settle him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne shall be established forever."

Now we know that this is fulfilled in his son, Solomon, but there is yet a greater fulfillment in Jesus who will be called the son of David. Jesus said, "Something greater than Solomon is here." The great fulfillment is answered in Jesus Christ. According to these words, and according to this vision, Nathan spoke to David. Now, David hearing these words, which you'll notice what comes next. I love this part of the story. Verse 16, "When David the king heard this, he went up and he sat before the Lord."

He went to that tent thou of curtains, where the ark of the covenant was, the very presence of the Lord was there. He just wanted to sit in the presence of the Almighty. Don't you just love this part of the story? Then he just wanted to be near. Oh, there's something special, there's something wonderful between David and God, something beautiful. He just wanted to sit in the tent and draw near, and then he gave his speech. He wanted to bless God in response to this notice.

He says, "Who am I, oh Lord God, and what is my house that you have brought me this far? This is a small thing in your eyes, oh God, for now you have spoken of your servant's house for a great while to come, and you have regarded me according to the standard of a man of a high degree."

David is amazed at this because he never forgot that he's just a shepherd. This is amazing God. What more can David say to you concerning the honor, which you have bestowed in your servant for you know your servant, oh Lord, for your servant's sake and according to your heart, you have brought all this greatness to make known all these great things. Lord, there is none like you, neither is there any God besides you, according to all that we've heard with our ears. In other words, we've heard of your fame and you made it known. "What nation in the earth is like your people, Israel?" That's a great question, and that's a great question even today. "What nation is like Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself, lucky people, to make a name by great and terrible things, by grinding out nations from before your people and redeeming them out of Egypt.

For your people, Israel, you made your people forever. You, oh Lord became their God. Now, Lord, let the Word that you spoke concerning your servant and concerning his house be established forever. Do what you have spoken. Let your name be established. Let your name be magnified forever, saying, 'Oh, the Lord of hosts is the God of Israel.' Let it be known. Even in God to Israel, the house of David, your servant, is established before you. For you oh my God, you revealed your servant that you will build for him a house.

Therefore, your servant found courage to pray. Now, oh Lord, you are God. You promised this good thing to your servant. Now it has pleased you to bless the house of your servant, that it may continue forever before you, for you oh Lord, have blessed and it is blessed forever."

What a great speech is this. What a great story is this, and there's much to take hold of for our lives. Starting with this; never forget what God has done. This is what makes David different. This is what separates David from others. King Saul never had this idea. He's always taken from nothing and made into a great king, but he never had this idea in his mind. No, he's too filled with anger and rage and envy and jealousy of David.

He didn't have a heart to do this at all. This is what makes David different. He looked back, he could see it, and he never forgot it. Now, that's right. I think this is so important for every one of us. Never forget what God has done.

You look back on your life. It makes you appreciate God afresh and a new. Never forget. David could see all of the troubles of his life. God was with him every step along the way. I never forgot what God did. I tell you this is to reference. When I look at my life, I tell you, I am so blessed. I am very, very blessed. I look back on my life and I see God's been with me through all--

I've had been in troubles in my life. Many of you know my story, that I grew up in extreme poverty. The turbulence and trouble of living in a home with an alcoholic, angry father. Now, later, he came to the Lord. Those days, growing up, turbulent, terrible times. My daughter was killed, didn't even know my story. Yet I look back and God has been with me every step along the way. I'm very, very thankful. Anyone else?

Absolutely, let's give Lord praise, absolutely. I was thinking of one of the songs that they played that we did at my daughter's memorial. It just meant so much to me. It's a worship song we still do today called Goodness of God. I want to just quote from some of the words because it really captures the thought of that. The words go like this, I love you, Lord. That's a great way to start the song.

I love you, Lord, for your mercy never fails me,

All my days, I've been held in your hands,

From the moment I wake up until I lay my head, I will sing of the goodness of God.

Then that famous chorus.

All my life you have been faithful,

All my life you've been so, so good,

With every breath that I'm able, I will sing of the goodness of God,

I love your voice. You have led me through the fire,

In the darkest night, you are close like no other,

I've known you as a father, I've known you as a friend,

And I have lived in the goodness of God.

And all my life you have been faithful,

All my life, you have been so, so good,

With every breath that I am able, I will sing of the goodness of God.

A.  God blesses first

Isn't that a beautiful heart? When you look back and you see all that God has done one of the things that you must see is that God blesses first. God moves with His hand. God takes the initiative. Notice Verse 7, God says, "I took you from the pasture, from following sheep and made you ruler over my people. I did that."

What would your life be like if God had not taken hold? What if God had not reached out? What would your life have been like? I tell you, I look back on my life and I'll tell you that if God had not taken hold of my life, my life would have been a disaster. In fact, I have spoken to many people who when they look back and they see what God has done in their lives,

many people have said, "I don't know that I would even be alive had God not taken hold of me."

How many people would say that? Just raise your hand. Isn't it amazing? What if God had not done that? You see it reminds me of Ephesians 2, where Paul wrote something very similar. Remember, this is good to remember. "Remember that you were, at that time, you were separate from Christ, excluded from the Commonwealth of Israel, strangers of the covenants of promise. You had no hope and you had no God. Now in Christ Jesus, you who were formerly far off, have been brought near and you've been brought near by the blood of Christ."

God did that. Many Scriptures reveal that God is the one who reaches out. God is the one who blesses. God is the one who takes the initiative. God is the one who pursues. Notice Revelation 3:20, love quoting this verse because it says it. He said to the church of Laodicea, "I stand at the door and I knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and will dine with him and he with me."

Now, there's that beautiful picture. He's pursuing. He's, like, knocking on the door of the heart. "If anyone would hear my voice," suggesting that he's calling out your name. He's calling to you. He's reaching out. "Open the door. I'll come in. We'll have fellowship. Will dine together."

Oh, how beautiful is that picture? See, this is so important. As I say, many people have it wrong when it comes to the view of God. Many people think that God has put His stiff arm out. "I have nothing to do with thee because you are a sinner. Be gone." Many people think that God is this way. That is not what I see. That's not the heart of God that I read. What I see is that God is reaching out to sinners.

God is knocking on the door of their heart. God is calling their name. God is wanting a relationship with sinners. That is amazing. He's going to take them and He's going to bless their life. It says in 1 John 4, "We love him because he first loved us."

It's one of the great themes that runs through the Scripture. God blesses first. God takes the initiative. God calls your name. God reaches out. Then you see, we respond to that. It's not the other way around. In other words, you don't worship God to obtain His favor. No, you worship Him because He's already placed His favor on your life. You are responding to the fact that God has already blessed you. He's already reached out to you. He's already poured His favor out on you. That's why you worship. It's not the other way around.

Contrary to what is seen on Christian television-- Do they still have such a thing? I don't watch TV anymore so I don't know what is there. Back when I was young, the Christian TV was a thing, and I remember watching it a few times. So many times I would hear the teacher or the pastor or whatever say, "If you would give to God, you know he'll give you tenfold back."

What are they trying to say? Give in order to receive. Give in order to get back. Isn't that kind of the message behind that? There's an old saying, actually, it's very true saying, but many have misused it. That saying is, "You can't outgive God." That's true. That does not mean that you should give in order to get, in order for God to prove that He cannot give. In other words, you don't say, "Okay, I've given something to you, God. Now you're obligated to outgive me. I can't wait to see how you're going to bless my life now that I've given something to you."

B.  God says ‘no’ for a reason

No, you give to God as honor, as recognition, as thanks for what you've already done. I look back on my life, what you have done is amazing. All my life, you have been so, so good. David says, he looks and his life he realizes how blessed he is, "Here I am, dwelling in the house of cedar in stone and the Ark of the Covenant is in a tent. I want to do something magnanimous for you. I want to bless you, God. Look at what you've done for me. I want to bless you. I want to do something magnanimous. I'm going to build you a house." Then the answer was no. Now, one of the great lessons out of the story is if God says no, God says no for a reason.  It's a life lesson. No? Now, it's hard to understand and know especially if the heart is right. Now, if the heart is wrong, the motive is wrong. Okay, we understand you don't have because you don't ask, but you ask, you don't have because you ask with wrong motives.

Well, we understand that, but if the heart is right, if God says no, he has a reason. In fact, we know that David's heart was right because this is 2 Chronicles 6, where Solomon now who's dedicating the building, he says, "The Lord said to my father, David, 'Because it was in your heart to build the house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart. Nevertheless, no. You will not build my house.'" You did well that it was in your heart.

Which really speaks to an important thing. "Does it matter what's in the heart?" I suggest that it matters tremendously what is in the heart. Some people say, "No, it only matters what you do." I think that right there is a very helpful picture. Know what happens in the heart matters to God.

It was, "You did well. I love the fact that you wanted to do such a thing." Now David gave the reason later. When God said, "No, David, you cannot build this house." He explained the reason later. Now, David hearing that no, nevertheless, realized, "If I can't build it, at least I can prepare and give all of these preparations to my son," because David had a vision. "I want to do something magnanimous."

He had architectural plans built. He gathered all the materials. This is going to be absolutely glorious. He had it in his heart, built the plans, drew the plans, handed to his son Solomon. When he gathered the people, he gave a speech. He's going to give the reason. This speech in 1 Chronicles 28, David's Speech. "Listen to me, my brethren and my people. I had intended to build a house for the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord and the footstep of our God, so I made preparations to build it. God said to me, 'No, you will not build a house for my name because you are a man of war. You have shed blood.'"

In other words, this is a house of prayer. This is a house of worship. This is the house of peace. This is not going to be built by a man of blood. It'll be built by a man of peace, Solomon. Actually, part of his name is peace, Shalom, Solomon. David's heart was right, God's answer was still no. What's also important to see is that David accepted the answer without complaint, without attitude, without resistance.

Then you must see in the story that no is not the only answer that God gave. The answer also was, "You want to bless? No, you cannot do this, but I say to you, David, I'm going to do even more for you."

C.  If God says no, He has something better

Really, the lesson of the story is, if God says no, he has something better. Something greater. Something far greater is the great part of the story. I look back on my life, there have been times where God clearly said no. Then I saw that God something better. I was thinking, for example, back when I was in Bible college and they had a speaker come to chapel one day. He was the captain of a mercy ship.

Back in those days, there was two mercy ships that were very famous in the world of missions. One was called Doulos, one was called Logos, and they would go from port to port, very large mercy ships, of course, doing mercy work in various underprivileged places and where there's a lot of poverty in the world and just blessing them. I caught the vision, I'd go, "Oh, this sounds so wonderful." I was going to Bible college, I could be a Bible teacher on the ship and then at the ports where we landed.

When I was young, I had some love of the ocean. I just loved being near the ocean, the smell of the salt air. When I was really young I, for a time, wanted to be an oceanographer. There's just that love for the ocean and I thought, "Oh, this is perfect." I actually made an appointment with the captain of the ship Doulos and sat with him and I explained my story and my vision and all this.

When he heard my story, he then responded by saying, "No, I don't believe that you should be part of our team." I said, "No, we're talking about me here. No. I know. What do you mean, no?" He said, "No, I don't believe you should be with us because I don't believe you're called to be a missionary. You are called to be a pastor and you should walk in the calling that God has placed in your life. Not only that, but I believe that, as a pastor, you will do more for missions than you could have ever done as a missionary. Don't ever leave the heart of being a missionary. Do much for missions."

No. God's no was very clear and it was a great lesson in my life. Then later, I discovered that being on the ocean made me terribly seasick. This thing would have been a disaster. God was saving me, but God had something better for my life. I'm very, very-- I tell you, I am blessed. To be a pastor here at this church, it is a blessing of my life. This church is amazing, and I want to thank every one of you for making it so. It is amazing.

There was another occasion when God said no. Back actually a few years before this, I had a vision, of course, to go into ministry and I was a youth leader in a small church making a small salary. I knew that if I was going to be serious about going into the ministry, I would need a really good solid Bible education. The problem was how to pay for it. Well, I was thinking of, "How am I going to do this?" I came up with, I think, a very clever plan. It was very clever. I came to the Lord, "God, I have come up with a very clever plan. I would like to submit it to you and hope that you bless it."

As you can imagine, the answer was no. I remember very, very clearly how I heard the no. It was a Friday night at 6:30, I won't get into the details but that's how clear it was in my mind. Friday night, 6:30, the answer came, the answer is no. My whole plan completely fell apart. I thought, "What am I going to do?" It felt like a punch in the gut, "I cannot afford this, I'm making hardly anything as a youth pastor. What am I going to do? God, I need a miracle."

That was my all-day Saturday prayer. "God, I need a miracle." So that I know it's a miracle and anyone who ever hears a story knows it's a miracle, I'm not going to tell anyone I need this money. Just please God, do a miracle." Saturday night, I prayed all day and I'm at peace with it, I'm leaving it in the hands of the Lord. Sunday morning, I get up. Again Friday night, Saturday, Sunday morning.

I get up and come to church excited to worship. I'm not 10 steps in the door when a fellow steps in front of me, puts his hands like this, and says, "Stop, listen. God has put it on my heart this week that I'm supposed to pay your way through Bible college."

Right away I thought, "God, your way is way better than mine." God said, "No, but I have something better for you than that." Then my response was this, "If you're going to do that for me, then I'm going to sit in every one of those classes and I'm going to give everything I got. I'm going to sit in the front. I'm going to take every note I can. I'm going to ask every question I can think of. I'm going to put everything I got into this. If you're doing that for me, then I'm going to put everything I got into it."

Amen. Isn't that the right answer? If you're going to do this for me? What else can I do but to pour everything I have into it? I ended up being the valedictorian, not because I tried, because I wanted to thank God for doing it. God responded through the prophet, "You wanted to build a house for me? No, but I will build a house for you. I will establish your descendant after you. I will raise him up like a son and I will be a father to him. I will establish his throne forever. I'll never take my loving kindness from him." David rightly understood this as the prophecy. The coming Messiah would be called the Son of David. Now we are here today. We are blessed because of that prophecy. That word that God spoke to David is blessing us right now because it was fulfilled in Jesus Christ and the promise made is  fulfilled through that son. In fact, Isaiah 9, we read it every Christmas because it speaks to it so beautifully. "A child will be born to us. A son will be given to us, and the government will rest on his shoulders."

Right there, I'll tell you what, there's a hope of the world, because we are living in a world where there's a lot of messed up governments, and oh Lord Jesus come quickly for when the Lord comes and sets foot in Jerusalem, He will rule and reign the nations and the government will rest on his shoulder. Oh, that glorious day will be. Amen? Let's give the Lord praise for that day. Oh, Lord Jesus.

He will have a great name. His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of peace. There will be no end to the increase of his government or a peace on the throne of David and over His kingdom to establish it and uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forever more. The zeal of the Lord of Host will accomplish this.

When David heard this, he went to the house of the Lord. He went to the tent where the ark of the covenant was. He wanted to just be in the nearness of God. There's something beautiful between David and God. There's a great life lesson. Draw near to God and be seated. It's a right word for all of us. We need more sitting, dwelling in the nearness of God. There was something wonderful, beautiful between David and God. God wants this thing for you and me. There ought to be something beautiful between us and God, simply wanting to draw near.

When I think of that, it reminds me of Moses when he was leading Israel to the desert, he set up a tent of meeting outside the camp. Anyone who wanted to, can go meet with God. Tent of meeting. Moses many, many times would meet with God to the point that he says that "God would speak to Moses like a man would speak to a friend." There was something beautiful between the relationship Moses had with God.

II.  Draw Near to God and be Seated

In fact, he wrote in Deuteronomy 33:27, "The eternal God is a dwelling place." Capture that beautiful thought. "The eternal God is a dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms." There's a tent you can meet with God anytime you want. Don't you wonder how many would take the opportunity? Many, I surmise, would not. What a tragedy missing out on that beautiful thing that God would do in the soul.

When you're dwelling in the presence of the Almighty, something beautiful happens there, and God wants the same for you and me. We need more meetings with God where we just dwell in the nearness of God. Sometimes, the only meeting that people have with God is that come to Jesus meeting. Well, that's a great meeting. We need to have that meeting for sure, but we need more meetings than that because something beautiful happens when you dwell in the nearness of God.

A.  See God from the right perspective

One of the things that will happen is that you'll see God from the right perspective. David did. Verse 20, "Oh, Lord God, there is none like You. There is no God besides you. We've heard of your fame." One of the things that's interesting about David, David would have nothing to do with the idols of the world. Many of the other kings, they get all messed up because they got involved with Baal or Molek or Ashtoreth, or you name it, so many of the gods of the nations around them.

Whatever reason that many of the kings started getting involved with some of these gods of the world, they were worldly in every sense. David wanted nothing to do with these idols. They meant nothing to him. You know why? Because God was enough. God was more than enough. "There is no God like you. There is no God besides you." He saw the Lord as the great God over all the earth. Now, that's such a right perspective, because it really draws you to the question. Is there something wrong with God?

Well, what would cause a person to go after the things of the world? Is there something missing? Something wrong with the gospel perhaps? Well, what is wrong? What is missing? Well, the only thing I can think of that's missing is that it doesn't appeal to the flesh, but the world does. God would say, "Yes, that's my point, because the things of the world will bring death to your soul. Don't you see? I want to do something beautiful in your soul. I want you to have life, life abundantly," life to the full, beautiful, something special, something beautiful between you and God.

I don't want those things in your life because those things are death. Let me give you a great word that Paul wrote very similarly to this. Romans 6:12 and 21, "Do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey his lust. What benefit did you gain from the things of which you are now ashamed? The outcome of those things is death." Is that not a powerful verse or what? That is such a perspective. David looks back and he can see all the ways that God has blessed him.

What if you look back on your life and you look back on the life of sin? That's what Paul is drawing in a person too. What benefit did you gain? How did those things help you? Those things of which you are now ashamed. The outcome is death. "I love you," God will say. I want to do something beautiful in your soul. That comes from dwelling in the nearness of God. David wanted nothing to do with his idols.

In fact, it's a great story. When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king, they were incensed at this, they sent up a great army to confront David. David asked of the Lord, "Shall I go against them?" The answer was, "Yes, you will go against them, and surely you will prevail." David confronted the Philistines and surely they retreated, fell back. So quickly did they fall back that they left their idols in the field.

It says that after they abandoned their idols there, that David and his men carried them away. Now, when you first read that, you say, "No, no, no, say it isn't so. What do you mean they carried them away?" Until you read 1 Chronicles 14:12, "They abandoned their idols there. David gave the order and they were burned with fire." Now, there's my David. "Take those idols out of that field, put them in a pile, and light the fire. That's what we're going to do, because there's nothing to these idols. These things are death. I don't want none of you men taking them home, burn them all."

B.  See yourself from the right perspective

There's my David right there. It's a great understanding. It's a great picture. I don't want nothing that stands in the way of what God wants to do in the soul, for what God wants to do in the soul is a beautiful thing, and those things stand in the way of it.

David says "Burn them all, burn them with fire, we've nothing to do with them." He just wanted to be in the nearness of God. What a beautiful thing is this. When you dwell there in the nearness of God, you'll see God from the right perspective, and you'll see yourself from the right perspective. That too is very important.

He came in and he sat down in the presence of the Lord and he said, "Who am I that you would do this for me?" Then, "This is a small thing in your eyes for you have spoken of your servant concerning the distant future, and you have regarded me according to the standard of a man of high degree. How is that?"

See, David never forgot that he was just a simple shepherd when God found him. Isn't that a life lesson? Never forget who you were. Never forget from what you came. Never forget your background. David never forgot. "Who am I that you would treat me as a man of high degree? I was just a simple shepherd." Now, of course, now we could look at this and say, "Well, you are a man of my degree, you're the king of Israel, you're dwelling in Jerusalem, you're given a City of David." David never forgot who he was. "Who am I that you would do this for me?" Just a simple shepherd.  This is what David did that we must take a hold of. It's God's hand that takes a simple shepherd and makes him something. Does not make himself anything, but when God moves, when God holds, when God places His hand, this changes everything. Let me give you a scripture that speaks to it out of Ephesians 3:20. "Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us."

Not our power, not our doing, it's God's power that moves. We're just simple, no special people, we're just simple nobodies. Please take no offense, but there's no one special in this room. Anybody agree with me? We're just simple, no special people. Never forget that when God moves, it's God's hand that can take a simple, no special, nobody and do something. See, don't miss that part because if all you can think of yourself as, "Well, I'm just a nobody," and that's the way you think of yourself the rest of your life, you're going to miss out on one of the greatest aspects of your life.

Yes, but God delights to take nobodies. Don't forget this part. God delights to take nobodies, no specials, and then He moves. It's to His glory, to take the broken, the downhearted, the distressed, the nobodies, the no specials. Who am I? It's a great question but who am I, when God moves, God will determine. Because God can do that which is amazing. Notice this out of James 5. He writes it this way, "The fervent prayer of a righteous man is powerful. It's effective. It accomplishes much. It's non-compelling."

Don't you just want to take hold of that and recognize there's something powerful, there's something effective, accomplishes much. Then he gives an illustration. "Elijah was a man with the nature like ours." In other words, he was just a simple nobody. "But he prayed earnestly that it would not rain and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months and then he prayed again and the sky poured rain and the earth produced it's fruit."

He's just a man like you and me but when God moves, great things happen. By prayer, the effective prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Then David writes it this way in 2 Samuel 22. See, David understood. It's one of the greatest insights of David's life. "You're the one who takes the simple." Notice how he said it. "You are my lamp, oh Lord God. You illumine my darkness. By you, I can run upon a troop. By my God, I can leap over a wall."

Your help makes me great. I'm just a simple nobody but your help-- See, it's God in us that changes everything. It's God's hands that move that changes everything. "Your help makes me great. You've enlarged my steps under me. You have made my feet that they not slip." David understood something that we must all take hold of. Every one of us are simple nobodies but take hold of what God can do with simple nobodies.

He'll accomplish that which is exceedingly abundantly beyond all that you ask or think. Believe.

Father, thank you for showing us how you are blessed, how you're the one who takes the first move to reach out, to take hold of the broken, the distressed, the downhearted, and make something of their lives. You're the one. God, I just pray for everyone in this house, everyone listening now that they would take hold of this great truth.

Church, how many would say this to the Lord? "I know I'm just a simple no one but God here I am. You are amazing. What you have done in my life is amazing. I come, I want to do something for you. I want to give You my life. Here I am. All I have is just simple no special me but here I am. Use me as an instrument in your hand, use me for your glory. It's you that move, that changes everything. Well, here I am. God move.

Here I am just a simple me and no special no one but there you are, God Almighty. I'm asking you that you would move. Here I am. Move in my life."

Church, how many would say that to the Lord? Will you just say by raising your hand to the Lord? "God, use my life, here I am. I'm just a simple no one but what you can do, I say, Lord, do it."

Father, thank you for everyone who wants to move by your Spirit in their lives. We honor You now. In Jesus' powerful name." Everyone said-- Can we give the Lord praise and glory and honor? Amen. Church, we're going to worship in just a--