Transcription
Welcome to church, everyone. If we haven't met before, I'm Julian, part of the team here at Kingdom City. And can we take a moment to welcome everyone that is joining us online today? We're glad you're here.
Now, people across the auditorium are standing to honor the reading of the word of God. So, let's open up to 2 Samuel chapter 6. Can you handle 23 verses of scripture today? It says this.
Then David again gathered all the elite troops in Israel, 30,000 and all. He led them to Bala of Judah to bring back the ark of God which bears the name of the Lord of heaven's armies who was enthroned between the cherubim. They placed the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab's house which was on a hill. Usuza and Aayo, Abinadab's sons, were guiding the cart that carried the ark of God. Ao walked in front of the ark. David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the Lord singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments: lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals.
But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nikon, the oxen stumbled, and Usuza reached out his hand and steadied the ark of God. Then the Lord's anger was aroused against Usuza, and God struck him dead because of this. So Usuza died right there beside the ark of God. David was angry because the Lord's anger had burst out against Usuza. He named the place Perez Uuza, which means to burst out against Usuza, as it is still called today.
David was now afraid of the Lord and he asked, "How can I ever bring the ark of the Lord back into my care?" So David decided not to move the ark of the Lord into the city of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obedom of Gath. The ark of the Lord remained there in Obedom's household for 3 months. And the Lord blessed Obedom and his entire household. Then King David was told, "The Lord has blessed Obedom's household and everything he has because of the ark of God."
So David went there and brought the ark of God from the house of Obedom to the city of David with great celebration. After the men who were carrying the ark of the Lord had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. So David and all the people of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of ram's horns.
But as the ark of the Lord entered the city of David, Mikall, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she was filled with contempt for him. They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And David sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord. When he had finished his sacrifices, David blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Heaven's armies. Then he gave to every Israelite man and woman in the crowd a loaf of bread, a cake of dates, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people returned to their homes.
When David returned home to bless his own family, Mikah, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, "How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do." David retorted to Mikall, "I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family. He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord. So I celebrate before the Lord. Yes, I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes. But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished." So Mikall, the daughter of Saul, remained childless throughout her entire life. Amen.
The title of our message this morning is "Bring Back the Ark." >> Bring back the ark. Would you lift your hands high to heaven all over this place? Father, we thank you that the grass withers and the flower fades, but it's your word that remains forever. We pray today we would be marked by your presence. We would be branded by your word. We would be transformed by fire. We declare in this room and in every room, holy God, come and have your will and your way in the matchless name that is still above every other name. The name of Jesus we pray. And if you believe it, Kingdom City, can you shout it out loud? Amen. And one more time, come on, all over this place. Would you lift your voice and give God the praise that he deserves? Hallelujah. Amen. Amen. You can go ahead and take your seat.
"Bring Back the Ark." It's birthday weekend in the Curtisham household. Our daughters turned seven and four this weekend. Life is happening all around. That's um immaterial to the sermon. Apart from just like the scripture, we also had two different types of cakes. Uh, but let's get into it.
"Bring Back the Ark." To understand this story, we need to understand what the ark of God was. In ancient times, the ark of God, also known as the ark of the covenant and also known as the ark of the testimony, represented the very presence of God. It was a physical gold-plated wooden chest. And because of what it represented, it was the most sacred object to the Israelites. They took it with them as they wandered the wilderness. They carried it before their armies to grant them military victory over their enemies.
So, what did this gold-plated wooden chest contain? I'm so glad you asked. Inside the ark were the two stone tablets with the Ten Commandments engraved on them. This was the law and this represented God's promises. Also, inside the ark was a golden pot filled with manna. Manna was the supernatural food that fell from heaven that God provided to the Israelites as they wandered the wilderness for 40 years. This represented God's provision. Also inside the ark was Aaron's staff. Aaron was Moses' brother and priest to the people during the Torah. This was the same staff that miraculously sprouted flowers and almonds as detailed in Numbers chapter 17. This represented God's power. God's promises, God's provision, and God's power. And collectively, the ark of the covenant represented God's presence.
So at the time of this text, at the time of our text, King David wanted to bring back the ark to Jerusalem and to the city of David. He wanted to bring back the presence of God to his city. Can I just say that I feel like I'm carrying something in my spirit? Something profound took place at our conference in Kuala Lumpur last week and now the baton has been handed from Malaysia to Australia. The fire is moving from KL to Perth. Kingdom City Conference in Perth is just 18 days away. You can join over 5 and a half thousand people as we gather together in one place with one accord to lift up the name of Jesus like a banner over our city. Together, it's not too late to get in the room. >> We're bringing the ark back to our city.
Now, I've come to realize that there are many responses that people can have to the presence of God. Firstly, we can be like Usuza and be careless with it. >> You know, I just believe one of the most unfortunate characters in the Old Testament is this guy named Usuza. He's the son of Abinadab whose home the ark of God was held in for 20 years. Verse 6 says, "But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nikon, the oxen stumbled, and Usuza reached out his hand and steadied the ark of God. Then the Lord's anger was aroused against Usuza, and God struck him dead because of this. So Usuza died right there beside the ark of God." Now, that seems overly harsh, but according to Levitical law, only the Levites from the family of Kath were allowed to carry the ark of God. And even then, they weren't allowed to touch it directly. They would carry it using poles above their shoulders. Numbers 4:15 tells us that they weren't allowed to directly touch the sacred objects or they would die. So, this group is moving the ark of God from the house of Abinadab back to the city of David. And as they're moving the ark, the oxen begin to slip. And Usuza reaches out his hand to steady it. And this one act of carelessness cost Usuza his life because he was careless with the ark of God.
Now for years, for generations, people have laughed at this Old Testament character Usuza. But how often are we careless with the things of God? >> Oh, it's just one more drink. It's just one episode. It's just one root of bitterness. Oh, it's just a one-time thing. It's just one look at a woman who isn't your wife. Oh, it's just a little bit of gossip. Oh, it's just a kid show about demon hunters. That's where that's where it starts. But this is the compound of compromise. One of our young staff here was taking me to the airport and he asked me, "Why do you think so many great men of God, great people of God have fallen in recent times?" Now, that's a huge question and I can only give my opinion. But I said to him, it's perhaps because they didn't deal with the small things. And if you don't deal with the small things in your life, those can become big things. It doesn't start out as a big moral fall. It starts out small.
Consider Samson and Delilah. Samson didn't break his Nazerite vow for the first time when Delilah cut off his hair. It started as little breaches. People might say, "Oh, it was the spirit of Delilah." Oh yes, but also perhaps Samson didn't have self-control. Self-control is a spirit, too. 2 Timothy 1:7, for God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of self-control. Now, it started as little breaches. What is the Nazerite vow? Well, it's don't drink. It's don't touch dead animals, and it's don't cut your hair. What did Samson do before he compromised himself with Delilah? He ate honey out of a dead lion's carcass. Breach. He killed a Philistine with a dead donkey's jawbone. Breach. He possibly drank at his wedding feast. Breach. And his final violation, not his first violation, his final violation was allowing his hair to be cut. And from there, he lost his strength. Careless.
Consider Esau who traded away his birthright for a bowl of stew. He traded away what had eternal value for what brought him temporary satisfaction in a moment. Careless. Consider Judas Iscariot who traded away the Messiah for 30 pieces of silver. Consider Lot's wife who couldn't resist looking back. Consider Jacob. How drunk do you need to be >> to think that you are marrying the love of your life, >> the woman you worked seven years for? And you loved her so much that those seven years felt like a few days and then you consummate the marriage that night and then you wake up and realize that you married and slept with her sister. >> Careless.
The ark of God was in Abinadab's house for 20 years. Could it be that Usuza, Abinadab's son, was overly familiar with the presence? And because he was overly familiar with the presence, he was careless with the presence. Kingdom City, Jesus is coming back for a spotless bride. And I believe that this is a clarion call to the church, not to sow discord or disunity, not to feed ego or pride, not to be overly familiar or careless with what has eternal consequence. Not to be like Usuza and be careless with the ark of God. >> It was carelessness with the presence that cost Usuza his life.
And then there's Mikall, David's wife, Saul's daughter, who showed contempt for it. Verse 16, "But as the ark of the Lord entered the city of David, Mikall, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David, leaping and dancing before the Lord, she was filled with contempt for him." Perhaps you're getting all quiet on me this morning. Perhaps an even worse response than carelessness for the presence is those who show contempt for the presence. David has come all this way to return the ark of God to the city of David. He's seen Usuza struck dead in front of him. He had to wait three months just to work out if everything was going to be okay. He's come all this way and finally he's returned the ark of God to Jerusalem. The presence of God is filling the city of David. And he's dancing before the Lord with all his might. And there is his wife Mikall watching from an ivory tower looking down. And as she's watching him dance, she's filled with contempt. She despised his passion. I don't ever want to become an old cynical believer who despises the passion of the next generation that is coming through. I don't understand all of their songs. I don't know all of the dance moves. I don't know all of the rap lyrics. I still don't really know what "one more" means. But I love the passion of the next generation. Who am I to judge somebody else's worship? Who are you to judge somebody else's worship just because you don't understand it? Mikall showed contempt for David's worship.
Verse 20. "When David returned home to bless his own family, Mikall, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said, in disgust, how distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do." David was coming home to bless his own family, and it was his own wife that prevented the blessing. As your family members get set on fire for God over the next few weeks in that conference, don't put a blanket over the fire. Breathe on the fire. The Bible says in First Thessalonians, "Do not quench the Spirit." As your teenagers come home on fire for God. Don't throw a blanket over the fire. Breathe on the fire. As your wives come home on fire for the Lord, don't quench the Spirit. Breathe on the fire. I prophesy as your husbands come home on fire for God. Don't douse the fire. Breathe on the fire. Somebody in the room or online needs to receive it for their household today. Claim it for your husband. I sense this one strongly. I believe that God is about to do something in the hearts of our men. >> The men of Kingdom City are rising up and maybe historically the spiritual temperature of your home had been set by your wife. We declare that the hearts of our men are being set on fire. You'll rise up. You'll spiritually lead your family. You'll dance like David did.
Verse 21. David retorted to Mikall, "I was dancing before the Lord who chose me above your father and his family. He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord. So I celebrate before the Lord. Yes, I'm willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes. But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished." So Mikah, the daughter of Saul, the wife of David, remained childless throughout her entire life. Usuza's carelessness cost him his life. Mikall's contempt cost her her lineage. Wow. >> Carelessness kills one generation. >> Contempt kills the next generation.
Then there's Obedom who received it. After Usuza was struck down, the Bible says in verse 9, "David was now afraid of the Lord and he asked, 'How can I ever bring the ark of the Lord back into my care?' So David decided not to move the ark of the Lord into the city of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obedom of Gath. The ark of the Lord remained there in Obedom's house for 3 months, and the Lord blessed Obedom and his entire household." Can you imagine being there the day that Usuza was struck down? Like, I knew the Levitical law said it, but now I've seen the anger of God with my own eyes. And now David is cautious to return the ark back to the city of David. So they end up moving the ark into the house of Obedom and it stayed there for 3 months. Can we just consider Obedom for a second? If anyone touched the ark of God, they would be struck down dead. And now it's just sitting there in his living room. He had to make sure that his kids didn't touch the shiny thing for three months. Do you know how hard it is to stop the kids from touching the shiny thing for three minutes? No one said following God was going to be easy. Just one slip up like Usuza and he could be struck down. But Obedom received it.
Kingdom City, will you be like Obedom and make room for the presence of God in your home? Can you carve out a few days to seek the Lord in the heart of the city? I know it's not always easy. I know it's not always convenient, but Obedom received the presence of God in his home. And because he received it, the Bible says that the Lord blessed Obedom and his entire household. When you receive it, it's not just one generation that gets blessed. Your entire household gets blessed. I declare over you in the room and online because you said yes. Because you receive the presence of God into your home. Your entire household is about to get blessed. Your marriage is blessed. Your family is blessed. Your children are blessed. Your home is blessed. And if you believe it and receive it, shout amen. >> Can we get one more point? But amen. >> It's getting sweaty in here. >> Did you notice where Obedom was from? He was from Gath. >> Who else was from Gath? >> Somebody said it. Goliath. >> The same Philistine giant that David slew in the valley of Elah. Gath was one of the five major Philistine cities. Obedom received a presence in his home, >> but his home was in Gath. Somebody's not hearing this. His home was in enemy territory, but his household was still blessed.
Kingdom City, the Bible says that God is no respecter of persons. Acts 10:34, Paul said, Peter said, "I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation, he accepts those who fear him and do what is right." John 1:12. "But as many as received him, he gave them the right to become children of God to those who believe in his name." That means that it doesn't matter your background. It doesn't matter your baggage. It doesn't matter your history. It doesn't matter your story. It doesn't matter your ethnicity. It doesn't matter your culture. It doesn't matter your mother tongue. If you like Obedom, receive Him, He gives you the right to become a child of God. Romans 1:16. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is this power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes, first the Jew, then the Gentile." Kingdom City, the gospel of the good news of Jesus Christ is for everyone everywhere. And with the assassination of Charlie Kirk in America, we are witnessing the start of a great homecoming, a great return to church. Charlie Kirk was a generational voice of truth who stood for righteousness and was murdered for sharing what he believed. I met somebody last Sunday right here in our 9:00 a.m. service who came to church for the first time in his life solely due to Charlie's assassination. That gentleman heard the gospel and that gentleman gave his life to Christ. We are hearing stories of this happening everywhere. Not just in our church but in churches around the world. For as many as received him, he gave them the right to become children of God.
Usuza was careless with it. Mikall showed contempt for it. Obedom received it. But David, he carried it. The ark of God, the very presence of God, the promises of God, the provision of God, the power of God, the protection of God. David carried it. Verse 14. "And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. So David and all the people of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of ram's horns." You know, it's one thing to receive the presence. It's another thing to carry the presence. >> It's one thing to give your life to God. It's another thing to allow your life to be used by God. It's one thing to accept Jesus. It's another thing to follow Jesus. And I believe that God is raising up an army of people who will say, "I will carry it. I will bring back the presence of God to my city. I will carry the presence of God to my family. I will carry the presence of God to my workplace. I will carry the presence of God into my marriage. I will carry the presence of God to my children. I will dance undignified. I will gather the troops. I will celebrate before the Lord. I will sacrifice before the Lord. I will dance before the Lord with all of my might. I will shout for joy. I will bless the people. I will honor the presence of God. And it doesn't matter if I look foolish to those around me. I know that the Bible says that God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. I'm bringing it back."
Somebody needs to stand to their feet in the auditorium and begin to shake off carelessness and begin to shake off contempt and begin to shake off disappointment and begin to shake off fear and shake off the opinions of others. It's time to shake off your past hurts and mistakes. It's time to draw a line in the sand. I am bringing back the presence of God to my home. I am bringing back the presence of God to my family. I am bringing the presence of God back to our city. In 18 days, the believers gathered together in one place with one accord to let all of Perth know that Jesus Christ is Lord. So from the very front to the very back of the auditorium, would you begin to lift your hands as we declare this? Because we are drawing a permanent boundary line over the convention center, over the city of Perth. This is the house of God. This is the gateway to heaven. We worship you. I draw a permanent boundary line. The enemy has no right to come. We are no sleep. [Music] Goodbye. My turn. I saw the burn [Music] to come in your family. [Music]
"For as many as received him, he gave them the right to become children of God." If you receive this gospel message, He gives you the right to become a child of God. The Bible tells us in Ephesians 2:8 that we are saved by grace through faith. Grace is the free gift of God. The way we access the free gift of God, the way we receive the free gift of God is through faith. Romans 10:9 tells us, "If we confess with our mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead, then we will be saved."
I don't presume to know the spiritual condition of your life today. But if you're here today and you know that before you leave those doors, you need to get your life right with God. Or if you're watching this service online and before you log off, you need to get your life right with God. My friend, this moment is for you. For as many as received him, he gave them the right to become a child of God. Maybe your first time joining a church service in your life. We're glad you're here. I just humbly ask that you consider the condition of your heart. Perhaps this moment is for you. Other people may be walking back into a church building for the first time in a long time. I just humbly ask that you consider that this moment could be for you. Other people in service today, you just know before I walk out there, something in my heart needs to change. I need to get my life right with God. My friend, this moment is for you.
In a moment, we're going to pray. We're going to receive the grace gift of God. But so, I know who I'm praying for. Here's what we'll do. All over this room, can we bow our heads and close our eyes? If you're here today and you know before I leave, something needs to change. I need to get my life right with God. It would be our highest honor as a community of faith to lead you in a prayer that welcomes Christ into your heart to be your personal Lord and Savior. So, I know who I'm praying for. Here's what we'll do. In a moment, we'll count down from three. We'll go like this: 3, 2, 1. As we get to one, if you'd like to be included in this prayer, some for the first time in your life, some for the first time in a long time, would you just be bold and brave and raise a hand up nice and high in the air so I can see it? I'll acknowledge your hand. I'll invite you to put it right back down again. I just want to know who I'm praying for today. So, I'm going to count down now. If this is you, as we get to one, would you wave at me, friend? In three, two, one, nice and high in the air? Nice and high in the air. God bless you there. God bless you there. God loves you. He's got a plan for your life. He wants to know you. God bless you there. Who else today? God bless the both of you there. God bless you. You don't need to wait for another countdown. God bless you there, ma'am. Who else today, you know, before you leave this room, something needs to change. You need to get your life right with God. For as many as received him, he gave them the rights to become children of God. Who else today, before we pray, would you wave at me, friend? Already a number of people have responded. You might be online and responding to the gospel. Love to connect with you. Just follow the prompts there. Hallelujah. Those with your hands raised, you can put them down.
Why don't we all open up our eyes, church? All of heaven rejoices this morning. So, can we join with the angels and celebrate? What was lost has now been found. Come on. What was dead has been raised back to life. And in support of these amazing people throughout the auditorium who have responded to the gospel, can we place a hand on our hearts? Just repeat this prayer after me. Say, "Dear Lord Jesus, I thank you for your love. I thank you for your mercy. I thank you for your grace. Forgive me of my sin. Turn my life around. I want to be in relationship with you. I welcome you into my heart, to be my Lord, to be my savior, to be my friend. I want to live for you all the days of my life. I believe that you're the Son of God, that you rose again, and today I confess that you are Lord of my life in Jesus' name." And the church said, "Amen." Come on. The church shouted, "Amen." One more time, can we lift our voice and give God glory? [Music] [Music] [Music]