Central truth: If you draw near to God, He will draw near to you.
IF YOU DRAW NEAR TO GOD, HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU.
INTRODUCTION:
A few years ago, my family and I stayed at the Hilton Waikoloa Hotel on the Big Island of Hawaii It is our favorite hotel because of a boat and a tram that takes its visitors around the very scenic hotel.
I remember a lesson I discovered there that impacted me heavily. I learned that people on a tram and people in church often have a similar approach. Most are well behaved and are presentable. Some take the time to sit back, close their eyes, and relax while others stare out the window. Still others sit there and while their bodies are present, it is obvious that their minds are elsewhere. Many on the tram (like far too many people at church) are satisfied having a predictable and “nice” experience. For many, the mark of a good ride and a good worship service are very similar. After a good tram ride we say, “That was a nice ride,” then we move on and leave the same way we entered. After a routine worship service we may say, “That was a nice service,” then we move on and leave the same way we entered.
There are a few, however, who are not content with “nice.” They want something more. My son Josiah was obsessed with Thomas the Train at the time and was thrilled to see the tram (or train as he called it). The night that we visited the tram, there were few people there. As people were exiting and entering, Josiah wanted more. He was not content to just go for a ride. He wanted to meet the tram controller (or in his mind, the train conductor), and see the controls.
To say that he was thrilled when the woman driving said “Well, come on in!” would be an understatement. I remember how gracious she was. Since it was later in the evening and she didn’t think she’d get in trouble, she even let him talk on the PA system. Before the tram left the stop, everyone on the tram heard a high pitched voice of my two year old boy enthusiastically saying, “ALL ABOARD!”
I was excited for him and let him go up front with the gracious tram driver. Josiah was thrilled and when the trip was over, he was thrilled to let us know, “Wow! I met the lady up front!”
The other passengers weren’t very enthusiastic. Most were content to sit and wait until their ride was over, then to move on. There were some really red tourists that looked like they were from the mainland and had yet to discover sun tan lotion looked. They looked miserable. A couple from Japan looked excited. The rest were content to have a predictable, uneventful journey. They were content with a “nice” ride.
TRANSITION:
Just like that tram ride, most churches have a group of people that are presentable and content, a few people who are miserable being there, and a handful who really desire to meet the God who is “up front!“ We are going to learn this morning, the importance of celebrating the Savior and we will learn about the attitude we should have when we come to the House of God.
IF YOU DRAW NEAR TO GOD, HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU.
SCRIPTURE AND CONEXT:
When the Temple is established by King Solomon in 1 Kings 7:15-22, there is a reminder that he places so that the people of Israel, when they came to worship, would be reminded not to settle for a “nice” time in worship. Here’s what 1 Kings 7:15-22 says:
“15 He cast two bronze pillars, each eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits around, [h] by line. 16 He also made two capitals of cast bronze to set on the tops of the pillars; each capital was five cubits [i] high. 17 A network of interwoven chains festooned the capitals on top of the pillars, seven for each capital. 18 He made pomegranates in two rows [j] encircling each network to decorate the capitals on top of the pillars. [k] He did the same for each capital. 19 The capitals on top of the pillars in the portico were in the shape of lilies, four cubits [l] high. 20 On the capitals of both pillars, above the bowl-shaped part next to the network, were the two hundred pomegranates in rows all around. 21 He erected the pillars at the portico of the temple. The pillar to the south he named Jakin [m] and the one to the north Boaz. [n] 22 The capitals on top were in the shape of lilies. And so the work on the pillars was completed.” 1 Kings 7:15-22 NIV (emphasis mine)
1 Kings 7, gives details of the furnishings of the Temple of God built by Solomon. In verses 15-22, two pillars in the Temple are erected and both pillars are named and described.
Interestingly enough, these two pillars were given names; Jakin and Boaz. By the way, you know that palaces are built in some extraordinary way, when the place is given a name. I have never lived in a home with a name, except, “my house.”
In those days, it is also worth noting that names were not meant just to be used as names, but rather as something to identify character. For example, David meant “well beloved,“ Peter meant “rock,“ Abraham meant “father of nations,“ and Ty meant “handsome, intelligent, and strong.“ Ok. Just kidding about the meaning of my name.
BY THE WAY – The other week, I went on a field trip with my youngest daughter Grace. Because her mom knows the teacher, Grace was able to pick her partners. Ms. Laura came home and was surprised because of whom Grace picked to be her partner. She had her best friend, and a boy. The boy, Grace picked was because he reminded her of me – I thought he must be handsome, smart, strong. Laura says it was because he likes to tell stupid jokes that no one but himself laughs at, is kind of obnoxious, likes to play jokes on people, and won’t stop talking!
The point of this however, is that the names given to the two pillars in 1 Kings give a picture of two things I believe God wants us to remember when we come to worship God and need some encouragement along the way.
Jakin means “He shall establish.”
Boaz means, “In Him is strength.”
This verse says that when the people of God came to the Temple to worship, they would always be reminded that “He shall establish” and “In Him is strength.” When they looked to the south, they were reminded, “He shall establish” and when they turned to the north, they were reminded, “In Him is strength.” Any time the people were to enter the Temple to worship, they would immediately be reminded that “He shall establish” and “In Him is strength.”
Whenever they came to God and felt downcast, discouraged, or broken, they could remember, “He shall establish” and “In Him is strength.” Whenever they questioned whether or not God was still present with them, or wondered if they could endure the difficult season they were facing, they could look up at the pillars and see that, “He shall establish” and “In Him is strength.” Any time that they approached God in the Temple, they would first be met with the reminder at the entrance of Jakin and Boaz. “He shall establish” and “In Him is strength.”
APPLICATION:
God does not want His people to come to Him how tourists enter a hotel tram. Whenever we come to worship my God, we must remember Jakin and Boaz as well. Whenever we come before God with any problems or challenge, God wants us to be reminded that, “He shall establish” and “In Him is strength.”
Whenever we question if He can still use us, we must look up and see that, “He shall establish” and “In Him is strength.” If ever we question if we are able to serve my God or if we have the strength to stand for Him, “He shall establish” and “In Him is strength.”
By the way, the church today must likewise be both Jakin and Boaz. The church can only be the church if we recognize that, “He shall establish”. The people of God can only do what God wants us to do if we recognize that, “In Him is strength.” Whenever God leads me to face my fears, we must remember, Jakin and Boaz. “He shall establish” and “In Him is strength.” When we wonder if we are sufficient, we need meditate upon Jakin and Boaz. “He shall establish” and “In Him is strength.” When God calls us to step out and to be involved in serving Him in an unorthodox, unusual, or uncomfortable way, we need to focus on Jakin and Boaz. “He shall establish” and “In Him is strength.”
We’re sadly casual when it comes to meeting God.
WE WOULDN’T BE SO CASUAL IF WE MET SOMEONE LESS IMPORTANT THAN GOD, LIKE SAY FOR EXAMPLE, BARAK OBAMA. WHAT IF HE CALLED YOU AND SAID HE IS HAVING YOU COME OVER TO THE WHITE HOUSE TOMORROW? Would you take a Sunday morning breakfast at the White House lightly? How would you spend night before? Would you get ready? Would you collect your thoughts? Would you think about your questions and requests? Of course you would! SHOULD WE PREPARE ANY LESS FOR AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE HOLY GOD?
Let me urge you to come to worship prepared to worship. Pray before you come so you will be ready to pray when you arrive. Sleep before you come so you’ll stay alert when you arrive. Read the Word before you come so your heart will be soft when you worship. Come hungry. Come willing. Come expecting God to speak. Come asking, even as you walk through the door, “Can I see the captain today?”
Prepare your heart for your time with the King. Remember that God always wants to speak to you, but if you are not hearing Him, it is not the worship teams’ fault not is it the speakers’. It is because you have not prepared to hear what God is saying to you.
Psalms 34:15 says, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their cry.”
IF YOU DRAW NEAR TO GOD, HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU.
How do you know that you are drawing near to Him?
We have to answer this question… Is Jesus your steering wheel or is He your spare tire?
A steering wheel is what determines the direction the car goes in. If the steering wheel is turned to the right, the whole car turns to the right. If the steering wheel turns to the left, the whole car turns to the left.
A spare tire stays hidden away, only to be used in case of emergency. A car can run perfectly fine without a spare tire, unless something goes wrong. A spare tire is hidden behind or under the car and is needed only when one of the other tires goes out. A spare tire may is only called upon when other options fail and it is only needed during a crisis, but otherwise, it is there “just in case.”
Again, is Jesus your steering wheel or is He your spare tire?
The reason this question is important to answer is because throughout the bible, those who made the greatest impacts were those whom God was their steering wheel, and not their spare tire! Is Jesus the one I turn to for direction in making decisions, or is He the last resort I turn to in times of despair and distress? Is He the living, breathing, God who created life and conquered death, or is He a religious ornament or symbol that is only to be used in case of emergency? Is He the first one I turn to be led by or is He my last resort in times of crisis?
WORSHIP AND DRAWING NEAR TO GOD MEANS THAT HE IS NOT YOUR SPARE TIRE, BUT YOUR STEERING WHEEL!
THE TITANIC MYTH
I’ve recently heard about a phenomenon called the, “Titanic Myth.” The Titanic was called the unsinkable ship before its maiden voyage. Why? Titanic was the first ship designed in a new way that was said to be unsinkable because they had compartmentalized the hull. Prior to Titanic, ships had one big empty hull and if they ran into an iceberg or a rock, there would be a hole in the hull, the ship would take on water, and it was sure to sink. The makers of the Titanic said that because their innovation of compartmentalization in the hull, if the ship were to hit a rock or iceberg, theoretically, the ship could take on water in a certain number of compartments but in the end, it wouldn’t sink the ship.
In theory that makes sense. Minimize the water taken in and still be able to remain afloat. The truth they discovered however is that a hole in the boat, is still a hole in the boat. A hole is still a hole, and a boat taking on water, is still a boat taking on water. If two people are in a rowboat and one drills a hole in the boat at their end, it cannot be said, “Oh don’t worry about what I am doing. It’s just my life. I can do whatever I want to do.” The boat will still take on water and both are going down.
DON’T THINK THAT YOU CAN BE A CHRISTIAN AND WORSHIP JESUS AT CHURCH AND DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT AT HOME OR AT SCHOOL.
A hole in the boat is a hole in the boat!
If HE SHALL ESTABLISH, at church, He will establish you in your family.
If HE SHALL ESTABLISH, at church, He will establish you with your friends.
If HE SHALL ESTABLISH, at church, He will establish you
If, IN HIM IS STRENGTH, is true at church, it is true at school.
If, IN HIM IS STRENGTH, is true at church, it is true with bullies.
If, IN HIM IS STRENGTH, is true at church, it is true with temptations.
If, IN HIM IS STRENGTH, is true at church,, it is true everywhere!
IF YOU DRAW NEAR TO GOD, HE WILL DRAW NEAR TO YOU.
CONCLUSION:
While I’m sure God wouldn’t mind if we settled for a “nice ride” on a tram, I am confident that He does not want us to settle for a “nice service” when we come to Him. 1 Kings 7 reminds us that when we come to God we need to be reminded of Jackin and Boaz. We need to come knowing and trusting that, “He shall establish” and “In Him is strength.” Let’s take a time in prayer as we are reminded today that “He shall establish” and “In Him is strength.”
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, You shall establish and in You is strength. May I always be attentive to that truth and reminded of those truths when I approach You. Amen.
