1 Chronicles 28:9-21

Verses 9-10, “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.”

We would all agree that there are many opinions about what our churches need. I believe that the Holy Spirit has given us some great tools for the building of God’s House. As it was in previous times, so it is today; needs never seem to change!

As the time of David’s departure drew near, he was led by the Lord to speak to his son, Solomon, about the building of God’s temple. David was denied the privilege of building the temple because he was a man of war and bloodshed. In this great story, God has given us five of the greatest needs of any Gospel-preaching church. These principles also apply in building our homes and personal lives.

I. THE NEED OF CONVERSION, VS. 1-5

We, too, must know the God of our fathers:

  • Every church member must be saved.
  • Every father, mother, and child must truly know God.
  • Every member must know God intimately.

Jeremiah 9:23-24, “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”

God’s lovingkindness was their only hope. The Hebrew word is hesed and is used about 250 times in the Old Testament. It means to be loyal, faithful, and steadfast. In other words, they were to be steadfast in their love for God and each other. What a principle for the New Testament Christian! We must love our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be loyal and faithful to one another. These three qualities are essential to understanding God’s mercy toward us. We must understand the need for conversion and God’s lovingkindness as our only hope.

If what we do is to be accepted by God, we must do what we do with a sincere and faithful heart and for the glory of God. Solomon did not need more head knowledge, but he needed a heart yielded to God. In verse eleven, David gave Solomon the pattern and design of the Temple that he had received by divine revelation, just as God had shown Moses the design of the Tabernacle.

II. THE NEED OF CONSECRATION, VS 6, 9.

This simply means that we must:

  • Love God.
  • Live holy lives.
  • Learn to apply Bible principles.
  • Lean on the promises of God.
  • Labor to reach the lost.

We must serve Him with fear and trembling and rejoice with pure hearts:

  • With a holy fear of God, Psalm 2:11, “Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.”
  • With upright in living, Psalm 101:6, “Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.”
  • With complete loyalty to Christ, Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
  • With a regenerated heart, Romans 7:6, “But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.”
  • As to the Lord, Romans 12:11, “Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;”
  • With a humble spirit, Acts 20:19, “Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:”
  • With God’s “agape” love, Galatians 5:13, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”

III. THE NEED OF CAUTION, VS 7-8

By caution, I mean that we must:

  • Take heed to listen to the Word of God.
  • Take heed to listen to the Spirit of God.
  • Take heed to listen to the man of God.

IV. THE NEED OF COURAGE AND CONVICTION, V. 10

Please read 1 Chronicles 22:13-16, 19. Stay in the fight and don’t quit, because too many are quitting today. All across America, servants of God are quitting or just walking away from their tasks. The average Christian walks out on God in less than seven years. They tell God all they have done and that it is someone else’s turn; they say, “Goodbye God,” or “No more God for me.” Many walk out on God when things get tough.  We have too many Christians who love God only when all goes well.” In other words, we must be strong and of good courage.                                      

V. THE NEED OF COMPLETION, V. 10

Verse 20, “And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.”

David is saying that this is the greatest blessing of all: the God Whom I have been serving and Who has been with me and has greatly prospered me as He did my fathers will also be with you to strengthen and keep you.

If we are faithful to God, He will never fail us, and He will always be with us to strengthen us and to prosper the work of our hands.

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Hans Nikoley, GSBC Staff

Bro. Nikoley emigrated from Germany to the United States with his family at age 13. He served full time in the Nevada Air National Guard for six years. At age 32, He was saved, and in 1977, he graduated from Bible College. He pastored for over 31 years, 27 of them at Pomerado Road Baptist Church in Poway, California. Bro. Nikoley has served at Golden State Baptist College in the Bible Department and also as the Student Employment Director since 2007. He and his wife Mary have two children and have been married for 58 years.