Neglecting the Ark

Scripture:

I Chronicles 13:3 "It is time to bring back the Ark of our God, from we neglected it during the reign of Saul".

Observation:

Saul has just died a terrible death and David is being inaugurated as king of all Israel. As he is becoming king, he feels it is incredibly important to get the Ark of God back into his care. The Ark of God is where the presence of the Lord was concentrated in those days. Saul apparently did not feel it was important to have the presence of God on his side. he must have felt self-sufficient in leading the nation because he neglected the Ark. David comes along and one of the first things he does is to try to get the Ark back where it belongs. He must have remembered the stories of how the priests carrying the Ark stepped into the Jordan River and it parted and how whenever the Ark was with them, they won conflicts and battles.

Application:

We have neglected the Ark of God just as they did in Saul's time. Most of what happens in our churches today would simply continue if the Holy Spirit was removed. We need the presence and power of our God back in our ministries! We need to realize we have neglected this aspect in our churches. We need God to come and work among His people. We cannot continue to neglect the Ark and expect to see the kingdom of God expand. We need to show our utter dependence on Him and cry out for Him to come again.

Prayer:

Father, we have neglected the Ark. We have put on programs, done slick advertising, and leaned on our own understanding of how church is to operate. I want to see the body of Christ turn back to You and desire Your presence. If You don't show up in the churches of America, we are sunk! We need You and will do whatever it takes to get the Ark of the presence of God back into the churches of this nation. Come Holy Spirit and fill our sanctuaries and meeting places with Your Holy presence. WE want the Ark back in our churches!

I Love You,

Jeff