A 9:3 for 9/3

A 9:3 for 9/3

1 Kings 9:3

And the Lord said to him: “I have heard your prayer and your supplication that you have made before Me; I have consecrated this house which you have built to put My name there forever, and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.

A little background:

King Solomon (the son of King David), had been on the throne now for over 20 years, and the temple was finally built. In chapter 8 Solomon dedicated the temple to God and prayed. He led the people in offerings of worship and sacrifice, giving their best to God.

Again, they dedicated the building to God, not to man, and they worshipped God, not the building.

What we read above is God’s response to Solomon’s prayer, and there’s a lesson in this short verse.

We build new buildings and buildings are repurposed. Some look like churches, some do not.

Solomon did the same – he built a building. It was the presence of God that MADE it the house of God.

Solomon built it, but God consecrated it.

Some buildings look like churches – Beautiful white buildings full of pews and well-kept hymnals. They have nice, high steeples with polished bells that ring out beautifully, everything that comes to mind when we hear the word “church”.

Until they’re filled with God’s presence, they’re only buildings.

You can build a building with the tallest steeples and the loudest bells, painted the whitest shade of white, with all the latest technology - the newest gadgets, laser lights and fog machines with a new sound system. A building that fills to capacity, with hundreds upon hundreds of people in the seats.

That doesn’t make it a house of God.

On the other hand, you can have an old school, a grocery store or even an old abandoned gas station with no seating, steeples or bells, and no paved parking.

But when people gather there in humble worship, whether that's ten thousand or 1 or just a few, worshipping with ALL their hearts, inviting God’s presence – that becomes a house of God.

God’s presence isn’t restricted by words on a deed or by zoning laws.

He doesn’t care the about the size, shape, color or capacity of the building. He doesn’t come in through the front door.

His presence comes in through the humble hearts of people who worship and love Him, who pray earnestly to Him, and who seek His face.

Forget what you think “church” should look like. Forget the Hollywood images and the beautiful paintings.

Focus on what matters - gathering in true worship and prayer with humble hearts dedicated fully to God.