THE HEART OF DAVID

David was a man after Gods own Heart! ....What was that heart?

Was it the area of moral purity? I dont think so David blew that one
Was it in the area of Honesty and integrity? Uriah would probably not agree with that one.
Was it in Davids ability to keep the law? didnt do that one too well either

David had a heart that longed for the Presence God to dwell with men....That has always been Gods heart "To dwell with men and to be their God and they His people"

David worshiped in order to gain the presence and release Gods heart
David battled God's enemies in order to gain the presence and release Gods heart
David built a tent of meeting in order to gain the presence and release Gods heart
David retrieved the Ark in order to gain the presence and release Gods heart
David intructed his son to build a house for God in order to gain the presence and release Gods heart

Gods heart has always been to to dwell with men and David lived his life to see this happen..He abandoned himself to this purpose and this passion drove his heart to line up with the heart of God. David blew it so many times there are entire chapters set aside to tell us about his failings...Yet God blessed David and declared him to be a man with a heart after His own heart.

So with this observation that Davids heart was a heart after Gods own desire to be with men and to dwell with them..and that it was this desire and not his oodness that pleased God, what is the most important issue in the Church right now.

Is it going after wrong doctrine? I dont think so
Is it going after faulty leaders and teachers? I dont think so
The most important issue in the church right now is
"There has got to be a palce for the presence of God to dwell with men!"

Where there are people going after wrong doctrine and faulty leaders there become rules and regulations that turn to religion and death. It becomes do this and dont do that and this dosnt attract His prescence. Where there is a heart to see God's precence sometimes it dosnt always look so pretty just like David's life, but we dont want to become like Michal, Davids wife who dispised Davids abandoned one track heart and as a result she became barren.

Going after sound doctrine (mans observation) has never led to a move of God even if the intention is to honour God by doing right.

Weve all heard the saying " He cant do right for doing wrong" Well thats what happens when we try in our own strngth to " Do good doctrine" Ive yet to meet a person who has been able to "Live the life" the truth is only Jesus has ever been able to and unless we "Put him on" like a garment our own garments will always just be as filthy rags.
If we want to see Him come down then our heart has to reflect this abandoned thought and intent..to reflect this " That God would dwell with men" We must come boldly before the throne of grace and become totally abandoned to this cause even if we look silly.
God calls us to be a living sacrifice....its alive not dead with law and rules but alive and acceptable because of the blood of Jesus... Its not the sacrifice thats important its God acceptance of the sacrifice and that can only happen if we put on Jesus like a garment and be in His prescence. Laid down abandoned love that rejoices in His works and not our own works is what brings His presence. Not doctrine or works or structures or methods or programs, Just a laid down love and acceptance of the gift of grace and mercy that brought me with an unimaginable price to Jesus.

In His presence His blood will do its work and bring us into a living sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to Him. But outside of Him there is no life so " Going after good doctrine" is not going to produce a sweet smelling sacrifice.. but going after His prescene will.
Even if like David you have a few issues the best place for you to run is into Him and into His presence and in that place of abandoned love you will see the life you desire.

IAN JOHNSON
www.hisamazinggloryministries.org