I Chronicles 22:14
“Now behold, with great pains I have prepared for the house of the LORD a hundred thousand talents of gold and a million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond measure, for they are in great quantity; I have also prepared timber and stone, and you may add to that”.
I’ve written about this topic before. That is a great work that David did. He says, “with great pains I have prepared for the house of the Lord”. Initially David wanted to build a house for God, but God said, “No”. So the preparation is the next thing.
This triggers me. I was raised in a church in which one could never do enough. When I came to Christ, my mind never stopped giving suggestions for things to do. I was enslaved to my imagination. If I didn’t follow through, then I would feel guilty.
Then I heard the message of grace. God wasn’t looking for slaves, but children. It still took time for the enslaving thoughts to lose their power. I took the WWJD suggestion the wrong way. I would come up with an answer and if I didn’t do it, I felt guilty.
Along with the message of grace came 2 Corinthians 9:7, “Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.” Much of what I was doing was out of compulsion. This began to help me distinguish what God’s voice sounded like. Or maybe better said, what it didn’t sound like.
Pastor Chuck Smith shared another insight. The Holy Spirit’s conviction draws one to God, but the devil’s condemnation drives us away from God. These thoughts were condemning.
What has captivated my heart for the last few years was Roman’s 8:14-16, “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.” I had a spirit of slavery. The forceful thoughts were not of God. I had a new Father. My dad died when I was two and my stepfather came into my life at eight. He was quiet, disapproving and sarcastic. He may have been the one who gave all the inner disapproval. Now I feel the Spirit testifying with my spirit. I sense my spirit crying out “Abba! Father!”
John 10:27 says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” We begin to distinguish His voice. It isn’t condemning. Hebrews 5:14 develops this, “But solid food is for the mature, the ones by constant use having trained the senses for distinguishing both good and evil.” We have spiritual senses. One of them is sensing God’s voice.
Let’s go back to today’s verse. David performed an enormous task by preparing to build God’s house. This sounds like something my condemning voice would have suggested. I try to avoid those.
Does this mean I avoid all difficult tasks? No, but I put them through a series of questions. I ignore it at first. If it keeps coming back I’ll pray, “Lord, if this is of you make it clear?” It often evaporates. If it still sticks I’ll entertain it. Sometimes I’ll pray, “Lord, I don’t think this is of You. Please clarify?” Then I’ll ignore it. Usually if it’s still there I try to do it.
I have done some things that I was fairly certain was of God and it didn’t go the way I had hoped. Division is still present. I still think it was of God. Hopefully it’ll work out.
I rarely am oppressed by this these thoughts. I am still cautious of them. I joined a men’s group that is going through a book that is somewhat triggering. I’ve hinted at it to the leader and he gets it. I don’t want to seem like a heretic, so I am limiting my comments. While the topic seems fine, the negative motivation doesn’t seem of God.
Thank You, Lord, for the freedom You’ve given. Help us to walk in it.