Potholes In His Presence

A message from Pastor Sherwood Lancaster In today's sermon, we delved into 2 Samuel 6, focusing on David's journey to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. The Ark, representing God's manifest presence, was lost to the Philistines due to Israel's negligence. David, a man after God's own heart, was determined to restore the Ark to its rightful place. Despite his passion and desire for God's presence, David made a critical error by transporting the Ark on a new cart, mimicking the Philistines' method rather than following God's instructions. This led to a tragic incident where Uzzah, in an attempt to steady the Ark, was struck down by God for his disobedience. The sermon emphasized the importance of not taking God's presence for granted and the necessity of following His ways rather than adopting worldly methods. David's initial failure and subsequent fear led him to leave the Ark at Obed-Edom's house, where it brought blessings. This period of reflection allowed David to regain his passion and desire for God's presence, ultimately leading him to retrieve the Ark correctly. The message also highlighted the concept of the threshing floor, a place of separation where God refines us by removing the unusable parts of our lives. Just as David faced a pothole on his journey, we too encounter obstacles that serve as opportunities for God to purify and prepare us for our destiny. The sermon concluded with a call to regain our passion and desire for God, encouraging us to rise again despite past failures and to pursue our God-given purpose with renewed vigor. ### Key Takeaways 1. **The Presence of God Should Not Be Taken for Granted**: Just as Israel lost the Ark due to negligence, we risk losing God's presence when we take it for granted. God's presence is not a given; it requires reverence and obedience. We must prioritize His presence above our plans and routines, ensuring that we seek Him earnestly and follow His ways. 2. **Passion and Desire for God Are Essential**: David was a man after God's own heart because of his unwavering passion and desire for God's presence. Despite his flaws and failures, David's heart was always inclined towards God. This teaches us that our relationship with God should be driven by a deep, genuine desire to seek Him above all else. 3. **Worldly Methods Cannot Usher in God's Presence**: David's mistake of using a new cart, a method borrowed from the Philistines, underscores the danger of adopting worldly practices in our spiritual walk. God's instructions are clear, and we must follow them rather than conforming to the world's ways. True worship and service to God must align with His commands, not our convenience. 4. **The Threshing Floor as a Place of Refinement**: The threshing floor represents a place where God separates the usable from the unusable in our lives. Just as David encountered a pothole before reaching the threshing floor, we too face challenges that serve to refine us. These moments of separation are crucial for our spiritual growth and preparation for God's purposes. 5. **Restoring Passion and Desire After Failure**: David's journey teaches us that failure is not the end. After losing the Ark and experiencing a period of reflection, David regained his passion and desire for God. Similarly, we must not let past mistakes or setbacks deter us. God calls us to rise again, reclaim our passion, and continue pursuing our divine destiny with renewed determination.