Elim Sanctuary

The New Instruction

"How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him as king? Fill your horn with oil..." — 1 Samuel 16:1

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House of Bread

Man shall not live by bread alone, but every WORD that proceeds from the mouth of God - Matthew 4:4 David was born in Bethlehem Bethlehem = the House of Bread Building Davidically is building a people who love the word of God. Psalm 119:105 > Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path God's blessing will rest upon those who abide in His Word Song: The Word by Anna Golden https://youtu.be/2VT7uxxFF-E?si=0wK3z_o4Mg3sO4U9

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From Availability to Anointing

"Fill your horn with oil." - 1 Samuel 16:1 - Availability: A distracted heart can't perceive/see Christ - eg. Mary and Martha - The Instruction: That same heart then recognises when God has moved from Saul to David - the present, not the past. - Anointing: And once David is discerned, he must be received correctly: not by what's manmade and convenient (flask), but by what costs a death (horn).

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Christ & the Church

And gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body - Ephesians 1:22-23 Your Ecclesiology determines your Christology: • Ecclesiology is the understanding of the church • Christology is the understanding of Christ How you view the church shapes how you view Christ. If this is wrong, Christ can be viewed incorrectly: If we don't see the church as the body, we can NEVER see Christ as the Head of the Church - The body reveals the Head. You cannot honour the Head while dismissing the Body.

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Availability > Activity

And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was DISTRACTED WITH MUCH SERVING… - Luke 10:39-40 Activity: Activity fills the calendar - We can serve/sing/lead/show up faithfully, and still withhold the one thing He is asking for. We can be busy for God and still be hidden from Him. Religious activity can run in parallel to a withheld heart without noticing. Availability: A surrendered heart - This isn't about what our hands are doing, but whether our heart is actually in the room. Activity: "Here's what I've done." Availability: "Here I am." That's the difference between doing something FOR Him and being WITH Him.

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Rehoboam vs. David

God told Rehoboam's family: "You have not been like my servant David, who followed me with ALL HIS HEART." - 1 Kings 14:8 Story Time: Rehoboam was Solomon's son. After Solomon died, the kingdom split, and Rehoboam ruled the smaller half - Judah. He wasn't a good king. The standard isn't "be a successful king." It's "have a heart like David." Reflection: "The heart is deceitful above all things." - Jeremiah 17:9 Without examining our hearts, we can't tell the difference: - David: imperfect, but was always seeking God, even after failing - Rehoboam: his heart was never directed after God We can assume we're fine when we're really just unexamined - like Rehoboam.

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A Davidic People

rebuild the tabernacle of David - Acts 15:16 - Tabernacle of David: Simple Tent They brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tabernacle that David had ERECTED for it - 1 Chronicles 16:1 - Solomon's Temple: Fancy House Solomon overlaid the inside of the TEMPLE with pure GOLD - 1 Kings 6:21 The "rebuilding of the tabernacle of David" was a rebuilding of "a Davidic people" Davidic People = People who have a heart after God Important Note: It's not about what is physically being built, but the heart of those building it.

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Thinking Dynastically

I will raise up the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, repair its ruins, and raise up its ruins. - Amos 9:11 David's tabernacle wasn't rebuilt as a monument/idol to the past; it was raised to carry forward. Dynasty means: - a lineage of kings - a hereditary line of nobles Important Note: We are building dynastically - we are not just building for one generation but for future generations. There is NO success without a successor. Ask yourself: - Am I building only for what I can see? - Am I raising others to carry this further than I did?

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Walking with Foresight

Walking with Foresight "By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen..." (Hebrews 11:7) God revealed to Noah what was coming before it happened. Foresight is not speculation - It is seeing beyond the present and responding with wisdom. Noah did not wait for the flood to begin building the ark. He acted on what God had shown him. The foundation of Noah's life was not the ark; it was his walk with God(Genesis 6:9), and through that walk God gave him foresight. Walk = Lifestyle Walk is a metaphor for lifestyle, walking with God means keeping pace with Him. Being divinely warned doesn’t always come through extraordinary/supernatural experiences but through seeking Him daily allowing His ways to become a lifestyle thus Noah learnt to recognise God's plan and respond. Faith is NOT blind optimism - Noah's faith was demonstrated through practical obedience (planning/managing resources/finding labour, and perseverance). He prepared for a future that others could not see. Foresight is developed through a lifestyle with God. Likened to Noah, faith does not ignore reality; it prepares for it with wisdom. Pray + Communion - Foresight to see the end from the beginning

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The Mature Man

Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations (Genesis 6:9) Perfect = Mature The word perfect does not mean sinless/blameless, it means mature. Though "the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence" (Genesis 6:11), Noah remained a mature man who chose to walk with God. Spiritual maturity is not measured by biblical knowledge or the ability to quote scripture but by living out the Word (biblical truths becoming a practical reality). Noah's maturity was evident in his walk with God. Before entrusting him with the responsibility of building the ark, God first developed capacity within him. Many desire influence, but influence requires maturity. God's pattern is to build wisdom and capacity within us before entrusting greater responsibility (building the ark) - He develops the ability to carry an assignment before He releases it. Immaturity can destroy what God intends to build, but maturity enables us to faithfully steward His responsibilities and resources. Pray + Communion - He would increase capacity in us to carry His purpose - Biblical truths will become our practical reality

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The Fear of the Lord

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (Psalm 111:10) The fear of the Lord is not a fear that causes us to run from God; it is a reverential awe that causes us to honour Him. When Uzzah touched the ark, 2 Sam 6:7 says that God's anger was aroused. It wasn’t what Uzzah did but the lack of reverence behind his action. This generation has become familiar with many things that should still be honoured. We have become casual with God's Word/Prayer/Marriage/Stewardship, and casual with the things entrusted to us by God. David and Solomon both declared that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. If wisdom has a foundation, it is reverence for God. The fear of the Lord protects us from foolishness. It guards our speech/our relationships/our finances, and our choices. A person who fears God will often live differently from the world because their highest concern is pleasing God rather than pleasing people. Let’s examine ourselves by asking: Is there any area of my life where I have become casual with what God calls Holy? Pray + Communion: - Restore a reverential awe for You in our lives - For the fear of the Lord to become the foundation of our lives

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Carrying what Matters

"They set the ark of God on a new cart" (2 Samuel 6:3) The ark was never intended to be pushed on a cart. God had instructed that it should be carried on the shoulders of His people. An important truth: Many people want to push what they were called to carry. Modern day culture is built around convenience. We look for shortcuts/quick solutions/easy answers, and comfort. Yet spiritual maturity is developed when we faithfully carry responsibility - the most important things in life require weight-bearing responsibility (marriage/parenting /serving God) A shoulder speaks of carrying weight. God calls His people not merely to lend a hand when it is convenient but to faithfully bear what He has entrusted to them. Pray + Communion: - Strength to bear weight - Grace to be faithful in the responsibilities He has entrusted to us

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A Devoted Heart

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers (Acts 2:42) One of the biggest concerns in a modern-day believer’s life is the Lack of Devotion. The early church seen in Acts were marked by steadfast doctrine - they were committed to God's Word, Fellowship, Prayer, and Communion (not partaken once a month but as often as we can - 1 Corinthians 11:26). Faithfulness is not measured by brief moments of excitement for God, but by pursuing Him consistently. A spiritually mature believer remains steadfast even when feelings fluctuate, responsibilities increase, and circumstances become challenging. Many things compete for our attention: social media/entertainment/work/personal interests, yet spiritual growth requires intentional time. WHY? The believers in Acts did not treat their faith as a small part of life. Their relationship with God shaped everything they did. Consider your daily habits: What receives the most time and attention? The things we consistently give ourselves to reveals what we value the most (Watching TV/social media/entertainment). God is not looking for occasional believers. He desires steadfast hearts that continually seek Him. Pray + Communion: - Help us remain committed to Your Word, prayer, fellowship, and communion - Remove every distraction that competes for our attention, and give us hearts that seek You above all

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Living From God’s Presence

"Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10) In Moses’ tabernacle there was the Outer court, the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place. The closer one came to the presence of God, the quieter it became. The Outer court was filled with activity and noise, but the Most Holy Place was marked by stillness. World = Noise We are often consumed by responsibilities/deadlines/social media and endless distractions. Yet God often speaks most clearly when we intentionally set aside distractions and seek Him. The psalmist did not say, "Be busy and know that I am God." He said, "Be still." Because of Christ, we no longer stand outside hoping to enter God's presence. The veil has been torn, and we now live from His presence. The challenge is not access to Him but awareness of Him. Today, make room for silence, take a few moments to acknowledge God’s presence. Remember that you are His Child and that He is present with you. Let His presence shape your attitude, your decisions, and your conversations throughout the day. The more we learn to live from God's presence - the less we will be controlled by the noise. Pray + Communion: - To become more aware of His presence. - Allow Him to direct our attitudes, decisions, and conversations

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The Blessing of Reverential Awe

Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments (Psalm 112:1)   Psalm 112 is a picture of a God-fearers life. Such a person delights in God's Word/walks in wisdom and leaves a Godly legacy for future generations.   Reverential Awe is the beginning of one’s blessing: Before scripture speaks of prosperity, influence, or success - it first speaks of the fear of the Lord. This foundation must be established before the fruit can be produced.   A person who fears God seeks to honour Him both in private and public. They are quick to repent when they fail and remain committed to obeying God's Word even when it is difficult.   The blessing of God is not merely about possessions; it’s about living a life that reflects His favour, mirrors His character and walks in His purpose. Such a life becomes a testimony to future generations.   So let’s examine ourselves: -  Am I delighting in His Word? -  Am I building a life that honours Him?   The fear of the Lord is not the end goal in a Christian life - it is the foundation upon which a fruitful life is built.   Pray + Communion: - Help us delight in Your Word, and Your ways - Enable us to leave a legacy that honours You

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