SEEKING GOD AFTER THE DUE ORDER

TEXT: 1 Chronicles 15:13 - For because ye did it 
  not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach 
  upon us, for that we sought him not after the 
  due order. KJV
1 Chronicles 15:13 - Because you did not carry it 
  at the first, the LORD our God made an outburst 
  on us, for we did not seek Him according to the 
  ordinance." NAS
1 Chronicles 15:13 - For because ye (bare it) not 
  at the first, Jehovah our God made a breach upon 
  us, for that we sought him not according to the 
  ordinance. ASV
1 Chronicles 15:13 - It was because you, the Levites, 
  did not bring it up the first time that the 
  LORD our God broke out in anger against us. We 
  did not inquire of him about how to do it in 
  the prescribed way." NIV
1 Chronicles 15:13 - For because you did not do it 
  the first time, the LORD our God broke out against 
  us, because we did not consult Him about the 
  proper order." NKJV
1 Chronicles 15:13 - "The last time we did not ask 
  the LORD how to carry it.  You Levites didn't 
  carry it, so the LORD our God punished us." New 
  Century Version

INTRODUCTION:
 I. The background of the text:
    A. David tried to bring the Ark of the Covenant 
       to Jerusalem in 2 Samuel 6.  
2 Sam 6:6-7 - When they came to the threshing floor 
  of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the 
  ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7 The 
  LORD's anger burned against Uzzah because of his 
  irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and 
  he died there beside the ark of God. NIV 	
    B. Instead of having the Levites carried the 
       ark like the Law of Moses stated, David 
       built a cart that was pulled by oxen.
   C. When the oxen pulling the cart stumbled, 
      Uzzah touched the ark in order to steady it.
   D. However, God had stated that if anyone 
      touched the ark, they would die and that is 
      what happened to Uzzah.
   E. That stopped David's effort to move the ark 
      to Jerusalem at that time.
   F. At a later time in David's life, he decided 
      to make another effort to move the ark to 
      Jerusalem when he made the statement in our 
      text.
  G. David emphasized the point that because they 
     didn't follow God's will in the matter of 
     transporting the ark, God poured out His anger 
     upon them.
II. Just as David realized the importance of 
    "seeking God after the due order", we must 
    recognize the importance of "seeking God after 
    the due order" in:

BODY:
  I. The Church.
     A. Organization. Phil. 1:1 (bishops are also 
        called elders and pastors, Acts 20:17, 28; 
        1 Pt. 5:1-4)
        Bishop – an overseer, a man charged with 
        the duty of seeing that things to be done 
        by others are done rightly, any curator, 
        guardian; or superintendent.  
        Bishop – oversight, director, or 
        superintendent; elder – older & mature in 
        judgment; pastor – denotes a shepherd’s 
        care of the flock.
        Bishops must met certain qualifications: 
        1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9.
        There is to a plurality of bishops in each 
        church – Acts 14:3.
        Deacons – Special servants of the church under 
        the oversight of the elders.  Must meet certain 
        qualifications – 1 Timothy 3:8f
        Saints
     B. Worship.
        1. Singing - 1 Corinthians 14:15 (sing with understanding)
        2. Preaching - 1 Corinthians 14:19
        3. Praying - 1 Corinthians 14:15 (pray with understanding)
        4. Lord's Supper - Acts 20:7
        5. Giving - 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 (give liberally, cheerfully,
           purposefully, etc.)
           Singing, teaching, and praying can be done any day of the 
           week while partaking of the Lord's Supper and giving of our
           means can only be done on Sunday.
     C. Work
        1. Preaching - Philippians 4:14-18
        2. Edification - Ephesians 4:16
        3. Helping needy saints - 1 Corinthians 
           16:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8, 9
     

 II. The Family. 
     A. Husbands/Fathers
        1. Ephesians 5:23-33 (Headship; Love - 
           as Christ loved the church, notice 
           verse 25; this does not give him the 
           right to abuse (either verbal or 
           physical) her since they are one 
           flesh, and it would be like abusing 
           his own flesh, 28-31)
        2. 1 Peter 3:7
        3. Ephesians 6:4; Deuteronomy 6:5-9.
     B. Wives/Mothers
        1. Ephesians 5:22, 33
        2. 1 Peter 3:1-6
     C. Children - Eph. 6:1-3, Proverbs 13:1; 
        1 Timothy 5:4

III. Our Personal Lives.
     A. Love 
        1. John 13:34-35
           a. Notice that this is a command.
           b. Notice the object of the command.
           c. Notice the quality of the command.
        2. 1 John 3:14-15 - two choices: love our brethren
           and have life or hate them and have death.
        3. 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10
     B. Avoid the works of the flesh and 
        cultivate the fruit of the spirit 
        Galatians 5:19-20
     C. Develop the Christian graces as listed 
        in 2 Peter 1:5-7.
     D. Work on incorporating the qualifications 
        of the elders in your life. 1 Timothy 
        3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9, since most of the 
        qualifications should be true for all 
        Christians.
     E. Ephesians 4:17-6:20; Colossians 3:1-4:6 
        (this is just a very small sample of what 
        the NT teaches about how we are live.)
        (Ephesians 4:25, 28, 29, 31, 32; 5:1, 3, 4;
        Colossians 3:5, 8, 12-14)

CONCLUSION: Just as we must "seek God after the 
  due order" in these areas, we must seek God 
  after the due order in becoming a Christian.  
  Acts 2:36-38

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