Due Order

Scripture Reading: 1Corinthians 13

Due Order

Text: 1Corinthians 14:40; 1Chronicles 15:11-16

In our text, David is attempting, again, to bring the Ark of God to the City of Jerusalem. On the first occasion, the Lord had struck down Uzzah, who had touched the Ark of God, to keep it from falling off the cart. Uzzah should not have been so close and familiar to the Ark of God! David was frightened by this Action of God. On the first attempt, the Ark was moved without the proper preparations and process. David realized his mistake. He makes mention of the fact that God had made a breach upon them (Uzzah’s death) because they did not seek Him “after the due order.” This time David would do things by the Book! (An attitude we all should have!) Today, I would like to make application to us, who would serve the Lord Jesus Christ. The God of Order that David served is the same God that we serve today. Paul’s words to the Corinthians may very well be a more modern rendition of the same teaching which David taught: “Let all things be done decently and in order.” (1Cor 14:40) Whether we are moving the Ark of God, or serving in the Tabernacle or Temple, or praising God in the Church of Jesus Christ; there is always an order for us to follow.

Ye Must be Born Again

We must be saved, if we are to properly serve God. It does a person no good (at least, no eternal good) to put on a false front, to name the Name of Christ, and pretend to be a follower of God. There might have been many who followed after David in the way, who were only attracted by the trappings of religion. There might have been others who followed after David in the way, who were only doing so out of a sense of duty, or a fear of retribution. But, the only person who can properly follow after God, is that person whose heart has been broken, and whose desperate soul has turned to Jesus Christ. The ones who depend upon their own righteousness, cannot properly serve Jesus Christ. We must serve Him in “Due Order.” This requires that we first be saved. This requires that the eligible servant must repent of his sins, and believe in Jesus Christ as his Saviour. Jn. 3:1-8; Ps. 51:16-17; Lk. 4:17-21; Mk. 1:14-15; Mt. 9:12-13

Ye Must Worship God in Spirit and in Truth

There is a proper way to serve the Lord. Our God will not be satisfied with vain attempts at praise and service - or human-devised worship. Our God requires born again believers and followers who will then live in that spirit, and cast off the physical accouterments of religion, and serve Him in truth. the Lord requires more than just an outward show; our God requires the giving of our hearts unto Him. The Law and the outward precepts of God can be our guide and can be our teacher; but, the Lord wants the hearts that have been touched; the minds that have been enlightened. These will now render spiritual service unto God. Service unto God proceeds in a certain Order: Love and Service begins in the Spirit, and then consumes the flesh and the desires thereof. Jn. 4:21: 14:6; 17:17; Gal. 3:1-3

Ye Must Submit to the Will of God

God has laid expectations upon us, and we must abide by them. We cannot simply continue as we were, before we were saved, and hope to properly serve our Lord Jesus Christ. Sure, we can affirm our salvation by doing the occasional good work on behalf of God. But, we must give our lives to Him, we must subject our will unto His. To me, the first thing that this signifies is that the true child of God should submit to Scriptural baptism, and be added unto the Body of Christ – the local Church of Jesus Christ. To continue on, in love and devotion, and to exhibit and demonstrate obedience, loyalty, and fervent praise for God in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ – this is how we serve God in Due Order today. Jn. 4:34; Acts 2:37-41; Rom. 12:1; 6:11-18