Seeking Something Special
An all-creatures Bible Message

Seeking Something Special
 
A Sermon Delivered to
The Compassion Internet Church
 
20 December 2020
 
Frank L. Hoffman, Pastor

Scripture References

2 Samuel 7:1-17
Luke 1:26-38
Romans 16:25-27
 
Seeking something special is what this advent season is all about, but unfortunately most people seem to be seeking something special in this corrupt world, especially our children who have been raised to expect physical presents for Christmas, but this is not the something special that we should be seeking.
 
This is the advent of Jesus Christ who was born into this world some 2000 years ago, and who will come again on some unknown future date.
 
The unfortunate problem is that most people only want to celebrate the remembrance of His first coming with decorations, lights, presents, shopping and spending more than most of us can afford.
 
To us, the seeking something special is that amazing life-changing event when we are born again and receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and truly desire to live in His heavenly will as peacemaking children of God who truly want to free this world from its present corruption, and who anxiously await the second coming of Jesus Christ.
 
And we continually rejoice every time we see something happening that moves us closer to freeing creation from its present corruption, such as someone becoming vegan, and doing something to lessen our pollution, and mostly when people truly show their heavenly love, compassion, and empathy for every one (humans and animals) and everything that God lovingly created.
 
And while still keeping an eye to the future, let’s take a look at 2 Samuel 7:1-17, and note that this ancient text also looks to the future, even to our future.
 
1. Now it came about when the king lived in his house, and the LORD had given him rest on every side from all his enemies,
 
This is speaking about David.
 
2. that the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within tent curtains."
 
David wants to build a house for the Lord, a Temple, where people can come to worship Him, but in reality we can and should be worshiping the Lord all day long, no matter where we are, through our lifestyles as peacemaking children of God.
 
3. And Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your mind, for the LORD is with you."
 
This time Nathan is speaking for himself, for he has not consulted the Lord about what He wants, just as we all too often do.
 
4. But it came about in the same night that the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying,
 
The Lord wants to correct what Nathan said, for it is not what the Lord desires.
 
5. "Go and say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD," Are you the one who should build Me a house to dwell in?
 
David knew all the things that he had done that were against the heavenly will of God, even though he had repented, and the Lord wants him to think about this and whether he is really worthy to build the house for the Lord.
 
Likewise, today, we also need to look at our own past and present lives and really think about what kind of example we set before others, and how it may be perceived by them in this corrupt world.
 
6. "For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about in a tent, even in a tabernacle.
 
This is a reminder of what the Lord had previously instructed the Israelites to do.
 
7. Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word with one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to shepherd My people Israel, saying, 'Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?'"'
 
God is reminding both Nathan and David, and even us today, that He never asked for any permanent structure to be built for Him. Why? Because He wants them and us to realize that we often act on our own, when it is not what the Lord wants.
 
8. "Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts," I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be ruler over My people Israel.
 
God knew that David wanted to do this to please the Lord, but God is looking at how what he wanted to do would be perceived by the people.
 
9. And I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the names of the great men who are on the earth.
 
God wanted David to know that He knew that he was a great leader, and that he would be honored for it, but not by building the Temple.
 
10. I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed again, nor will the wicked afflict them any more as formerly,
 
What is not being said in this verse is that this promise is conditioned by them living by the way that the Lord commanded them to live.
 
11. even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also declares to you that the LORD will make a house for you.
 
The Lord was reminding David and the people that when they disobeyed Him, they got punished until they repented of their evil ways, even when it was only relatively short lived, and this reminder also conditioned the promise He had just made to them.
 
12. When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom.
 
In other words, the Lord wanted David to know that the Temple would not be built during his lifetime.
 
Sometimes when we are seeking something special in the heavenly will of God, it can often take some time, which may not even come about during our lifetime, such as freeing creation from its present corruption, and the second coming of Christ, but we are to continue to seek it and work for it.
 
13. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
 
The Temple would be built by a son of David, and even though David was seeking something special, it wouldn’t be fulfilled until after his death.
 
14. I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men,
 
15. but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you.
 
The Lord seemed to be telling David, that even this special son of his will do things that God doesn’t want him to do, but that He will still be with him and would not reject him as He did Saul.
 
16. And your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever."' "
 
This was a future prophecy of the first coming of Jesus Christ, and the use of the word “forever” must also include His second coming and His heavenly rule.
 
17. In accordance with all these words and all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.
NASB
 
And we hope and pray that these words are speaking to us, too.
 
Let’s keep seeking something special as we look at Luke 1:26-38…
 
26. Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee, called Nazareth,
 
27. to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
 
The angel had a special task to perform for God.
 
28. And coming in, he said to her, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you."
 
That is quite a special greeting, and it shows that Mary had willingly bonded herself with God, and that the Lord knew how special she was,
 
29. But she was greatly troubled at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this might be.
 
In most other accounts in the Bible about people seeing an angel they are afraid, but Mary isn’t; she is just troubled about the meaning of the greeting that the angel spoke to her.
 
30. And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God.
 
Even though the angel told her not to be afraid, we believe that the real intent is to say don’t be troubled, and immediately he told her what mission God had for her to accomplish.
 
31. "And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
 
As a pregnant virgin she would be rejected by almost everyone.
 
32. "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
 
These are things that no human can know about the future of the unborn child, and even though Mary may have been seeking something special, most other people wouldn’t look beyond the situation that she was being placed in.
 
33. and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end." 
 
And even though the angel described the coming Messiah, and even though Mary accepted this fact, it didn’t change the situation that Mary was being placed in, yet this was all part of God’s plan.
 
34. And Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"
 
Mary never rejected any of part of what she was told, she only questioned how it could happen.
 
35. And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy offspring shall be called the Son of God.
 
The angel matter-of-factly answered her question, and then reinforced the fact that her child would be Messiah.
 
Then he told her about another amazing situation.
 
36. "And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.
 
And Elizabeth’s child became John the Baptist.
 
37. "For nothing will be impossible with God."
 
And we hope that all of us believe this and live accordingly.
 
38. And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.
NASB
 
Mary totally accepted what the Lord had in store for her, and we should be just as willing to accept whatever the Lord has for us, even if it puts us in a seemingly bad situation in the process.
 
This is when we are truly seeking something special.
 
With all these things in mind, let’s close our discussion with the blessing Paul wrote to the Romans in Romans 16:25-27…
 
25. Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past,
 
26. but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;
 
27. to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.
NASB
 
Amen.
 
Have a blessed Christmas!

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