Now then, we come to David and Solomon. David is going to die. All during his life he collected material to build a Temple of God in Jerusalem. He didn’t get to build the Temple; and the reason was, God said, “your hands have shed too much blood,” [1 Chronicles 22:8]. Solomon, David’s son, didn’t have a time of warfare like David did. In fact, he never fought any battles. In fact, his name means “peace!” “Solomon” means “peace!” So God had given him the privilege of building the Temple for Him. 1 Chronicles 28, verse 20, says that David says to his young son, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it…[build the Temple]” I guess what I see in that is that it’s not enough just to have courage, but we must be doing something! We must be advancing the cause of the Lord. Not only are we defending the cause of the Lord, but we’re building something.

You know, I think there are people in this town who would come and be with us when we get a permanent building—when we have a church building. [At this time, we have no building, and we are meeting in hotel conference/convention rooms from week to week.] A lot of people associate the building always with church. I know we’ve preached on it a long time that we—you and I—are the church. But everybody says, “Let’s go to church” and they’re talking about the building. I know that a building is important to us. And I know that we have men in the congregation who are working on that. It’s not easy. I know that we’re saving up some money, and hopefully we’ll be able to buy a lot and put up some kind of building, OR, we’ll be able to buy a building that’s already built. We’ll then have some permanent address so we can invite our friends, neighbors, and they’ll feel like, as some people say, “We’ve gone to church.”

You know, I was discouraged some this morning. I have been a little bit discouraged about where we had to meet for worship. But, we’ve had air conditioning and heating. We had a pretty room, actually. Our parking is a little bit inconvenient. We’re used to ALL of these conveniences. But it’s a test of our faith! To a degree, it’s a small test, but it still is a test. But I want us to be courageous. I want all of us to realize that there are people on this earth right now, members of the Lord’s church, that are meeting in mud huts! I know of some. I know of some in Bosnia that are meeting in an upper room. And I know of some in India that meet in the open. Dear friends, we’ve been spoiled in this good country! But we’ve got it good even here!! Let’s look at the project that is before us as a church of God’s people—that we’re not going to lose courage. We’re not going to get discouraged or lose heart!

I believe God has challenged us. We’re taking a stand on and for His Word! If we had no place to meet, we would still be blessed by God, because of the stand we have taken! We’re not mean. We’re not obnoxious. But there are some things we will not stand for—some things we will not condone. We’re trying to stand with this age old Word of God [Harvey holds up the Bible]. We’re trying to worship like we KNOW God wants us to worship. We’re trying to preach and teach what we know of God’s Word. Not everything is “all right” in this world. We have to “tell it like it is.” Our Lord did that. He was put to death for what He preached, not for how He looked or the fact that He came from Nazareth. It was what He said and what He stood for—His TRUTH—that killed Him! And Paul joined Him. Peter joined Him. Stephen joined Him. Secular history says that every one of the apostles was put to death, except John. And he was exiled to the Isle of Patmos. Friends, we’re going to be in some good company when we get to heaven. We’re going to be with those who gave everything they had for the cause of Christ.

Let’s don’t let these times tempt us to get discouraged because we don’t have a building, or because everything is not like we grew up with, or like what we’ve had for 40 years in this city. We must be of good courage and be strong.

Now what happens is that the Lord will stand with us. “I will not fail you or forsake you…” That’s what He said to Joshua, [Joshua 1:5]. “You be strong and of good courage, and I will not fail you or forsake you.” Boy, isn’t that encouraging? I know where God’s going. He wants people of strength! He wants people of faith! He wants people of fidelity who will stand no matter what the cost is, and no matter what the inconvenience is and no matter what the trouble is. In an age of ease, where everything is easy for us—good cars, good houses, good food, good jobs, good medicine… We have it better here than all of the world. And here we are, a group of God’s people—we have it good even now. Even now.

Let’s pray and let’s work. Let’s “hang together”. Let’s encourage each other. And may I say right here, since Sue [Porter, Harvey Porter’s wife] and I have been meeting with you, we haven’t felt this good in years. People in this congregation love each other, hug each other, shake hands, pat you on the back. We don’t all know each other, but we are getting acquainted. But we’re family! And I feel the family aspect in our association. And I’m happy to be here!