* We can do nothing on our own.
* We need the presence of God in our lives more than anything else in the world.
* 1 Chronicles is a long list of names (like Geneology.com that helps people know who they are).
* Knowing your genealogy anchors you.
* In the middle of the list, there’s one name singled out that says, “God was WITH him.”
* Vs 20 - “In earlier times Phinehas son of Eleazar was the official in charge of the gatekeepers, and the Lord was with him.”
* Remember the angel to Mary - “…the Lord is WITH you.”
* Having God with you means that He makes His home with you.
* He moves in and takes up residence.
* Revelation 3:20 - “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”
* Think about having the richest, wisest, most powerful being in the Universe living in your apartment with you.
* Think about Him “wanting” to live with you because He likes you so much.
* So the question is, why was God with Phinehas?
* Because of his zeal for the Lord.
* When all the Israelite men were being sexually promiscuous with foreign women who were sworn enemies of Israel, Phinehas did something about it!
* He stood boldly for truth.
* Numbers 25:11-13 - “The Lord said to Moses, “Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites. Since he was as zealous for my honor among them as I am, I did not put an end to them in my zeal. Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him. He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites.”
* Your zeal for the Lord ushers His presence into your life.
* Standing courageously for Him touches His heart in a special way.
* If someone were to misrepresent you in public, and then a friend of yours stood up for you, what would you think about that friend?
* God feels the same for us.