1 Chronicles 13:2-3 (NLT) - 2 Then he addressed the entire assembly of Israel as follows: "If you approve and if it is the will of the Lord our God, let us send messages to all the Israelites throughout the land, including the priests and Levites in their towns and pasturelands. Let us invite them to come and join us. 3 It is time to bring back the Ark of our God, for we neglected it during the reign of Saul."

Psalm 24:3-8 (NLT) - 3 Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? 4 Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. 5 They will receive the Lord's blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior. 6 Such people may seek you and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob. 7 Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. 8 Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord, invincible in battle.

The FIRST MOVE of the king was important.

Psalm 132:1-5 (NLT) - 1 Lord, remember David and all that he suffered. 2 He made a solemn promise to the Lord. He vowed to the Mighty One of Israel, 3 "I will not go home; I will not let myself rest. 4 I will not let my eyes sleep nor close my eyelids in slumber 5 until I find a place to build a house for the Lord, a sanctuary for the Mighty One of Israel."

1. God's presence must be PRIORITY.

• Saul saw no need to be close: "We neglected it during the reign of Saul."
• Leverage your earthly influence to bring in the real king.
• David needed it for his SATISFACTION. d. The greatest key to true joy is the presence of God.
  • Psalm 16:11 (NASB) - 11 You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

2. God's presence must be HONORED.

• God is not afraid to stop the party.
• God's presence is not usual, typical, or common; God's presence is special and deserves our honor.
  • Jesus couldn't do mighty miracles because they treated Him as common.
  • Ephesians 4:30 (NLT) - 30 And do not bring sorrow to God's Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.

3. God's presence must be CELEBRATED.

• 2 Samuel 6:12-16 (NLT) - 12 Then King David was told, "The Lord has blessed Obed-edom's household and everything he has because of the Ark of God." So David went there and brought the Ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David with a great celebration. 13 After the men who were carrying the Ark of the Lord had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf. 14 And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. 15 So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams' horns. 16 But as the Ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she was filled with contempt for him.
• Celebrate His presence with sacrifice.
• Celebrate His presence with gladness of heart.
• Celebrate His presence with demonstration of praise.

4. God's presence must be HOSTED.

• 1 Chronicles 16:1 (NLT) - 1 They brought the Ark of God and placed it inside the special tent David had prepared for it. And they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to God.
• 1 Chronicles 16:37 (NLT) - 37 David arranged for Asaph and his fellow Levites to serve regularly before the Ark of the Lord's Covenant, doing whatever needed to be done each day.