Pastor Steven Furtick

In 1 Kings 8:17-19, Solomon recalls one of the biggest leadership disappointments of his father’s life.  David really wanted to build a temple for God.  Unfortunately, this particular privilege was going to have to skip a generation.  God had chosen Solomon, not David, to oversee the construction of His dwelling place.  Imagine how devastated David must have felt when God announced to him:

“You are not the one to build the temple…”

David had done so many things so successfully for God’s glory with God’s help.  Why would God deny him this crowning achievement?  His heart was in the right place.  And the temple was definitely high on God’s priority list.  But God’s final answer was a resounding no.  The definitive decision echoes back:

“You are not the one.”
(Or as my 4 year old is fond of saying: Sorry Charlie.  Not this time.  Maybe next time.)

It’s painful and confusing when you have a good desire and pure motives, and God gives you the old sorry Charlie.  But your seasons of greatest disappointment can serve as the richest soil for growth and maturity.

David passed the Sorry Charlie Test.  2 Samuel 7 records one of the most beautiful prayers in the entire Bible.  It is David’s response of unflinching gratitude and unwavering trust when confronted with the brutal facts:
Sorry Charlie.  You are not the one.

You want to be the senior pastor of a large thriving church.  You want to get married before you turn 27.  You want to get picked for the promotion.  You want to have a baby girl.  Your desire is healthy.  Your motives are straight.
And God skips over you like duck duck goose, incontrovertibly establishing:

You are not the one.

Over the next few days we’ll discuss how to pass the Sorry Charlie Test.