122
1 Kings 009 – 011; 2 Corinthians 003
Warning, warning, warning--if you or your sons mess up by going after other gods I will wipe you off the face of the earth. As you know the sad news is that Solomon and his sons messed up--big time. No one is safe from this thing called “the heart.” What a lesson to keep watch over our hearts.
Things are still good for Solomon. Queen of Sheba comes to visit Solomon and declares that there is no other place like it on earth. The pain is that it was so good and they lost it. God was working in peoples lives and there was a chance that other nations could find out about this Yahweh. Today we, you, are God's representative on this earth. We are here to give hope for people who do not know this God. Let God use you today even now.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
121 Friday, May 1, 2009
121
1 Kings 008; 2 Corinthians 002
You don't describe God accurately. You use words like “rock, mountains, on high, living water”--we use words that help us to relate to His world, that infinite eternal universe. I say all this to help you understand what a special day it was that the glory of God came down and filled the temple. I wonder what they felt, saw, and experienced. It was a good day, it was a great day. The mission was complete. The land was secure, the temple built, God's glory in the temple, and His people worshiping Yahweh. It was really, really good.
Know this--our day was even better. When you asked Christ into your life the glory of God came down and filled you. Yes, the Spirit of God lives in you. What was it like for you and what is like for you now? Can people sense the God of the universe living in you? Is His glory fading or growing in you? Ask God to fill you this day with His glory.
1 Kings 008; 2 Corinthians 002
You don't describe God accurately. You use words like “rock, mountains, on high, living water”--we use words that help us to relate to His world, that infinite eternal universe. I say all this to help you understand what a special day it was that the glory of God came down and filled the temple. I wonder what they felt, saw, and experienced. It was a good day, it was a great day. The mission was complete. The land was secure, the temple built, God's glory in the temple, and His people worshiping Yahweh. It was really, really good.
Know this--our day was even better. When you asked Christ into your life the glory of God came down and filled you. Yes, the Spirit of God lives in you. What was it like for you and what is like for you now? Can people sense the God of the universe living in you? Is His glory fading or growing in you? Ask God to fill you this day with His glory.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
120 Thursday, April 30, 2009
120 1 Kings 006 - 007; 2 Corinthians 001
You are building the house of God. No, really, you are building the house of God. Use your sanctified imagination to try to be Solomon just for a moment. Would you be uptight, staying awake at night, bossy, praying more, prideful, defensive, impatient(7 yrs. to build),or would you be in a worshipful anticipation of seeing the glory of God? It must of been a grand time to be a part of Israelite nation. All the building, all the learning, all the excitement, and all the people seeing the vision becoming reality.
God brings the Word of God to Solomon; that the most important truth,to keep your heart right with God. The temple is a great accomplishment, but the greatest success you can have is a heart that is right with your Maker. How about you--is that your greatest desire--to have a heart that is fully serving God?
Another letter to the Corinthians, you may ask, why? I will tell you why, they were a needed group of people in a very depraved culture. This church received two long letters from Paul.
The good news for us is we can learn from their mistakes. In the opening of this letter Paul is having defend himself because he didn't come when he had promised. A group of people used that delay as a way to show that Paul is not trustworthy and therefore you cannot trust what he says about God. People!!! This is really unbelievable logic on these peoples part--excuse me there is no logic in their assessment of Paul and certainly of truth. Please notice how Paul hits back. He hits back with the truth and is not nasty but he certainly lays it out. It is okay for you defend yourself when the truth has not been spoken about you or about your ministry.
You are building the house of God. No, really, you are building the house of God. Use your sanctified imagination to try to be Solomon just for a moment. Would you be uptight, staying awake at night, bossy, praying more, prideful, defensive, impatient(7 yrs. to build),or would you be in a worshipful anticipation of seeing the glory of God? It must of been a grand time to be a part of Israelite nation. All the building, all the learning, all the excitement, and all the people seeing the vision becoming reality.
God brings the Word of God to Solomon; that the most important truth,to keep your heart right with God. The temple is a great accomplishment, but the greatest success you can have is a heart that is right with your Maker. How about you--is that your greatest desire--to have a heart that is fully serving God?
Another letter to the Corinthians, you may ask, why? I will tell you why, they were a needed group of people in a very depraved culture. This church received two long letters from Paul.
The good news for us is we can learn from their mistakes. In the opening of this letter Paul is having defend himself because he didn't come when he had promised. A group of people used that delay as a way to show that Paul is not trustworthy and therefore you cannot trust what he says about God. People!!! This is really unbelievable logic on these peoples part--excuse me there is no logic in their assessment of Paul and certainly of truth. Please notice how Paul hits back. He hits back with the truth and is not nasty but he certainly lays it out. It is okay for you defend yourself when the truth has not been spoken about you or about your ministry.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
118 Tuesday, April 28, 2009
118 1 Kings 003 – 005; 1 Corinthians 016
God will grant you one wish. What would you wish for? You have this one shot to ask God for anything--what would it be? Solomon had this opportunity and passed like Bill Gates taking a Microsoft test. Solomon so aced this one big ASK that God then gave him every thing. Wow! What did Solomon ask God for--wisdom. He wanted wisdom, the ability to lead and govern the people God had placed under him. We need more people who want wisdom.
I really don't see an abundance of wise people in or outside the church. It would be nice to order this stuff on overstock.com but they don't have it.
Perhaps you could ask God for wisdom to be a better leader, a better follower of Jesus, and a better contributor to the big picture. James 1:5 tells us that God gives wisdom out in liberal way--He does not hold back to make His people wise. One more action step you could take is to read the wisdom books of the Bible. There are five of them. You try to name them. Yes, go ahead, no one is watching. They are as follows: Proverbs, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Psalms, and Job. Which ones were written by Solomon? If you said the first three you are wrong--just kidding-- you are right.
One last thing you could do with this wisdom thing is to pray for other people that they would gain wisdom from God. Pray for me, your children, and grand children as well as each other that God would give His heavenly wisdom.
God will grant you one wish. What would you wish for? You have this one shot to ask God for anything--what would it be? Solomon had this opportunity and passed like Bill Gates taking a Microsoft test. Solomon so aced this one big ASK that God then gave him every thing. Wow! What did Solomon ask God for--wisdom. He wanted wisdom, the ability to lead and govern the people God had placed under him. We need more people who want wisdom.
I really don't see an abundance of wise people in or outside the church. It would be nice to order this stuff on overstock.com but they don't have it.
Perhaps you could ask God for wisdom to be a better leader, a better follower of Jesus, and a better contributor to the big picture. James 1:5 tells us that God gives wisdom out in liberal way--He does not hold back to make His people wise. One more action step you could take is to read the wisdom books of the Bible. There are five of them. You try to name them. Yes, go ahead, no one is watching. They are as follows: Proverbs, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Psalms, and Job. Which ones were written by Solomon? If you said the first three you are wrong--just kidding-- you are right.
One last thing you could do with this wisdom thing is to pray for other people that they would gain wisdom from God. Pray for me, your children, and grand children as well as each other that God would give His heavenly wisdom.
Monday, April 27, 2009
117 Monday, April 27, 2009
117 1 Kings 001 – 002; 1 Corinthians 015
When there is a void someone will usually try to fill it. David was nearing his death and there is jockeying for the position of king of Israel. Who will get it? How will it come about?
Nathan the prophet went to Bathsheba with the news that Adonijah was already proclaiming himself as king. If Adonijah became king then it was sure death for Solomon and Bathsheba. Nathan then gave Bathsheba the plan for saving their lives and placing Solomon as the rightful king. The plan worked to a tee. There is negotiating, planning, being wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove, and face to face time. God's will never happens in a vacuum.
Chapter 15 of 1 Cor. is the resurrection chapter. The love chapter is 1 Cor.13, the faith chapter is Chapter 11 of Hebrews, the spirit chapter is Romans 8 and the Jesus as preeminent chapter is Colossians 1. Peruse these chapters and become very familiar with them. The best definition of gospel is right in this resurrection chapter. Maybe you could work on memorizing it. It is I Cor. 15: 3-4. It is the good news for us and for others.
When there is a void someone will usually try to fill it. David was nearing his death and there is jockeying for the position of king of Israel. Who will get it? How will it come about?
Nathan the prophet went to Bathsheba with the news that Adonijah was already proclaiming himself as king. If Adonijah became king then it was sure death for Solomon and Bathsheba. Nathan then gave Bathsheba the plan for saving their lives and placing Solomon as the rightful king. The plan worked to a tee. There is negotiating, planning, being wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove, and face to face time. God's will never happens in a vacuum.
Chapter 15 of 1 Cor. is the resurrection chapter. The love chapter is 1 Cor.13, the faith chapter is Chapter 11 of Hebrews, the spirit chapter is Romans 8 and the Jesus as preeminent chapter is Colossians 1. Peruse these chapters and become very familiar with them. The best definition of gospel is right in this resurrection chapter. Maybe you could work on memorizing it. It is I Cor. 15: 3-4. It is the good news for us and for others.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
116 Sunday, April 26, 2009
116 2 Samuel 023 – 024; 1 Corinthians 014
David was a singer who wielded a mighty sword. It is an unusual combination. This warrior had other men who were powerful in their own right. Their exploits are recounted for us to consider. David is holed up and wants some water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem. These three loyal and powerful men go to the well in spite of the Philistines having control of the area. They return with the water to give to David. David feels unworthy to drink the water and pours it out. These men had risked their lives for David to have a good drink of water. David felt he was not worthy of that kind of sacrifice. This is a leadership moment. What would you have done if you were David or if you one of the men?
Review carefully David's last words. It opens our chapter as David's last words. Promises fulfilled by God and the Devil's opposition, is a theme in this short testament.
The war within the church still to this day is over gifts; it is not as huge as the worship wars, but nevertheless, it is still splitting churches. God gives a gift or gifts and people get jealous or misuse the gift or gifts. Dad always liked you best. My gift is better than your gift. What a mess! Humility is to be aggressively embraced for the sake of the kingdom of God. Knowledge will give you a big head, but love will build up other people. You cannot lift up other people without getting lifted up yourself. Be lifter not a downer.
David was a singer who wielded a mighty sword. It is an unusual combination. This warrior had other men who were powerful in their own right. Their exploits are recounted for us to consider. David is holed up and wants some water from the well at the gate of Bethlehem. These three loyal and powerful men go to the well in spite of the Philistines having control of the area. They return with the water to give to David. David feels unworthy to drink the water and pours it out. These men had risked their lives for David to have a good drink of water. David felt he was not worthy of that kind of sacrifice. This is a leadership moment. What would you have done if you were David or if you one of the men?
Review carefully David's last words. It opens our chapter as David's last words. Promises fulfilled by God and the Devil's opposition, is a theme in this short testament.
The war within the church still to this day is over gifts; it is not as huge as the worship wars, but nevertheless, it is still splitting churches. God gives a gift or gifts and people get jealous or misuse the gift or gifts. Dad always liked you best. My gift is better than your gift. What a mess! Humility is to be aggressively embraced for the sake of the kingdom of God. Knowledge will give you a big head, but love will build up other people. You cannot lift up other people without getting lifted up yourself. Be lifter not a downer.
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