Podcasts about when solomon

Download I Kings 11-14 We are in the Nation Stream and turn the corner in Solomon's Reign. We are reading from The Message this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Lord we want to heed your warnings, hear your prophetic words and not suffer the losses that we see the disobedient and profane people suffering as they turn away from Truth.  Thank you for sending us the Truth; in Jesus.  Amen. 11 - Solomon was told by a dear older woman he knew of; King Lemuel's mother actually, in Proverbs 31:2-3.  He was pleaded with to not waste his life on women (the gender isn't the problem - the plurality is!).  He was told that they ruin kings.  But Solomon however felt that he was different, [as most people do] that sin wouldn't hook him in.  Well it did. Remember him marrying the daughter of Pharaoh right out of the gate?  He did that so there would be peace with Egypt.  Solomon loved his Lord at the start, and God honored his love for Him.  But the "sex-for-politics-for-sex-for power-and-pleasure pact" that Solomon had made as a deal (with himself I guess) let him astray and he fell away from the faith of his fathers. One wrong wife wasn't enough.  He needed hundreds of false women.  It is like one's physical hunger trying to find satisfaction from a deep-fried/sugar-filled donut.  How many of them do you need to eat on an empty stomach in order to feel satisfied? It's not going to happen.  Solomon's women was the disastrous shame of Solomon's rule. His pagan love life took him and the country with it on a downward spiral of no return.  He invited pagan religions in to keep his women happy. From this the God of Abraham was offended and a spirit of unrest seeped into the country.  Before Solomon died, enemies were growing restless within the land and it was a preview of the tension that would cause 10 of the 12 tribes to splinter off to the north. Was Solomon's love life just his private business and he could be sinful if he so chose to? No. It became everyone's business as all of these things always do. When Solomon died, his son Rehoboam took the throne.  Solomon's rule lasted from I Kings 1-11 / the parallel story, though distinctively written, is also told in II Chronicles 1-9 12 - Rehoboam, Solomon's son, was to be the next king.  Jeroboam resented Solomon and therefore Rehoboam and took up the grievances of a people who were over taxed during Solomon's rule. Jeroboam pleaded that taxes be lowered, Rehoboam did not listen and the rebellion was on.  Sounds like 1776 doesn't it? Jeroboam rallied for the north against Judah and strengthened the north against the south by actually paganizing the northern 10 tribes and making two golden calves to distract them away from the God of Abraham, Jerusalem, the Temple, and all that. Jeroboam set up the false gods of golden calves (just like Exodus 32!).  One calf was in Bethel in the south while the other was up north in Dan. The country was 'covered' in terms of false religion.  As we are reading in the prophets, this stunt started Israel on a fast road to being decimated.  200 years later, they were. 13 - is a zany tale of lies and false religion and paganism and getting mauled by a lion in a strangest of tales, and prophecy ignored and suffering because of it and demanding that godly people act immediately to remedy the wrong that bad religion had brought on.  It is the personal vision of the northern kingdom's first king and how a dark decision ends up rippling for centuries.  Jeroboam cheapened the faith and adulterated it. He ignored Ahijah who told him that there was a right way to represent the people to God, but he ignored Ahijah.  Jeroboam was angry at Solomon - who was gone now.  He was angry at Solomon's son; Rehoboam. Perhaps his anger was valid, but his "remedy" for the anger at the leaders in the south was not gone about properly.  Here's a truth in life: the right thing must be done the right way. There are many who attempt the right thing but go about it the wrong way. Some seek God's Will but don't pursue His Will His Way...they want to find God their own way (many of these types end up "playing God" before they are done!).  Many of us have seen this. There is a line between these two methods.  As for the wrong way - there never is a right way to do the wrong thing. Jeroboam may have commenced and wanted to do God's Will but He wouldn't do it God's Way.  It was not long after that that Jeroboam was shunning all good prophetic words and advice and was doing everything just plain, flat out WRONG,  And He wanted it this way and remained deliberate in this to his end. 14 -  God gets to Jeroboam through his son's illness. Jeroboam is desperate for solutions and who does he go to but Ahijah-the-prophet  ... who's advice he won't follow (in case anyone forgot). So, as Jeroboams' vapid character dictates, he sends his wife to Ahijah and she gets an earful of a horrid prophecy and it is accurate.  Meanwhile Jeroboam is up north feverishly fanning the flames of his "fornication-for-faith" cult that he had instituted to make sure no one ventured to Jerusalem and found the real God.  His wife comes home, his son dies on the spot.  And this was only the beginning of the doom that would be lowering upon Jeroboam.  The last of the ch. 14, we flip back south to Judah where  Rehoboam is king in Jerusalem. He is 41 at the start of his rule. He rules until he is 58. Jeroboam up north had a special relationship with Egypt based in a mutual disgust for Jerusalem/Solomon/Rehoboam. But what gave way for Egypt's invasion and ransacking of the Temple in Jerusalem was the exodus of God's blessing since Rehoboam allowed his pagan Ammonite mother to have a say in the religion of the south as Asherah shrines sprang up across the country.  Asherah was a sex-cult in the region that God had obviously forbidden his people to take part in.  This disobedience left them open to attack as Shishak of Egypt invaded and plundered the Temple. Shishak stole the gold from the Temple.  How much of the dozens of tons of gold that had been brought there and stored and decorated the Temple with is hard to say but it is such a shame.  God seems to be saying, "you act like pagans, then your wealth is going to go back to the pagans!"  The first of this gold was taken out of Egypt in the Exodus; Exo. 12:35-36.  Well it was being returned today. Yeesh.  Rehoboam made new articles of bronze as if it was supposed to make things all better now.  Do you think anyone noticed the missing gold?????

-1 Kings 11:26-43 ESV 26 Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow, also lifted up his hand against the king. 27 And this was the reason why he lifted up his hand against the king. Solomon built the Millo, and closed up the breach of the city of David his father. 28 The man Jeroboam was very able, and when Solomon saw that the young man was industrious he gave him charge over all the forced labor of the house of Joseph. 29 And at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Now Ahijah had dressed himself in a new garment, and the two of them were alone in the open country. 30 Then Ahijah laid hold of the new garment that was on him, and tore it into twelve pieces. 31 And he said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten pieces, for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon and will give you ten tribes 32 (but he shall have one tribe, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city that I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel), 33 because they have[a] forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites, and they have not walked in my ways, doing what is right in my sight and keeping my statutes and my rules, as David his father did. 34 Nevertheless, I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, but I will make him ruler all the days of his life, for the sake of David my servant whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my statutes. 35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand and will give it to you, ten tribes. 36 Yet to his son I will give one tribe, that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen to put my name. 37 And I will take you, and you shall reign over all that your soul desires, and you shall be king over Israel. 38 And if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, I will be with you and will build you a sure house, as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you. 39 And I will afflict the offspring of David because of this, but not forever.'” 40 Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam arose and fled into Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon. 41 Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the Book of the Acts of Solomon? 42 And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. 43 And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his place. JEROBOAM Jeroboam was a ‘skilled worker from the tribe of Ephraim, a servant of King Solomon's, and the son of a widow.' When Solomon saw how well this young man did his work, he placed him over the labor force of the tribes of Joseph (v.28). One day, the prophet Ahijah approached Jeroboam with a prophecy. After tearing a new cloak into 12 pieces, he said, “Take ten pieces for yourself, for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘See, I am going to tear the kingdom out of Solomon's hand and give you ten tribes” (v.31). What's the reason behind? The idol worship of the Israelites had caused God to divide the kingdom (v.33). However, the house of David would retain a remnant of the kingdom, including Jerusalem, because of God's covenant with David (v. 32). This division pronounced by Ahijah came to pass (see 1 Kings 12:15). Did Jeroboam ever think that someday he would become the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel?

Brittany and Solomon Odubajo are the owners of Watchacookin Food Truck in Mesa Arizona. They were renting kitchen space from owner Tom Toot. During a meeting between Brittany and Tom things started to turn turbulent for Brittany when Tom started acting irrational. Brittany called her husband Solomon to ask if he could join them at the meeting because the energy in the room had the feeling of hostility and Brittany was worried for her safety. When Solomon arrives the situation becomes more hostile. Tom Toot was making racial remarks at the couple and pulls out an "All Lives Matter" T-Shirt and after that brandishes a gun. Solomon quickly reacts, trying to save himself and Brittany, while Brittany calls the police. What happens after that is just unbelievable! Please Share and listen. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tyrideius-brownlow/support

Aristotle is quoted as saying, “Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” However, better advice came from King Solomon, who wrote centuries earlier: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov.9:10) When Solomon was still at Gibeon, The Lord came to Solomon in a dream, saying, “Ask what I shall give thee:” .… Solomon did not ask for wealth or happy life but rather he gave a mature request in v.9 “Give thy servant a discerning heart.” Solomon was asking for the capacity to obey God‘s law and distinguish between right and wrong. He recognized that the best thing for him to do was to stay in step with the law of God. In return, God richly blessed him for humbling himself and seeking wisdom.

The Ark of the Covenant is one of the most fascinating objects mentioned in the Old Testament. The ancient Israelites believed the Ark held a divine power that made them unstoppable on the battlefield. When Solomon's temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587BC, most assumed the Ark was lost. That is, except the Ethiopians. According to many pious Ethiopian Christians, the Ark was not destroyed in the sack of Jerusalem, because the Ark wasn't there that day. Could it be that the Ark of the Covenant has been safely squirreled away in Ethiopia for centuries? Tune-in and find out how thirst potions, Bob Marley, and the tiny space between cherub wings all play a role in the story.

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass, And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. (Exodus 25:1-9) 259 Don’t watch all these gimmick workers. But remember, they’re only speaking, a bogus dollar only speaks that there’s a real one somewhere. When you see this organization stuff growing and prospering, as it said “craft would prosper in his hand,” just remember, there’s a little Church of God somewhere, really is Holy Ghost filled, genuine, that’s moving up the ladder. Don’t look at the big organization. 260 What greater church is spoke of in the Bible than the Ephesian church age? And when Paul passed through the upper coasts of Ephesus, and comes to this church, there was twelve men in it. That’s right. And they all was good people, shouted and have a great time, but had not received the Holy Ghost yet. Paul said, “You haven’t received the Holy Ghost since you believed?” They said, “Why, we didn’t know there was a Holy Ghost.” 261 He said, “Then how was you baptized?” If it didn’t make a difference, what did he say to that church there? 262 They said, “We’ve already been baptized by one of the greatest man that ever stood on the earth, John the Baptist, who baptized our Lord. Ain’t that baptizing good enough?” 263 He said, “No, sir. You’ve got to be baptized over, ’cause the Kingdom is sealed to anything else.” And when they heard this…Said, “John only baptized unto repentance, not for remission of sins, saying that you should believe on Him to come, that is, on Jesus.” And when they heard this, they were rebaptized in the Name of Jesus Christ. That’s right. Exactly. They followed the Scripture. 264 You know, in the dedication this morning, Moses followed the pattern that he saw in Heaven, and pitched a tent to represent it. When Solomon built the temple, he (what did he do?) followed the pattern that Moses, by the tent, keeping the Scripture in line. 265 And when God come to His Temple for the last days, this Temple, the Holy Ghost, “a body hast Thou prepared Me,” the Holy Ghost fell on the Day of Pentecost, the message was, “Repent, every one of you, and be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you and to your children, and to them that’s far off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” If you want to call your minister a doctor, Doctor Simon Peter wrote a prescription, an Eternal prescription. That’s what cures the sick. 62-1111E - "Why I'm Against Organized Religion" Rev. William Marrion Branham ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Order your own copy of the Family Altar at http://store.bibleway.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Appreciate what we do? Consider supporting us: https://anchor.fm/ten-thousand-worlds/support --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ten-thousand-worlds/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/ten-thousand-worlds/support

Scripture of the Day:    2 Chronicles 7:1 “When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from Heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the Glory of the Lord filled the Temple.” Usher in the GloryDid you know it is possible for believers today to usher in the Glory of God in our church services? Absolutely! I've been involved in one such instance myself. I'm telling you – it is something that you will never forget! In Old Testament times, the Bible says the Glory of the Lord would fill the Temple where the people were praying. We can read all about this instance in 2 Chronicles 5:6-7 & 11-14. But, in accordance with what we have been teaching on these past few days about united prayer, I want to look at verse 13 in particular… 2 Chronicles 5:13, “It came to pass, AS THE TRUMPETERS AND SINGERS WERE AS ONE, to make ONE SOUND to be heard in PRAISING AND THANKING THE LORD, and when THEY LIFTED UP THEIR VOICE AS ONE with the trumpets and cymbals and music and praised the Lord saying, “For his is good; for his mercy endures forever…” That THEN the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord.” AMEN! And, at the end of that service, not only was the House filled with the cloud and Glory of the Lord, but FIRE fell from Heaven and consumed the sacrifices, as we read in our scripture of the day! Praise God! Have you ever experienced that? NO?  Really?   Well, I wonder why not? Like I said, I've experienced a couple of times. Only a couple. Not the fire coming down from Heaven part – but the Glory Cloud coming into the sanctuary.  The first time was at our Bible School and a great man of God named Dick Durbin was teaching. He was teaching on the Altar of the Lord and these scriptures. It was almost a week he was there as a special guest. And the last service is when he was teaching on this and about the burning of incense and the praise and music as we just read about… Well, our praise team was singing, the band was playing and the students were in reverent worship…and then…almost imperceptible at first, but you could see “something” was happening… A cloud started to descend from the ceiling down towards the altar of incense that was a representation of the real altar (obviously it was not THE Altar…amen). But it visibly descended and surrounded the altar and then started to slowly spread out through the auditorium and within about two minutes, people were sobbing and crying out praises to God…and it continued for about 30 minutes. It was the most awesome prayer experience I had ever, and I mean EVER, experienced in my life!  I get goose bumps just talking about it. To be in the actual presence of the Lord like that… The second time was several years later in a conference. We did not have a duplicate altar or anything like that in the conference I was in. But the praise and worship and the united prayers that were being offered were similar in nature and…unexpectedly, the same type of cloud started to descend from the rafters and did the same thing. It seemed like “fingers” of the cloud just sought each person out – me included.  The results were the same…Some were praising God while others just fell to their knees and sobbed, not sorrowful sobs…but repentant sobs and gratifying sobs of KNOWING they had been forgiven…it is so difficult for me to explain in words…but the experience is unforgettable. I imagine, just thinking of it right now, that must  have been something similar to what the disciples experienced in the Book of Acts on the Day of Pentecost. Something to think about anyway… My point I'm trying to make today is that UNITED prayer can bring God's presence on the scene. It may not be a physical experience as described here in 2 Chronicles chapter 5 or chapter 7. It may not be the type of experience I've described to you that I've been a part of. Those were only two instances where I experienced an...

This is episode is part of a series titled A Praying Church. Bob Allums, Director of seeJesus's A Praying Life Ministry, joins Paul and Liz Voboril for this series.  "The first glimmer of the church is in Genesis 4:26. At the end of this chapter, in the midst of this sort of descent into evil, people begin to call upon the name of the Lord. What jumps out is that they're defined by prayer. That is what it is to be the called out people of God.” "When Solomon dedicates the temple in 1 Kings, he doesn't preach he prays." "For the Jewish people, the temple became known as a place of prayer. That that was their primary thought as to what you did in the temple—it just it permeates Jewish culture even outside of Christianity. Solomon imprinted the DNA of the temple as the place of prayer."

1. Grace and Glory DefinedPs 84:11 The Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly  Grace is a free gift, it's unearned and undeserved, favor, blessing, ability, wisdom, joy and strength from God Glory (Chabod) weightiness, that which is substantial or heavy, honor, splendor, power, wealth, authority, magnificence, fame, dignity, riches and excellence, it is the goodness of God2. The Glory is Always Connected to the House of God2 Chron 7:1-3 When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house. When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever.”Kenneth Copeland said 2021 will be the year of the local churchThe house of God releases the will of God in the earthIf we help build Jesus's house, He will help build our housesMatt 16:18 I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevailGen 28:17 He was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven" The church is heaven's gateway, souls are saved and lives changed Awesome - To fear, to revere (what an incredible privilege we have)1 Chron 28:10 So take this seriously. The LORD has chosen (selected) you to build a temple as His sanctuary (house). Be strong, and do the workIs 60:7 I will glorify (adorn, beautify) the house of My glory3. Prayer in God's House Reverses Curses and Releases Glory 2 Chron 7:12-16 I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.  When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people. If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. (Be very wise on handling the house of Glory)Gen 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and curse him who curses you 1 Chron 16:22 Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm1 Pet 3:10 For whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech1 Cor 11:28-31 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judgedHaggai 2:9 The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. And in this place, I will bring peace. I, the LORD of Heaven's Armies, have spoken!WebsiteFreedom FacebookFreedom InstagramFreedom SoundcloudP. Jason Lozano FacebookP. Jason Lozano Instagram

When life gets busy, often one of the first things we neglect is the life of our minds. When Solomon felt overwhelmed, however, he devoted himself to wisdom rather than simply trying to make it through by his own grit. In this message, we’ll discuss strategies for doing the same.

When life gets busy, often one of the first things we neglect is the life of our minds. When Solomon felt overwhelmed, however, he devoted himself to wisdom rather than simply trying to make it through by his own grit. In this message, we’ll discuss strategies for doing the same.

As we explore the Prodigal Son's ZIPPER MANAGEMENT problem, we will look to Solomon as both a good and bad example.The good example is in Proverbs 5:15-19. Ironically, it is written by a younger Solomon. This definitively shows that he should have known better. In fact, he DID know better. It is a passage about marriage and sexual satisfaction. I am not making this up. It talks about breasts. Gotta love the Bible.The bad example is in 1 Kings 11: 1-8. Like the prodigal son, Solomon liked foreign women. It leads to a bit of a progression that is a tragedy of epic proportions: "Loved foreign women...marriage(forbidden, btw)...turn away heart...Solomon CLUNG to these in love(death grip on a loser idea)...When Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart...Solomon WENT AFTER Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians...Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord." How'd you like your sexual history to be bullet pointed in Scripture for all the world to see and hopefully learn from?Solomon ends poorly. However, our Knucklehead from the Prodigal Son story does NOT! He stops taking what is not his. He starts this process by working and not stealing from pigs and their owner. Yup. He is LONGING and HUNGRY. Welcome to the school of hard knocks. Let's listen and admire him today.

When Solomon finished praying, there was more than silence and hushed reverence. Fire descended from heaven to consume the burnt offerings, and “the glory of the LORD filled the temple” (2 Chron. 7:1). God himself approved both the temple and Solomon’s prayer of dedication. The thousands of Israelites who were present certainly saw things that way (2 Chron. 7:3) and sang again, “He is good; his love endures forever” (2 Chron. 7:3). The festival of celebration described in the following verses (2 Chron. 7:4–10) is peerless.There is more. Just as the Lord had personally appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and to Solomon’s own father David!—so now he appears, by whatever means, to Solomon. Note:(1) “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices” (2 Chron. 7:12; cf. 2 Chron. 7:16 and the meditation for November 26, emphasis added). God himself sees the sacrificial system as the heart of the temple. He then summarizes afresh his willingness to respond to his people when they stray and then pray; for this temple, in line with God’s gracious self-disclosure, institutionalizes the various offerings for sin that are the means by which guilty sinners can be reconciled to God by the sacrifices that he himself has both prescribed and provided.(2) Much of the rest of God’s words to Solomon run on one of two lines. First, in words of reassurance, God says his eyes will indeed always be open to his temple, and he will hear the prayers of those who repent. Second, this appearance to Solomon is also a warning, even a threat. God tells Solomon that if the nation (the “you” in 2 Chron. 7:19; “but if you turn away” is plural) succumbs to rebellion and idolatry, the time will come when God will descend on them in judgment, drive his people from the Promised Land, and so decimate Jerusalem and this temple that people will be appalled; they will hear as the only sufficient explanation that God himself brought all this disaster on them because of their sin (2 Chron. 7:19–22). From God’s perspective, the people receive fair warning; from the chronicler’s perspective, he is preparing the way for the tragic conclusion to his book; from the canonical perspective, Christian readers are reminded that all systems and structures, even those that point to Christ, were bound to fail in this broken world until the appearance of the One to whom they pointed.(3) The promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14 is often quoted as a universal key to revival. But one should note the linked themes of covenant people, land, and temple—all contextually specific, in this form, to the old covenant. But there is a legitimate extension, grounded in the reality that righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. God calls on all peoples to repent. This podcast is designed to be used alongside TGC's Read The Bible initiative (TGC.org/readthebible). The podcast features devotional commentaries from D.A. Carson’s book For the Love of God (vol. 1) that follow the M’Cheyne Bible reading plan.

Benefits of the Glory 1. The Glory is a defence. Isaiah 4:5. And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. It is obvious that when His Glory descends, it defends and shields His people from plagues and Calamities. 2. The Glory will not permit wars. I'll connect two Scriptures to show how wars or battles or strife won't get to us as we dwell in the Glory. (2 Chro 7:1-3). When Solomon finished praying, fire(came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.2 The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. 3 When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “He is good;     his love endures forever.” 1 Kings 5:1-4. 5 And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David. 2 And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying, 3 Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the Lord his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. 4 But now the Lord my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent. 3. The Glory Eliminates death (Rom 6:4). Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Just as Jesus couldn't die on the Cross until the Father left Him, so we ourselves we can't die in the Glory, Hallelujah. 4. The Glory does not permit lack. John 2:10&11. 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” 11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. 5. The Glory escalates the Fear of God Ex. 20:18-20. 18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” 21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. 6. The Glory transforms our nature. 2 Cor. 3:18. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 7. The Glory brings instant judgement. Numbers 14:10-14. 10 But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. Then the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites. 11 The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them? 12 I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation greater and stronger than they.” God bless us richly.

Proverbs 3:1-10 What is the best advice you received from your parents growing up? What bit of wisdom did your parents “try” give you that you ignored and wish you hadn’t? Read and compare the two different tones of Proverbs 1:8, 3:1 and 3:11. What do you hear in the voice of the father and mother to the son? When Solomon tells people to obey, what are they to obey with (3:2)? What is the difference between heart obedience v. head obedience? Why do you think steadfastness and faithfulness are such "respect building" qualities? (v.3-4) God wants us to trust Him… (v.5-6) How is each practically lived out? Trust in the Lord … With all your heart… Do not lean on your own understanding… Acknowledge Him in all your ways… Why is arrogance such a hard attitude to detect in ourselves? How will being “wise in our own eyes” get in the way of our “trusting in the Lord?” What does God say about our wealth? (Haggai 2:8) Why is honoring the Lord with all our wealth a pattern of God? Why does money say more about what we love in life than anything else (Matthew 6:21)?

When Solomon breaks a rule, he does it in a BIG way!!!

The spiritual life is lived in the soul. We express what we believe in our bodies—how we behave. Our words are a reflection of our soul. When Solomon wrote the book of Proverbs under the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit, his apparent objective was to stress the importance of having the wisdom of God. He made it available for you and for me through his written words and we call it the Scripture. Proverbs 1:1-7 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To discern the sayings of understanding, 3 To receive instruction in wise behavior, Righteousness, justice, and equity; 4 To give prudence to the naive, To the youth knowledge and discretion, 5 A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and a figure, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction. We are exhorted over and over and over again throughout the New Testament to learn God's plan so we can execute and fulfill His desire for us so that we might in fact glorify him, not ourselves. Ephesians 3:20 says, “All glory belongs to God whose power is at work in us.” In 2 Peter 3:18, “Grow [this is not a request, this is an order from Peter, this is a commandment] in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Mandated. If you are not growing, you are sinning. A Christian who does not progress in the Christian life is going to go backward. You must grow on a daily basis. You must be under the ministry of a well-qualified pastor who can teach you God's Word so that you can learn it and apply it to your life. You have got to learn to think as He thinks and that is why the Bible says it, “let this mind be in you that was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). The Bible is the mind of Christ. The New Testament is the mind of Christ. We have it and we are to grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Full Transcript: https://rhem.pub/747-transcript --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rick-hughes/message

Rev. Harrison Goodman, pastor at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in San Antonio, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Proverbs 4:10-19. When Solomon tells his son to hear, he teaches us that wisdom must be received. Wisdom does not come from inside a person, but it is a gift that comes from the Word of the LORD. This is the path of righteousness, with which Jesus identifies Himself: “I am the Way.” Because this way is given by grace, those who walk on it do not stumble, for they are in Christ. They are placed there by His instruction, which is life. Doctrine must norm life; if life norms doctrine, both will be harmed. The path of the wicked is unbelief; Solomon warns in no uncertain terms against it. Those who walk on it do not find comfort in the grace of God, so they can only look for it in their vain attempts at self-justification. Their food is not the LORD’s gracious gift of Himself, but only a cheap imitation. This way of lawlessness is darkness that leads to ignorant stumbling; only in the light of the Gospel does the Lord place our feet on the true path, Jesus Christ. “Wisdom and Instruction” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Proverbs. Although Proverbs is perhaps best known for its short sayings full of practical advice, the one true God has so much more in this book of wisdom. True wisdom begins with the fear of the LORD. Christians walk His way of righteousness rather than the way of wickedness because we trust that all good gifts come to us through His Son Jesus Christ, who is His wisdom made flesh for our salvation.

While most teenagers doing their HSC are thinking about their ATAR, Solomon Maguire is thinking about baseball. The 17-year -old from the Hills District has been signed to a Major League Baseball club on the biggest money deal for an Aussie in 25 years. He’s also one of the youngest to ever do it, at 16 when he signed. In sporting fields across suburban Sydney, talent scouts from some of the biggest MLB clubs on the planet came to privately observe the left-handed hitter from the New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals . There were 18 MLB clubs following him with eventually eight left sitting at the table. They observed everything about him: they were watching from the moment he got out of the car, how he treated his mother, how he reacted when things didn’t go his way. He'd already been exposed to big name talent scouts - they've been keeping a close eye on him for years. When Solomon played for Australia in the Under 14s in 2017, a number of international clubs were eyeing him. A year later, at the U16 National Youth Championships, the Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians and Yankees reached out again. He was eventually flown to America at the start of the year to sign with the Pittsburgh Pirates, securing a sign-on bonus of $US594,000 plus $US175,000 education money. The head scout for the Pirates says he has not only the skills but the traits of the character they look for; the work ethic, the ability to take on instruction, the aptitude, the mindset, the drive – everything you want to bottle in a player. Solomon Maguire joins John Stanley with the exciting details on his recent signing. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

Proverbs 20:19 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler. 20 If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness. ...To slander would include things like digging up dirt on others and making a character assignation against them with malicious gossip. It may even be something way back in the persons past… This slander may be a total misrepresentation of who the person is today… They spew out their words like a mad person kills and destroys with seemingly no guilt and unconcerned about the lives they destroy. Solomon calls this person a simple babbler… Simple, I suspect because they lack the things that Proverbs tells us over and over to pursue… Things like wisdom, knowledge, prudence, discretion… attributes like fearing the Lord, helping the poor, looking out for the good of others and accountability with money and in relationships… the list goes on and on. And this babbler is someone who just rattles on and on with nothing worthwhile to say… Its a strange thing that this person can jjibber-jabber on and on almost without breathing and yet never touch on any of the many things that Solomon says are important. And the thing is… he actually does reveals secrets… But they’re not for helping others or building them up or mending relationships… These secrets are weapons that ruins peoples lives and strains relationships and promotes divorce and splits churches and causes children to never speak to their parents for years… This babbler causes pain and feeds distrust and envy and bitterness and encourages others to hold grudges. Solomon says not to associate with them. Being drawn to them… enjoying their fellowship and admiring their ways… has surly led those who do down the very same path. Now the person in verse 20 who curses his father or his mother is a similar type of individual. The curses he speaks are also slanderous and much of the time he too reveals secrets about his parents. There could be various underling reasons for this… It may be because he has never come to the point of forgiving them for the wrong that they did to him or to his siblings. It could be their hypocrisy or that they weren’t there when they needed them… Nevertheless, the secrets this person reveals about his parents in their cursing are not for their good. It is not so they might be prayed for or that relationships might be restored. This person is blind to the extent of his own brokenness. When Solomon says his lamp will be put out in utter darkness. He may have been thinking about the many references to this in the Old Testament. * Exodus 21:17 “Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death. * Deuteronomy 27:16“‘Cursed be anyone who dishonors his father or his mother.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ And in the New: * Ephesians 6:2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Of course the implication is that not honoring your parents… even cursing and not wanting good for these who’s family God chose to place you into… will be to your demise. And the sad thing is in cursing them you are in some way blaming God himself. In closing the thoughts that come to mind are… I should not be a babbler… If I am going to put others down let me put them down on my prayer list and not reveal their secrets in slander. Gossip can consumes us. I know, I have been there. But the truth is that slander is part of the mission satan wants you and I to be on… That is… sharing bad news. Gods mission is sharing the good news… the best news ever, how Jesus took what was due us because of our sin with his death on the Cross and in exchange gives his righteousness to all who delight in him through faith, and as he was raised God will raise us up no longer under the entropy associated with sin. Father God thank You for this great gift, In Jesus name amen.

Happy Wednesday, friends. I have refused for many years to call Wednesday 'hump-day' as a matter of principle, and I still refuse, so don't hold your breath hoping for me to wish you a happy hump-day at some point. It won't happen, unless I have been kidnapped and forced to do the podcast against my will, at which point, I will signal my need for rescue by uttering that greeting. Hopefully, we won't have to cross that bridge at any point in the future, but this podcast has many enemies, so you never know. Today's Bible readings include Leviticus 26, Ecclesiastes 9, Psalms 33 and Titus 1. As we have mentioned before, Ecclesiastes is not the happiest of Bible books. I'm not sure that I'd go to this book if my soul was downcast, and I was desperate for an encouraging pick-me up. That said, there is indeed wisdom to be found here, and the whole thrust of the book is found in its finale, so let's hold off on being too harsh until we get there. One of the profound observations that Solomon is going to share with us today is that life simply isn't fair, and he is going to share that truth with us in a bunch of different and soul-crushing ways. You might be saying - I don't think I'm up for much of a soul-crushing episode of the podcast right now - what with a virus stalking the lands like an invisible and scary stalky thing, and you'd be right, and that is why this is NOT going to be a soul-crushing episode, but a soul-LIFTING episode. So - just hang on. Let's read Ecclesiastes and come back and discuss. Wow. That was a bummer. Hang on for a few more minutes, because good news is coming. First, let's discuss the bad news we've just read. Solomon has just told us in several different ways that life is not fair at all. Consider: vs 2. Solomon says that DEATH awaits all - the virtuous and the sinner, the fool and the wise. UNFAIR! "2 Everything is the same for everyone: There is one fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not sacrifice. As it is for the good, so also it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who takes an oath, so also for the one who fears an oath." vs. 11 - the best don't always win, though it would be fair for them to do so. "Again I saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, or the battle to the strong, or bread to the wise, or riches to the discerning, or favor to the skillful; rather, time and chance happen to all of them." vs 15. Poor heroes who are wise are completely forgotten because they are poor, "15 Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man." That's just in chapter 9. If you've been paying attention, Solomon has already told us numerous unfair things as well. How about Ecclesiastes 8:14, "There is a futility that is done on the earth: there are righteous people who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked people who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile." Ouch! This is the height of unfairness! How about 7:15, "In my futile life I have seen everything: someone righteous perishes in spite of his righteousness, and someone wicked lives long in spite of his evil." Or 6:2, "God gives a person riches, wealth, and honor so that he lacks nothing of all he desires for himself, but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a sickening tragedy." And finally, 3:19-22 "For the fate of the children of Adam and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath. People have no advantage over animals since everything is futile. 20 All are going to the same place; all come from dust, and all return to dust. 21 Who knows if the spirits of the children of Adam go upward and the spirits of animals go downward to the earth? 22 I have seen that there is nothing better than for a person to enjoy his activities because that is his reward. For who can enable him to see what will happen after he dies?" Are you depressed yet? Wow - that's some heavy stuff. People often think Christians are pollyannas or sunshine-pumpers - people given to irrational and excessive optimism. I'm honestly not sure you can read the Bible - Old or New Testament - and come away thinking the Bible is anything but genuine, authentic, truthful and gritty. The Word of God does not whitewash things. I'll admit - many preachers do. Many televangelists do. Some moms and dads do. Some Sunday School teachers also....but the Bible doesn't. Solomon shows us today that life is NOT fair. Those who try hardest don't always win. Some wonderful people die young and some horrible people live a long and materially blessed life. Sometimes the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer. Who can understand such things? But the real thing is what Solomon keeps coming back to: death. In his understanding - death comes for all, and the rich/wise/virtuous/humble are no better off than the wicked/foolish/haughty or animals, from what he can tell. And there's the important pivot for us. As far as Solomon knew, death was the same for all. There are some hints that he knew the righteous would be ultimately rewarded and the wicked ultimately punished, but it is like he is peering through the fog and can't really see clearly at all. Despite all his wisdom and learning, he is utterly perplexed. I wonder how much of that is due to the 1 Kings 11:4 dynamic? ("When Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away to follow other gods. He was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his father David had been.") Probably quite a bit, actually - but the other thing that made things about the afterlife foggy was the fact that God had not revealed it Old Testament believers as fully as Jesus does in the flesh. And when Jesus comes on the scene, we learn just precisely how UNFAIR things are - especially eternal things. One of the greatest little summations of that unfairness is found in Luke 22:37 For I tell you, what is written must be fulfilled in me: And he was counted among the lawless. Yes, what is written about me is coming to its fulfillment.” Luke 22:37 This, my friends, is the absolute pinnacle of unfairness. Jesus, the perfect God-man, was counted as a rebel, as a sinner, as a criminal that deserved the worst punishment of all, crucifixion. He knew no sin, but suffered the penalty for all of our sins. There has never been something so unfair happen before or since, and there never will be again! Romans 4:25, "He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." 1 Corinthians 15:3, "3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures," 2nd Corinthians 5:21, " He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Colossians 2:14 "He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross." John 6:40, ""For this is the will of my Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him will have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” If only Solomon could look upon this most unfair of all things. I am quite sure it would completely erase his lamenting, and cause him to joyfully exult in the divine unfairness of it all - the sacrifice of the perfect Jesus for His most imperfect sheep. Solomon was absolutely right that life was and is unfair, but he just misunderstood the direction that the River Unfair flowed. It does not flow against us, brothers and sisters, but for us in every way - thanks be to Jesus the Messiah! Meditate on this beautiful and glorious bit of unfairness and rejoice that you see more clearly than the wisest man of ancient days (because of Jesus.): He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him. 4 Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds. 6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:3-6

Happy Wednesday, friends. I have refused for many years to call Wednesday 'hump-day' as a matter of principle, and I still refuse, so don't hold your breath hoping for me to wish you a happy hump-day at some point. It won't happen, unless I have been kidnapped and forced to do the podcast against my will, at which point, I will signal my need for rescue by uttering that greeting. Hopefully, we won't have to cross that bridge at any point in the future, but this podcast has many enemies, so you never know. Today's Bible readings include Leviticus 26, Ecclesiastes 9, Psalms 33 and Titus 1. As we have mentioned before, Ecclesiastes is not the happiest of Bible books. I'm not sure that I'd go to this book if my soul was downcast, and I was desperate for an encouraging pick-me up. That said, there is indeed wisdom to be found here, and the whole thrust of the book is found in its finale, so let's hold off on being too harsh until we get there. One of the profound observations that Solomon is going to share with us today is that life simply isn't fair, and he is going to share that truth with us in a bunch of different and soul-crushing ways. You might be saying - I don't think I'm up for much of a soul-crushing episode of the podcast right now - what with a virus stalking the lands like an invisible and scary stalky thing, and you'd be right, and that is why this is NOT going to be a soul-crushing episode, but a soul-LIFTING episode. So - just hang on. Let's read Ecclesiastes and come back and discuss. Wow. That was a bummer. Hang on for a few more minutes, because good news is coming. First, let's discuss the bad news we've just read. Solomon has just told us in several different ways that life is not fair at all. Consider: vs 2. Solomon says that DEATH awaits all - the virtuous and the sinner, the fool and the wise. UNFAIR! "2 Everything is the same for everyone: There is one fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not sacrifice. As it is for the good, so also it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who takes an oath, so also for the one who fears an oath." vs. 11 - the best don't always win, though it would be fair for them to do so. "Again I saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, or the battle to the strong, or bread to the wise, or riches to the discerning, or favor to the skillful; rather, time and chance happen to all of them." vs 15. Poor heroes who are wise are completely forgotten because they are poor, "15 Now a poor wise man was found in the city, and he delivered the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man." That's just in chapter 9. If you've been paying attention, Solomon has already told us numerous unfair things as well. How about Ecclesiastes 8:14, "There is a futility that is done on the earth: there are righteous people who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked people who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile." Ouch! This is the height of unfairness! How about 7:15, "In my futile life I have seen everything: someone righteous perishes in spite of his righteousness, and someone wicked lives long in spite of his evil." Or 6:2, "God gives a person riches, wealth, and honor so that he lacks nothing of all he desires for himself, but God does not allow him to enjoy them. Instead, a stranger will enjoy them. This is futile and a sickening tragedy." And finally, 3:19-22 "For the fate of the children of Adam and the fate of animals is the same. As one dies, so dies the other; they all have the same breath. People have no advantage over animals since everything is futile. 20 All are going to the same place; all come from dust, and all return to dust. 21 Who knows if the spirits of the children of Adam go upward and the spirits of animals go downward to the earth? 22 I have seen that there is nothing better than for a person to enjoy his activities because that is his reward. For who can enable him to see what will happen after he dies?" Are you depressed yet? Wow - that's some heavy stuff. People often think Christians are pollyannas or sunshine-pumpers - people given to irrational and excessive optimism. I'm honestly not sure you can read the Bible - Old or New Testament - and come away thinking the Bible is anything but genuine, authentic, truthful and gritty. The Word of God does not whitewash things. I'll admit - many preachers do. Many televangelists do. Some moms and dads do. Some Sunday School teachers also....but the Bible doesn't. Solomon shows us today that life is NOT fair. Those who try hardest don't always win. Some wonderful people die young and some horrible people live a long and materially blessed life. Sometimes the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer. Who can understand such things? But the real thing is what Solomon keeps coming back to: death. In his understanding - death comes for all, and the rich/wise/virtuous/humble are no better off than the wicked/foolish/haughty or animals, from what he can tell. And there's the important pivot for us. As far as Solomon knew, death was the same for all. There are some hints that he knew the righteous would be ultimately rewarded and the wicked ultimately punished, but it is like he is peering through the fog and can't really see clearly at all. Despite all his wisdom and learning, he is utterly perplexed. I wonder how much of that is due to the 1 Kings 11:4 dynamic? ("When Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away to follow other gods. He was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his father David had been.") Probably quite a bit, actually - but the other thing that made things about the afterlife foggy was the fact that God had not revealed it Old Testament believers as fully as Jesus does in the flesh. And when Jesus comes on the scene, we learn just precisely how UNFAIR things are - especially eternal things. One of the greatest little summations of that unfairness is found in Luke 22:37 For I tell you, what is written must be fulfilled in me: And he was counted among the lawless. Yes, what is written about me is coming to its fulfillment.” Luke 22:37 This, my friends, is the absolute pinnacle of unfairness. Jesus, the perfect God-man, was counted as a rebel, as a sinner, as a criminal that deserved the worst punishment of all, crucifixion. He knew no sin, but suffered the penalty for all of our sins. There has never been something so unfair happen before or since, and there never will be again! Romans 4:25, "He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." 1 Corinthians 15:3, "3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures," 2nd Corinthians 5:21, " He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Colossians 2:14 "He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross." John 6:40, ""For this is the will of my Father: that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him will have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” If only Solomon could look upon this most unfair of all things. I am quite sure it would completely erase his lamenting, and cause him to joyfully exult in the divine unfairness of it all - the sacrifice of the perfect Jesus for His most imperfect sheep. Solomon was absolutely right that life was and is unfair, but he just misunderstood the direction that the River Unfair flowed. It does not flow against us, brothers and sisters, but for us in every way - thanks be to Jesus the Messiah! Meditate on this beautiful and glorious bit of unfairness and rejoice that you see more clearly than the wisest man of ancient days (because of Jesus.): He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like someone people turned away from; he was despised, and we didn’t value him. 4 Yet he himself bore our sicknesses, and he carried our pains; but we in turn regarded him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds. 6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished him for the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:3-6

“When Solomon finished praying, a bolt of lightning out of heaven struck the Whole-Burnt-Offering and sacrifices and the Glory of GOD filled The Temple. The Glory was so dense that the priests couldn’t get - 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 MSG Read Transcript: High Density on PastorPriji.com Become a monthly partner towards revival in Africa: Donate Here

When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the Lord’s house. When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever.”

Original Broadcast: October 2009 Monthly Theme: King Solomon Now Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king." (1 Kings 1:5) A Usurping Brother David was getting old and senile. It was time for someone to take over. The only problem is that there are several who want the throne. The most prominent among them was Adonijah, David's fourth born and oldest living son. He makes himself king only to be humbled by God. When Solomon's throne is established according to David's proclamation, Adonijah has no other choice but to come before his younger brother and begs for forgiveness. Solomon grants forgiveness but later has him executed as an enemy of the state. Adonijah usurped his brother's throne and was cast down by God. This shows Jesus' statement, "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted" (Matthew 23:12). Adonijah wanted to be the king, but God made him least among his brothers, suffering a fate much like that of his older brothers. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled. Jesus consistently taught humility through His example. He humbled Himself even to the point of death so that He might be exalted by God and that He might exalt everyone who believes in Him. By faith, you will be exalted when you are raised from the dead on the Last Day to enter into Heaven with Him forever. Amen.

Exodus 2:2 Because "she saw that he was a special baby," she quickly conceived a plan: she "kept him hidden for three months." Do you believe that your children are special? That they were born for a reason? That God has a purpose for them? Exodus 2:3 "When she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River" Hebrews 11:23 "By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict" FEARLESS PARENTS KNOW THAT ___________ THEIR KIDS IS NOT THE ANSWERJohn 8:12 "I am the light of the world. Whoever ___________ will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Instead of asking how we can protect our kids from darkness, we should be asking how we can help them come to love and trust Jesus so they will follow Him all their days. What kind of ___________ culture do you have? FEARLESS PARENTS ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THEIR _______________ Psalm 127:4-5 "Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior's hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!" When Solomon wrote Psalm 127, arrows were common in civil and military life. Arrows in the hand of a skilled warrior were not just any weapons but the weapon of choice. The type of bow and arrow warriors used required first-rate craftsmanship and could not be produced in mass quantities. Great parenting requires first-rate craftsmanship. Assembly line parenting asks: How quickly and cost-effectively can I turn this child into a successful adult? THE ARROWHEAD: THE __________ We sharpen our arrows by helping them renew their minds with the Word of God. Deuteronomy 11:18-20 So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. THE ARROW SHAFT : THE _________ 1 Corinthians 6:20 The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body. Our bodies belong to God and serve a purpose: To bring honor to our creator Hebrews 12:12-13 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. THE FEATHER: THE ________ If our kids don't grasp the significance of having a brand-new spirit, they will be in a constant state of conflict with their flesh. The Holy Spirit wants to stabilize your children and help them accurately hit the target that God has for them every day. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 ...the God who makes everything holy and whole and who put you (and your children) together– spirit, soul, and body– and keeps you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he'll do it!

Facets of Fruit: Patience What does it mean to be patient? We'll look at the three types of patience and their opposites to gather a better understanding of what it means to grow in patience, as well as how to do that practically. Show Notes: Welcome back to More than Milk. I’m Hannah Rebekah. We are in the middle of a series on the Fruit of the Spirit, and today we’re thinking through the facet of fruit known as patience. When I start working on a podcast, one of the first things I do is go to website I love—openbible.info/topics—and search things related to the topic I’m going to be speaking on. This brings up bible verses related either directly or indirectly to the words I search. When I looked up “patience,” something became evident quickly: there are three main types of patience. The first is the opposite of anger. I’m not sure why, but I’ve never thought of patience as being the opposite of anger. Now that I do think about it, though, it makes perfect sense. “Impatience,” the classic opposite of patience, has major connotations of frustration and anger. The Bible has a lot to say about this form of patience, in fact I would say it has the most to say about this form of patience. Ecclesiastes 7:8-9 says, “Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools.” The culture that surrounded the Hebrew language during the Old Testament was one of repetition. If you wanted to say something was big, you’d say that word twice. For instance, you wouldn’t say “deep hole,” you’d say “hole hole.” The same is true of longer statements. If you want to really get your point across, you say the same thing from as many different angles as possible. This is a very common poetical device, and you can see it prominently in Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. When Solomon says, “the patient spirit is better than the proud spirit. Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the heart of fools,” he’s saying the same thing from opposite perspectives. You should be patient and also not angry—the same thing. James 1:19-20 says, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” This is a general command against anger as a response to other people. I don’t know if you’ve ever thought about it, but the reason we get angry most of the time is because a) someone is doing something that irritates us, or b) someone has gotten in the way of our doing or achieving something we had planned or hoped was going to happen. Being patient instead of being angry requires a) seeing the other person the way God sees them—as either sinners in need of saving or saints saved by grace—and b) viewing ourselves and our agenda as not more important than anyone else’s. Proverbs 15:18 says, “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.” When we are viewing ourselves and our own plans, hopes, and dreams as the most important, which is a symptom of pride, we are easily angered by those who get in the way of that. This could be children who aren’t behaving, colleagues who get the promotion we wanted, spouses who turn out not to be everything we were dreaming they’d be, other drivers who cut us off or make us late by driving slowly. When we get angry over these things, we’re demonstrating a belief that our personal goals are more important than anyone else’s—and more important than God’s. We have no idea how His agenda might be played out because we’re late to work or can’t have children of our own, or anything else that happens that frustrates our ideals of life. Seeing other people as just as valuable as ourselves and God’s plan as perfect frees us from anger and cooperates with the Spirit to create patience in our hearts. And that patience is a signal fire to others that something is different about us. It creates unity in the Body of Christ and intrigue in unbelievers. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15, “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” Colossians 3:12-13, “Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” Being patient allows us to be able to forgive one another. 1 Corinthians 13:4-6, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.” The second type of patience is that of waiting. “Don’t be hasty,” as Treebeard would say. Hastiness has some connotations of frustration and anger, but it’s not quite the same as what we’ve already discussed. Isaiah 40:27-31 says, “Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God’? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” God does not work in our timing. We don’t know what He’s up to. It may seem at times as though God is not listening, not working, not caring for you, but He promises that those who are patient and trust Him will receive strength and power in due time. Psalm 37:1-13, “Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. In just a little while, the wicked will be no more; though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there. But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace. The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him, but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that his day is coming. The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright; their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.” This type of waiting patience takes the long view. Right now, it appears that evil triumphs. But we know that in the end, that is not the case. God wins. Evil is punished. Good is rewarded. Those who trust in the Lord and forsake worry and anger will inherit the earth. Galatians 6:7-10, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” In the meantime, while we wait for what we know is to come, we should continue to do good, do what we know God has called us to, believing that He will use it for our good and His glory. The third type of patience is endurance. When things are hard, this type of patience does not give up. You can see elements of the previous two forms of patience here as well, and there’s definitely some overlap in categories. When we encounter trials, we can be angry, impulsive, and worry. This type of patience connotes more acute suffering. Romans 12:12 says, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 8:18-25, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” Here we can see the overlap of waiting and endurance. There are things we are waiting for and current sufferings we are enduring, all while trusting God’s promises. Romans 5:3-5, “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Not only are we to be patient through suffering, but suffering produces patience. So to sum up, there are three forms of patience: being emotionally controlled instead of angry, waiting for things to come, and enduring hardships. We can cultivate patience by remembering that we are no more important than anyone else, God is Sovereign, God has promised that evil will eventually be punished and good will have its reward, and God does and will continue to use all things we go through for our good and His glory. Thank you for joining me on the podcast today. I hope you have a better understanding of what patience is and how you can cooperate with the Holy Spirit in cultivating it in your own life. I leave you with the words of Paul from Ephesians 4:1-3, “I therefore… urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” I hope to see you next week when we will be talking about kindness.

Many times, some relationships that we get in can do nothing but bring us down. Sometimes who we attach to, aren’t doing anything but pulling us down and not do what is right! Watch out.... for who you think you want and need! 1 Kings 11:2,4 CSB [2] from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, "You must not intermarry with them, and they must not intermarry with you, because they will turn your heart away to follow their gods." To these women Solomon was deeply attached in love. [4] When Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away to follow other gods. He was not wholeheartedly devoted to the LORD his God, as his father David had been. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

When Solomon asks God for wisdom, he couldn't have possibly imagined that he would become famous as one of the wisest men in history. He also couldn't have imagined how desperately he would need all that wisdom. Hear Solomon's story in this episode of Bible Storyline.   1 Kings 1-11; 2 Chronicles 1-9

Exodus 19:7-9 7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord. 9 The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.”   Philippians 2:5-8 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!   Exodus 19 Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said. 10 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes 11 and be ready by the third day, because on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.12 Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not approach the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain is to be put to death. 13 They are to be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on them. No person or animal shall be permitted to live.’ Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they approach the mountain.” 14 After Moses had gone down the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes. 15 Then he said to the people, “Prepare yourselves for the third day. Abstain from sexual relations.” 16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. 19 As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.   2 Samuel 6 David again brought together all the able young men of Israel—thirty thousand.2 He and all his men went to Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim on the ark. 3 They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart 4 with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it. 5 David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals. 6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7 The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.   1 Samuel 13 Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. 8 He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. 9 So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. 10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him. 11 “What have you done?” asked Samuel. Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash, 12 I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”   Numbers 4:15 "After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites are to come to do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy things or they will die. The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the Tent of Meeting”   2 Chronicles 7:1-4 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.2 The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lordfilled it. 3 When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lordabove the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “He is good; his love endures forever.” 4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord.   Ephesians 2:19-22 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.   1 Corinthians 3:16-17 16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.   Titus 3:10 10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.

When Solomon showed humility, when he showed honesty and when he asked for wisdom, what was God’ response? The Lord was pleased with Solomon for responding in the way he did. Solomon did not ask for anything that would materially benefit himself or others? God not only gave him the wisdom that he asked for but he also rewarded him with • riches and honour and • the promise of a long life

A heartfelt strategic prayer plays a key role in the shaping and development of societies into God's divine objective. There can be no advancement of a nation toward that ordained, prophetic mandate without those position like Anna and Simeon at the gate to pray in such a season. Here is something we can learn from Solomon as he ushered in newness to his nation as a crowned king. "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 Podcast powered by Spreaker. Go to www.spreaker.com/create

A heartfelt strategic prayer plays a key role in the shaping and development of societies into God's divine objective. There can be no advancement toward the fulfilment of divine intention within a society without a corresponding effective, prayer engagement. THE BIRTH OF A NEW DAY IN PRAYER. DEVOTIONAL SERIES 23 Here is something we can learn from Solomon as he ushered in newness to his nation as a crowned king in Israel. "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 Podcast powered by Spreaker. Go to www.spreaker.com/create

A heartfelt strategic prayer plays a key role in the shaping and development of societies into God's divine objective. there can be no advancTHE BIRTH OF A NEW DAY IN PRAYER. DEVOTIONAL SERIES 23ement of a nation toward that ordained, prophetic mandate without those position like Anna and Simeon at the gate to pray in such a season. Here is something we can learn from Solomon as he ushered in newness to his nation as a crowned king. "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 Podcast powered by Spreaker. Go to www.spreaker.com/create

A heartfelt strategic prayer plays a key role in the shaping and development of societies into God's divine objective. there can be no advancTHE BIRTH OF A NEW DAY IN PRAYER. DEVOTIONAL SERIES 23ement of a nation toward that ordained, prophetic mandate without those position like Anna and Simeon at the gate to pray in such a season. Here is something we can learn from Solomon as he ushered in newness to his nation as a crowned king. "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 Podcast powered by Spreaker. Go to www.spreaker.com/create

A heartfelt strategic prayer plays a key role in the shaping and development of societies into God's divine objective. there can be no advancement of a nation toward that ordained, prophetic mandate without those position like Anna and Simeon at the gate to pray in such a season. Here is something we can learn from Solomon as he ushered in newness to his nation as a crowned king. "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 Podcast powered by Spreaker. Go to www.spreaker.com/create

A heartfelt strategic prayer plays a key role in the shaping and development of societies into God's divine objective. there can be no advancement of a nation toward that ordained, prophetic mandate without those position like Anna and Simeon at the gate to pray in such a season. Here is something we can learn from Solomon as he ushered in newness to his nation as a crowned king. "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 Podcast powered by Spreaker. Go to www.spreaker.com/create

A heartfelt strategic prayer plays a key role in the shaping and development of societies into God's divine objective. there can be no advancement of a nation toward that ordained, prophetic mandate without those position like Anna and Simeon at the gate to pray in such a season. Here is something we can learn from Solomon as he ushered in newness to his nation as a crowned king. "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 Podcast powered by Spreaker. Go to www.spreaker.com/create

A heartfelt strategic prayer plays a key role in the shaping and development of societies into God's divine objective. there can be no advancement of a nation toward that ordained, prophetic mandate without those position like Anna and Simeon at the gate to pray in such a season. Here is something we can learn from Solomon as he ushered in newness to his nation as a crowned king. "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 Podcast powered by Spreaker. Go to www.spreaker.com/create

A heartfelt strategic prayer plays a key role in the shaping and development of societies into God's divine objective. there can be no advancement of a nation toward that ordained, prophetic mandate without those position like Anna and Simeon at the gate to pray in such a season. Here is something we can learn from Solomon as he ushered in newness to his nation as a crowned king. "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 Podcast powered by Spreaker. Go to www.spreaker.com/create

A heartfelt strategic prayer plays a key role in the shaping and development of societies into God's divine objective. there can be no advancement of a nation toward that ordained, prophetic mandate without those position like Anna and Simeon at the gate to pray in such a season. Here is something we can learn from Solomon as he ushered in newness to his nation as a crowned king. "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 Podcast powered by Spreaker. Go to www.spreaker.com/create

A heartfelt strategic prayer plays a key role in the shaping and development of societies into God's divine objective. there can be no advancement of a nation toward that ordained, prophetic mandate without those position like Anna and Simeon at the gate to pray in such a season. Here is something we can learn from Solomon as he ushered in newness to his nation as a crowned king. "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 Podcast powered by Spreaker. Go to www.spreaker.com/create

A heartfelt strategic prayer plays a key role in the shaping and development of societies into God's divine objective. there can be no advancement of a nation toward that ordained, prophetic mandate without those position like Anna and Simeon at the gate to pray in such a season. Here is something we can learn from Solomon as he ushered in newness to his nation as a crowned king. "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 Podcast powered by Spreaker. Go to www.spreaker.com/create

A heartfelt strategic prayer plays a key role in the shaping and development of societies into God's divine objective. there can be no advancement of a nation toward that ordained, prophetic mandate without those position like Anna and Simeon at the gate to pray in such a season. Here is something we can learn from Solomon as he ushered in newness to his nation as a crowned king. "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 Podcast powered by Spreaker. Go to www.spreaker.com/create

A heartfelt strategic prayer plays a key role in the shaping and development of societies into God's divine objective. there can be no advancement of a nation toward that ordained, prophetic mandate without those position like Anna and Simeon at the gate to pray in such a season. Here is something we can learn from Solomon as he ushered in newness to his nation as a crowned king. "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 Podcast powered by Spreaker. Go to www.spreaker.com/create

When Solomon turned away from God, the prophet Ahijah incited a holy revolution against the United Kingdom. Music by Kevin MacLeod.

A heartfelt strategic prayer plays a key role in the shaping and development of societies into God's divine objective. there can be no advancement of a nation toward that ordained, prophetic mandate without those position like Anna and Simeon at the gate to pray in such a season. Here is something we can learn from Solomon as he ushered in newness to his nation as a crowned king. "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 Podcast powered by Spreaker. Go to www.spreaker.com/create

A heartfelt strategic prayer plays a key role in the shaping and development of societies into God's divine objective. there can be no advancement of a nation toward that ordained, prophetic mandate without those position like Anna and Simeon at the gate to pray in such a season. Here is something we can learn from Solomon as he ushered in newness to his nation as a crowned king. "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 Podcast powered by Spreaker. Go to www.spreaker.com/create

A heartfelt strategic prayer plays a key role in the shaping and development of societies into God's divine objective. there can be no advancement of a nation toward that ordained, prophetic mandate without those position like Anna and Simeon at the gate to pray in such a season. Here is something we can learn from Solomon as he ushered in newness to his nation as a crowned king. "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 Podcast powered by Spreaker. Go to www.spreaker.com/create

A heartfelt strategic prayer plays a key role in the shaping and development of societies into God's divine objective. there can be no advancement of a nation toward that ordained, prophetic mandate without those position like Anna and Simeon at the gate to pray in such a season. Here is something we can learn from Solomon as he ushered in newness to his nation as a crowned king. "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 Podcast powered by Spreaker. Go to www.spreaker.com/create

A heartfelt strategic prayer plays a key role in the shaping and development of societies into God's divine objective. there can be no advancement of a nation toward that ordained, prophetic mandate without those position like Anna and Simeon at the gate to pray in such a season. Here is something we can learn from Solomon as he ushered in newness to his nation as a crowned king. "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.  The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it.  When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 Podcast powered by Spreaker. Go to www.spreaker.com/create

A heartfelt strategic prayer plays a key role in the shaping and development of societies into God's divine objective. there can be no advancement of a nation toward that ordained, prophetic mandate without those position like Anna and Simeon at the gate to pray in such a season. Here is something we can learn from Solomon as he ushered in newness to his nation as a crowned king. "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.  The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it.  When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 Podcast powered by Spreaker. Go to www.spreaker.com/create

A heartfelt strategic prayer plays a key role in the shaping and development of soceities into God's divine objective. there can be no advancement of a nation toward that ordained, prophetic mandte without those position like Anna and Simeon at the gate to pray in such a season. Here is something we can learn from Solomon as he ushered in newness to his nation as a crwoned king. "When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.  The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it.  When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying.. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 Podcast powered by Spreaker. Go to www.spreaker.com/create

When Solomon became King over Israel, he asked God for wisdom—and God granted it to him. “God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, so that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.” That’s […]

Trust by its very definition means to have a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. All long-lasting relationships are built on trust. The best relationships are built on a mutual trust and respect. As human beings we are always looking for answers to the problems we create. The Word of God teaches us to “Trust in the Lord with all of thine heart; lean not unto thy own understanding; in all of thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) As we learn to build a relationship with God through the fellowship of His Spirit, we will learn how to have that confidence, belief, faith, freedom and assurance that everything is going to be alright! The desire to see our nation keep God at the core and heartbeat of everything we do fueled Christians to take a stand for God and country. As a result of an appeal to Secretary Chase of the Treasury Department a letter dated November 13, 1861 from  Rev. M. R. Watkinson, Minister of the Gospel from Ridleyville, Pennsylvania instructions were given to James Pollock, Director of the Mint at Philadelphia, on November 20th of the same year to prepare a motto: Dear Sir: No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins. You will cause a device to be prepared without unnecessary delay with a motto expressing in the fewest and tersest words possible this national recognition. It was found that the Act of Congress dated January 18, 1837, prescribed the mottoes and devices that should be placed upon the coins of the United States.” Not only throughout our National History but throughout Biblical History we can clearly see it is God who makes the difference in a people who will seek Him. This message is intended to create a hunger for a relationship with God like never before. It is to awaken your sense of need for Divine intervention. It will remind you of these turbulent times that can become peaceful times through fasting, prayer and the study of the Word of God. (All About History.org) “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land”. (2 Chronicles 7:14) When King Solomon prayed and worship God; the people of Israel joined him. When Solomon bowed before God; the people of Israel followed. When Solomon gave sacrifices; the people of God did the same. Notice the trend; when the leaders turn to God the people followed. These messages are to inspire you to take another look at the way you see things. The way you see our Leaders and the way we see each other. One person can make a difference. One righteous man can change the course of history for good. Will you be that person? Will you turn your heart to seek God that He may move through you to show His love and His power? When we stop the finger pointing and begin to pray lives will be changed and the power of God will be made known to heal this land called America; this land called home. Join me every Wednesday morning at 6:30 am CST for “Wake Up & Pray” with DrFaye! It is a time of prayer and the Word of God to start your day! There are testimonies of miracles that have emerged as we share time in the presence of God. Call 1-641-715-3580 Code 891384#

A daily devotional walking through God's word together using The Bible Reading Plan at http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.html. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Thanks for joining me today for "A Little Walk with God." I'm your host Richard Agee. We started talking about integrity last week, defining real integrity as walking in unity with God. Following his purpose and plan rather than our own. Letting God determine what is true and right and good rather than letting society or even our own conscience determine the moral norms we should follow. Today, I'd like us to consider a passage from Ecclesiastes chapter 4 as we think about our integrity. Solomon said this: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: if either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” You might ask, “What does that have to do with integrity?” I'd answer, “Everything.” You see, we need a good friend to keep us accountable. Particularly in this day and age, and in our society in which it seems that what is right is only what I think is right for me. We live in a time when we are always asking the question, “What's in it for me?” Instead of asking what God would have us do in the same circumstance. When Solomon wrote these words, I'm not sure he had just the physical realm in mind. As we think about those verses, they apply equally to our spiritual lives, as well. Let's take a look at them again. Two have a good return for their labor. You'll remember that when Jesus sent the disciples out across the countryside to spread the message that the kingdom of God was at hand. He didn't send them as single preachers. He sent them in pairs. Why? Because of this verse. Two have a good return on their labor. Two reinforce each other. Two help each other from getting discouraged when tasks seem insurmountable. Two provide a little competition to each other to get things done faster and better. Two help each other see tasks from different perspectives and find solutions to problems that one alone would not see. It's like someone writing letters in the sand and depending on which side of the letters you're standing on, you might read the word mom or you might see the word wow. Both are right from your perspective. But together you can pick the one that makes the most sense for the problem at hand. Climbers know you never climb alone because of that second axiom. If a piton slips out of place or a rope breaks or a misstep causes an injury in mountainous terrain, without help, a single climber might be doomed. With two, there is hope of rescue. The same is true of diving and other sports in which one slip could cause catastrophic results. Those who live in the northern most climates understand the importance of maintaining body temperatures and the best way to warm up someone who has been exposed to the frigid elements of those arctic temperatures is to climb into a sleeping bag with them. Body spooned against body to raise the temperature of an exposure victim works when medical facilities are not readily available. But alone in that same sleeping bag, the hypothermic individual body temperature will rise very slowly if at all because there is nothing inside the bag to raise the temperature. Alone, they will continue to fight the lower core temperature for hours before the body can recover on its own, if at all. Defense is the next one. I know you've heard the term, “I've got your back.” That's what it's all about. Alone, the enemy can come from behind and you'd never see him. But with two, your back is covered. The enemy can't slip in. Your friend is right there with you. And a cord of three strands? It's the difference of wrapping a single thread around your hands and breaking it versus wrapping that same thread around your hands several times. Now it gets pretty tough to break if you can break it at all. The additional rounds of that thin thread add the extra strength that makes the “cord” stronger than you. Now do you see how all those fit with our spiritual fight.? In our society where integrity can slip away so easily because of the situational ethics, the sliding morality, the growing sense that right is whatever is right in your own eyes. We need someone to help us maintain our integrity. We need an accountability partner. We need someone who will walk along beside us who is not afraid to tell us like it is and keep us on the path of God's truth, not our own. When we find that accountability partner, we can help each other in our labor. We can grow in our faith and in our relationships with God and man because we have nothing to hide. We live a life of integrity which means we stay above the filth and lies that have become the norm for so many in our society. When we find that accountability partner, we can help each other up when we fall. None of us are perfect. We will falter from time to time. We do not that helping hand to reach out and help us get up and get back on the path of truth and rightness and integrity. We need someone who will stay with us during those times and lift us up with a helping hand, not point fingers at us and walk away. But at the same time, that accountability partner will not condone the bad behavior. He will not allow you to stay on a path of destruction. A good accountability partner will be just that, one who holds you accountable for your actions and your words and your attitudes. When we find that accountability partner, we will find one who challenges us and we will challenge them with new insights into God's word. We will grow together on the journey before us. We will keep each other from getting cold in our faith. We will not let each other become lukewarm in our attitude toward God and his plan like the church at Laodicea. We will warm each other in our spiritual lives by constantly challenging each other to become more like Christ through the interaction we have with each other as partners, accountable to watch each others integrity quotient. As accountability partners, we can help defend each other in the faith. Satan knows our weaknesses. A good accountability partner should too. But that means we must open up to them and share those points in our life where we are most weak. Then our partner can come along beside us and watch our back. He can watch where we go, observe what we do, help us to fight the enemy by helping us maintain our integrity by escaping from those temptations in the first place. A good accountability partner will help us change the habits that put us in places and situations that could compromise our integrity, our oneness with God. What does the cord with three strands mean? It means I can't get through this spiritual journey alone. I know churches are filled with hypocrites. I know there are evil people in churches. I know not everyone who has their name on a membership role or who teaches a Sunday School class is a model Christian or even a Christian at all. But some of the people in church are good solid followers of Jesus Christ. Some are worth emulating. Some are worthy of watching and learning from their lives. Churches are like hospitals for sinners. They should be full of sinners. They should be filled with evil people seeking a way to find peace and forgiveness in their lives. And some of those leaders who you point to that don't fit your definition of Christian? Well, they are in the right place, too. Where else can they hope to find Christ but in a sinner's clinic? We still can't make it alone. We need people around us to help us on this spiritual journey. If you don't like the church you're in, find one you can worship in. Find one that doesn't seem so hypocritical. Find one that preaches and teaches God's word, not the latest news item. Find a church with people who are struggling with life's questions the same way you are. I pass at least a dozen churches on the way to mine. Surely, some church around you fits the needs you have of finding a Bible believing church. Go there. Find an accountability partner. Grow together in a life of integrity. You can find me at richardagee.com. I also invite you to join us at San Antonio First Church of the Nazarene on West Avenue in San Antonio to hear more about The Story and our part in it. You can find out more about my church at SAF.church. Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed it, tell a friend. If you didn't, send me an email and let me know how better to reach out to those around you. Until next week, may God richly bless you as you venture into His story each day.

When Solomon dedicated the Temple, it was suddenly filled with God’s fire and glory. In this talk, Jo Wells looks at the importance of God’s presence in the midst of His worshippers.

“Solomon's Unfaithfulness” Lourdes Pinto, Cenacle 2/8/18 1 Kings 11:4-13 Solomon goes astray and worships strange gods “When Solomon was old, his wives had turned his heart to strange gods, and his heart was not entirely with the Lord.” (11:4) What happened? How could Solomon fall so horribly when he possessed the gift of wisdom and had received so many graces from the Lord? Solomon begins with his heart entirely given to the Lord. ·      Monday- “And when the priests came out of the holy place, a cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD. Then Solomon said, “The LORD has set the sun in the heavens, but has said that he would dwell in thick darkness. I have built thee an exalted house, a place for thee to dwell in forever.” (1 Kings 8:10-13)  ·      Tuesday- “Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven; and said, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to thy servants who walk before thee with all their heart;” (I Kings 8:22-23) ·      Wednesday- Queen Sheba visits Solomon and is amazed at his wisdom: “Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing hidden from the king which he could not explain to her.” (10:3) How could his wives turn his heart to strange gods? Why didn't Solomon see the truth of the darkness in the hearts of his wives and bring them to the light of the true God? *The first message Cf. Luke 10:1-12 Diary of a MOC 1/11/18, Mission of MC and MOC My little one, you are preparing the way for My Second Coming. It is My hidden martyrs of love, crucified through Me, with Me and in Me, that will usher in the reign of My Kingdom on earth.  the Gospel says: “No purse” that means be Poor in spirit; “No sandals” that means -detached from the things of this world; a life of sacrifice, hardships, difficulties, uncomfortable, penance (I had the image of people walking up the mountain in Medjugorje barefoot) “no walking stick” -because I will sustain you, strengthen you, support you. I will lead you on this journey.  My Missionaries of the Cross must preach repentance again, as did John the Baptist. They must preach My love crucified, bringing souls to know intimately My love. They must be entirely detached from their egos, knowing themselves as nothing and miserable. They must be willing to speak the truth about the darkness within My priesthood. They must be willing to live rejected, cast out, and even stoned to death. (I conversed with Jesus, saying that I do not know how this will be. I see again the image of the red carpet-the women covered in the precious blood of Jesus. My Lord, how do the lay missionaries of the cross live this mission? ) They are priests within their families, and they live in the world. They will need great courage to be My light in the midst of the darkness. My daughter, tell my daughters to persevere suffering all with Me solely for love of Me. Solomon's heart, through the process of many years, becomes “drowsy”: “But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life” (Luke 21:34) Message 2 – “disordered desires” “disordered attachments” *The second message Cf. Mathew 10:1-24 Diary of a MOC, 30/18 “Mission of the 12”  My little one, I have chosen you to bear fruit for the Kingdom of God on earth. The mission is not easy, for the ways of God are never the ways of the world. All who are chosen by God to fulfill His plan on earth are hated by some, rejected by others, ill-treated, persecuted, for I came upon the earth to set one against another, for the ways of God will...

Sermon Outline   Knowing that Jesus dwells with us gives us the peace and courage to face troubles in the world because Jesus is God and he has overcome the world. The Christian claim that God came to dwell with us in Jesus is shocking. Such a claim was always shocking. When Solomon built the first temple, there was some question as to whether God would actually dwell among his people in the temple. To claim that the unlimited God would actually commit to be in the temple seemed prideful to some. This is one reason Israel had not yet built a temple. How could unholy people hope to have holy God live among them? The answer to the question is Jesus, God with us, Emmanuel.   Next Step: Identify a trouble in your life where it would be helpful to understand that God is with you in that trouble? Pray the “God is with me prayer” over that trouble.    Lessons: 1 Kings 8:22-30, 41-43, Colossians 1:15-20, John 14:1-3, 16:33

2 Chronicles 7: When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. 3 When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “He is good; his love endures forever.” 4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the Lord. 5 And King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the people dedicated the temple of God. 6 The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the Lord’s musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the Lord and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, “His love endures forever.” Opposite the Levites, the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing. 7 Solomon consecrated the middle part of the courtyard in front of the temple of the Lord, and there he offered burnt offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar he had made could not hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings and the fat portions. 8 So Solomon observed the festival at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him—a vast assembly, people from Lebo Hamath to the Wadi of Egypt. 9 On the eighth day they held an assembly, for they had celebrated the dedication of the altar for seven days and the festival for seven days more. 10 On the twenty-third day of the seventh month he sent the people to their homes, joyful and glad in heart for the good things the Lord had done for David and Solomon and for his people Israel. The Lord Appears to Solomon 11 When Solomon had finished the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the Lord and in his own palace, 12 the Lord appeared to him at night and said: “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. 13 “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.

Brad Sullivan 2 Lent, Year C February 21, 2016 Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, Bay City, TX Luke 13:31-35 We’ll Live It Best We Can Anyway I think we could classify today’s reading as an epic faith by the Pharisees, and a pretty darn good win by Jesus. The Pharisees were trying to get rid of Jesus, trying to make it look like they were on his side. “Herod’s trying to kill you, Jesus, you’ve got to get out of here. We’ve got your best interests at heart, and we need you to go so you don’t die.” Of course they were lying. We know from Chapter Nine, that Herod was not trying to kill Jesus. He was actually pretty interested in who Jesus was. People were saying he was John the Baptist, and Herod was thinking, “I’m pretty darn sure I had John the Baptist beheaded not too long ago,” and he was curious about who Jesus was. Herod wasn’t a good guy, but he wasn’t trying to kill Jesus. Even when Jesus was going to be crucified, Herod didn’t have any burning desire to have Jesus killed. He said, “send him back to Pilate.” Again, Herod wasn’t a good guy, but he wasn’t trying to kill Jesus. The Pharisees were lying because they wanted to get rid of Jesus. They were trying to frighten him away. Like the Devil before him, they were trying to deter Jesus from his mission. And Jesus had to have been thinking, “guys, I’m going to be crucified before too much longer, and your little death threat is supposed to frighten me? I’m going to be killed; it’s supposed to happen, just wait a little longer.” So Jesus turns their failure into a chance for teaching once again. Jerusalem was supposed to be center stage for God’s glory in the world, not the place known for killing the prophets. The Temple was in Jerusalem. When Solomon dedicated the Temple, he said it was to be a place where all of Israel could look to and remember God’s glory, his love, his forgiveness and mercy. Nations were supposed to flock to Jerusalem, drawn there by the light of God lived out in Israel, and yet, Jesus told the Pharisees that Jerusalem was the place where the prophets were killed; he told his disciples that the Temple would not stand and all would be thrown down because of the ways it had been misused. Despite the Pharisees scare tactics, Jesus remained undeterred from his mission. He named the truth, the darkness and said, “I will overcome it.” We also have lots of opportunities to be overcome by darkness, to give in to fear or discouragement. I was giving into discouragement not long ago, and Bill Bullard sent me a text with words he had seen earlier which read: We profess a faith in God through whom all things are possible. When we apathetically accept the status quo, we implicitly demonstrate a lack of faith that tomorrow might be better than today. God should not be mocked in this way. Our faith should be much more steadfast. Those words cut me to the heart, and they also gave me hope, reminding me to trust in God through whom all things are possible. We had our vestry meeting yesterday, and we were talking about challenges facing the church and challenges in our lives, and we prayed together about these things, and then Debra said, “You know what, we also need to give thanks for all of the wonderful things in our lives and in our church. There is so much negativity out there that we need to remember and give thanks for our blessings. We need to be filled with that light and see that light, that we can be light bearers for others.” So we prayed together thanks for all of the light and the blessings in our lives and church as well. It is easy to be overcome by the craziness of the world, to be deterred from God’s mission of reconciliation, from living as the light in our lives and in the life of the church. Bishop Doyle points out in his book, A Generous Community, that we live in a VUCA world. VUCA means “Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, & Ambiguous. That pretty well sums up much of today’s world. There is so much change happening so quickly, that many places where we used to find sure footing are no longer places of certainty, or those places are no longer even here. We live in a volatile, uncertain, complex, and uncertain world, and it is easy for us to be discouraged by such a world. It is easy to listen to the lies of the Pharisees that all is going badly. The lies of the Pharisees saying things like “the church is dying,” or “things aren’t going to get any better.” For the record, the church is not dying, and while there certainly is darkness in the world, there is also an immense amount of light. There are difficult times. There is uncertainty, and sometimes, things do go badly, but we are not to be discouraged by those difficulties. We are to trust in God, continue living his mission, and have faith that through him all things are possible. That’s how Jesus lived when he taught his disciples when he told them not to worry, not to fear. When the Devil tried to get him to quit, when the Pharisees tried to frighten Jesus, he lived and taught that there are times of discouragement, and when they come, “we’ll live it best we can anyway.” In teaching his disciples not to worry, he told them that for one thing, worrying isn’t going to do you any darn good. For another thing, worrying demonstrates a lack of faith in God. So, “do not be afraid little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.” In a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world, “do not be afraid little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.” That’s what we’re striving for in our lives and in the church. We’re striving for God’s Kingdom, to fulfill God’s mission of reconciliation, and when we’re discouraged, we trust that God will fulfill our needs as we live out his mission. At St. Mark’s right now, we’ve got a group that is gathering called, “New Wineskins.” We’re seeking to discover new ways that we will live out God’s mission both within the community of St. Mark’s and beyond. I again offer an open invitation to come on Sundays at noon. Come dream with us, pray with us, study God’s Word with us, and discern together the ways God would have us live out his mission in our lives and in our live together as Jesus’ Body at St. Mark’s. Some of these new ways are already happening with our Friday morning breakfasts at church. There are many people who won’t come to church, feeling sometimes like they can’t because of their sinfulness, feeling at other times like they won’t because of negative associations with the “institution” of the church. Folks will come, however, to breakfast here on Friday. While not part of the worshipping community, they are part of the community of people who meet weekly for a shared meal and fellowship in our parish hall. New relationships and connections are being formed as we gather together, and divisions are ending. I have been invited to attend a Roman Catholic baptism next weekend at Our Lady of Guadalupe. There is no assumption that the Episcopal priest is going to become a Roman Catholic, nor is the family of the young man being baptized going to become Episcopalians. We’ve simply gotten to know each other, and we’ve prayed together, so that they’d like me to be there, to be a part of this young man’s baptism. You bet I’m going to be there. There are plenty of ways to be discouraged in our volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world, but there is plenty of light out there and in here too. As a modern day prophet and singer/songwriter, Terri Hendrix, wrote in the song, Hey Now: Kiss the evening sky and say bye, bye, bye. Tomorrow knows no sorrow like today. And should it come to pass today’s no better than the last, We’ll live it best we can anyway. We’ve all had highs, we’ve all had lows. It’s a fact of life that everybody knows. And should it come to pass today’s no better than the last, We’ll live it best we can anyway. Despite all of the fear mongering of the Pharisees, the light of Jesus is thriving. The church is thriving. Despite times of discouragement, we’re going to continue on believing in Jesus. We’re going to continue on living out his mission. We’re going to continue on trusting in Jesus’ words, “Do not be afraid little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom,” “and should it come to pass today’s no better than the last, we’ll live it best we can anyway.” Amen.

Brad Sullivan 2 Lent, Year C February 21, 2016 Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, Bay City, TX Luke 13:31-35 We’ll Live It Best We Can Anyway I think we could classify today’s reading as an epic faith by the Pharisees, and a pretty darn good win by Jesus. The Pharisees were trying to get rid of Jesus, trying to make it look like they were on his side. “Herod’s trying to kill you, Jesus, you’ve got to get out of here. We’ve got your best interests at heart, and we need you to go so you don’t die.” Of course they were lying. We know from Chapter Nine, that Herod was not trying to kill Jesus. He was actually pretty interested in who Jesus was. People were saying he was John the Baptist, and Herod was thinking, “I’m pretty darn sure I had John the Baptist beheaded not too long ago,” and he was curious about who Jesus was. Herod wasn’t a good guy, but he wasn’t trying to kill Jesus. Even when Jesus was going to be crucified, Herod didn’t have any burning desire to have Jesus killed. He said, “send him back to Pilate.” Again, Herod wasn’t a good guy, but he wasn’t trying to kill Jesus. The Pharisees were lying because they wanted to get rid of Jesus. They were trying to frighten him away. Like the Devil before him, they were trying to deter Jesus from his mission. And Jesus had to have been thinking, “guys, I’m going to be crucified before too much longer, and your little death threat is supposed to frighten me? I’m going to be killed; it’s supposed to happen, just wait a little longer.” So Jesus turns their failure into a chance for teaching once again. Jerusalem was supposed to be center stage for God’s glory in the world, not the place known for killing the prophets. The Temple was in Jerusalem. When Solomon dedicated the Temple, he said it was to be a place where all of Israel could look to and remember God’s glory, his love, his forgiveness and mercy. Nations were supposed to flock to Jerusalem, drawn there by the light of God lived out in Israel, and yet, Jesus told the Pharisees that Jerusalem was the place where the prophets were killed; he told his disciples that the Temple would not stand and all would be thrown down because of the ways it had been misused. Despite the Pharisees scare tactics, Jesus remained undeterred from his mission. He named the truth, the darkness and said, “I will overcome it.” We also have lots of opportunities to be overcome by darkness, to give in to fear or discouragement. I was giving into discouragement not long ago, and Bill Bullard sent me a text with words he had seen earlier which read: We profess a faith in God through whom all things are possible. When we apathetically accept the status quo, we implicitly demonstrate a lack of faith that tomorrow might be better than today. God should not be mocked in this way. Our faith should be much more steadfast. Those words cut me to the heart, and they also gave me hope, reminding me to trust in God through whom all things are possible. We had our vestry meeting yesterday, and we were talking about challenges facing the church and challenges in our lives, and we prayed together about these things, and then Debra said, “You know what, we also need to give thanks for all of the wonderful things in our lives and in our church. There is so much negativity out there that we need to remember and give thanks for our blessings. We need to be filled with that light and see that light, that we can be light bearers for others.” So we prayed together thanks for all of the light and the blessings in our lives and church as well. It is easy to be overcome by the craziness of the world, to be deterred from God’s mission of reconciliation, from living as the light in our lives and in the life of the church. Bishop Doyle points out in his book, A Generous Community, that we live in a VUCA world. VUCA means “Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, & Ambiguous. That pretty well sums up much of today’s world. There is so much change happening so quickly, that many places where we used to find sure footing are no longer places of certainty, or those places are no longer even here. We live in a volatile, uncertain, complex, and uncertain world, and it is easy for us to be discouraged by such a world. It is easy to listen to the lies of the Pharisees that all is going badly. The lies of the Pharisees saying things like “the church is dying,” or “things aren’t going to get any better.” For the record, the church is not dying, and while there certainly is darkness in the world, there is also an immense amount of light. There are difficult times. There is uncertainty, and sometimes, things do go badly, but we are not to be discouraged by those difficulties. We are to trust in God, continue living his mission, and have faith that through him all things are possible. That’s how Jesus lived when he taught his disciples when he told them not to worry, not to fear. When the Devil tried to get him to quit, when the Pharisees tried to frighten Jesus, he lived and taught that there are times of discouragement, and when they come, “we’ll live it best we can anyway.” In teaching his disciples not to worry, he told them that for one thing, worrying isn’t going to do you any darn good. For another thing, worrying demonstrates a lack of faith in God. So, “do not be afraid little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.” In a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world, “do not be afraid little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.” That’s what we’re striving for in our lives and in the church. We’re striving for God’s Kingdom, to fulfill God’s mission of reconciliation, and when we’re discouraged, we trust that God will fulfill our needs as we live out his mission. At St. Mark’s right now, we’ve got a group that is gathering called, “New Wineskins.” We’re seeking to discover new ways that we will live out God’s mission both within the community of St. Mark’s and beyond. I again offer an open invitation to come on Sundays at noon. Come dream with us, pray with us, study God’s Word with us, and discern together the ways God would have us live out his mission in our lives and in our live together as Jesus’ Body at St. Mark’s. Some of these new ways are already happening with our Friday morning breakfasts at church. There are many people who won’t come to church, feeling sometimes like they can’t because of their sinfulness, feeling at other times like they won’t because of negative associations with the “institution” of the church. Folks will come, however, to breakfast here on Friday. While not part of the worshipping community, they are part of the community of people who meet weekly for a shared meal and fellowship in our parish hall. New relationships and connections are being formed as we gather together, and divisions are ending. I have been invited to attend a Roman Catholic baptism next weekend at Our Lady of Guadalupe. There is no assumption that the Episcopal priest is going to become a Roman Catholic, nor is the family of the young man being baptized going to become Episcopalians. We’ve simply gotten to know each other, and we’ve prayed together, so that they’d like me to be there, to be a part of this young man’s baptism. You bet I’m going to be there. There are plenty of ways to be discouraged in our volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world, but there is plenty of light out there and in here too. As a modern day prophet and singer/songwriter, Terri Hendrix, wrote in the song, Hey Now: Kiss the evening sky and say bye, bye, bye. Tomorrow knows no sorrow like today. And should it come to pass today’s no better than the last, We’ll live it best we can anyway. We’ve all had highs, we’ve all had lows. It’s a fact of life that everybody knows. And should it come to pass today’s no better than the last, We’ll live it best we can anyway. Despite all of the fear mongering of the Pharisees, the light of Jesus is thriving. The church is thriving. Despite times of discouragement, we’re going to continue on believing in Jesus. We’re going to continue on living out his mission. We’re going to continue on trusting in Jesus’ words, “Do not be afraid little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom,” “and should it come to pass today’s no better than the last, we’ll live it best we can anyway.” Amen.

God is calling on you to pray for this nation! 'If My people will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven...' God is talking to you and me, not to the sinner: God is wanting His people to repent! When we pray, God says, 'I will answer!' - That is the Covenant we have with Him. When Solomon based his prayer upon the Covenant, what happened? - 'When Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven... (2 Chronicles 7:1). God will heal and restore because you prayed!'Holy You are Lord' and 'People of Africa' used by kind permission of www.vinesong.com

Solomon was a blessed man. He had a great father to teach him, and he followed in David's footsteps in many ways. When Solomon was asked for anything, he prayed for an obedient heart of wisdom. Listen to this lesson to learn of Solomon's greatness.

When Solomon finished praying to dedicate the temple, the fire fell. What happens when we finish praying? The fire will fall where there is dedication - a heart that is separated, surrendered, and yielded to His will. The fire will fall when a man with such a heart says, "Here I am. This is my life."

When Solomon and his young bride head off for their honeymoon, it doesn't take long to see that men and women are wired very differently in the bedroom! Solomon wisely sets the stage by taking his time and connecting emotionally with his wife... and she in turn feels completely secure and responds without shame or embarrassment. As these newlyweds consummate their marriage, we see that sex is much more than a physical act-- it's a spiritual act intended to mirror the way God accepts each of us in Jesus, and an awesome celebration of love! Part 4 of the series "Heat" www.LiquidChurch.com

When Solomon and his young bride head off for their honeymoon, it doesn't take long to see that men and women are wired very differently in the bedroom! Solomon wisely sets the stage by taking his time and connecting emotionally with his wife... and she in turn feels completely secure and responds without shame or embarrassment. As these newlyweds consummate their marriage, we see that sex is much more than a physical act-- it's a spiritual act intended to mirror the way God accepts each of us in Jesus, and an awesome celebration of love! Part 4 of the series "Heat" www.LiquidChurch.com

The Rock group Kansas recorded a popular song in the late 1970s called Dust In the Wind. From the lyrics we can hear: Same old song, just a drop of water in an endless sea. All we do, crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see. Dust in the wind, All we are is dust in the wind. When Solomon wrote the book of Ecclesiastes, he often concluded similar thoughts. He was pondering purpose. Every human being ponders purpose. We see this in common human desire for authority, security, fulfillment and destiny. In this message, we'll identify with Solomon's thoughts as we ask the question What Are We Doing Here? in continuing our current series Dealing With Doubt.