God Fills is The Void 04.25.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Friday April 25, 2008 and today we are continuing our study on the book of I Kings. Please read Chapters 9-11 or Click Here to read. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Kings%209-11&version=9

Today we will read and learn about a warning to Solomon; an alliance with King Hiram of Tyre; Solomon's riches and wisdom, and his falling away from the Lord. Today's message focuses on the importane of realizing that material things can not replace our relationship with God. We receive blessings through our trust and faith in God, without Him we are always searching for something bigger and better to fill the void.

The Lord gave Solomon special privileges far exceeding those of other kings, but the Lord's continued blessings were conditional, "That the LORD appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon. And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel. But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them: Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:" (I Kings 9:2-7).

Everything about Solomon was the world's greatest. His gigantic enterprises impressed the world. But the underlying corrupting influences of his wealth, worldly policies, many pagan wives, and ignoring the Word of God destroyed the foundation of David's kingdom.

Solomon ignored the basic principles that God required. Consequently, Solomon's compromise with the world and ignoring of the Word of God, deadened his spiritual discernment. The king who built the most famous Temple to the Living God in Jerusalem also built other temples for false gods to please his many heathen wives. "But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites: Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father." (11:1-4)

Did Solomon assume that building the most sacred Temple in history, praying the longest prayer, and offering the most sacrifices meant that God would overlook his sins? In disregard for the Word of God, Solomon amassed thousands of horses and chariots and lived in an atmosphere of unparalleled luxury He also violated a command of God by accumulating 700 wives and 300 concubines. Did Solomon deceive himself into thinking that, as king, he could ignore the Word of God in his personal life?

What happened to Solomon can happen to anyone who allows physical pleasure, riches, lust, or any other thing to crowd out their opportunities to give their best to Christ. Solomon did not, as did his father, inherit a kingdom in ruins; he inherited a kingdom which had been established in righteousness. As he advanced in wealth and popularity and as his mind expanded into the vast fields of intellectual research, the simplicity of his trust in God continued to diminish.

The man who surpassed all others with wealth, fame, and pleasure at the end of his life wrote the book of Ecclesiastes, stating that all is vanity without the Lord. "I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit." (Ecclesiastes 1:14). If any man could ever have been satisifed by getting all his heart's desires, that man would have been Solomon. Solomon's life illustrates the self-life having its full fling, but at the end concludes with emptiness.

God reminds all who believe that success in life is measured by acquiring an abundance of material things, "And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:19-21).

Today's Psalm: 24:3-5
"Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation."

Today's Prayer: Psalm 23
1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Have a Fantastic Friday and a wonderful weekend.
God Bless,
Christina

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Pray Without Ceasing 04.24.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Thursday April 24, 2008 and today we are continuing our study on the book of I Kings. Please read Chapter 8 in your Bibile or Click Here to read. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=11&chapter=8&version=9

Today we will read and learn about the Ark of the Lord in the Temple, the glory of the Lord fills the Temple, and Solomon's sermon, prayer, and dedication to God. Today's message focuses on the importance of prayer.

The day had arrived for the dedication of the glorious Temple in Jerusalem, "Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites bring up. And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude. And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims." (I Kings 8:1-6).

The Ark is where the presence of God dwelt above the Mercy Seat, "And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the 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 had filled the house of the LORD." (8:10-11). The people stood in the courtyard and worshiped the Lord at the dedication of the Temple.

Solomon prayed the longest recorded prayer in the Bible and stressed to the Israelites the faithfulness of God, "And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart: Who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him: thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day." (8:22-24). He is the source of all physical and spiritual life as well as the power to provide for and protect all who love and honor Him. The need to be cleansed of sin is prominent in this prayer, "When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them: Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance." (8:35-36). The consciousness of sin and the need for forgiveness held a prominent place in this prayer.

Solomon knew well that there was only One True God and that God looked upon the heart, for he emphatically proclaimed, "That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else. Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day." (8:60-61). The word perfect implies wholeheartedness and single mindedness. God looks upon men's hearts and knows whether or not their prayer is a mere passing emotion or that they have truly turned to Him. What a different picture the history of the kingdom would have been if the reign of Solomon had been as true to the Lord as his marvelous prayer!

The One True God includes all three persons of the Trinity: God the Father, Jesus, who is God the son, and God the Holy Spirit. A Christian's daily conversation and conduct should express love and loyalty to the One True God. "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (I Timothy 2:3-6)

In today's message Jesus Christ is revealed through the perfect Temple of God before whom all kings of the earth one day must bow (I Kings 8:54). "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;" (Philippians 2:9-10).

Today's Psalm: 55:7
"Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice."

Today's Prayer: From Psalm 17
Dear Lord,
1Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.

2Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.

3Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

4Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

5Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

6I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

7Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.

8Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

9From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

In Jesus' name, I pray.....Amen

Have a teriffic Thursday.
God Bless,
Christina

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Temple of God 04.23.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Wednesday April 23, 2008 and today we are continuing our study on the book of I Kings. Please read Chapters 5-7 in your Bible or Click Here to read. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Kings%205-7&version=9

Today we will read and learn about the Temple that Solomon builds and the furnishings of the Temple and his own palace. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that the Temple of God dwells within you.

Solomon makes great plans for the construction of the Temple, it takes 7 years to complete and it is magnificent. "And in the eleventh year, in the month Bul, which is the eighth month, was the house finished throughout all the parts thereof, and according to all the fashion of it. So was he seven years in building it." (I Kings 6:38). Although the building was beautiful to behold, the real glory of the Temple was deep within. In like manner, the indwelling presence of the Lord is the life and the inspiration of all who know Him as Savior and Lord. God desires to display His priceless gold, silver, and precious stones of love, joy, peace, and gentleness through every believer. Solomon's Temple was not a large structure compared to some of today's massive worship centers, it was only 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet tall. The interior was divided into two rooms. The first room was called the Holy Place and was 60 by 30 feet; the second room was called the Holy of Holies and was a 30 x 30 x 30 foot cube. Its beauty was not in its intricate workmanship and the excessive costliness of its materials. Its true glory was in God's Presence in the Holy of Holies. The Temple was the only structure on earth ever to be the dwelling place of the Sovereign Creator and Holy God.

Solomon's Temple with all its gold was insignificant in comparison to the least Christian who is more precious to our Heavenly Father than all of earth's treasures. The erection of the Temple paralleled spiritually the building of the believer's character, "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." (I Peter 2:5). The erection of the Temple was also a noiseless work for its massive stones were quarried and cut nearby. "And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building." (I Kings 6:7). This silence was the design of God and illustrates the unnoticed manner in which God carries on His purpose of grace within the Christian.

There is much noise and confusion in the world, but quietness and sweet harmony exist in the heart where Christ dwells. The hammers of contention or frustration should never be heard within any House of God. Today every Christian is the Temple of God and His glory dwells within every believer. The miracle of the new birth and the indwelling Holy Spirit makes a clear distinction between the Christian and the unsaved, who cannot share in His glory. God's indwelling presence is experienced by those who submit to Him. Just think! The God of Heaven lives within every Christian. "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:19-22).

Today's Psalm: 96:9
"O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth."

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
It is in my hour of need that I see Your powerful provision in my life. When I'm in need of comfort, You are my Comforter. When I'm in need of courage You go before me. When I'm in need of friendship You are my friend that sticks closer than a brother. When I'm in need of stability You are the Anchor for my soul. When I'm in need of finances You own the cattle on a thousand hills. When I'm in need of peace You are the peacemaker. When I'm in need of food You are the Bread of Life. When I'm thirsty You are the living water that leads to eternal life. You are my Shepherd and I shall never be in want of anything. Thank You for meeting every need I have. In Jesus' name, I pray.....Amen.

Have a wonderful Wednesday!
God Bless,
Christina

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Seek God's Wisdom 04.22.08

Hello My Friends/Guest,

It is Tuesday April 22, 2008 and today we are continuing our study on the book of I Kings. Please read Chapters 3-4 in your Bible or Click Here to read. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Kings%203-4&version=9

Today we will read and learn about Solomon marrying the Pharoah's daughter and his kingdom becoming secure. Today's message focuses on realizing that God is the source of all wisdom and without Him we can not understand what is good or bad regardless of how good it looks to us.

Soon after Solomon became king we read that he creates a relationship with the Pharoah of Egypt and marries his daughter. He also declared his love for God, "And Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter, and brought her into the city of David, until he had made an end of building his own house, and the house of the LORD, and the wall of Jerusalem round about. Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days. And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places." (I Kings 3:1-3).

The Tabernacle and the Altar of Burned Offering were still located at Gibeon, about six miles northwest of Jerusalem. The last major event to take place at Gibeon was Solomon's great dedication service as king and on the night of that great sacrifice, Solomon had a remarkable dream. "And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants." (3:11-15). God's purpose for this dream was to remind Solomon that He is the source of all wisdom and, without Him, man is but a little child who needs help in order to discern between good and bad. This "dream" is recorded to remind us that this important need still exists today.

This dream revealed the abundant mercy and grace that God would give Solomon or anyone else who chooses to live to love the Lord with all his heart and keeps His commandments . Sadly, this remarkable dream had no lasting affect on his life for he became increasingly self-centered. Solomon ignored God's Word concerning what the kings of Israel were commanded, "But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold." (Deuteronomy 17:16-17). He not only turned to Egypt for horses, but he also took Pharaoh's daughter as a wife. He offered enormous sacrifices to God, built the world famous Temple in Jerusalem, and offered the longest recorded prayer in the Bible; but his disregard for God's Word, his many marriages to pagan wives, and his worship at their Canaanite high places were all acts of rebellion against God.

Solomon refused to follow his godly father's advice to keep the Lord's commandments, he is typical of the brilliant, multitalented people who compromise biblical principles and still assume that God is pleased since they are successful and popular. But compromise is the first foothold of sin that sooner or later destroys one's spiritual usefulness and influence for Christ.

Too often people claim to be Christians because it will benefit them in some manner, but a real relationship with Christ begins by loving the Lord with all your heart and not becoming consumed with the lusts of the world. "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment." (Matthew 22:37-38).

In today's message Jesus Christ is revealed through the wisdom which God gave Solomon (I Kings 3:12). "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:" (I Corinthians 1:30)

Today's Psalm: 86:12
"I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore."

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Help our ears to be alert, our eyes to be open, and our hearts perceptive as we follow in Your ways. May we be eager to hear Your teaching and apply it to our lives so that we may be found blameless before You and experience the joy You give to those who follow Your commands. When Your meaning is clear help us to seek no other meaning to satisfy our own desires or to change the clear meaning of Your message. Align our desires with Your own, that we might find genuine peace and wholehearted obedience as You bring spiritual healing to our lives. Help us to follow Your will as You will bless us abundantly in doing so. In Jesus' name, I pray....Amen.

Have a terrific Tuesday and God bless you,
Christina

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Do Not Compromise 04.21.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Monday April 21, 2008 and today we begin our study on the book of I Kings. The book of I Kings is the eleventh book of the Old Testament and contains 22 chapters. The author of the book is unknown, but could be Jeremiah and was written to the people in Israel in order to continue the record of God's dealings with His people. The purpose of the book is to teach all to understand that compromise may seem easy but it is always costly later. Please read Chapters 1-2 in your Bible or you can Click Here to read. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Kings%201-2&version=9

Today we will read and learn about David becoming stricken in his old age and his son, Adonijah, rebels and tries to take over a king; Joab defecting; Abiathar defecting; and King David charges Solomon to be obedient to God's Word as he makes him king. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that we need to stand firm in following God's will.

"Now king David was old and stricken in years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat." (I Kings 1:1). David's son, Adonijah persuaded the two most influential men in Israel to join him and become traitors to David. Abiathar, the high priest, through whom Adonijah would have religious approval by the people, and the powerful Joab, commander in chief of David's army, cooperated with Adonijah in this ruthless conspiracy. "Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom. And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him." (1:5-7).

Presuming that since he was the oldest living son of David this gave him the right to the throne, and disregarding his father's prolonged illness, Adonijah ruthlessy attempted to seize the throne by force. However, God was still Soverign over Israel and retained the unchallengeable right of selecting the one who would reign over His people. Solomon had been designated by both God and David as his successor to the throne and is publicly announced. "So Zadok the priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, went down, and caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, and brought him to Gihon. And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon." (1:38-39).

From a human point of view, all of David's disappointments were a tragedy but, from God's point of view, they were designed to expose the selfish and greedy motives in the hearts of those "loyal" and close friends. They were also a clear revelation of the sovereign hand of God over the practical concerns in everyone's life. David's last words to Solomon revealed his greatest desire for his son, that he would live to please the Lord. David said nothing to Solomon about gaining material wealth or fame for his kingdom, instead he stressed the true values of living in obedience to God. "Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel." (2:1-4). We are to stand firm against all pressure to compromise to keep us from following the will of God.

It was important that Solomon keep God's Commandments so that he, as well as we, might please God and be an example to his and our children as well as others. David's concern was that he prosper spiritually by living in complete harmony with God's Word.

In today's message Jesus Christ is revealed through the oil used to anoint Solomon (I Kings 1:39). Christ (Greek) and Messiah (Hebrew) mean "The Anointed One." Oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit, which was poured out upon those chosen by God for special service. Jesus is God's Anointed One who declared: The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me (Luke 4:18). We also have been anointed as His chosen vessels (II Corinthians 1:21).

Today's Psalm: 1:2-3
"But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Often the daily grind is not appealing as I awaken each morning to the tasks before me. Sometimes the routine seems endless and at times pointless. I find myself lacking fulfillment in this aspect of my life and yet it requires the majority of my time and focus. Jesus, please help me to find the hidden strength that only comes from seeking You to deal with the negative attitudes that tempt me daily. Help me also to look beyond the immediate to the deeper meaning of each day's task. Above all, help me to keep my eyes on spiritual truths as I meditate upon Your Word and apply its meaning to my life each new day. It is in this faithful practice of placing You at the center of my focus that I can rise above the difficulties that come my way. May You restore to me, this day, the joy of Your salvation and renew a steadfast spirit within me. In Jesus' name, I pray.....Amen.

Have a marvelous Monday and week.
God Bless,
Christina

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