1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:05,560 Let's go to 1st Kings Chapter 3 together, and as you turn there, 2 00:00:05,560 --> 00:00:08,800 maybe you're already there. The last verse of chapter 2 3 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:12,720 reminds us. That in chapter three we are 4 00:00:12,720 --> 00:00:15,840 following the dramatic events of how the Kingdom of Israel was 5 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:21,880 secured under the control of Solomon, and those events that 6 00:00:21,880 --> 00:00:26,680 led to the security of the Kingdom detailed how Solomon. 7 00:00:27,090 --> 00:00:31,130 Removed 4 particular individuals who were direct threats and 8 00:00:31,130 --> 00:00:35,050 rebels against the cause of God. And it was really an 9 00:00:35,050 --> 00:00:38,890 illustration for us to see how, as individual believers in 10 00:00:38,890 --> 00:00:46,050 Christ, we also have the call to neutralize sinful attitudes and 11 00:00:46,050 --> 00:00:51,690 mindsets if you and I want to enjoy and guard the peace that 12 00:00:51,690 --> 00:00:57,520 the Lord promises us. And that fundamental truth for 13 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:00,720 practical holiness will now be built upon with the lessons of 14 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:04,959 this new chapter. Chapter 3 is going to be a 15 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:09,920 window for us to see how Solomon now will advance the Kingdom 16 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:15,480 after he has dealt with the obstacles to his Kingdom. 17 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:21,080 This is a bright new day for the nation of Israel. 18 00:01:22,710 --> 00:01:25,910 Especially with the promise that was given to David concerning 19 00:01:25,910 --> 00:01:28,430 his son, how under his leadership there would be 20 00:01:28,830 --> 00:01:32,990 unusual prosperity and unusual serenity. 21 00:01:34,550 --> 00:01:37,870 And with this in view, we eagerly await to see how Solomon 22 00:01:37,870 --> 00:01:41,670 will usher in this reality. And so we read the first few 23 00:01:41,670 --> 00:01:48,310 verses of chapter 3 together. Verse one reads Solomon made a 24 00:01:48,310 --> 00:01:51,110 marriage alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt. 25 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:54,480 He took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her into the city of 26 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:57,640 David until he had finished building his own house and the 27 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:00,120 House of the Lord and the wall around Jerusalem. 28 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:04,880 The people were sacrificing at the high places, however, 29 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:08,479 because no house had yet been built for the name of the Lord, 30 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:13,480 Solomon loved the Lord walking in the statues of David, his 31 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:17,280 father. Only he sacrificed and made 32 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:21,140 offerings at the high places, and the king went to Gibeon to 33 00:02:21,140 --> 00:02:26,060 sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. 34 00:02:26,380 --> 00:02:32,260 Solomon used to offer 1000 burnt offerings on that altar. 35 00:02:33,500 --> 00:02:38,900 Lord, help us see your glory. Help us hear your voice. 36 00:02:39,260 --> 00:02:42,740 Help us be transformed and conformed to the image of your 37 00:02:42,740 --> 00:02:45,660 son. Help us know the joy and the 38 00:02:45,660 --> 00:02:48,740 peace that comes from loving your law. 39 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:52,080 In Jesus name we pray. Amen. 40 00:02:55,120 --> 00:02:57,720 The Kingdom was secured in the hand of Solomon. 41 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:02,080 What is about to happen? All the possibilities are 42 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:07,720 endless, all the pathway to peace is now clear and verse one 43 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:09,840 is pretty anti climactic, isn't it? 44 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:13,640 Because the first thing that you and I read about Solomon's 45 00:03:13,640 --> 00:03:17,200 decisions early in his reign is that he makes a marriage 46 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:20,910 alliance with Pharaoh, King of Egypt. 47 00:03:21,590 --> 00:03:24,830 Question for you tonight, students of the Old Testament. 48 00:03:25,430 --> 00:03:28,750 Is this a good thing or a bad? Thing Bad. 49 00:03:28,750 --> 00:03:30,350 Good. You know your Old Testament 50 00:03:30,350 --> 00:03:33,510 well. There are various reasons why 51 00:03:33,510 --> 00:03:36,990 this decision that Solomon made was a grave mistake. 52 00:03:37,310 --> 00:03:42,310 This is a disobedient act. This is prohibited by God. 53 00:03:42,950 --> 00:03:46,910 And there is one other subjective reason why this is 54 00:03:46,910 --> 00:03:51,300 wrong. Why would Solomon need to make a 55 00:03:51,300 --> 00:03:57,060 political alliance with Pharaoh? What was Solomon promised by 56 00:03:57,060 --> 00:04:01,940 God? What was promised to David 57 00:04:01,940 --> 00:04:06,620 concerning Solomon? What was going to be something 58 00:04:06,620 --> 00:04:12,420 that this government was to enjoy peace, not just 59 00:04:12,420 --> 00:04:17,180 internally, but peace with what the surrounding nations. 60 00:04:17,970 --> 00:04:23,490 Solomon did not need to do this, but he does it. 61 00:04:24,130 --> 00:04:28,810 He does it anyway, and it makes you wonder why he would do this. 62 00:04:28,810 --> 00:04:34,490 Why would he make this decision? And you get the feeling that 63 00:04:34,490 --> 00:04:39,610 Solomon himself knew that he was going against the will of God by 64 00:04:39,610 --> 00:04:42,010 pursuing this. What's the impression that you 65 00:04:42,010 --> 00:04:44,570 get from how you read verse one that would give you that kind of 66 00:04:44,570 --> 00:04:49,770 a clue? Solomon made a marriage alliance 67 00:04:49,770 --> 00:04:52,050 with Pharaoh, King of Egypt. He took Pharaoh's daughter and 68 00:04:52,050 --> 00:04:53,530 brought her into the city of David. 69 00:04:53,730 --> 00:04:58,610 What's the next word? Until until he had finished 70 00:04:58,610 --> 00:05:01,170 building his own house in the House of the Lord and the wall 71 00:05:01,170 --> 00:05:05,050 around Jerusalem. Bad decision, but we still have 72 00:05:05,050 --> 00:05:08,570 Solomon here with somewhat of a sensitive conscience for now. 73 00:05:09,770 --> 00:05:14,290 For now, when it comes to 1st Kings Chapter 9. 74 00:05:14,910 --> 00:05:16,430 And you could turn there to see what I mean. 75 00:05:16,430 --> 00:05:19,710 Solomon chooses to do something with Pharaoh's daughter. 76 00:05:19,910 --> 00:05:25,670 That's quite insightful. And 1st Kings 9 verse 24. 77 00:05:25,670 --> 00:05:28,110 What does it mean? That he brought her into the 78 00:05:28,110 --> 00:05:31,150 city of David until he had finished building what he needed 79 00:05:31,150 --> 00:05:33,950 to build? It says here first Kings 924. 80 00:05:33,950 --> 00:05:36,590 But Pharaoh's daughter went up from the city of David to her 81 00:05:36,590 --> 00:05:39,470 own house that Solomon had built for her. 82 00:05:39,470 --> 00:05:43,820 Then he built the Milo. So Solomon completes the 83 00:05:43,820 --> 00:05:47,020 building of the House of the Lord, he completes the different 84 00:05:47,020 --> 00:05:49,700 edifices that he needed to complete, and from there he 85 00:05:49,700 --> 00:05:53,660 removes the daughter of Pharaoh to a distant place. 86 00:05:56,340 --> 00:05:58,900 The reason I believe he does this is because he understands 87 00:05:58,900 --> 00:06:01,900 that in marrying Pharaoh who was not just a foreigner, the 88 00:06:01,900 --> 00:06:03,060 problem is not that she was a foreigner. 89 00:06:03,060 --> 00:06:08,500 She was an idol worshipper. She was a Pagan he did not want. 90 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:12,520 Her immediate presence to be a defiling thing. 91 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:17,720 Once the holy things of God were established, He understood that 92 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:22,640 having her in close proximity was a problem, and so he even 93 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:25,400 premeditately right. He thought about this before I 94 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:28,520 will marry her. And when it comes to doing what 95 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:31,880 God called me to do and establishing and centralizing a 96 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:34,720 place of worship, I will now remove her. 97 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:39,300 I will remove her. And so he knew that there was 98 00:06:39,300 --> 00:06:42,780 something wrong with this even before, and he might have 99 00:06:42,780 --> 00:06:46,500 excused this marriage as a political alliance, but he 100 00:06:46,500 --> 00:06:50,020 understood that down deep inside this was a violation to the 101 00:06:50,020 --> 00:06:54,260 wisdom of God. And Solomon will show us down 102 00:06:54,260 --> 00:06:57,020 the road that how once a soft and delicate conscience can 103 00:06:57,020 --> 00:07:00,820 become hard and unfeeling. Something that might have 104 00:07:00,820 --> 00:07:04,420 bothered you at one point may not bother you at all later on. 105 00:07:04,980 --> 00:07:07,860 And I'm sure that Solomon had more reasons. 106 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:13,880 To justify why he did this, Was his father the best example to 107 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:19,160 him and how to marry a woman? No, not only the David had many 108 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:22,760 wives, he married a foreigner. Absalom's mom, according to 109 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:25,480 Second Samuel 3 three, was a foreigner. 110 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:31,160 And who is seeing all of this? Who understands the history of 111 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:33,120 his own father? Solomon surely? 112 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:37,600 And although David told Solomon near the end of his life. 113 00:07:38,220 --> 00:07:42,340 Follow, cling, walk in the statutes in the ways of the 114 00:07:42,340 --> 00:07:45,060 Lord. It's very difficult to convey 115 00:07:45,060 --> 00:07:47,980 conviction, even godly conviction, true conviction upon 116 00:07:47,980 --> 00:07:50,340 somebody when you yourself are not even convinced of that same 117 00:07:50,340 --> 00:07:55,260 conviction. It holds no authority, It has no 118 00:07:55,260 --> 00:07:58,420 grip. Ultimately, it has very little 119 00:07:58,420 --> 00:08:01,340 influence. And this is what we're seeing 120 00:08:01,340 --> 00:08:05,100 here. If David had just repented. 121 00:08:05,460 --> 00:08:07,900 If he had. In exhorting him to walk in the 122 00:08:07,900 --> 00:08:12,820 ways of God also said, listen, I I made a mistake in how I viewed 123 00:08:12,820 --> 00:08:14,060 woman. I made a mistake and how I 124 00:08:14,060 --> 00:08:15,820 viewed God's design for marriage. 125 00:08:16,060 --> 00:08:19,300 Perhaps Solomon would have been influence for the better. 126 00:08:19,420 --> 00:08:21,420 But there is no such thing recorded in the Word of God, 127 00:08:21,860 --> 00:08:25,420 just a general exhortation walk in the ways of God. 128 00:08:26,180 --> 00:08:27,340 And what is he? What does he? 129 00:08:27,340 --> 00:08:31,700 Do the first thing he does is he marries an idol worshiper. 130 00:08:32,580 --> 00:08:34,700 He justifies it. He knows it's wrong. 131 00:08:34,820 --> 00:08:36,900 There's tension. He comes up with a plan to 132 00:08:36,900 --> 00:08:39,980 excuse it, but it will prove to be the beginning of many more 133 00:08:39,980 --> 00:08:44,500 mistakes in this area. As you know, it doesn't end 134 00:08:44,500 --> 00:08:45,620 there. Look at verse 2. 135 00:08:45,620 --> 00:08:51,580 Now the people were sacrificing at the high places, however, 136 00:08:51,580 --> 00:08:55,180 because no house had yet been built for the name of the Lord. 137 00:08:55,660 --> 00:08:58,820 And then you read in verse three that Solomon loved the Lord 138 00:08:59,060 --> 00:09:02,800 except that he also worshipped. At the high places. 139 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:06,000 Worship at the high places, good or bad. 140 00:09:07,480 --> 00:09:12,440 Tell me why we know that marrying Pharaoh's daughter is 141 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:14,320 wrong. Tell me why worshipping at the 142 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:25,320 high places is wrong. This is how this is how the 143 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:29,520 false gods were worshipped. There was a sense in which the 144 00:09:29,520 --> 00:09:32,280 higher you were, geographically speaking, the closer you were to 145 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:34,600 these deities. And so they would. 146 00:09:35,140 --> 00:09:38,140 Put these stations where you would worship God and that you 147 00:09:38,140 --> 00:09:43,820 would try to have a closer link to him in such a way not only 148 00:09:43,820 --> 00:09:47,700 that it is directly denied by God himself. 149 00:09:47,700 --> 00:09:51,060 He commanded against this very practice, And if you want to see 150 00:09:51,060 --> 00:09:52,620 that, you have to go to the law itself. 151 00:09:52,620 --> 00:09:56,860 In Deuteronomy 1213 and 14 and Deuteronomy 1213 and 14, the 152 00:09:56,860 --> 00:10:00,860 Lord says that you shall not worship, you shall not sacrifice 153 00:10:00,860 --> 00:10:05,840 at the place that you choose. But at the place that the Lord 154 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:09,360 will choose, that is where you will worship. 155 00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:12,800 And we discovered that that place was early on the 156 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:15,240 Tabernacle. It would later on be the temple 157 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:18,680 itself. But when you read this, you see 158 00:10:18,680 --> 00:10:21,280 that the people worship at the high places. 159 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:24,880 And the explanation for this kind of worship is here found in 160 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:28,560 verse 2, because no house had yet been built for the name of 161 00:10:28,560 --> 00:10:31,580 the Lord. In other words, there wasn't a 162 00:10:31,740 --> 00:10:35,500 localized official House of worship at this point in 163 00:10:35,500 --> 00:10:39,300 Israel's history. There were two places that the 164 00:10:39,500 --> 00:10:42,180 furnishings of the House of God were placed. 165 00:10:42,180 --> 00:10:43,940 What was the 1st place anybody remember? 166 00:10:44,500 --> 00:10:46,700 There was one place that most of the furnishings of the 167 00:10:46,900 --> 00:10:49,820 Tabernacle were, and there was another place where one specific 168 00:10:49,820 --> 00:10:54,060 article was placed. You find it later on in the same 169 00:10:54,060 --> 00:10:57,020 chapter. The one place is Gibeon, the one 170 00:10:57,020 --> 00:10:59,380 place is Gibeon where you had the altar and. 171 00:10:59,750 --> 00:11:02,110 Everything else pretty much. And there was the ark of the 172 00:11:02,110 --> 00:11:07,630 covenant that David brought to where Jerusalem. 173 00:11:08,150 --> 00:11:11,030 He brought to the city of David. And so things are kind of 174 00:11:11,030 --> 00:11:15,030 scattered and this was a way to justify the worship at high 175 00:11:15,030 --> 00:11:19,030 places. And it seems as though the 176 00:11:19,030 --> 00:11:22,550 author is excusing what they're doing until you come to verse 3 177 00:11:23,390 --> 00:11:26,150 and you read about Solomon who loved the Lord. 178 00:11:26,830 --> 00:11:29,270 And then he says here he walked. He was walking in the statute of 179 00:11:29,270 --> 00:11:33,710 David, his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at 180 00:11:33,710 --> 00:11:36,910 the high places. So Solomon is criticized for 181 00:11:36,910 --> 00:11:39,270 this. He's criticized. 182 00:11:39,630 --> 00:11:41,150 So then when you come back to verse two, you have to 183 00:11:41,150 --> 00:11:43,910 understand, well, if Solomon is criticized and clearly it can't 184 00:11:43,910 --> 00:11:47,550 be justified. Clearly here we have something 185 00:11:47,550 --> 00:11:51,540 of a. Of a mystery of how is it that 186 00:11:51,540 --> 00:11:53,740 you have the people that are worshiping at high places and it 187 00:11:53,740 --> 00:11:56,540 seems to be excused, and then Solomon does it, but he's not 188 00:11:56,540 --> 00:11:58,460 excused. Well, my conviction is that the 189 00:11:58,460 --> 00:12:02,780 people are not excused if Solomon is condemned, and so are 190 00:12:02,780 --> 00:12:05,620 the people if Solomon is in the wrong, and so are the people. 191 00:12:05,620 --> 00:12:10,900 And it could be that Solomon as the king LED that example and so 192 00:12:10,900 --> 00:12:14,740 the blame was put on him. And it could also mean that. 193 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:17,520 Although Solomon was commissioned to build the House 194 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:21,520 of God, perhaps he was not as urgent as he needed to be to 195 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:25,000 build the House of God. Yes, he does it very soon, but 196 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:27,480 perhaps this is an indication that he should have been much 197 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:32,520 more urgent and commencing that project and because of somewhat 198 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:37,200 of a delay, it gave room for the people to sacrifice at the high 199 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:39,640 places it's a thought to consider. 200 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:41,600 One thing that is clear though is that Solomon. 201 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:44,680 Solomon is in the wrong in the way he worships here. 202 00:12:46,810 --> 00:12:48,130 But we're told he loved the Lord. 203 00:12:49,250 --> 00:12:56,730 Solomon loved the Lord, only he worship and sacrifice at the 204 00:12:56,730 --> 00:13:01,450 high places. How do we make sense of this? 205 00:13:01,930 --> 00:13:04,290 We can't deny he loved the Lord, but based on the evidence 206 00:13:04,290 --> 00:13:07,890 presented, it was not a wholehearted love. 207 00:13:09,730 --> 00:13:15,540 It was a rudimentary commitment, but it was not a complete and 208 00:13:15,540 --> 00:13:21,300 consuming one. And we all know what Solomon's 209 00:13:21,300 --> 00:13:25,380 final spiritual state will be like in First Kings. 210 00:13:26,780 --> 00:13:28,940 But many people don't know how it all began. 211 00:13:30,500 --> 00:13:33,860 You know where Solomon's fall begins, right here. 212 00:13:34,300 --> 00:13:38,020 First Kings Chapter 3. There are, there are already 213 00:13:38,020 --> 00:13:41,340 cracks at the foundation of his faith. 214 00:13:43,540 --> 00:13:46,220 Solomon here. Yes, he he has this love for 215 00:13:46,220 --> 00:13:51,060 God, but he's not very careful with the law of God. 216 00:13:51,420 --> 00:13:52,580 Here's what I want to tell you tonight. 217 00:13:53,220 --> 00:13:56,860 The person who is not careful with the word of God today will 218 00:13:56,860 --> 00:13:59,860 not be prepared for the temptations that await him 219 00:13:59,900 --> 00:14:05,460 tomorrow. He's not careful. 220 00:14:06,500 --> 00:14:09,460 He he is not wholeheartedly walking. 221 00:14:09,860 --> 00:14:12,790 He loves the Lord, but there are certain things in his life that 222 00:14:12,790 --> 00:14:15,510 he is permitting. Is it possible for a person to 223 00:14:15,510 --> 00:14:18,670 have affection for the Lord and still allow compromise in their 224 00:14:18,670 --> 00:14:23,790 lives? And perhaps you know somebody, 225 00:14:24,030 --> 00:14:27,950 perhaps you even said this. You know that person loves God, 226 00:14:29,030 --> 00:14:31,270 but they're doing these things that seem to contradict that, 227 00:14:31,270 --> 00:14:35,350 love that. Devotion, that conviction. 228 00:14:35,990 --> 00:14:38,470 And you can almost imagine what Solomon is thinking when he made 229 00:14:38,470 --> 00:14:42,750 these decisions. OK, yes, I'm marrying Pharaoh's 230 00:14:42,750 --> 00:14:45,710 daughter. But once it comes to the point 231 00:14:45,710 --> 00:14:48,390 where you know, we get serious with this thing, then I'll 232 00:14:48,390 --> 00:14:50,150 remove her and she won't be a problem. 233 00:14:50,150 --> 00:14:53,790 She'll be, you know, out of sight, out of mind. 234 00:14:55,070 --> 00:14:57,310 I know we're not supposed to worship at the high places, but 235 00:14:57,310 --> 00:14:59,790 it's just for now. It's just for now. 236 00:15:00,310 --> 00:15:03,590 Once we have the temple set up, we'll we'll we'll not see these 237 00:15:03,590 --> 00:15:05,390 high places anymore. They'll become vacant. 238 00:15:05,390 --> 00:15:07,230 They'll collect cobwebs. Is that what happens in First 239 00:15:07,230 --> 00:15:09,780 Kings? Do the high places go away, or 240 00:15:09,780 --> 00:15:13,340 then they become a perpetual problem for generations to come? 241 00:15:13,340 --> 00:15:17,620 They do. When you find yourself having an 242 00:15:17,620 --> 00:15:22,060 inner dialogue like that with clear sins, understand that this 243 00:15:22,060 --> 00:15:27,500 is the language of compromise. When you begin to put terms and 244 00:15:27,500 --> 00:15:32,140 conditions for blatant disobedience, or I'll only go 245 00:15:32,140 --> 00:15:36,340 this far and I'll only stay here that long, and then I'll walk 246 00:15:36,340 --> 00:15:39,420 away and then I'll stop and then I'll do right. 247 00:15:41,290 --> 00:15:46,490 That is a set up for potential devastation for your life. 248 00:15:48,250 --> 00:15:51,170 So when you hear those thoughts and you have that kind of 249 00:15:51,170 --> 00:15:56,170 conversation with yourself, understand and remember Solomon 250 00:15:58,770 --> 00:16:00,610 and we see here what happens next. 251 00:16:02,130 --> 00:16:06,450 And the king went to Gibeon in verse 4 to sacrifice there, for 252 00:16:06,450 --> 00:16:11,210 that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer 1000 burnt 253 00:16:11,210 --> 00:16:16,530 offerings on that altar. 1000 a thousand of them. 254 00:16:17,210 --> 00:16:19,410 And I know look what happens at Gibeon. 255 00:16:20,210 --> 00:16:24,490 The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, 256 00:16:24,490 --> 00:16:31,970 Ask what I shall give? You you can't disassociate this 257 00:16:31,970 --> 00:16:35,570 manifestation and this exciting opportunity that God grants to 258 00:16:35,570 --> 00:16:38,470 Solomon. And the sacrifices that he made 259 00:16:38,470 --> 00:16:43,190 leading up to it. Solomon makes this great display 260 00:16:43,190 --> 00:16:45,510 and demonstration of devotion to the Lord. 261 00:16:45,870 --> 00:16:51,190 And clearly it moves the Lord in a way to visit Solomon in this 262 00:16:51,190 --> 00:16:56,350 manner and to invite him into this very awesome opportunity. 263 00:16:58,230 --> 00:17:00,270 Why is that important for us to know? 264 00:17:00,270 --> 00:17:04,310 It's it's a lesson to show us that God considers your devotion 265 00:17:04,310 --> 00:17:07,460 to Him. He considers your sacrifice to 266 00:17:07,460 --> 00:17:08,940 Him. He considers what you give him 267 00:17:09,020 --> 00:17:13,339 what you don't give him. And it would be unfair for me to 268 00:17:13,339 --> 00:17:19,260 say that just because we're all children of God by faith, that 269 00:17:19,300 --> 00:17:21,940 we all experience God's blessings in the same way. 270 00:17:21,940 --> 00:17:26,700 That's just. It would be equally unfair and 271 00:17:26,700 --> 00:17:32,260 not right for me to say that your devotional life doesn't 272 00:17:32,260 --> 00:17:35,730 impact. How God may manifest himself, 273 00:17:35,930 --> 00:17:38,770 use you, do things in and through you. 274 00:17:39,690 --> 00:17:43,850 God really does look and consider how we draw nearer to 275 00:17:43,850 --> 00:17:48,610 him, what we do for Him. He he, he understands that, He 276 00:17:48,610 --> 00:17:52,090 calculates that and it moves him. 277 00:17:53,090 --> 00:17:55,730 So this is an exciting thing. This is not a condemning thing. 278 00:17:56,010 --> 00:18:00,050 This is a picture of many pictures that God is a personal 279 00:18:00,050 --> 00:18:03,230 being. And how we communicate our love 280 00:18:03,230 --> 00:18:06,390 to him, namely through what he demands of us, really can 281 00:18:06,390 --> 00:18:09,990 determine how we experience him. And this is where we kind of 282 00:18:09,990 --> 00:18:12,910 feel tension, right? Because we just learned that 283 00:18:13,110 --> 00:18:17,630 solemn made questionable decisions, very questionable 284 00:18:17,630 --> 00:18:19,710 decisions. And yet God still chooses to not 285 00:18:19,710 --> 00:18:22,750 only manifest himself, but say, ask what I shall give you. 286 00:18:24,070 --> 00:18:27,110 How does that make sense? How does somebody who we just 287 00:18:27,110 --> 00:18:31,280 read here make these very, very concerning decisions get an 288 00:18:31,280 --> 00:18:35,000 opportunity like that? Well, all I can say is that 289 00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:37,720 though Solomon had made questionable decisions at this 290 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:41,520 time, at this point in this moment, he's desperate. 291 00:18:43,160 --> 00:18:46,920 He's desperate, and he is humbling himself. 292 00:18:48,560 --> 00:18:52,320 And God in his grace is willing to consider how Solomon is 293 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:56,800 unloading his heart and will respond accordingly. 294 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:59,160 Because as you're going to find out, Solomon himself will even 295 00:18:59,160 --> 00:19:00,880 admit, I don't know what I'm doing here. 296 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:03,160 I don't know what I'm doing here. 297 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:06,360 So at the same time there is an aspect. 298 00:19:06,360 --> 00:19:09,840 Of God's grace here that he can even meet us. 299 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:13,960 He can, He can communicate to us, He can visit us when we're 300 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:16,880 not all together there. Another example that comes to 301 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:19,400 mind is Jacob. Jacob is on the run. 302 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:22,840 Jacob just finished deceiving his father, deceiving his 303 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:27,710 brother, and who shows up while Jacob has his head on a pillow, 304 00:19:28,670 --> 00:19:32,670 which was really a stone God. God. 305 00:19:34,070 --> 00:19:37,150 And the Lord now comes to Solomon and he makes this 306 00:19:37,150 --> 00:19:43,790 incredible statement. Ask ask what I shall give you. 307 00:19:46,150 --> 00:19:48,030 Not only is this an invitation, it's a test. 308 00:19:49,030 --> 00:19:51,990 It's a test. This test is going to reveal 309 00:19:51,990 --> 00:19:57,030 what's in Solomon's heart. What you desire reveals a lot 310 00:19:57,030 --> 00:20:02,750 about you. What you long for says a lot 311 00:20:02,750 --> 00:20:10,150 about who you are. What you pray for determines a 312 00:20:10,150 --> 00:20:13,830 lot about your inner man as well, not what you pray for in a 313 00:20:13,830 --> 00:20:15,590 public meeting. A lot of people have mastered 314 00:20:15,590 --> 00:20:17,310 how to pray right in public meetings. 315 00:20:18,030 --> 00:20:21,710 They know the right things to say what you pray for when 316 00:20:21,710 --> 00:20:27,030 you're alone. How you relate to prayer when 317 00:20:27,030 --> 00:20:31,670 you run to prayer says in large part a lot about our heart 318 00:20:31,670 --> 00:20:36,190 posture towards God. If the Lord were to ask you 319 00:20:36,190 --> 00:20:38,750 tonight, as you lay your head on your pillow and there's a 320 00:20:38,750 --> 00:20:41,230 special visitation for Him, and he says, ask what I shall give 321 00:20:41,230 --> 00:20:44,430 you, What would you answer with what comes to mind right now, 322 00:20:44,710 --> 00:20:53,450 right now? Dollar signs ask what I shall 323 00:20:53,450 --> 00:20:58,650 give you, and Solomon here is going to answer that. 324 00:20:59,170 --> 00:21:01,570 And with that in mind, look at verse 10 quickly, because 325 00:21:01,570 --> 00:21:04,770 whatever Solomon asked for, it brought about this result. 326 00:21:04,850 --> 00:21:09,090 Verse 10, It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 327 00:21:09,610 --> 00:21:13,730 It pleased the Lord. It moved God. 328 00:21:13,730 --> 00:21:19,370 It satisfied God that Solomon presented a certain request. 329 00:21:20,950 --> 00:21:23,470 And if you and I desire to please God, then we will 330 00:21:23,470 --> 00:21:27,510 consider not only what Solomon asked for, but the manner in 331 00:21:27,510 --> 00:21:29,790 which he asked it. There are components here, 332 00:21:29,790 --> 00:21:34,590 ingredients here that make this prayer so powerful as a model of 333 00:21:34,590 --> 00:21:38,870 how we can know a fragrance and a fruitfulness in our communion 334 00:21:38,870 --> 00:21:43,430 with God that can assure us his heart being pleased. 335 00:21:45,390 --> 00:21:47,510 You know, Paul prayed an amazing prayer to the Colossians. 336 00:21:47,510 --> 00:21:49,990 It was one of the first prayers that I memorized as a Christian. 337 00:21:51,500 --> 00:21:54,020 It's in Colossians 19 to 10. You don't have to turn down 338 00:21:54,020 --> 00:21:55,860 unless you want to. But this is what he says. 339 00:21:55,940 --> 00:21:58,500 And so, from the day we have heard, we have not ceased to 340 00:21:58,500 --> 00:22:01,060 pray for you. Asking that you may be filled 341 00:22:01,060 --> 00:22:05,100 with all spiritual wisdom and knowledge in verse 10 so as to 342 00:22:05,100 --> 00:22:08,140 walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. 343 00:22:08,260 --> 00:22:14,180 Check this out. Fully pleasing to him, He didn't 344 00:22:14,180 --> 00:22:22,770 just say pleasing to him, fully pleasing to him, the NS BS Nasb 345 00:22:22,770 --> 00:22:27,370 says, Pleasing him in all respects. 346 00:22:28,650 --> 00:22:30,570 That's what Paul was asking for. The Colossian. 347 00:22:30,570 --> 00:22:36,010 Church, I'm praying that you would be completely in all 348 00:22:36,010 --> 00:22:41,130 respects from head to toe and all your engagements, all your 349 00:22:41,130 --> 00:22:45,530 activities, all your plans, all your relationships, that it 350 00:22:45,530 --> 00:22:50,570 would ultimately please God. You know a lot of professing 351 00:22:50,570 --> 00:22:54,530 Christians want to please God. At the bare minimum please God 352 00:22:54,530 --> 00:22:56,410 just enough that you don't get in trouble with him. 353 00:22:57,410 --> 00:22:59,690 That's not the kind of thing that Paul is asking for that you 354 00:22:59,690 --> 00:23:06,330 would be fully pleasing to him. That's the heartbeat of a spirit 355 00:23:06,330 --> 00:23:10,370 filled Christian Lord, I want, I don't want there to be 1 sliver 356 00:23:10,370 --> 00:23:12,530 of my life that would grieve the Holy Spirit. 357 00:23:12,890 --> 00:23:16,570 Not one. The way I talk, what I allow 358 00:23:16,570 --> 00:23:20,240 hear, what I allow hear. What I do with this, what I do 359 00:23:20,240 --> 00:23:24,120 with this, what I do with this. I don't want there to be 1 area 360 00:23:24,120 --> 00:23:26,360 of my life that's not pleasing to. 361 00:23:26,360 --> 00:23:29,560 I want to be fully pleasing to you. 362 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:34,080 And so if that's our desire, then let's consider Solomon's 363 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:35,440 prayer. Let's consider some of the 364 00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:37,440 ingredients that made this pleasing to God. 365 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:40,200 Yes, it was ultimately what he asked for, but I'm sure there 366 00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:42,040 are many things about how we asked. 367 00:23:42,840 --> 00:23:45,560 So let's read this and I don't want you to point things out. 368 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:51,840 Look at verse 6 And Solomon said, you have shown great and 369 00:23:51,840 --> 00:23:55,640 steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he 370 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:58,280 walked before you in faithfulness and righteousness 371 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:00,000 and an uprightness of heart toward you. 372 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:03,720 And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and 373 00:24:03,720 --> 00:24:06,680 have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. 374 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:10,520 And now, oh Lord, my God, you have made your servant king, and 375 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:13,720 place of David my father, although I am but a little 376 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:16,660 child. I do not know how to go out or 377 00:24:16,660 --> 00:24:19,500 come in. And your servant is in the midst 378 00:24:19,500 --> 00:24:22,820 of your people, whom you have chosen a great people too many 379 00:24:22,820 --> 00:24:24,900 to be numbered or counted for multitude. 380 00:24:25,620 --> 00:24:28,740 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern 381 00:24:28,740 --> 00:24:31,860 your people, that I may discern between good and evil. 382 00:24:32,220 --> 00:24:35,300 For who is able to govern this? Your great people. 383 00:24:36,060 --> 00:24:38,740 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 384 00:24:39,220 --> 00:24:42,940 I love that. Please the Lord. 385 00:24:43,060 --> 00:24:44,780 Well, what stands out to you from these verses? 386 00:24:46,690 --> 00:24:54,290 Yes, He's starting with Thanksgiving, my brother. 387 00:24:54,290 --> 00:24:56,610 You got it? Yes. 388 00:24:56,650 --> 00:24:58,410 You know what's fascinating? The Lord said, ask what I shall 389 00:24:58,410 --> 00:24:59,490 give you. What does he didn't do? 390 00:24:59,490 --> 00:25:01,050 Well, Lord, I want this and I want that. 391 00:25:02,050 --> 00:25:05,010 Does he do that immediately or does he pause? 392 00:25:05,810 --> 00:25:07,530 And yet that is actually point number one. 393 00:25:07,770 --> 00:25:09,330 I have three that come to mind. 3. 394 00:25:09,890 --> 00:25:11,050 Clear. Concrete. 395 00:25:11,900 --> 00:25:14,620 The first thing that he does is he acknowledges God's 396 00:25:14,620 --> 00:25:18,780 faithfulness and authorship. He acknowledges God's 397 00:25:18,780 --> 00:25:22,900 faithfulness and authorship. Notice the attribution here of 398 00:25:22,900 --> 00:25:25,860 God's steadfast love. Solomon said, You have shown 399 00:25:25,860 --> 00:25:27,900 great love. You have shown great love, 400 00:25:28,260 --> 00:25:30,500 sorry, great and steadfast love to your servant David, my 401 00:25:30,500 --> 00:25:32,980 father. And then he goes on to say what 402 00:25:33,460 --> 00:25:35,940 the second part you have kept for him, this great and 403 00:25:35,940 --> 00:25:39,460 steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne 404 00:25:39,460 --> 00:25:41,540 and say you have, you have, you have. 405 00:25:41,890 --> 00:25:46,890 Given, given, given, Lord, you're the reason why my father 406 00:25:46,890 --> 00:25:50,490 was successful. You're the reason why he was 407 00:25:50,530 --> 00:25:52,330 able to do what he was able to do as a king. 408 00:25:53,530 --> 00:25:56,610 And so this is David here, this is Solomon here rather looking 409 00:25:56,610 --> 00:26:01,530 to the Lord and identifying his mercies and crowning him with 410 00:26:01,530 --> 00:26:06,970 praise because of it. And that is a that is a factor 411 00:26:06,970 --> 00:26:10,170 in our communication to God and with God, or commune with God. 412 00:26:10,170 --> 00:26:11,610 That is, that can't be forgotten. 413 00:26:11,890 --> 00:26:16,330 Worship, worship. Prayer is not merely 414 00:26:16,330 --> 00:26:18,770 petitioning. There's praise in it. 415 00:26:20,450 --> 00:26:23,250 There's looking to the Lord and lifting your heart to Him and 416 00:26:23,250 --> 00:26:25,290 saying Lord, this is who you are. 417 00:26:26,970 --> 00:26:32,690 Not because God forgot and he needs your lesson, but it's an 418 00:26:32,690 --> 00:26:38,610 expression of adoration and it blesses him and it puts things 419 00:26:38,610 --> 00:26:41,790 into perspective for you. Thanksgiving is not optional and 420 00:26:41,790 --> 00:26:43,510 how we relate to the Lord, it's actually commanded. 421 00:26:44,550 --> 00:26:47,190 Thanksgiving is commanded. In fact, the Psalmist says in 422 00:26:47,190 --> 00:26:51,030 Psalm 100 verse 4, enter his gates with Thanksgiving, I mean 423 00:26:51,430 --> 00:26:53,590 enter his gates. Meaning your introduction in a 424 00:26:53,590 --> 00:26:58,550 sense should be in the front part of your mind. 425 00:26:58,790 --> 00:27:01,750 You should not even consider it as a as a last thing, as a 426 00:27:01,750 --> 00:27:04,470 forgotten thing, but as a primary factor of how you relate 427 00:27:04,470 --> 00:27:07,670 to the Lord, thanking him, thanking him. 428 00:27:08,380 --> 00:27:11,460 Paul told Timothy in First Timothy 2 this. 429 00:27:11,660 --> 00:27:13,820 Every time I look at this scripture, it always convicts me 430 00:27:13,820 --> 00:27:17,340 because Paul's telling Timothy how to run a church and one of 431 00:27:17,340 --> 00:27:18,940 the first things that he tells him to do is have a prayer 432 00:27:18,940 --> 00:27:21,740 meeting. What kind of priority do you 433 00:27:21,740 --> 00:27:23,380 think prayer meetings have in many churches today? 434 00:27:25,300 --> 00:27:27,540 First Timothy 21, I want you to see this. 435 00:27:27,620 --> 00:27:30,100 He gives different categories of what a prayer meeting, a public 436 00:27:30,100 --> 00:27:34,060 prayer meeting should include. And he says here, I urge you, I 437 00:27:34,060 --> 00:27:38,240 urge you, this is urgent. He didn't say at the end of the 438 00:27:38,240 --> 00:27:39,800 letter. Oh, you know what, Timothy? 439 00:27:39,800 --> 00:27:42,480 I forgot? If you have time at the Sunday 440 00:27:42,480 --> 00:27:44,040 service, throw in a couple prayers. 441 00:27:44,040 --> 00:27:46,800 That's not what he says. He says here. 442 00:27:46,880 --> 00:27:51,480 First of all, first of all, first of all, I urge that 443 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:55,600 supplications, prayers, intercessions, and what 444 00:27:57,000 --> 00:28:04,000 Thanksgivings, Thanksgivings, a church together collectively 445 00:28:04,000 --> 00:28:08,190 should know how to. With one voice, thank God we 446 00:28:08,190 --> 00:28:11,430 thank you, Lord, We worship you, Lord, we acknowledge you, Lord, 447 00:28:11,830 --> 00:28:15,590 We ascribe to you all, exaltation, all honor. 448 00:28:15,710 --> 00:28:18,670 You're the one who's done all this and this person's life and 449 00:28:18,670 --> 00:28:22,710 our church's life and my life. So Thanksgiving is included in 450 00:28:22,710 --> 00:28:23,750 that. And then look what he says in 451 00:28:23,750 --> 00:28:25,910 verse three of the same chapter. First Timothy 2-3. 452 00:28:26,990 --> 00:28:29,990 Why is 1 motivation to give Thanksgiving? 453 00:28:30,150 --> 00:28:34,210 Among many reasons, this is good, for it is what it is 454 00:28:34,210 --> 00:28:41,090 pleasing in the sight of God. It pleases to see his children, 455 00:28:41,770 --> 00:28:45,970 his servants, his redeemed, thanking him. 456 00:28:48,050 --> 00:28:50,570 If we want to please God, if we have a personal relation to the 457 00:28:50,570 --> 00:28:52,730 law, I want to please him. You please the people you love. 458 00:28:53,050 --> 00:28:55,370 I want to please him. Lord, if me giving you thanks 459 00:28:55,370 --> 00:28:57,610 pleases you, then so be it. I will thank you. 460 00:28:57,770 --> 00:28:59,970 And Solomon models that, not just by thanking him for what 461 00:28:59,970 --> 00:29:02,130 he's done in David's life. But acknowledging him what he's 462 00:29:02,130 --> 00:29:04,310 done in his own life? Look at verse 7. 463 00:29:05,190 --> 00:29:09,430 And now first kings three. And now, Lord my God, you have 464 00:29:09,430 --> 00:29:12,990 made your servant. You have made your servant king 465 00:29:12,990 --> 00:29:17,670 and place of David my father. You promoted me. 466 00:29:17,830 --> 00:29:19,510 What did his brother ad? And I just said? 467 00:29:20,590 --> 00:29:24,110 Now I will exalt myself and be king, right? 468 00:29:24,630 --> 00:29:26,830 That's not what this man says, he says. 469 00:29:26,830 --> 00:29:31,260 You made me king. And so I recognize that the 470 00:29:31,260 --> 00:29:35,420 promotion that I enjoy today is a direct result of your goodness 471 00:29:35,420 --> 00:29:37,860 to me. I do not deserve this. 472 00:29:40,060 --> 00:29:43,380 And you know, Isaiah tells us that there are three things that 473 00:29:43,380 --> 00:29:46,820 the Lord considers when he looks favorably upon a person. 474 00:29:47,380 --> 00:29:50,140 It's very common passage of scripture in Isaiah 66 verse 475 00:29:50,140 --> 00:29:52,420 two. What does Isaiah say by the 476 00:29:52,420 --> 00:29:54,980 Spirit that the Lord does when He looks upon somebody? 477 00:29:54,980 --> 00:29:56,820 What does He look for before He looks upon them? 478 00:29:57,940 --> 00:30:07,500 There's three things. Anybody remember it says you're 479 00:30:07,500 --> 00:30:14,020 he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word, 480 00:30:15,820 --> 00:30:19,580 trembles at my word. But he says contrite in spirit. 481 00:30:19,580 --> 00:30:21,420 You know what that Hebrew word contrite is? 482 00:30:22,260 --> 00:30:25,540 It's the same word used to describe somebody who is lame in 483 00:30:25,540 --> 00:30:30,140 their feet, somebody who is paralyzed, somebody who is 484 00:30:30,140 --> 00:30:32,920 crippled and can't walk. That's the same word yours used 485 00:30:32,920 --> 00:30:35,880 to say contrite in spirit. So what Isaiah is saying is the 486 00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:41,120 Lord looks upon one who is humble and lame in spirit, in 487 00:30:41,120 --> 00:30:47,000 other words, disabled and capable, admitting their 488 00:30:47,000 --> 00:30:51,160 inability to do anything and achieve anything. 489 00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:56,440 When a person confesses that they are in such a place, that 490 00:30:56,440 --> 00:30:59,480 is where God looks and sees and considers and is ready to move 491 00:30:59,480 --> 00:31:02,830 favorably. I'm paralyzed. 492 00:31:03,350 --> 00:31:06,790 I'm paralyzed in the innermost part of who I am to perform 493 00:31:06,790 --> 00:31:10,710 anything of value, anything of fruit, anything effective. 494 00:31:10,950 --> 00:31:14,030 I can't, in the same way that a person who is crippled can walk. 495 00:31:14,230 --> 00:31:16,390 I can't do what you've called me to do. 496 00:31:17,790 --> 00:31:20,590 And what's so fascinating about Solomon's posture here is 497 00:31:20,590 --> 00:31:22,550 because he already has the throne. 498 00:31:22,550 --> 00:31:25,070 It's been given to him. And not only that, he's even 499 00:31:25,070 --> 00:31:29,190 been told very nice things about his ability and he didn't even 500 00:31:29,190 --> 00:31:32,700 consider it. You know, Solomon was commended 501 00:31:32,700 --> 00:31:35,540 in a certain way. He was praised in a certain way 502 00:31:35,540 --> 00:31:38,700 by probably the most important person on earth that he can 503 00:31:38,700 --> 00:31:40,620 receive any commendation from his father. 504 00:31:41,740 --> 00:31:44,100 His father said something to him right before he died and it 505 00:31:44,100 --> 00:31:47,780 didn't get to Solomon's head. What did he tell his son Solomon 506 00:31:48,180 --> 00:31:52,420 when he instructed him to remove those rebels that pose a threat 507 00:31:52,420 --> 00:31:57,060 to his Kingdom? If you don't remember, go there. 508 00:31:57,820 --> 00:32:10,700 And first kings. And look here in chapter 2 and 509 00:32:10,700 --> 00:32:15,460 verse 9. This is David speaking to his 510 00:32:15,460 --> 00:32:17,100 son Now. Therefore do not hold him 511 00:32:17,100 --> 00:32:18,700 guiltless. And this is what he says to his 512 00:32:18,700 --> 00:32:20,180 son. For you are what? 513 00:32:21,140 --> 00:32:25,980 For you are a wise man. You're a wise man, Solomon. 514 00:32:28,860 --> 00:32:33,420 That's a compliment. If you get that from a man after 515 00:32:33,420 --> 00:32:35,660 God's heart, if you get that from King David. 516 00:32:37,420 --> 00:32:41,260 I'm a wise man. I am a wise man. 517 00:32:42,260 --> 00:32:43,940 Is that what Solomon says to God? 518 00:32:44,540 --> 00:32:46,900 What does he say to God? He says. 519 00:32:46,900 --> 00:32:51,060 Although I am but a little child, I don't know how to go 520 00:32:51,060 --> 00:32:55,460 out or come in. He did. 521 00:32:56,060 --> 00:33:00,230 He didn't take that. Too far into consideration. 522 00:33:00,590 --> 00:33:03,710 He knew who he he was. He knew that he was incompetent. 523 00:33:03,910 --> 00:33:06,390 He he was lacking experience that he was immature to an 524 00:33:06,390 --> 00:33:08,790 extent to lead this great people. 525 00:33:09,190 --> 00:33:12,110 So it comes before the Lord. Lord, it doesn't matter what 526 00:33:12,110 --> 00:33:13,990 kind of authority I have here on earth. 527 00:33:13,990 --> 00:33:17,790 The position, the ability that I I have access to doesn't matter. 528 00:33:17,790 --> 00:33:22,030 Even what my father I said. God, God, you need to bless me. 529 00:33:24,430 --> 00:33:28,800 I need your touch on my life. I need your enablement. 530 00:33:28,800 --> 00:33:31,120 I need your favor. I need your grace. 531 00:33:33,000 --> 00:33:34,920 And this is what God is moved by. 532 00:33:35,720 --> 00:33:39,880 This is what God sees. A man so aware of his neediness, 533 00:33:41,560 --> 00:33:43,400 I will move in your life. I will answer. 534 00:33:43,400 --> 00:33:47,840 This pleases me when you acknowledge the reality of your 535 00:33:47,840 --> 00:33:51,720 inadequacy. So it's more than just 536 00:33:51,720 --> 00:33:54,200 passionate, pleasing and persistent prayer not being 537 00:33:54,200 --> 00:33:56,760 known unless we believe God is the author. 538 00:33:57,770 --> 00:34:02,210 Of all the blessings that we enjoy #2, it's admitting your 539 00:34:02,210 --> 00:34:04,010 needed neediness. Not just acknowledging His 540 00:34:04,010 --> 00:34:06,690 faithfulness and His goodness, but admitting your neediness 541 00:34:06,690 --> 00:34:11,050 over and over and over, in all things at all times. 542 00:34:11,449 --> 00:34:17,969 This is who God looks to, the one who is lame in spirit, the 543 00:34:17,969 --> 00:34:20,210 one who doesn't get puffed up by what they've done with their 544 00:34:20,210 --> 00:34:22,850 hands, how they arise somewhere, what even people say about him. 545 00:34:23,010 --> 00:34:26,170 It doesn't matter. I can't preach this. 546 00:34:26,590 --> 00:34:30,190 If you don't help me, I can't go up there and say anything of 547 00:34:30,190 --> 00:34:35,670 worth until you help me. Despite the encouragement, 548 00:34:35,670 --> 00:34:39,110 despite what people say, Lord, if your hand is not upon me, 549 00:34:40,989 --> 00:34:43,230 then I'm like a little kid running around with a crown. 550 00:34:45,630 --> 00:34:50,630 I have no idea what I'm doing. I need your help and that moves 551 00:34:50,630 --> 00:34:54,949 God. I wonder if you parents pray 552 00:34:54,949 --> 00:34:58,330 like that with the babies that God has given you. 553 00:34:58,330 --> 00:35:03,290 Lord, you need to help me here. I wonder if you businessmen pray 554 00:35:03,290 --> 00:35:05,610 like that. Or maybe you figured it all out, 555 00:35:05,610 --> 00:35:11,130 right, because you're so smart. I wonder if you counselors feel 556 00:35:11,130 --> 00:35:13,610 like that before you enter into a room with somebody who has a 557 00:35:13,610 --> 00:35:15,890 case that perhaps you have seen and dealt with before. 558 00:35:15,890 --> 00:35:19,770 But still, this is a person with unique qualities and unique 559 00:35:19,770 --> 00:35:21,690 circumstances. Lord, if you don't help me, I 560 00:35:21,690 --> 00:35:23,290 need you. I need you. 561 00:35:23,290 --> 00:35:28,770 I need you. That's what moves God's heart to 562 00:35:28,770 --> 00:35:32,650 come to the aid of a man. But we see something else here. 563 00:35:32,810 --> 00:35:36,570 It's a third thing. Tell me if you can see it. 564 00:35:38,490 --> 00:35:41,450 Verse 8 and 9. The first kings three. 565 00:35:41,810 --> 00:35:43,730 And your servant is in the midst of your. 566 00:35:43,730 --> 00:35:46,170 People whom you have chosen a great people too many to be 567 00:35:46,170 --> 00:35:47,610 numbered or counted for multitude. 568 00:35:48,010 --> 00:35:52,130 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern 569 00:35:52,130 --> 00:35:54,790 your people that I made discern between good and evil. 570 00:35:55,150 --> 00:35:56,790 For who is able to govern this? Your great people. 571 00:35:56,790 --> 00:35:58,990 The first thing is that he acknowledged God's faithfulness 572 00:35:59,510 --> 00:36:01,590 and authorship. He he gave him thanks. 573 00:36:01,950 --> 00:36:05,350 The second thing is he he's admitting his neediness and that 574 00:36:05,350 --> 00:36:07,870 he can't do this without God. And there's a third and last 575 00:36:07,870 --> 00:36:10,670 thing, based on the 2 verses that we just read, what is it 576 00:36:10,670 --> 00:36:11,750 that stands out to? Yes, brother. 577 00:36:16,830 --> 00:36:28,760 Yes, yes, absolutely. 578 00:36:29,520 --> 00:36:30,680 Well, you're you're you're nudging. 579 00:36:30,680 --> 00:36:32,520 You're nudging us into that last part. 580 00:36:34,120 --> 00:36:36,920 Your people. Your people. 581 00:36:37,760 --> 00:36:38,480 Your Sir. Yes. 582 00:36:38,480 --> 00:36:40,520 There's no. Room for any other deities. 583 00:36:40,520 --> 00:36:42,440 No room for any other God. Yes, that's right. 584 00:36:42,440 --> 00:36:43,680 So he's acknowledging God as God. 585 00:36:43,680 --> 00:36:45,200 He's ignoring himself as a servant. 586 00:36:45,600 --> 00:36:49,880 But in let me give you a hint, in asking for a certain ability, 587 00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:55,840 what is his motive? There's a responsibility, yes. 588 00:36:56,060 --> 00:37:00,100 He's asking for wisdom. He's not asking for riches. 589 00:37:00,580 --> 00:37:02,940 And yes, absolutely he's asking for the right thing. 590 00:37:03,020 --> 00:37:05,260 It's one thing, though, to ask for the right thing. 591 00:37:05,340 --> 00:37:07,260 It's another thing to ask for the right thing with the right 592 00:37:07,260 --> 00:37:11,660 motive. James tells us that you ask, but 593 00:37:11,660 --> 00:37:15,100 you don't have because what in what you're asking for. 594 00:37:15,100 --> 00:37:18,260 You're desiring to satisfy your own passions. 595 00:37:18,950 --> 00:37:21,990 I can ask for the right thing and not get the answer, because 596 00:37:21,990 --> 00:37:25,350 in asking the right thing, I have the wrong desire and goal 597 00:37:25,350 --> 00:37:29,150 behind it. Solomon here is not just asking 598 00:37:29,150 --> 00:37:30,270 for wisdom. It's something that we should 599 00:37:30,270 --> 00:37:32,910 all seek. But Solomon is asking it for a 600 00:37:32,910 --> 00:37:35,230 certain reason, and the reason is twofold. 601 00:37:35,230 --> 00:37:37,110 Our brother alluded to it. Your people. 602 00:37:37,110 --> 00:37:40,230 This isn't my people. These are your people, God. 603 00:37:40,590 --> 00:37:43,150 And I feel the tremendous weight of that responsibility, Because 604 00:37:43,150 --> 00:37:46,390 if they're your people, then what I do to your people 605 00:37:46,550 --> 00:37:49,390 ultimately determines much more beyond my own life. 606 00:37:49,750 --> 00:37:52,790 Your people, they belong to you. It's your glory. 607 00:37:53,350 --> 00:37:57,510 I need your help. Enable me for the sake of your 608 00:37:57,510 --> 00:38:04,990 people and ultimately your name. So the third thing is asking 609 00:38:04,990 --> 00:38:08,990 God's gifts with the right motives. 610 00:38:10,350 --> 00:38:12,910 Not just the right things, the right motives. 611 00:38:14,830 --> 00:38:18,070 And if I look to the Lord and I ask him for things that are even 612 00:38:18,070 --> 00:38:20,750 prescribed in the word of God, things that I have access to, 613 00:38:21,110 --> 00:38:24,150 that I also have to examine my own heart and say, Why am I 614 00:38:24,150 --> 00:38:27,830 doing this? Why am I asking the Lord to 615 00:38:27,870 --> 00:38:32,070 empower me in a certain way? Why am I asking the Lord to open 616 00:38:32,070 --> 00:38:34,110 opportunities? Why am I asking the Lord to 617 00:38:34,110 --> 00:38:39,660 provide me this or that? Because as James said, you can 618 00:38:39,660 --> 00:38:42,060 ask and not receive. And one of the reasons why you 619 00:38:42,060 --> 00:38:46,220 don't receive is because there are fleshly passions that are 620 00:38:46,220 --> 00:38:49,340 buried underneath that you are ultimately trying to quench. 621 00:38:50,060 --> 00:38:51,980 And God sees our hearts above all things. 622 00:38:54,020 --> 00:38:55,900 Do I want to be known as successful? 623 00:38:58,100 --> 00:39:00,340 Do I want to be seen as a spiritual celebrity? 624 00:39:01,020 --> 00:39:04,900 Do I want to, through this answer in prayer, obtain 625 00:39:04,900 --> 00:39:11,030 respect, power, Authority? You know Paul in First 626 00:39:11,030 --> 00:39:13,150 Corinthians 14. He gave instructions to that 627 00:39:13,150 --> 00:39:15,390 church. A very gifted church gifted in 628 00:39:15,390 --> 00:39:17,590 the supernatural. He gave him practical 629 00:39:17,590 --> 00:39:20,790 instructions of how 2 certain gifts should be operated in the 630 00:39:20,790 --> 00:39:22,830 local congregation. The gift of tongues. 631 00:39:23,230 --> 00:39:25,270 The gift of prophecy. However, I can't. 632 00:39:25,270 --> 00:39:26,670 Tongues talk about tongues, please. 633 00:39:27,670 --> 00:39:30,030 And I go into tongues. I want you to see a principle in 634 00:39:30,030 --> 00:39:34,670 those few verses to see something as a principle for how 635 00:39:34,670 --> 00:39:35,950 we seek the law for certain things. 636 00:39:36,270 --> 00:39:38,830 My pauses in the context of the local assembly. 637 00:39:39,190 --> 00:39:43,030 If you're to seek after anything, seek after which Gift. 638 00:39:44,030 --> 00:39:46,670 Prophecy, do you know? The motive? 639 00:39:46,670 --> 00:39:50,030 Why? Why does Paul want the church, 640 00:39:50,230 --> 00:39:52,430 who are very excited about the gifts? 641 00:39:54,120 --> 00:39:56,560 Why does he say I need you? If you want to? 642 00:39:56,640 --> 00:40:00,080 I want to channel your your passionate desire for these 643 00:40:00,080 --> 00:40:01,680 things, these manifestations of the Spirit. 644 00:40:01,880 --> 00:40:05,480 I want you to pursue this particular gift because this is 645 00:40:05,480 --> 00:40:08,960 the result of that gift, if it's operated rightly in an order. 646 00:40:09,240 --> 00:40:11,920 Anybody know why? Very good. 647 00:40:12,200 --> 00:40:13,960 And if you don't know it, turn with me there. 648 00:40:14,080 --> 00:40:16,600 First Corinthians 14. Let's look at verse 3 to verse 5 649 00:40:16,880 --> 00:40:20,880 and you will see Paul's repeated ambition in wanting the church 650 00:40:20,880 --> 00:40:23,320 to be equipped by the Spirit in this way. 651 00:40:23,720 --> 00:40:25,880 And it tells me something about God's heart. 652 00:40:26,080 --> 00:40:29,960 If I am to be gifted, if I am to be empowered by him for what 653 00:40:29,960 --> 00:40:32,440 reason? Well, let's look at it together. 654 00:40:32,440 --> 00:40:35,000 Look at, let's look at verse 3 and verse five with that context 655 00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:37,720 in mind, he says in First Corinthians 14, verse 3. 656 00:40:37,720 --> 00:40:42,400 On the other hand, the one who prophecies speaks to people for 657 00:40:42,400 --> 00:40:46,960 their up building and encouragement and consolation. 658 00:40:46,960 --> 00:40:49,490 Keep up building in mind. Look at verse 4. 659 00:40:49,650 --> 00:40:54,050 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one 660 00:40:54,050 --> 00:41:00,490 who prophecies does what builds up the church #2 Now I want you 661 00:41:00,490 --> 00:41:04,370 all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophecy. 662 00:41:04,690 --> 00:41:07,410 The one who prophecies is greater than the one who speaks 663 00:41:07,410 --> 00:41:10,890 in tongues. Unless someone interprets so 664 00:41:10,890 --> 00:41:15,210 that the church would what? Maybe what built up three times 665 00:41:15,210 --> 00:41:17,210 in three in three verses, Paul says. 666 00:41:17,600 --> 00:41:20,160 The reason why I want you to pursue this gift in the context 667 00:41:20,160 --> 00:41:23,280 of the assembling of the Saints is so that you would build up 668 00:41:23,280 --> 00:41:28,600 your brothers and sisters that they would be. 669 00:41:28,600 --> 00:41:32,000 Strengthened, if the Holy Spirit is to gift you in a certain way 670 00:41:32,880 --> 00:41:36,880 that they would be blessed, that they would be stirred towards 671 00:41:36,880 --> 00:41:39,760 the Lord, that they may be edified. 672 00:41:41,960 --> 00:41:43,640 And I looked at that, and I thought, when I read this to 673 00:41:43,640 --> 00:41:48,400 myself, I said, Lord, as I'm seeking, because I, Lord, I do 674 00:41:48,400 --> 00:41:51,160 want to serve you. I I, I, I know you've called me 675 00:41:51,160 --> 00:41:54,800 to be present with other believers continually, but not 676 00:41:54,800 --> 00:41:59,120 just present actively present. You've called me to serve my 677 00:41:59,120 --> 00:42:00,880 brothers and sisters in some capacity. 678 00:42:01,120 --> 00:42:04,960 So, Lord, do whatever you need to do me so that I can What? 679 00:42:06,200 --> 00:42:07,800 Fill in the blank I can. What? 680 00:42:07,800 --> 00:42:08,640 Then? That's where we have to pause 681 00:42:08,640 --> 00:42:10,640 and say, why? Why am I asking the Lord to 682 00:42:10,640 --> 00:42:13,390 furnish me? Why am I asking Lord to deposit 683 00:42:13,390 --> 00:42:15,790 something in me? What am I asking for the Lord A 684 00:42:15,790 --> 00:42:24,270 spotlight or for strength For my fellow brother, sister in 685 00:42:24,270 --> 00:42:27,430 Christ? Not spotlight for me, strength 686 00:42:27,430 --> 00:42:30,830 for them. I believe that's what moves 687 00:42:30,830 --> 00:42:34,710 God's heart, that when he sees that your desire is. 688 00:42:35,390 --> 00:42:38,430 As Solomon said, Lord, for the sake of your people, not so that 689 00:42:38,430 --> 00:42:40,790 I can be known and praised as the wisest man. 690 00:42:40,790 --> 00:42:43,190 He didn't even entertain that idea of being known as the 691 00:42:43,190 --> 00:42:47,150 wisest man. Lord, for your people, I want 692 00:42:47,150 --> 00:42:51,510 them to see Christ in me. I want them to love Christ more 693 00:42:51,510 --> 00:42:54,430 because of me. You know, a person who truly 694 00:42:54,430 --> 00:42:56,350 wants to be used by God will also ask God, Lord, let me 695 00:42:56,350 --> 00:43:00,110 disappear as much as possible. Empower me as much as you can. 696 00:43:00,110 --> 00:43:03,190 Empower me with, but help me be cloaked behind Christ. 697 00:43:03,390 --> 00:43:06,040 As much as you can. I don't want to be seen. 698 00:43:06,040 --> 00:43:07,760 I don't want to be. I don't want to be sought after. 699 00:43:07,760 --> 00:43:09,520 I don't want to be called upon in any way. 700 00:43:09,760 --> 00:43:11,920 I just want to be an extension of Your Grace. 701 00:43:12,040 --> 00:43:14,640 I've tasted and seen how good it is to know you, and I want other 702 00:43:14,640 --> 00:43:17,040 people to know you and whatever you need to do in me for them to 703 00:43:17,040 --> 00:43:18,320 know, you let. It be done. 704 00:43:19,440 --> 00:43:23,440 Let it be done. I'm persuaded that this is what 705 00:43:23,440 --> 00:43:29,760 pleases God when we ask him. Acknowledge his faithfulness, 706 00:43:29,760 --> 00:43:33,480 acknowledge his authorship. Admit your neediness and ask. 707 00:43:33,870 --> 00:43:36,590 Yes, ask for those gifts, but ask with the right posture of 708 00:43:36,590 --> 00:43:39,070 heart. Surely these are ingredients 709 00:43:39,070 --> 00:43:42,430 that we can find throughout the word of God that please the 710 00:43:42,710 --> 00:43:46,470 Lord. Notice one thing before we move 711 00:43:46,470 --> 00:43:50,630 on. It was God who said to him, ask 712 00:43:50,630 --> 00:43:53,830 what I shall give you, and then Solomon prayed. 713 00:43:54,390 --> 00:43:56,830 It was Matthew Henry who said something quite insightful about 714 00:43:56,830 --> 00:43:59,470 this truth. God is the one who presented the 715 00:43:59,470 --> 00:44:02,230 invitation 1st and then that moves Solomon to pray. 716 00:44:02,940 --> 00:44:07,900 And what he said is that the word of God excites prayer in 717 00:44:07,900 --> 00:44:12,660 our lives. If you want to be more excited 718 00:44:12,660 --> 00:44:15,460 about prayer, we'll look at the promises of God for those who do 719 00:44:15,460 --> 00:44:16,820 pray. Because we look at this and we 720 00:44:16,820 --> 00:44:18,580 see that this is an isolated incidence, right. 721 00:44:18,780 --> 00:44:21,740 Ask what I shall give you. Almost like a genie that comes 722 00:44:21,740 --> 00:44:23,140 up to you and says whatever you want, I'll give you. 723 00:44:23,500 --> 00:44:25,460 Do you really believe that the Lord was going to give something 724 00:44:25,460 --> 00:44:27,260 outside of the parameters of His will to Solomon? 725 00:44:27,260 --> 00:44:29,020 No. You have the same promises 726 00:44:29,860 --> 00:44:32,730 asking you shall receive seeking you shall find knock and the 727 00:44:32,730 --> 00:44:36,210 door will be answered. Ask what do you know about God? 728 00:44:36,210 --> 00:44:38,010 What do you know about what God has done in his word? 729 00:44:38,010 --> 00:44:39,930 What do you know about what God is like? 730 00:44:40,170 --> 00:44:41,810 How he honors the prayers of men? 731 00:44:41,970 --> 00:44:45,570 What do you know about that that should cause you to say I need 732 00:44:45,570 --> 00:44:48,610 to pray, I must pray. How can I forfeit the blessings 733 00:44:48,610 --> 00:44:51,490 of prayer? Job tells us that it is the 734 00:44:51,490 --> 00:44:53,930 wicked who say what prophet do men have in praying. 735 00:44:55,970 --> 00:44:58,810 That's how the wicked thing. Wicked people don't see the 736 00:44:58,810 --> 00:45:02,910 prophet and praying if. You don't believe it? 737 00:45:02,910 --> 00:45:08,390 Read Job 21, Not making it up. And so the Word of God asks what 738 00:45:08,390 --> 00:45:10,910 I shall give you. It ignites something in the 739 00:45:10,910 --> 00:45:14,910 heart. It pulls on our hearts to come 740 00:45:14,910 --> 00:45:17,110 toward him in the place of prayer. 741 00:45:17,310 --> 00:45:19,430 If it was true for Solomon in this one moment, how much more 742 00:45:19,430 --> 00:45:21,790 true with the full revelation of God's Word that we have? 743 00:45:23,310 --> 00:45:25,230 I hope that you have a relationship with the word of 744 00:45:25,230 --> 00:45:27,710 God in such a way that sometimes when you read it, you burst out 745 00:45:27,710 --> 00:45:31,450 in praise. You know, there are moments 746 00:45:31,450 --> 00:45:33,490 where I read just in my I'm not preparing A sermon anything. 747 00:45:33,490 --> 00:45:35,570 I'm just reading. And when I read the word, I find 748 00:45:35,570 --> 00:45:37,330 myself saying this from time to time. 749 00:45:37,490 --> 00:45:38,650 I'm not being dishonest in saying that. 750 00:45:38,650 --> 00:45:41,050 I say it all the time, but I find myself sometimes saying 751 00:45:41,050 --> 00:45:44,250 things and reading the scripture where I'm there, quiet, alone 752 00:45:44,250 --> 00:45:52,850 and I go, wow, wow, just stunned and amazed by God's word. 753 00:45:53,910 --> 00:45:56,150 Stunned and amazed, reminded of something that I've highlighted 754 00:45:56,150 --> 00:45:59,190 till I went to the next page. And yet I forgot it and here I 755 00:45:59,190 --> 00:46:00,310 am because I'm reading through it again. 756 00:46:00,510 --> 00:46:02,870 How did I forget this? Wow, because of this, but also 757 00:46:02,870 --> 00:46:05,270 wow. Wow. 758 00:46:05,350 --> 00:46:09,830 Lord, you're amazing me capture our affection again. 759 00:46:11,990 --> 00:46:14,390 And so we see here that he says give your servant, therefore an 760 00:46:14,390 --> 00:46:17,190 understanding mind. We read in chronicles that he 761 00:46:17,190 --> 00:46:20,830 asked for wisdom in particular, and look at verse 11. 762 00:46:21,640 --> 00:46:25,160 And God said to him, because you've asked this, and have not 763 00:46:25,160 --> 00:46:28,040 asked for yourself long life or riches, or the life of your 764 00:46:28,040 --> 00:46:30,920 enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to 765 00:46:30,920 --> 00:46:34,440 discern what is right. Behold, I now do according to 766 00:46:34,440 --> 00:46:38,360 your word. Behold, I give you a wise and 767 00:46:38,360 --> 00:46:43,840 discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you, 768 00:46:43,840 --> 00:46:46,160 and none like you shall arise after. 769 00:46:46,160 --> 00:46:49,760 You I give you also what you have not asked. 770 00:46:50,350 --> 00:46:53,510 Both riches and honors, so that no other king shall compare with 771 00:46:53,510 --> 00:46:58,270 you all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, 772 00:46:58,870 --> 00:47:02,310 keeping my statutes and my commandments as your father 773 00:47:02,310 --> 00:47:05,270 David walked, then I will lengthen your days. 774 00:47:05,390 --> 00:47:07,670 What does the Lord do? He gives even more than what he 775 00:47:07,670 --> 00:47:09,070 asked for. You know that the Lord can do 776 00:47:09,070 --> 00:47:11,150 that, right? He asked for one thing. 777 00:47:11,150 --> 00:47:13,230 And He goes beyond the description of your prayer, 778 00:47:13,230 --> 00:47:16,630 beyond your request, because that's just who he is. 779 00:47:16,630 --> 00:47:19,050 He's good. And look what Solomon does in 780 00:47:19,050 --> 00:47:23,450 First Kings 315 And Solomon awoke and behold it was a dream. 781 00:47:23,690 --> 00:47:26,450 Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the 782 00:47:26,450 --> 00:47:29,730 covenant of the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace 783 00:47:29,730 --> 00:47:32,410 offerings, and made a feast for all his servants. 784 00:47:32,770 --> 00:47:36,450 Where was Solomon before when he sacrificed 1000 offerings? 785 00:47:36,610 --> 00:47:39,330 He was in Gibeon. God visits him and makes himself 786 00:47:39,330 --> 00:47:43,330 known to him. And then Solomon is moved to not 787 00:47:43,330 --> 00:47:45,450 go to Gibeon again, but to go to Jerusalem. 788 00:47:47,390 --> 00:47:50,230 Why would you go to Jerusalem? What was that Jerusalem? 789 00:47:51,670 --> 00:47:55,110 The ark of the Covenant. The ark of the covenant is that 790 00:47:55,110 --> 00:47:57,430 Jerusalem symbolizing God's presence. 791 00:48:01,390 --> 00:48:04,630 And it could be that Solomon was so moved by God's mercy and 792 00:48:04,630 --> 00:48:07,230 grace and granting him his request, promising him that he 793 00:48:07,230 --> 00:48:12,630 would be with him, that he didn't want to just be at Gibeon 794 00:48:12,630 --> 00:48:15,470 where he can offer something. He wanted to be near God 795 00:48:15,470 --> 00:48:17,940 himself. As close as he could. 796 00:48:17,940 --> 00:48:21,020 And what God offered for men to be close to him was the Ark of 797 00:48:21,020 --> 00:48:23,180 the Covenant, though he might have been limited even in that 798 00:48:23,180 --> 00:48:25,980 it was as close as he could get. Which tells me something so 799 00:48:25,980 --> 00:48:28,860 wonderful about what happens, What should happen when the Lord 800 00:48:29,340 --> 00:48:32,620 dispenses something of himself should cause us to want to be 801 00:48:32,620 --> 00:48:36,300 closer to Him. That's what Solomon shows us 802 00:48:36,300 --> 00:48:39,340 here. If Solomon is already operating 803 00:48:39,340 --> 00:48:44,140 in wisdom, it's showing right here that when God chose himself 804 00:48:44,140 --> 00:48:49,470 to be pure. Good and perfect as he is, and 805 00:48:49,470 --> 00:48:53,550 you get to taste that all. Let it draw you closer to him. 806 00:48:54,590 --> 00:48:57,990 Let it bring you closer to him. Let it want you to be nearer to 807 00:48:57,990 --> 00:49:03,110 him. And Solomon here, doing what he 808 00:49:03,110 --> 00:49:06,950 should do in His worship, coming to the Ark, and loving him as 809 00:49:06,950 --> 00:49:11,150 close as he can, will be tested in the same chapter to see if 810 00:49:11,150 --> 00:49:14,310 this wisdom for the sake of God's people will really work. 811 00:49:14,590 --> 00:49:18,980 Let's pray. Lord, we thank you for this 812 00:49:18,980 --> 00:49:25,500 Bible study and we pray that the wisdom through your Word would 813 00:49:25,500 --> 00:49:28,540 have been engraved, would have been knitted in our hearts and 814 00:49:28,540 --> 00:49:31,020 our minds. We ask, Lord, that we would give 815 00:49:31,020 --> 00:49:34,500 you the worship that you deserve because of your goodness, that 816 00:49:34,500 --> 00:49:37,620 through Solomon's example we would be motivated to come near 817 00:49:37,620 --> 00:49:41,220 to you and say, Lord, thank you for being so good to me. 818 00:49:42,020 --> 00:49:44,180 Thank you for leading me and providing for me. 819 00:49:44,860 --> 00:49:46,420 Thank you. That where I am today is because 820 00:49:46,420 --> 00:49:48,780 of you. And so, Lord, we just ask that 821 00:49:48,780 --> 00:49:51,380 you would receive this fragrant offering, the sacrifice of 822 00:49:51,380 --> 00:49:55,540 Praise Lord, for those who might be struggling in the area of 823 00:49:55,540 --> 00:49:58,060 prayer. May they remember that it is as 824 00:49:58,220 --> 00:50:02,540 simple as what we see here, just acknowledging you admitting our 825 00:50:02,540 --> 00:50:04,420 need and asking with the right hearts. 826 00:50:04,420 --> 00:50:07,580 Give us the right heart so that we can know all the answers that 827 00:50:07,580 --> 00:50:10,900 you can give a man. And Lord, for the sake of your 828 00:50:10,900 --> 00:50:13,780 glory and the good of others, help us be all that we can be in 829 00:50:13,780 --> 00:50:16,860 Christ. Well, we see that these times 830 00:50:16,860 --> 00:50:20,140 are dark and they are just shakings and birth pains, 831 00:50:20,140 --> 00:50:22,820 reminding us that your return is nigh. 832 00:50:23,460 --> 00:50:25,300 So help us make the most of this time. 833 00:50:26,020 --> 00:50:28,980 Help us utilize the gifts that you have given us to make much 834 00:50:28,980 --> 00:50:31,820 of your name. Lord, help us remove any 835 00:50:31,820 --> 00:50:34,500 compromise, any little thing that we are justifying that we 836 00:50:34,500 --> 00:50:37,020 have said to ourselves. It's just for now, and I won't 837 00:50:37,020 --> 00:50:39,300 go too far. Like Solomon, help us see that 838 00:50:39,300 --> 00:50:41,020 you've given us him as an example. 839 00:50:41,400 --> 00:50:44,040 With how these small things that we tolerate can become big 840 00:50:44,040 --> 00:50:46,440 things that were very difficult to remove. 841 00:50:47,160 --> 00:50:49,360 And so, Lord, even if there's anything in our hearts, even 842 00:50:49,360 --> 00:50:52,400 now, things that we're enjoying, things that we're allowing, 843 00:50:52,680 --> 00:50:56,440 things that we're entertaining, that we know goes against your 844 00:50:56,440 --> 00:51:00,520 word, but we have been at peace with it because of our 845 00:51:00,520 --> 00:51:02,520 justification. Lord, let it die tonight. 846 00:51:02,960 --> 00:51:05,400 Let it just lay you. Just lay it at your feet and ask 847 00:51:05,400 --> 00:51:08,280 that you give us the power to put our foot on its neck and say 848 00:51:08,280 --> 00:51:10,700 no more. I want to live consecrated and 849 00:51:10,700 --> 00:51:12,620 wholly committed to the cause of God. 850 00:51:13,260 --> 00:51:14,860 So that we want to love you, but not like Solomon. 851 00:51:14,860 --> 00:51:17,380 That at this point we want to love you with all of our hearts, 852 00:51:17,700 --> 00:51:20,220 all of our soul, all of our strength, all of our might. 853 00:51:20,660 --> 00:51:23,260 You can help us do this. We will run in the way of your 854 00:51:23,260 --> 00:51:26,660 commandments when you enlarge in our hearts in Jesus name. 855 00:51:27,020 --> 00:51:27,900 Amen. Amen. 856 00:51:27,900 --> 00:51:30,380 Saints, let's stand and worship the Lord. 857 00:51:33,900 --> 00:51:35,260 Let's stand and worship the Lord.