King James Bible Study – “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34
Date: Sunday, May 31, 2020
Chapters: I Kings 3-4, II Chronicles 1
Message: Be Careful of Becoming Complacent
Hello My Friend,
Some days we are on fire for God, others, not so much, I believe the longer Christians are kept away from church and that fellowship we need, the harder it is to be on fire for God. While this is a great opportunity to get closer to God through things like fasting, prayer, Bible reading, and even video services, we must also keep ourselves from becoming complacent, that is what actually causes our fire to die out. We need to be very careful not to become complacent in our faith, that only opens the door for Satan to come in and take our heart in the opposite direction, [Philippians 4:12-13 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.]
[both to abound and to suffer need.] Remember, if we have received Christ as our Saviour, then Christ abides in us, He is the one who enables us to get through every challenge that we face. There is a reason why we are to be content with what we have, yet always be in need of something, it keeps us from getting complacent. The Book of II Chronicles is the fourteenth book of the Old Testament/Bible and contains thirty-six chapters. The timeline for these events took place between 1015 BC to 610 BC. The author of the book is Ezra, and was written to the Jews who were in captivity in Babylon for seventy years. The purpose of the book was to record the events that took place in Judah that brought them into captivity. What we are to learn from the book is that the blessings God gives to us comes through humbling ourselves and seeking His wisdom in all that we do.
[II Chronicles 1:1-6 And Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the LORD his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly. 2 Then Solomon spake unto all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every governor in all Israel, the chief of the fathers. 3 So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness. 4 But the ark of God had David brought up from Kirjathjearim to the place which David had prepared for it: for he had pitched a tent for it at Jerusalem. 5 Moreover the brasen altar, that Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the LORD: and Solomon and the congregation sought unto it. 6 And Solomon went up thither to the brasen altar before the LORD, which was at the tabernacle of the congregation, and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.]
[and offered a thousand burnt offerings upon it.] This was the offerings of the people, the priests of course, were there to minister and receive the sacrifices. Remember, it is not about the amount of sacrifices that we give to God to receive atonement, it is about obeying Him in the first place. In the beginning, Solomon did great, his heart was solely on God, just like his father, he ran the kingdom under the authority of God. While Solomon came to be known as the wisest man in history, God saw him make one decision that was not so wise. Seeing where Solomon was headed, God thought it was necessary to have a chat with him, and He actually spoke to him through a dream.
[I Kings 3:1-3,5-9 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. 2 Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days. 3 And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places. 5 In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee. 6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7 And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. 8 And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. 9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?]
[and took Pharaoh’s daughter,] Here was the mistake, it was one thing to make peace with the king, it was another to marry his daughter. These are people who have gods for everything from the sun to flies, and Solomon brought her into Jerusalem. [Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people,] Did you know that God’s people will actually judge the world? [I Corinthians 6:2-3 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? ]
[and if the world shall be judged by you,] This is why our once, God centered countries are turning into one big nightmare, they are allowing the world to judge the Church. Do you see all the riots happening in Minnesota over one mans unseemly death? These loiters and vandalists are not being penalized for their actions, but a person going to church gets arrested. This is exactly what happens when the Church becomes complacent and allows the world to creep in and have a say in what is right and wrong. When we rule God’s way, God and the people are happy and prosperous. When Solomon asked God to give Him wisdom on how to run the country, He was very pleased, actually granted his request, and promised him much more, under one condition that is.
[I Kings 3:10-15,28 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 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; 12 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. 13 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. 14 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. 15 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. 28 And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgment.]
[And if thou wilt walk in my ways,] This is the key to not only a prosperous and honorable country, it is the key to a prosperous and honorable life, we are to lean on God’s understanding and not our own. In our own wisdom we fail, in His wisdom we not only succeed, we get more than we ever desire or ask for, [Ephesians 3:19-21 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.]
[that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.] So, if we are going to be full of something, it might as well be the fullness of God. What is that exactly? Well, it means that so that we do not become complacent and lose our fire for God, it is important that we feed our hungry souls and spirits, and not necessarily our body. We are to fill ourselves with spiritual peace, joy, comfort, knowledge of the divine things, of God in Christ, of Christ, and of the Gospel, of knowing the will of God; in other words, we need to feed off the fruit of the Spirit.
[Galatians 5:19-24 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.]
Today’s Prayer: God, We, as a nation of saved, born again Christians, are in a battle that goes beyond the people of world, we are in a spiritual battle that keeps us fighting among each other instead of one nation, or even worse, remain idle as we watch our country falling into the hands of Satan. The Church has come complacent and it is time we relight the fire and start burning for You so that we can earn Your honor and blessings once again. Lord, Lead us and guide us, give us the wisdom, discernment, Your strength, and courage to unite as one and teach the truth to a world that is judging us. Put Your hedge us of protection around us, and shield us from those who are out to stop us. Open our hearts, minds, and spirits to feed off the fruit on the Spirit, and as we walk in Your righteousness, let us never stop being hungry for You. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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