Archive September 24, 2023

What are we doing with what God has given us?

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2 Chronicles 1-3

Passage

Four years into Solomon’s reign God answered his prayer for wisdom to govern his kingdom, and God also provided riches and respect from the kingdoms around him. He was a great leader and wanted to honor God. He used his wisdom to govern the people of Israel and surrounding leaders sought him out for guidance. He used his great wealth to build the Temple of God in Jerusalem.

As we are aware, when God blesses us there is also a responsibility to use these for God’s purpose. Solomon was given boundaries on what he should do if he wanted to honor God. Although he was a great leader and accomplished much, he also strayed from what God desired, which we will read in the upcoming weeks.

Solomon was considered the richest, wisest, and most powerful king of all time. However, as we read in the book of Ecclesiastes all that wealth and power was futile without God being a part of it. We have all been blessed in many ways. We can choose to keep it to ourselves or use the blessings to bless others. What does God desire?

GROOMED introduction and chapter 1

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Here are the scripture references for those of you who are not attending this Bible Study and also for those who are attending. These verses come from both the morning class taught by Evelyn and the evening class taught by Janice. We are children of light and not darkness. 1st Thessalonians 5:5. Also finding the truths in God’s word. Psalms 119:160.

One foundational truth of belief is that God loves. 1st John 4:9

Some verses used by either Evelyn or Janice are: Romans 12:1-2, 2nd Corinthians 10:3-5 (Bring things to mind as your read), Exodus chapters 2 and 4 (what highs and lows and responses to God), John 8: 31-32, John 8:7, John 16:33, Romans 5:3-5 (this is only possible in the truth of who God is in our lives), Matthew 5:14-16, James 5:16.

This page is not be a comprehensive study. These verses are used in the context of what is being said in the Bible studies. I believe the Spirit will teach you through these verses if you are not attending the study. Not in the context of what was being said, but the truth of what you need as you work through this book. This book will not give you answers. It will not be a fill in the blank where everyone has the same thoughts. Your life is individual. No one but you has walked your life. God knows your life and knows where you need healed. I pray you let Him heal you.

Please work through chapters 2 and 3 for next weeks study. There are some things that Elizabeth will ask you to do through these chapters. Like anything that has spiritual roots, this book will only be as effective as you allow it to be.

I Am But a Little Child

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1 Kings 1-3

Passage

As David is about to die, he instructs Solomon to follow God, keeping His statutes as written in the law of Moses. He asked Solomon to keep God in everything. However, David also had some additional requests that did not sound like it was from God.He asked Solomon to avenge some of the people who did him wrong.

After David died and Solomon took over, the first four years were a bit of a power grab. Solomon killed those who challenged his and his father David’s authority. He married outside the tribes of Israel and made alliances that were not as God had instructed the people as they came out of Egypt.

All this misdirection and we still see that God was with Solomon. In chapter 3 we read that God came to Solomon and asks how he can help him. Solomon’s response was not “What’s in it for me?”, but he acknowledged that he could not do it all on his own, and in this process realized he was like a little child before God. He humbled himself as asked God for the understanding between good and evil, so he could lead the people as God wanted.

Jesus reminds us in Luke 18:17 that we need to receive the Kingdom as a child, humbling ourselves, so we can be effective in leading others. 

GROOMED

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Ladies, As we embark on a new journey I pray you come with an open mind and not a prejudice or a preconceived idea. We are NOT doing real talk the way Elizabeth has had the leaders and others walk through this book. What we are doing is using GROOMED to help us in our relationships with other believers and non believers, open pathways of communications with your children and grandchildren, as well as helping us understand the difference between our past and how God uses it for His glory and His kingdom purpose.

We just finished Experiencing God and learning to watch where God is working and get involved. God usually uses leaders to point the way. Your pastor has been pointing this direction for over a year. “Our story His glory” has been pointing this direction. I believe God is wanting to work in our lives in a new way. A way to strengthen your relationships and help the next generation be better equipped to allow God to walk with them. Helping us to forgive our past, forgive ourselves and forgive others. A way to have real conversations with those in your inner circle. A way to rid the demons that you may or may not have known haunts you.

If you are still hesitant about attending the Bible Study, at the very least, read the book Groomed with the purpose of allowing God to heal your soul in areas that you may not have known needed healing. Then pass the book to your children and grandchildren.

One of the key verses for this study is 1st Thessalonians 5:5

Try to have the introduction and chapter 1 read before the Bible Study on either Monday morning or evening.

When God Says “NO”

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1 Chronicles 28:1-12

Passage

In our studies of David, we saw both his accomplishments and challenges. His main characteristic is how he trusted God and, in most cases, sought God’s direction and approval in what he did. He loved and honored God to the point that he wanted to build a magnificent Temple as God’s house in Jerusalem. He made plans, saved up gold and silver to help pay for the building, and sought God’s direction on how it should be built. God’s response though was “not you, but your son Solomon will build it”.

How many times have we had great plans or ideas to serve God, or use our gifts and talents to serve, or stored up resources to serve God in what we feel is His purpose, only to have God say not now or not you? What is our reaction? Do we continue pushing on because we know in our heart this is what needs to be done, do we pout and complain because we did all this for nothing. or do we follow David’s example and praise God for allowing us to prepare the way, even if He has someone else finish the job.

Seeing God

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2 Samuel 24

Passage

King David has his ups and downs over time. He had great conquests and defeated his enemies, establishing peace with his neighbors. However, he also had his dark moments where he strayed away from God’s desire. In 2 Samuel chapter 24 we read about something that on the surface, when compared to his other sins, does not seem that big. David decides to take a census of the people without consulting God.

This was not what God wanted and David had to pay the consequences for his disobedience. God gave him a choice of punishment, and none were easy to choose. David realized he had not paid attention to God’s direction and accepted the punishment from God where 70,000 of his people were killed by pestilence.

Compared to David’s other punishments for raiding and pilliaging villages, and having sex with Bathsheba then killing her husband, this seems to not match up with the sin. This makes us realize that God’s ways are not ours and His ways are higer thatn ours, as Isaiah mentioned. The key takeaway is that God does not measure sin as we do and He hates all sin, but He still loves us as He did David.

We need to quit seeing God as He ought to be and accept Him as the scripture portrays Him.