The book of Kings is about kings. There are 19 Kings [all bad] in the Northern Kingdom and 19 [8 good and 11 bad] in the Southern. As Saul, who had no heart for God, David, who had a whole heart for God, and Solomon, who only had half a heart for Him – these 38 are a mixture of all three. The book of First Kings records the lives of the people of Israel as they lived “In the Eyes of the Lord” [1 Kings 11:6; 14:22; 15:5, 11, 26, 34; 16:7, 19, 25, 30; 21:20, 25, 22:43, 52]. This expression is repeated 14 times in this book.
We all need to ponder the theme of this book: to live IN THE SIGHT OF GOD!
FOUR GREAT TRUTHS GLEANED FROM THIS BOOK:
God keeps His Word, so we should SEARCH IT DAILY.
Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. (NIV)
God Rewards Obedience, so we should OBEY HIM ALWAYS!
Remember Solomon: His wisdom from God was known around the world. [1 Kings 4:29-34]
Remember Elijah Elijah: Standing Alone by Faith 1 Kings 17-18
In 1 Kings 17:7, Elijah finds the place of Faith: Faith emerges from Real Need
In 1 Kings 17:10-12, Elijah finds the Test of Faith: Faith challenges our deepest Fears
In 1 Kings 17:15-16, Elijah finds the Product of Faith: Faith enables us to experience Real Blessings.
God Seeks Devotion, so we should WORSHIP HIM WHOLEHEARTEDLY!
He wants our Hearts [1 Kings 9:4].
He wants our Trust [1 Kings 18:21]
God Expects Priority, so we should SEEK HIM FIRST! David wanted a house for God [1 Kings 5:3] more than his own wealth. He became a man after God’s own heart. Solomon wanted a house for both God and himself. He built God’s first. His house was five times larger than the Temple, and took twice as long to build! [1 Kings 6:38-7:1] Solomon defected from God in the end. As God looks around the earth, does He find you looking at Him with all your heart? Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.
A Servant of God is Empowered for Ministry: There must be Absolute Surrender. Elisha showed this at his calling in 1 Kings 19:19-21. He patterned it in his daily life.
A Servant of God focuses on the source of problems. [2 Kings 2:19-22]
A Servant of God knows the secret of humility [2 Kings 3:15-25] because the way God sent water to aid Israel in the battle against Moab has a lesson on the way the Spirit of God works.
A Servant of God serves by Sufficiency of the Spirit [2 Kings 4:1-7] as is portrayed in the Widow’s oil miracle.
A Servant of God has genuine power [2 Kings 4:8-37] as demonstrated in the inability of Gehazi.
A Servant of God declares the Gospel of a Humble and Contrite approach to God [2 Kings 5:1-27] as demonstrated in Naaman’s healing.
A Servant of God will repent and return when the power of the Spirit departs their life [2 Kings 6:1-7] as illustrated in the miracle of the restored ax head.
A Servant of God is aware of God’s protection [2 Kings 6:8-23] as illustrated by the opening of the servant’s eyes and the blinding of the Syrian army.
A Servant of God sees the Lord in all of life.
God is the Lord of History — SERVE HIM! He shaped Judah and Israel’s future. He directed Naaman and Hazeel of Syria [2 Kings 5; 8:7-15].
God is Lord of the Universe — TRUST HIM! His armies are present on earth though invisible [2 Kings 6:15-17].
God is Lord of the inexhaustible resources — draw upon Him [2 Kings 4:1-7 oil; enemy army 19:35; etc.].
From KGD-09k – Finding Christ in the Books of History (970205WE)
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