1 KINGS 8:1-66
SOLOMON'S PRAYER: That whenever man repents, let him hear from heaven and be forgiven, that the fear of God would dwell with us forever, reminding us of the consequences of sin.
RESPONSE: I am God's "resting place" or "dwelling place". He brought Moses' law with Him, now being written on my heart. I have BECOME the manna to feed the world, and Aaron's rod that budded, using my Kingdom influence and authority to serve. At the same time, God is MY "resting place" or "dwelling place". I can bring nothing with me! He provides it all.
ACTS 7:51-8:13
"GREAT PERSECUTION AGAINST THE CHURCH": When the church gets lethargic, self-satisfied, comfortable, apathetic, it is time for God to bring His fist down on it, so it will scatter and preach the Gospel! Stephen's faithfulness had brought trouble - but he was HONORED for it, not blamed. "Devout men" mourned him and buried his body.
SAUL/PAUL, THE PATTERN MAN: Paul himself wrote, "Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting." (1 Tim 1:16) To begin with, he consented to the murder of Stephen, while he stood there and watched it happen. It says that he "made havoc of the church", which means he was like a wild beast, tearing it up! He hated the Church and he hated Christians. He later called himself the "chief sinner" (1 Tim 1:15). That means Jesus can save the worst sinner!
SIMON THE SORCERER: It says that Simon "believed” and was "baptized". But exactly WHAT did Simon "believe"? You see, later Peter declared to him that "You have neither part nor portion in this matter: for your heart is not right in the sight of God." (V.21) Can a person "believe" and not be saved? Well, Simon did. He had no repentance, no acknowledging of the condition of his bitter heart of "iniquity". He probably believed the signs and wonders, because he would know the "real deal" when he saw it.
RESPONSE: "Saving faith" is no joke! So what is it? "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph 2:8-9) It is a gift of God. We can't pump it up, or copy it, or fake it. We can't have ulterior motives like Simon, who wanted power. We must want JESUS. We must "repent" - repent from our sin and rebellion and independence. We give up our independence and "marry", or covenant together with, Jesus, giving Him our lives. Then we depend on Him for everything else.
PSALM 129:1-8
TENTH STEP: Psalm 129: There is victory in affliction. We can come out of "affliction" with more than we went in with - if our attitude of clinging to God for help is there. We have now earned "gold tried in the fire" - we KNOW that God can be trusted because we've been there! If we turn bitter and complain during our suffering, we forfeit the glory. Complaining is proof of ingratitude. God expects us to love Him, worship Him, praise and thank Him NO MATTER WHAT. "Affliction" builds spiritual muscle.
PROVERBS 17:1
"A house full of sacrifices" are referring to the peace offering that the worshipper shares with God. To eat it with "strife"? (that's arguing and disagreeing in a confrontational way). I don't think God comes to those dinners.
RESPONSE: Sometimes it is hard to keep my attitude right when I am being "afflicted". In case you don't know, that means distressed, being opposed with hostility. I have been known to mutter under my breath. HOWEVER, when I have been able to hold my peace and retreat to where I can talk to God and tell Him how much I love Him, that I trust Him, that He does everything right, and He is faithful --- then I calm my heart, my stop my mouth, and peace comes over me. I now have some of that "gold tried in the fire" because I KNOW I can trust God and I've lowered my "talking-back" threshold! And you know what the three Hebrew children said, "He can, He will, and even if He doesn't". (Daniel 3:17-18)
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