One Year Bible, July 23

2 CHRONICLES 8:11 - 10:19                                                                                              SOLOMON'S SPLENDOR: Solomon used slave labor from the surrounding tribes that had opposed them in the very beginning (Deut 7) for his grand building projects. He moved his Egyptian wife out of the palace David built because she wasn't holy and the palace was!

QUEEN OF SHEBA: She brought a large caravan loaded with gifts to see Solomon and his great Temple. This is a picture of the "three kings with their gold, frankincense and myrrh"  (that's tradition - we don't really know how many kings, and for sure they had more than three gifts!), coming to see the Baby Jesus - the true Temple.  The Queen of Sheba was overwhelmed by all the splendor and all the WISDOM.   She was also impressed by the SHEER JOY AND HAPPINESS of Solomon's servants.  Solomon gave the Queen of Sheba all she asked for and she left with more than she brought to him!   "All the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon..."

SOLOMON'S FAILURES: (Occurred during the good times, not the difficult times.)
(1) Extravagance and ostentation.
(2) Evil companions - foreign women.
(3) Lost his "first love" for God, and placed it on other things
(4) Compromise - contradictory loyalties.
(5) Ingratitude - Turned from the God Who had appeared to him twice!
(6) Idolatry - To please his wives, he "went to church" with them.
(7) Disobedience.
(8) Oppression of the people.

DEATH OF SOLOMON: Solomon reigned 40 years. At his death, JEROBOAM returned from Egypt and offered counsel to REHOBOAM (Solomon's son and successor).   Because REHOBOAM foolishly rejected the counsel of the "old men" and instead followed the "young men" who oppressed the people, the KINGDOM SPLIT in revolt.  GOD instigated it and GOD tore the Kingdom apart. REHOBOAM ruled the people of the SOUTHERN KINGDOM, JUDAH.   JEROBOAM ruled the people of the NORTHERN KINGDOM, ISRAEL.

RESPONSE:   When the Queen of Sheba left Solomon's presence with more than she came in with, this was a picture of when we bring gifts and offerings to God, and leave with much more than we gave Him. Giving NEVER DIMINISHES a Believer in Jesus. And we should also be joyful and happy in His Presence.

ROMANS 8:9-21                                                                                                                 
OVERCOMING THE REAL ENEMY:  Rom 8:7 says the REAL enemy is the "mind of the flesh" or our own flesh.   Because the flesh is basically evil, the Law can't make me live better.   I need to be changed inside - my HEREDITY must change for me to be "in Christ", rather than "in Adam".   Once I am IN CHRIST, I must be changed - or live an EX-changed life.   God will NOT ”fix" my old life. It can't be fixed or the Law would have done it. Our natural man is corrupt because of its deceitful lusts, and it is self-centered and immature, which makes it vulnerable to devils.   My old life must be offered up for crucifixion and then I must never make a "place" for it or give in to its demands.   When we offer ourselves up, the Holy Spirit will make that death effective and war against our flesh as we watch our corpse disintegrate.  The KEY is submit and obey.

THE HOLY SPIRIT, OUR HELPER:  Rom 8:14 says if we are "led" by the Holy Spirit, THEN we are sons. The word "led" means "to be driven along as if by wind or water."  This means we are COMPLETELY VULNERABLE to the Holy Spirit, as we have no lives of our own any more and have crucified the will and its desires. "the spirit of bondage again to fear" is mentioned here because this vulnerability crosses the line of "no more I but Christ living in me" and so the fear comes that God won't be enough to sustain me.   The truth is that Jesus is everything that my soul needs or wants.  To conform us to Jesus, or "sons", the Holy Spirit now confronts the practical issues of OBEDIENCE.  The spiritual man no longer bothers himself with "cause and effect", but looks for purpose, knowing God is in control and has a plan.   The Holy Spirit witnesses to our spirit about our being God's sons so we know why we are being disciplined, redirected and trained by Him.  And so the Holy Spirit searches us out, destroys the flesh, crosses our will, teaches us, weans us, gives mercy and grace, gives understanding and recall, a prayer language, comfort, strength, and He pushes, tests, give discernment, shows favor --- all to conform us to the image of Jesus.

"US, WE, OUR, AND YOU-ALL":  The pronouns changed to plural with Rom 8:14.   Alone, in isolation, man can NEVER fulfill God's purpose.   It requires the Body. The Body of Christ is NOT AN ILLUSTRATION or an allegory, but a FACT.   In order to "fit in", we have to lose our SELF-life, crucify the flesh.

SUFFERING: Rom 8:17 says that "suffering" and "glorification"  go together. 2 Cor 4:17-18 say that "momentary light affliction" and the "exceeding and eternal weight of glory" go together.   James 1:12 says that "testing" and the "crown of Life" go together.  1 Pet 4:13-19 says that "Suffering according to the will of God" brings the "spirit of glory" on us.  Heb 5:8-9 says that "Suffering in the flesh" teaches us obedience, which brings us to completion or maturity.   Romans 8:19-23 says that the whole earth is waiting for the Church to grow up!

HUMAN INFIRMITIES: This refers to our "human-ness".   The limitations of weakness, the inability to achieve results.   God's will is clearly stated about many things, but there are things we DON'T KNOW HOW TO PRAY ABOUT: The formation of the Church, the Body of Christ and our mission to bring forgiveness and deliverance to the earth.   And so the Holy Spirit brings to a reality in us, the mind of the Father.  God declares a thing "good" when it is properly ordered, in its place, and can fulfill its purpose for being - no bent nails, no mixture of flesh and spirit.   All the things that come against us, lead us progressively deeper into the love of God.  When circumstances speak against God's character, we must hold to the LOVE GOD HAS FOR US.   NEVER let tribulation, pressure or affliction separate you from the fact that GOD LOVES YOU.   We put our faith in the fact: GOD IS LOVE.

WALK OF FAITH: The Holy Spirit's goal is to re-create us in the image of Jesus Christ.  We live by faith in and faith OF God.  Our daily lives are a test of loyalty concerning God's character.   Real faith does not CLAIM anything because real faith is more than believing, it is KNOWING that we are already in possession of all things in Him.  Every spiritual reality comes through promises and is appropriated by the obedience of faith.

RESPONSE:   In looking at the big picture, I really appreciate the Holy Spirit more and more. He is tireless, relentless, insisting, probing, and pressing me on and on and on into God. Thank you, Holy Spirit!  It is not enough to be "in Christ". I must also walk "in the Spirit" or my life contradicts the Truth of being in Christ.   If I live "after the flesh" then I will manifest ME. And my flesh is in conflict with God.   I must live by the Life of God in me.  I have ONLY ONE NEED: MORE JESUS.  To get more Jesus, I must have an increasing awareness of my need.  My hunger will increase my capacity.  Greater capacity means greater supply.  My soul-life, my flesh, must be violently pruned and burned.  If I want His Life, then I must lay mine down.

PSALM 18:16-36                                                                                                                
God's conduct toward man is the reflection of the relationship man has placed himself to God. It is good to know that God does not cast us off, even when we sin and when our human limitations become evident.   God then strengthens us so that we stand firm and endure until we can come off victorious over the flesh.  "God's gentleness (humility, condescension) makes me great (increase, abundance, multiply)."

PROVERBS 19:26                                                                                                           
A son who assaults his father and runs his mother off is a disgrace.   I think this might be talking about adult children who don't take care of their elderly parents, but just take over their business, their home, etc.

RESPONSE:   God's way is perfect; and He makes my way perfect. This word, "perfect" is the same as the NT word - complete, entire, lacking nothing, with integrity, mature, ripe, unimpaired, whole, sound.