Latest / Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago / 1 Kings 10 (Part 1) Bible Study (The Queen of Sheba) | Pastor Daniel Batarseh

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1 Kings 10 (Part 1) Bible Study (The Queen of Sheba) | Pastor Daniel Batarseh · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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So I hope you have a Bible in your hands.
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I hope you'll pay attention. Because there's a lot of.
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Ground to cover in this chapter and we are not going to complete
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this chapter because in my estimation, I think it would do
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a great injustice to this chapter and so we will cover the
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1st 13 verses together. And so if you have your Bible
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with you, meet me in First Kings chapter 10.
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Let's begin in verse one and if you recall before Christmas
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break, the last portion, the last few verses of Chapter 9 in
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a way, prepare us for what we are about to discover in chapter
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10. Let me remind you how Chapter 9
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ends. We read here in verse 27 and
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even before that but verse 27, verse 26 to 28 that Solomon now
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is growing in his achievements concerning international.
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Trade and international commerce, and through that.
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We would assume that such accomplishments and achievements
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and expansion would invite merchants to come and go, and
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suppliers and traders to enter in and exit out of Jerusalem.
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And as a result of that, the sight and the sounds of
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Solomon's wisdom and success would be caught and they would
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be broadcasted across the lands. It would spread from North,
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East, West to South. And we are seeing an instance of
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how that is the case as we get a glimpse, if we just scratched a
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little bit of what Solomon has been doing in terms of his
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economic success. Now we come to Chapter 10 and we
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read of where this news has gone, how it is spread and it is
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spread to a particular individual, namely the Queen of
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Sheba, the Queen of Sheba. And this woman is going to be so
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intrigued and moved by the reports that she hears of this
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man Solomon, that she's going to make a great sacrifice to meet
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him face to face. And if you recall at the
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conference a few months ago, if you were at the conference, we'd
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spent a whole message, a whole session on the Queen of Sheba.
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And we learned in that session that this is not the only
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instance, This is not the only place in Holy Scripture where
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she is mentioned. She is not just mentioned here.
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She's mentioned in the New Testament.
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She is referred to by the Lord Jesus Christ himself and I I
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find that to be an amazing thing.
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Out of all the stories and narratives, examples and
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portraits in the Old Testament, Christ alludes to a lot.
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And one of the things that he does reference is this woman and
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her experience with Solomon. And he uses this woman as an
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illustration to rebuke a dangerous mindset that was
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keeping so many in the state of unbelief concerning Christ and
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who he was. And that alone should excite you
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and I to explore this text further because Jesus Christ
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himself saw spiritual value in this event.
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And you and I should be encouraged even more because
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there is more in this text, there's more to the story than
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just an indictment concerning unbelief.
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And that's what we're going to do today.
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That's what we're going to explore today.
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And if you were again at that conference, you don't have to be
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nervous tonight. We're not going to do a copy
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paste of what we heard then because there were verses that
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we did not cover at the conference that we will look at
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tonight. So there will be fresh insight
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by the grace of God. So let's read the 1st 3 verses
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together, pause and meditate and see what the Lord has to say to
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us. And 1st Kings chapter 10, verse
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one we read now when the Queen of Sheba heard of the fame of
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Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to test him
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with hard questions. She came to Jerusalem with a
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very great retinue, with camels bearing spices and very much
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gold and precious stones. And when she came to Solomon,
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she told them all that was on her mind, and Solomon answered
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all her questions. There was nothing behind,
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nothing hidden rather from the king that he could not explain
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to her. This queen was from Sheba.
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There is debate about where Sheba was.
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General consensus is that it was Yemen.
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Others would say no, it was Ethiopia.
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And though this is disputed, let us consider who she was.
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That is not up for debate. That is plain and clear.
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She was not just some random curious soul from a foreign land
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that wanted to satisfy her imagination or some speculation
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or some skepticism. She was royalty.
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She was royalty. She had a throne, She had
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incredible power, authority, resources at her disposal,
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unlike very few. And so we see here that this was
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an individual who had prestige, had power, had prosperity.
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And yet the impression that we get from these first three
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verses is that although she had subjects and servants, supplies
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and success, there was something in her that was not satisfied.
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There was something in her that was yearning for more.
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And the essence of her curiosity again is not superficial.
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It's not shallow. We are told what it was that
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drew her heart towards Solomon. Read again with me here in verse
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one. Now, when the Queen of Sheba
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heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord,
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concerning the name of the Lord, it wasn't just Solomon's
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accomplishments. It wasn't just his economic and
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political advancements. There was something about
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Solomon's knowledge of God. There was something about
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Solomon's devotion to God, what he did in the name of God, that
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awoke in a fresh wonder in this woman's life.
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And so she wanted to inquire mainly about Yahweh, the God of
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Israel. And already here you have a
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spiritual truth that's tucked in.
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The posture of this woman's heart, and it is this that you
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and I, we were not made and we will not know satisfaction
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ultimately in holding positions and attaining authority and
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enjoying extravagant luxury in any kind of success, no matter
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what that sphere is. You and I and our heart of
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hearts were created to walk with our Maker, to know our God.
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To worship him and to be intimate with him.
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This is what she's showing, that no matter what she achieved, it
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did not satisfy the deepest cries of her heart.
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And scripture testifies that our hearts have been inscribed with
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eternity. There's something even in our
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DNA. Though we are fallen, yes, and
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though we are depraved in so many ways, yet we were created
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for God himself and this woman. Proves that proves that if our
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conscious hasn't been so seared that we are in some way drawn to
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something beyond what this life has to offer.
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And here's this woman who is who is not just satisfied in hearing
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about and. Just hearing about Solomon.
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What do we read here? In.
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Verse two She came to Jerusalem. She came to Jerusalem.
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So she didn't want to just linger there and ruminate over
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the report, she goes. I need to find this out for
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myself. And so she decides to remove
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herself from the throne and to make her way towards Jerusalem
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and Jesus Christ himself. This is what he he brings out.
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To. Emphasize in the New Testament
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as we're going to get to in a moment, the great distance that
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she made in order to uncover what could potentially be a life
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changing truth and people believe and esteem and estimate
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that her journey from Sheba was around 12 to 1500 miles
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concerning Jerusalem. And so even with all the
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assistance that she would have as a queen, you know what that
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means. It would have taken just a one
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way trip, several grueling weeks.
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To accomplish. And yet that was something that
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she was willing to do without hesitation.
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Now, before we move on already here, if you're familiar with
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the Old Testament, if you're familiar with the theme of the
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Old Testament, especially and and prophecy, you will notice
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here that this is a snapshot of something.
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Because. Solomon's reign, if you consider
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the whole Council of God is, is not just a historical account,
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it's a picture. Of.
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A future Kingdom to come, namely the millennial Kingdom.
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And this is what This is what prophets alluded to.
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The. Success of Solomon's reign as
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something to anticipate in a greater way when Messiah
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arrives. And what we see with the Queen
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here in a relation to Solomon's reign at this juncture is also a
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glimpse of what's going to take place during the millennial
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reign, that there's going to be certain activity on a global
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scale related to the city of Jerusalem and the Kingdom of
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Christ will bring when he comes. To his throne.
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And what is that that I'm Speaking of?
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I'm Speaking of nations and peoples from all across the
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world who will travel to Jerusalem to pay their tributes
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to worship and honor and receive from the Son of David, namely
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Jesus Christ of Nazareth. And perhaps that's a concept
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you're not familiar with. So let me give you in rapid fire
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fashion, a few references to. At least bring some kind of
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confirmation to this SO. One of the well.
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Known ones is Isaiah chapter 2. Write these down.
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Write these down. Isaiah chapter 2, verse two.
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I don't want to read to verse 4, but we can read from verse two
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to verse 3. This is a very common prophecy
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concerning the latter days, a day that has not yet been
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realized. So here's Isaiah 2.
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Two it shall come to pass in the latter days at the mountain of
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the House of the Lord shall be established as the highest of
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the mountains and shall be lifted up above the hills.
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And look at this. This is the point that I'm
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referring to. And all the nations shall flow
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to it, and many people shall come and say, come, let us go up
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to the mountain of the Lord, to the House of the God of Jacob,
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that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his
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paths. Proud of Zion shall go out go
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the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
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Let's just read verse 4, just in case if there's any confusion
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about what era this is. Speaking of verse four, please.
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He Who is he? That's the Lord.
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He shall judge between the nations and shall decide
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disputes for many peoples, and they shall beat their swords at
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the plowshares and their Spears at the pruning hooks.
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Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall
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they learn war anymore. Can you imagine a day where
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centuries upon centuries, there will be no war because the
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Prince of Peace will rule and reign on the earth?
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And. With perfect judgment he will
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settle disputes between many peoples and many nations, many
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kings and kingdoms. And they will not know what to
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do with all the military equipment and just transform it
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into farming equipment. What are we going to do with
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this? And warfare will be a thing of
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the past. Jeremiah 317.
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Here's another reference. A quick.
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Kind of point to make, I'm telling you, many of the
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prophets. Spoke of this day.
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At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord
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and all nations shall gather to it.
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All nations shall gather to Jerusalem, to the presence of
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the Lord in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow
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their own evil heart. In the context, they're Speaking
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of a time where the people of Israel will not even consider
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remember the Ark of the Covenant, because that symbol
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now will be fulfilled and realized in the actual presence
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of God. In their midst in Jerusalem,
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here's one that's not too common to many people.
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It's Zechariah. In Zechariah chapter 8 verse 22
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again this. Is consistent among all the
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prophets. Here's.
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What Zechariah says concerning this day to come.
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In. Zechariah 822 We read many
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peoples, many peoples, and strong nations shall come to
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seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to entreat the
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favor of the Lord. You want to see something that
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might make some people in the world today a little bit
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uncomfortable? Look at the next part, verse 23.
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Thus. Says the Lord of hosts in those
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days. You're Speaking of a future day
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in those days. 10. Men from the nations of every
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tongue shall take hold of the robe of a Jew, saying, Let us go
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with you, for we have heard that God is with you.
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So what are we speaking about here?
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All these prophecies? There's many more that we can.
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Bring to your attention tonight. These prophecies are speaking
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about a time when the people of Israel will know restoration.
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Not just physical restoration, but spiritual restoration.
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So we're not speaking about unbelieving Jews here.
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We're speaking about the Jewish people who have realized.
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And repented of their unbelief, and have now acknowledged Jesus
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Christ as the Messiah. And this time?
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Will bring about great change in the world, geographically,
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politically, economically, and every sphere that you can think
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of. It will bring great shift.
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And here's an here's an idea of what kind of shift it will
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bring. People will have a different
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attitude and view of the Jewish people.
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And. They will want to go to the
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spiritual center and the headquarters of God's Kingdom
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to, like the Queen of Sheba, receive from the Lord to pay
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tribute to the Lord, honor the Lord and be blessed by the Lord
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himself. That's a fascinating thought.
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But again, coming back to the Queen of Sheba, as I mentioned
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earlier, Jesus makes reference to her in Matthew 12.
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Jesus makes reference to her in Matthew 12 verse 42 and what he
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brings out, what he draws out out of everything.
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Is the great? Sacrifice she made in journeying
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towards Solomon. And you know this scripture, but
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what's the main point of it? Well, let's read it.
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The. Queen of the South will rise up
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at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for
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she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of
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Solomon. And.
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Behold, something greater than Solomon is here the.
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Lord is driving at is the. Queen of Sheba was willing to
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come from the ends of the earth to meet with Solomon.
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And yet you are willing, or unwilling, rather, to come with
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humility and holy curiosity to the one who is greater than
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Solomon here. Here is someone inferior to me,
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and yet here is somebody who is willing to do so much to be
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blessed by heat. And here is one who gave the
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very wisdom that Solomon enjoyed an exercise.
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And yet you're willing not to cross the street to come to me.
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This is what the Lord is getting AT.
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And he says. With with great authority and
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boldness on on Judgment Day, this woman will rise up and
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condemn this generation I. Wonder what she will say.
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I wonder what she will say. I have a hunch that First Kings
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chapter 10 will be used against the generation that Christ is
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Speaking of. I was willing to leave my throne
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and risk so much and spend so much and pause on so much in
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order to receive from the wisdom of this man.
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Your king left his throne and. Came to you.
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He didn't demand that you climb the heavens.
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He. Demand that you jump through all
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these hoops that you stand on your head.
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That you bruise yourself. That you prove your worth to
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him. He comes to you.
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He takes on flesh. He walks among you.
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He sits with you. He heals you.
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He delivers you. He teaches you.
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And yet with pride and arrogance and without even think about the
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Pharisees, without a sliver of intention to discover if this
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man is really the one that we've been waiting for.
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And you think you're going to get away with that?
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And so this is the Lord giving a strong word.
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And if you think about it here, what he says in part proves how
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he is greater than Solomon. Many, many reasons why he is
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greater than Solomon. Here's one to consider.
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Did Solomon give the Queen of Sheba personal invitation to
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come to him? No.
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You just heard reports about him.
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Did this woman have assurance that if she was to come that she
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would have her questions and anxious thoughts and riddles and
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spiritual inquiry satisfied? No.
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She's. Just going again based off
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reports. She doesn't know who she's going
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to meet. She doesn't know if this is
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real. She doesn't know who this man
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is, and she was willing to go. And yet Christ gives you and I
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each a personal invitation. And Christ with each of you and
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with me, gives us the assurance that when you come to him with
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your heart and give him your heart, you will know.
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Satisfaction guaranteed. Guaranteed.
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This is why he is greater. He is greater.
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And when we could look at this and we think to ourselves, how
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is it that a woman's willing to go to great lengths for someone
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who's inferior to Christ, and we think that this is just an
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indictment against that generation?
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Acts 17 tells us that God has created us, He has places across
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this world determine the boundaries of our dwelling,
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places that we should seek God. Why?
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Because he is not far from each one of us.
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So even now, if I can use the word dispensation, if I can use
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the word this age even now, he's not far from us.
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Yes, he's not flesh and blood, but he's omnipresent, and you
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could call upon him at any moment, at any place, and he can
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reveal himself to you. So let's not limit this judgment
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to that generation, though it is a peculiar one.
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It still applies in some regard to us.
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Christ is still accessible. He's still available, very
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available, no matter where you are.
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So he is greater than Solomon in so many ways.
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Notice what happens when she goes verse 3 and Solomon
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answered all her questions. There was nothing hidden from
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the king that he could not explain to her.
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Isn't that fascinating? I mean, think about any
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question. Think.
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About any kind of enigma, any kind of puzzle in your mind that
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you can't figure out, and you meet a man who can answer
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absolutely everything, regardless of the category.
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That's that's an amazing thing. No wonder she was so impressed.
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But what Solomon here does is more significant than a surface
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level reading. It's not just him flexing his
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ability, it's not just improving that he has a God-given mind.
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There's an underlying thing that's taking place here.
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Israel was called to many things, promised many things.
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But Israel had a responsibility, had a task concerning the
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nations. You remember that?
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Was Israel supposed to just be concerned about themselves and?
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Kind of shelter themselves from the neighboring peoples.
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No. They were to influence.
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They were to live and act in a certain way that would draw
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people to them and ultimately to the God that they serve.
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And and this is something that's been clear, that's been made
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obvious even from the earliest of books of the Bible.
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And the one that I have in mind is Deuteronomy.
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Let me remind you, one of the callings of the people of Israel
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in the old covenant. This is so important because.
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It shows us that Solomon in some ways fulfilling that calling
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during his reign. Deuteronomy.
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I told you there's gonna be a lot of references tonight.
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Deuteronomy 4/6. What did Moses tell this people
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urging them to obey to keeping the statutes of the Lord.
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Because if you do Israel, look at what can happen.
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Here's a potential outcome not just for you, but for the people
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around you. And.
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Deuteronomy 46 We read Keep them and do them, For that will be
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your wisdom. That will be your wisdom and
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your understanding in the sight of the peoples who when.
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They hear all these statutes will say, surely this great
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nation is a wise and understanding people.
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See what he's saying here if you.
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Walk in my ways. If you align yourself to my
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commands, you will produce a wisdom in life that will cause
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onlookers to say this. People are different, and they
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can even lead them to the point where they inquire further and
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want to investigate the wisdom that you have.
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And that's when you give credit to me.
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And. Do you see this kind of being
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fulfilled in Solomon at this point?
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Here's Solomon with God-given wisdom, and the fruit of that
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wisdom is being noticed and recognized, and one woman in
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particular is being drawn. To the God of this people
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because she perceives the wisdom, and Solomon here is
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really doing something significant concerning a greater
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purpose than himself. Does that witness last long?
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Does this influence last long? Any idea all you got?
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To do is go to Chapter 11 and when you go to Chapter 11 you
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realize that doesn't last very long because in Chapter 11 we
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read the downfall of this man. So even though he has reached a
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new height and he is in some way sustaining this, it's it's going
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to come crashing down very soon. And they will fail.
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And it will. Lead.
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Into division in the land. His idolatry, his apostasy, will
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cause a split in the nation. The split of that nation will
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have generational effects, and one of the consequences of this
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division of this idolatry, of this apostasy, is that they will
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lose the strength of their light concerning the nations who are
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in a dark place and the mandate for Israel and the Old Covenant.
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Now becomes the mandate of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ
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and the New covenant. And so you read in in First
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Peter 29 for example. Where Peter uses very familiar,
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not just familiar but exclusive language that belonged to Israel
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alone, now applies it to the Church of Jesus Christ.
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You know this very well, OK? Let's pause here.
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Let's take a deep breath. I've been talking very fast,
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right? Let's just step back.
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Can. I remind you tonight, with all
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the information that's coming your way, what one of your
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purposes are here on the earth As a Christian First, Peter 29
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reminds us, you want to know why you exist here and why God has a
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rapture you the moment you confess faith in Him.
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Here is one of those reasons why.
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But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
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a people for his own possession here.
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It is. You ready?
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That. You may proclaim the
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excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his
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marvelous light. You exist to proclaim the
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excellencies of Christ, which means that you should discover,
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learn, grow in your knowledge of His excellencies.
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How are you going to proclaim it if you don't know it?
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So your quest in life is to know Greater Beauty.
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Greater Majesty's in the person of Christ because you have been
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designated by God to proclaim them.
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Wisdom has been given to Solomon, and surely he
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proclaimed many excellencies and surely he answered a lot of
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questions where we just read that are you And I called to
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answer questions. Well, this is first Peter
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tonight. Look at First Peter 315.
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You know it, right? And first Peter 315.
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Look what else we're supposed to do.
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Not just proclaim the excellencies of him, but we're
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also called to what in your hearts regard Christ the Lord is
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holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who
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asked you for a reason for the hope that is in you.
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So I'm not just called to proclaim like Solomon in some
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regard. I'm called to explain why you
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Christian. Why is the Bible the word of
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God? Tell me why.
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Why is Christ the only way? Why salvation by faith?
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And faith alone. Why?
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Why? Why do you gather on Sundays?
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Why do you sing songs? Why?
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Why? Do you pray?
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Prepare to make a defense. So we're called to proclaim the
25:11
excellencies of him. We are called to.
25:14
Bring a defense. To why we believe what we
25:16
believe and listen. The extent of that influence can
25:21
be so great that can even provoke the people who fail to
25:25
do that and what we know to be the Old Covenant, you know.
25:29
What? I mean by that I mean the church
25:31
is light. The Church who has been ordained
25:34
by God in Christ Jesus to be the light of the world can now even
25:39
influence the very people who fail to fulfill their global
25:42
purpose when they were in relationship with God.
25:46
Can I prove that to you? Here's Romans 11/11.
25:50
Here's. Romans 11/11 This is not
25:52
speaking about spiritual Israel. If it is speaking about
25:55
spiritual Israel, then you're going to come out with very
25:57
confusing conclusions out of Romans 1111.
26:00
But notice what he says here as he makes a distinction between
26:03
the physical descendants of Israel and the Gentiles.
26:05
Romans 11/11. So I asked, Did they stumble in
26:08
order that they might fall? By no means.
26:11
Rather, through their trespass, salvation has come to the
26:15
Gentiles. Now look at this part so asked
26:17
to make Israel jealous. I find that to be incredible.
26:25
So even in the denial of their Messiah, even in their ultimate
26:30
failure as a people, God now puts a temporary blindness on
26:37
Israel and through the rejection.
26:39
We have a. Permanent blessing to the
26:42
Gentiles where they can now receive this Messiah, accept
26:45
this Messiah, be grafted in among the special people.
26:49
Yes, it's no longer about a special people, but it's about a
26:52
new people. Ephesians Chapter 2 and look at
26:55
this. That's not an end in itself
26:57
though. That's a very important mission.
26:59
Through that also, as Israel looks at a people who are being
27:04
saved, who are acknowledging Christ as Messiah, they would be
27:07
provoked to jealousy and they also would come to salvation.
27:13
You. Know I heard a testimony of a a
27:14
Jew who has come to Christ and. I.
27:18
Always wondered how is it that the the Jewish people will be
27:20
jealous of Gentiles? They already have so many
27:22
negative ideas and thoughts concerning the Gentiles.
27:25
What is it about the Gentiles, especially Christian Gentiles,
27:28
that would cause them to feel envious in a good way and long
27:31
for what the Church has? And I heard a testimony once and
27:35
it gave me some light to what Paul is referring to.
27:37
One possible way that a Jewish person.
27:41
Can actually be provoked. This is what they said in their
27:44
testimony. I was stirred by seeing how
27:49
Christians knew the Torah better than me as a Jew.
27:54
That. That's where it all started for
27:55
this person. I saw how Christians can
27:57
interpret, understand prophecy and narrative.
28:00
And look at all these things. That was such a mystery to me
28:02
that that was not important to me even.
28:04
And that's what caused me to thirst and to inquire and
28:07
investigate more when I saw Christians know the Hebrew
28:11
Scriptures better than me and many of the Jews that I knew.
28:14
And that's significant and incredible.
28:17
And so now in the New Covenant, you and I have been called to
28:22
proclaim and display the wisdom of God, namely in the person of
28:27
Jesus Christ. And it can draw people, even the
28:31
people who have denied their Messiah.
28:34
What? A call we have as a church.
28:36
OK, we're only at verse three. We better hurry up, right?
28:39
Let's come back to First Kings 10 verse four and.
28:45
When the Queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the
28:49
house that he had built, the food of his table, the seating
28:53
of his officials and the attendants of his servants,
28:56
their clothing, his cup bearers, and his burnt offerings that he
29:00
offer at the House of the Lord, there was no more breath in her.
29:05
And she said to the king, The report was true, that I heard in
29:08
my own land of your words and of your wisdom.
29:11
But I did not believe the reports until I came, and my own
29:14
eyes had seen it, and behold, the half was not told me.
29:18
Your wisdom and prosperity surpassed the report that I
29:20
heard. Let's stay on verse 7 for a
29:24
moment. But I did not believe the
29:27
reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it.
29:31
So here you have an individual whose nobility is being proven
29:35
further by her honest response here to what she had just
29:40
experienced. Because, listen, Solomon, I got
29:42
to admit, when I heard all this, I didn't buy it.
29:45
I didn't buy into it. And you know, there are people
29:50
today, and maybe you're one of those people today.
29:52
So pay attention to this who are inundated, who are overwhelmed
29:57
by reports concerning the person of Jesus Christ.
30:03
You've. Heard the.
30:05
Gospel You've heard matters of the faith week after week after
30:08
week, and this might be week 8210.
30:12
For you. Week after week after week after
30:16
week after week. And guess what?
30:17
You still don't believe? You still don't believe you
30:21
still haven't surrendered to the what the report demands of you?
30:25
And you know what? At.
30:26
Some point this is what the woman was like.
30:28
She heard, and she didn't believe what she heard.
30:30
But here's the difference. She was not satisfied to remain
30:32
in her skepticism. The difference between her and
30:37
some others. Many others may add.
30:39
Is. That she questioned her unbelief
30:43
and she challenged it. And she was not content to say,
30:47
you know, it doesn't really matter this is true or not.
30:51
No, she thought herself. If this is true, I need to find
30:53
out. I need to know if this is true
30:56
because it has major implications.
30:59
And So what she does is that she makes it personal and she wants
31:02
to find a more concrete conclusion, and that's going to
31:04
require personal investigation. So she shuts herself on this
31:08
quest. And so many people who who are
31:12
in this world today, especially this generation, are so
31:15
distracted and careless with their soul that they don't even
31:18
think about maybe looking a little bit deeper into what
31:21
they've heard and. That's a tragic mistake to make.
31:27
But. This woman would not fall into
31:28
that. She wanted to know what this was
31:31
all about, and you'd be amazed to know where so many in the
31:35
Bible alone arrived to when they begin in the place of honest
31:39
examination. What came to mind when I looked
31:41
at this? And I thought about all these
31:42
different examples of searchers who are rewarded for their
31:46
searching. You know what came to mind?
31:47
Little we Zacchaeus. I love Zacchaeus for so many
31:50
reasons. And Luke 19 Three, There's a
31:53
there's an interesting phrase where he says and he sought to
31:56
see who Jesus was. He.
31:59
Was rich. He was a tax collector, and he
32:01
just wanted to know. He's heard so many things about
32:02
Jesus. Maybe Zacchaeus even heard this.
32:05
Jesus forgives tax collectors. He eats with them.
32:07
He becomes friends with them. Because maybe he'll become a
32:09
friend with me. And so he wanted to know who
32:12
Jesus was and what began as just a little curiosity.
32:17
How does the story end? He has Jesus over his house, and
32:19
Jesus proclaimed salvation to that house.
32:21
God honors searchers of the truth.
32:26
He rewards them. And this woman is no different.
32:30
She's willing to make a great sacrifice to meet with this
32:33
king, and she does. And she is rewarded in many
32:36
ways. And here's an encouragement from
32:38
her example. What she discovered about
32:40
Solomon in a limited way, is what any person who will seek to
32:46
know about Christ will discover in a greater way.
32:50
What was her main observation according to verse 4 to 6?
32:54
Read it again. We're told here that when.
32:57
She saw the house that he built, the food of his table, the
32:59
seating of the officials. And.
33:01
The attendants of his servants, their clothing, his cuppers and
33:03
his burnt offerings like she had no more breath in her.
33:06
In other words, every corner that she looked, she was blown
33:09
away by Solomon's influence. Let.
33:12
Me let me word it this way, everything that was under the
33:16
governance of Solomon. Was blessed and this moved her.
33:22
And in like manner when you investigate the Lordship of
33:26
Jesus Christ, what you will discover is that when Jesus
33:29
Christ becomes King of a life, he will gloriously influence
33:33
everything in that life. Everything.
33:39
And any person who is trying to see who Christ is and what he
33:45
can do in a person's life should see that clearly in the lives of
33:49
the subjects of this king. Yes, Yes.
33:52
Look what Christ does in a marriage when he becomes Lord of
33:55
that marriage. Look what he does to that
33:57
household. Look at what Christ offers in
34:00
terms of peace and joy in this life and the life to come.
34:03
Security for salvation. Look at the victory that this
34:06
king gives to his people over sin.
34:09
Look at how this king can bring people from different tribes and
34:12
tongues and nations. Put them in the same place
34:14
together and they can live in love and harmony.
34:17
Look at how Christ gives wisdom concerning what people would
34:21
deem mysteries with human psychology and sociology.
34:24
This king has answers. Every sphere, every aspect,
34:29
every facet of life is gloriously influenced when
34:32
Christ becomes king. That's true for the individual
34:35
life. That's true of the Church of
34:36
Jesus Christ in this corrupt world.
34:38
And it will be undeniable when Christ becomes king, whether
34:40
people want him to be king or not.
34:45
So this is what she observed everything.
34:48
This man touches is blessed. It's.
34:51
Unparalleled. There's nothing like this.
34:55
Shouldn't that be true of people who peek into the church?
35:00
Oh yes, we are falling. Oh yes, we make mistakes.
35:02
But there should be some distinction here.
35:05
There should be some evidence. Look at what Christ.
35:07
What did Christ say? They will know you from what
35:10
your love. Yes, we're supposed to proclaim
35:13
as excellencies. Yes, we're supposed to defend
35:15
our faith. But there's something about
35:16
love. It gets real.
35:17
This this theology stuff gets in your blood.
35:21
It's supposed to. At least some people doesn't get
35:23
past their brain. So get to your heart.
35:27
Supposed to spill over to your finances?
35:30
It's your dealings. It's your reactions.
35:33
It's. How you translate world events
35:35
into how you hear good news. How you hear bad news.
35:38
Everything is supposed to be touched.
35:40
When the king sits on the throne of a heart and.
35:45
So this lady makes this observation, and she made a very
35:47
good observation. But it wasn't just that.
35:52
She goes on to say in the latter part of verse 7, your wisdom and
35:57
prosperity surpass the report that I heard.
36:02
Not only did. This meet the reports that I
36:06
heard. It went above and beyond.
36:09
So it is with the. Person who has a personal
36:12
experience of the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ it.
36:17
Surpasses the greatest sermons you can ever hear when your
36:19
heart knows him. When it truly comes into contact
36:22
with His Grace, when you are born again, there is nothing
36:28
like it. And though that is true in this
36:30
life, surely what this woman experienced.
36:34
Will be true of us when we see our King and His Majesty.
36:38
All the reports, all the sermons I heard about heaven and about
36:42
eternal life, and about meeting you.
36:44
This surpasses it all. We.
36:47
See through glass dimly. That's what Paul tells us, and I
36:51
and I believe in part. Not only can our minds not
36:53
comprehended the details of what's to come, but in some
36:58
fashion there's an element of surprise that awaits us.
37:02
And even if you become an expert concerning these things about
37:07
eternity and the life hereafter, you will not be able to say
37:13
sufficiently. I can understand what's to come.
37:15
You will be blown away when it comes.
37:17
I can't wait for that day, so. This.
37:20
Is what she says. It surpasses what I heard.
37:23
Get ready for that reaction when we stand before him.
37:28
There won't be indifference in heaven, by the way.
37:30
Just to give you a heads up. There won't be verse. 8.
37:36
She goes on to say. Happy are your men, happy are
37:39
your servants. Who?
37:40
Continually stand before you. And hear your wisdom.
37:43
So she has this experience and she goes, Is this how your
37:49
people live? How do your people breathe?
37:55
Happy are your men. Happy are your servants.
37:58
And notice what she highlights. Happy are those who what?
38:02
Who enjoy the gold, who know national peace.
38:11
No, the thing that she underscores as happy are those
38:14
who what hear. Your wisdom.
38:17
And what's so fascinating about what she says is that.
38:23
She says who continually stand before.
38:25
You and hear your wisdom you. Know human nature very common
38:32
to. Be amazed by something and for
38:34
that amazement, to lose its sense of awe and we become
38:38
familiar. Yeah, we're we're very much
38:42
susceptible to becoming familiar with some that once took our
38:45
breath away. And unfortunately, that can
38:49
happen spiritually as well, which it shouldn't.
38:52
But in this woman's estimation, there is no way that someone,
38:54
even if they stand continually in the presence of this
38:56
otherworldly mind, can fail to be and remain happy.
39:01
And here's the thought that came to mind whenever this If this is
39:02
the estimation of this woman who looked at the service and says
39:05
there's no way that you can cease to be.
39:08
Glad when you are. Exposed to this kind of mind,
39:12
how much more us who serve and receive from a greater king?
39:16
Yeah. How much more?
39:20
How much more to the king who gave this mind to Solomon,
39:24
Should we, as his servants, who have access to his voice in his
39:28
word on a daily basis, should remain happy?
39:31
Can I tell you why some who claimed to be his servants
39:33
failed to remain happy in him? I can guarantee you one thing
39:36
happened at some point. You failed to hear from him, you
39:40
failed to stand in his presence, and you removed yourself from
39:44
his word. And that's where things started
39:46
to go downhill. But we are guaranteed in the
39:50
scriptures because there's. This inseparable link between
39:55
joy and the Word of God, Joy and the Word of God.
39:58
Like real joy. Not just theological joy, not
40:01
just OK joy. No real joy.
40:04
Like, actually effects you. Here's one of my favorite psalms
40:09
out of Psalm 119, Psalm 119, verse 162.
40:14
I rejoice at your word, like one who finds a great spoil.
40:20
I. Rejoice at your word like one.
40:22
Who can I translate that in modern language?
40:24
I. Rejoice at your word, like
40:26
someone who won the lottery. That's what he's saying there.
40:31
That's how exciting the word of God is to me.
40:33
When I discover something about it, when I eat of it, when I
40:36
taste it, when I see the blessings from it, I.
40:40
Rejoice, I get so excited. I get so moved.
40:43
I get. So if you talk to any person who
40:45
regularly. Preaches the word of God and
40:48
loves the word of God. There's.
40:50
A common experience that they have as they read and study and
40:52
explore. Maybe you've you've taught in
40:54
some level, maybe Bible study, and you've had this experience
40:57
where sometimes you discover something or something's brought
40:59
to your attention. Something is illuminated that
41:02
you're so overjoyed that you have to push yourself away from
41:05
your studies and just pace back and forth to do something else
41:07
because you can't handle the excitement that just come to
41:10
you. OK, so some people know what I'm
41:12
talking about. That can happen.
41:15
That's supernatural. That's what the Holy Spirit does
41:18
through His word. And here's this woman saying,
41:23
these people are exposed to the words of Solomon.
41:25
Surely they are happy, continually happy, as long as
41:28
they remain in the presence of this man's words.
41:31
How much more, you and I, as we understand that our Godness and
41:35
God is charged by the discoveries that we make in this
41:37
book. And if you're someone again,
41:41
who? Who says I don't know what
41:42
you're talking about? I know the Bible as a duty.
41:46
I read it because I know I'm supposed as a Christian.
41:47
I want my elders over my shoulder.
41:49
Tell me when I last read my Bible.
41:50
I'm not interested in having the awkward confrontation, so I just
41:53
do my daily devotions. How sad.
41:57
How sad that you do not see the joy that this word can produce
42:00
to a heart that is hungry for heavenly wisdom.
42:05
So it's not just for knowledge. No.
42:06
There is true satisfaction that is realized when it comes to
42:11
revelation, and this woman points to that in some regard.
42:15
Now knows what else she says. Verse 9.
42:18
Blessed be the Lord your God who has delighted in you and set you
42:23
on the throne of Israel. Because the Lord loved Israel
42:27
forever, He has made you king that you may execute justice and
42:32
righteousness. So she was able to discern that
42:38
Solomon being king is an act of God's sovereign choosing.
42:42
You're a king because your God made you king.
42:45
And that's true. That's an accurate assessment.
42:47
But that's not the only thing she says.
42:49
Does anything stand out to you by what she's saying?
42:51
This is why we have to read our Bibles carefully, slowly,
42:54
sometimes repetitively. Notice there's something that
42:58
stands out here concerning her statement.
43:00
Well, let me say this. Before we get to that point, we
43:03
can borrow this woman's words concerning our king.
43:07
Notice what she said? She said blessed, or rather
43:10
because the Lord loved Israel forever.
43:12
He has made you king because the Lord loved Israel.
43:14
He has made you Solomon King. You know what we can say?
43:17
Because God loved the world. He gave us his son.
43:21
That's what we can say in the New Covenant.
43:22
That's what we can say about our king.
43:23
He didn't just love Israel, He loved the world, and he gave one
43:27
who is greater than Solomon. But there's something else here.
43:30
There's another truth tucked in here.
43:33
Let me give you a hint. It gives us insight about how
43:35
one way, in many ways God can demonstrate His love toward us
43:40
in this life. He can demonstrate His love to
43:42
us practically. What do you see in here of how
43:44
God can show His love to a people?
43:49
Do you? See it?
43:51
Because the Lord loved Israel forever, what did He do?
43:56
So not only did God choose Solomon to become king, but
44:00
because of his love toward Israel, he raised up Solomon to
44:03
be their king. Here's one way God can show his
44:06
love to you and I. He raises up people in our
44:08
lives. He brings people into our lives.
44:12
He introduced people. What kind of people?
44:15
Well, notice the qualification here that you may execute
44:18
justice and righteousness. So not just Solomon being king,
44:22
Solomon being a certain type of king, a king that would reflect
44:26
and display the character of God and the will of God.
44:30
That kind of a king was not just the will of God, but the
44:33
expression of God's love toward another, namely, a nation.
44:38
So when God brings people into your life, notice also that
44:43
Satan can bring people into your life.
44:46
God has his evangelist, God has his people, Satan has his
44:49
evangelist, and Satan has his people.
44:51
Unfortunately, so many people can't discern between the two,
44:57
so. God can show his love and
45:00
bringing people. What kind of people?
45:03
People that reflect the character of God and enhance and
45:06
enrich your walk with God. Those kind of people don't just
45:10
see people as people because if you are able to identify people
45:16
in your life, say because of that brother, I'm a more
45:20
effective follower of Christ. Because of this, sister, my
45:24
heart remains more tender towards Christ, those people.
45:30
Are gifts from God. They are gifts from God.
45:34
Leaders in your life that. Reflect the character of God and
45:39
exercise the will of God. Those are gifts from God.
45:42
Parents, whatever that may be. Those are expressions of His
45:45
love. And perhaps in your mind, that's
45:47
a foreign concept. So let me confirm it to you with
45:50
another verse in the Old Testament that I would never
45:53
forget. It was when I was studying the
45:54
Book of Numbers, and we went through the Book of Numbers
45:56
together long time ago, a different setting.
46:01
There's a verse that stood out to me when the Lord spoke about
46:03
the Levites and it just again, solidifies what I'm trying to
46:07
articulate here, so. Here's another reference.
46:10
In Numbers 8, verse 19, when the Lord was speaking about the
46:14
Levites and the role of the Levites, He makes this
46:17
interesting note concerning the Levites in relation to the
46:20
people of Israel. Numbers 8/19.
46:25
He says this and I have given the Levites as.
46:29
What can you say those 3 words as a gift?
46:34
I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron, As a gift to
46:39
Aaron and his sons, from among the people of Israel to.
46:42
Do the service for the people of Israel at the tent of meeting
46:46
and to make atonement for the people of Israel, that there may
46:48
be no plague among the people of Israel.
46:50
When the people of Israel come near the sanctuary, these
46:53
Levites that I will raise up, that I will call this ministry
46:56
position, that I will ordain and the people that will fulfill it.
47:00
They are a gift to Aaron and by extension the people of Israel,
47:05
because what they will do in helping Aaron will preserve this
47:08
people from experiencing the wrath of God, the chastisement
47:12
of the Lord. Do you have people in your life
47:15
that you can look and say because God loves me?
47:19
This is a person in my life? This person, this brother, this
47:23
sister, this church is a gift to me because they want.
47:30
And they help me love God more, walk with God more closely,
47:35
develop that kind of mind, develop that kind of language.
47:40
This Gentile woman could recognize God's love for the
47:43
people by raising up Solomon to be a leader in their midst.
47:46
You and I have so many people that we can thank God for.
47:50
And here's the thing saying why is this important?
47:51
Why are you? Why are you getting at this?
47:53
Because the woman praised God, didn't she not?
47:56
She said what? Because the Lord loved Israel
47:58
forever And he said earlier, blessed be the Lord your God.
48:01
She recognized God's goodness through Solomon and it was a
48:06
reason for her to worship you. And I can enhance in our worship
48:08
when we see people as gifts from God.
48:16
So what did she do? Verse 10.
48:19
Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold and a very great
48:26
quantity of spices and precious stones.
48:29
Never again came such an abundance of spices as these
48:32
that the Queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
48:38
One would simply explain this away as a custom of that day.
48:41
Between royalty, they exchanged gifts.
48:45
But the flow of thought suggests A deeper truth.
48:47
Especially when you're aware that Solomon was in no need of
48:50
such gift. Right?
48:51
Did Solomon need this kind of an offering?
48:54
And he didn't need it? I'm sure the Queen of Sheba,
48:57
after a visit, realized that he also didn't need it.
49:01
So she's giving here from a different motive.
49:04
She's not making a contribution to a lack, is she?
49:07
No. This extravagant offering is a
49:10
result of the experience that she had.
49:14
Let me put it this way. It was a reflex to this
49:17
revelation that she received. Breath is taken away and she's
49:23
seeing all this and she see God's fingerprint all over.
49:26
And here's what she does. She she just gives and gives and
49:29
gives above and beyond. I'm sure she did it joyfully.
49:36
And it's a wonderful illustration of how our
49:38
awareness of the beauty and the glory and the majesty of God's
49:41
Kingdom, God's people, God himself, will bring you to a
49:46
place where you will give, you will give.
49:52
And some people are satisfied to give an empty confession of
49:56
their allegiance to Christ. But that's not the giving that
49:58
the Scripture speaks about. There's a deeper stirring that
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occurs when you really see who God is, what His word is about,
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what He has done, and what He will do, that will make you say
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how I want to give. What do you give?
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You give your time to the Lord, do you not.
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You give your talents to the Lord, do you not.
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You give your treasures to the Lord, do you not.
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You are moved to give based on your understanding and your
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insight of who he is, His goodness, His power, his wisdom,
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his grace, ultimately His precious Son, Jesus Christ.
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You give everything. If.
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This woman was willing to give so much to someone who was
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lesser than our king. How much more than the want to
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the one who is greater than Solomon.
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So this is what she does. And guess what?
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Like Solomon, God doesn't need it.
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Solomon. Didn't you think God needs your
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stuff? Think God needs us to help him
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advance his purposes? Think God needs us to sing
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because he's lonely and he's entertained by us coming here on
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Friday night? I think he he doesn't need
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anything. And when we understand that, and
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then we realize that our offerings are just simple
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expressions of our desire to honor and be part of what the
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Lord is doing on the earth. Like this woman, I just want to
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honor this God. I want to honor what he's doing
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here. And if I can play any part in
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it, here it is in verse 11. Moreover, the fleet of Hiram
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which brought gold from Ophir. Brought.
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From Ophir. Very great amount of almond wood
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and precious stones. And the king maid of the Al mug
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wood supports for the House of the Lord and for the King's
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house. Also liars and harps for the
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singers. No such Al mug wood has come or
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been seen to this day. It's an interesting insertion
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here, seems to be out of place. But I think all it's doing, all
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of the author is doing just to show again the great prosperity
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of Solomon. It's not just coming from one
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stream, but many streams. He was a very successful person.
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And again, this growing prosperity, this growing power
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is leading to something in the second portion of this chapter.
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As he is growing and maturing in this area, he is declining in
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the most important area, and that's in his walk with God.
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But here's how this section in our Bible study ends tonight in
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verse 13. And.
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King Solomon gave the Queen of Sheba all that she desired,
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whatever she asked, besides what was given her by the bounty of
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the of King Solomon. So she turned and went back to
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her own land with her servants. You know, there is a tradition
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that comes out of this verse among the Ethiopian people,
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actually. Is.
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Anybody familiar with this legend?
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This is just a footnote, something to throw at you if you
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want to study a little bit of history on top of your Bible
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study. There are many who believe that
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when the queen received the opportunity to ask for whatever
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she desired, that one of her requests was that she would have
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a child with Solomon. And this has some to believe
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that there is a Solomon dynasty among the Ethiopian people.
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And so you can look into this and see, I'm not making this up.
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There is that kind of a legend that when the queen returned to
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her people, she came back with Solomon's Seed because she was
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so impressed and she was so moved by Solomon.
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She wanted what was with Solomon to be with her and her people.
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And so she requested that. There is no evidence of that in
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the Bible. I thought that would just be an
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interesting thing to throw out there that you can investigate
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for yourself, but notice more carefully again when you read
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slowly if we look at this in light of our relationship with
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our king. King.
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Solomon gave to the Queen of Sheba all that she desired.
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Whatever. She asked besides what was given
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her by the bounty of King Solomon.
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So Solomon already had prepared something to give to the Queen.
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He had his own respective bounty here, his own reward and gift.
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But. He didn't just give what he had
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prepared for her, he was willing to give whatever she asked on
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top of it. There.
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Are many Christians who are willing to be content in their
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whole life to just live with what they receive as an
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inheritance by faith, which is a glorious inheritance.
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But they never go beyond that for one simple reason.
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They don't ask. You have not because you ask
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not, James tells us. And our king.
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Gives. Us so much already in himself,
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gives us so much already. In the gospel.
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But there is more that he's willing to give us that is
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predicated and based upon your willingness to recognize his
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goodness, recognize his unlimited resources and ability
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to say, oh God, would you give this?
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Thank you for what I have already, and I am so content and
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joyful with what I have, but Lord, I'm also asking for this.
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And the one who is greater than Solomon will do it with greater
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joy and love toward his people. Not amazing how much we can
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learn in 13 verses in the Old Testament.
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Bless me had a few of those moments where I had to step away
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and just face back and forth and think about the wisdom of God,
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the Symphony of the Scriptures. The.
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Harmony of the Holy Spirit's authorship in the word of God.
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Surely we are a happy people because we stand in the presence
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of this king and we hear from his wisdom day by day by day.
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Let's pray, Father, we thank you from the
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bottom of our hearts that we are indeed happy.
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We are happy men, happy woman, happy servants, for one main
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reason. We have access to your Word, and
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we get to glean from not just the wisdom of God, but he
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embodies the wisdom of God, your Son, Jesus Christ.
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Lord, tonight, if our hearts are not happy in God and we find
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greater joy and thrill and other things, Lord, would you rescue
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us from such a pathetic place, from such a dangerous place And
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Lord, perhaps there's even one in here who has heard the
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reports of Christ, and they have memorized the reports of Christ.
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They can even explain the reports of Christ.
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But they have not for themselves seen what these reports invite
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them to see. Lord, by your power and grace.
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Would you in a holy way disturb that heart to not remain content
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in their unbelief or in their self deceived condition?
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May they instead place themselves on the path of
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discovering what they have access to because of the one
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who's made himself accessible and Lord for us in this new
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year? Who perhaps have made no
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resolution to reignite a passionate pursuit after you and
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your word, Oh, Lord, may they understand that the fuel to
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their joy is charged by this word.
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We ask, Lord, that you would make us a people who are happy
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again. Revive us again, Lord, and for
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the person in here who has not yet sought you again.
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May they never be able to remove from their minds the example of
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this queen who made a great sacrifice to seek this king.
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Lord, may tonight be the night for some who are here, maybe
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some who are watching to say I will go to him who has summoned
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me. I will go to him who promise I
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will never cast out those who come to me.
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This is our Passionate Prayer tonight.
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So we thank you and rejoice in your courts because we are again
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your people and we have a purpose to proclaim your
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excellencies and to be a light to all men.
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Help us fulfill that calling in Jesus name.
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Amen. Amen.