How To Understand The Bible

It amazes me, the number of professing believers who have never read or do not study God’s word. You would think if someone wanted to go to heaven or have God work in their life, they would take the time to study God’s word to learn how to get to heaven, or how to have God work in their life.

And then we have to ask of those who do study God’s word, why can 10 people read one chapter in scripture and we get ten different explanations of that chapter? We know the scriptures are “living”.  Not living like man thinks, someone walking around, breathing, eating, sleeping, laughing but living because the scriptures speak to our spirit man, our breath of life we have inside our fleshly body.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV  “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Scripture teaches us to study God’s word and to rightly divide God’s word. But how do we rightly divide God’s word? Where are the divisions? And how do we know if we “got it right”?

I am not a grammar whiz and being a writer was never been my life long ambition. But God made me with, what I call, a technical mind. I deisect sentences and words because I want to be sure I fully understand “things” so I don’t make a mistake. I can’t help it, it is the way God made me. By pulling words and phrases apart and studying sentences has helped me with reading comprehension. In all my aptitude tests, my highest scores were always in reading comprehension and in the high 90s.

When I got saved I started reading and studying God’s word. And as God made me, I started pulling verses apart and looking at each word of a scripture. Not that I know all the answers, I don’t. And not that I always understand what God is saying, I don’t. But by using the God given gift of reading comprehension, I find studying God’s word is exciting and easy to understand.

So when I was going through 2 Thessalonians Chapter 1 this morning, I was asking the Lord, how can I help people understand your word? If someone has a question about a certain topic in your word, how can I help them to find the “right” answer? And as I said, I am not a grammar whiz but God showed me how to help people understand so they can ” rightly divide the word of truth”.

Now stick with me for a minute because if you can grasp this fact, you will have a better understanding not only of Scripture, but of everything in print you read. You will know the answer and not guess you have it right.

Scripture, like sentences in books or instruction manuals, have nouns and verbs. The noun identifies the person, place or thing of the sentence. The verb is the action word in the sentence. The verb tells the action of the noun. So in the example, He writes well. The noun, (person, place or thing) is He. The verb or action word is “writes”.  So if this were a verse of Scripture, I would learn, He writes. What does he do? Writes. So nouns and verbs in the scripture, basically, is the topic and what the topic does. Example: Jesus died on the cross, was buried and rose from the dead. The noun is Jesus. The verbs? Died and rose. Buried is a verb but Jesus did not bury himself, others buried him. So the verbs relating to Jesus himself? Died and rose.

Basically, you can say the topic is the noun and the verb or action word tells you what the person, place or thing did. Most people who read understand this concept. From school we remember learning sentence structure from examples like, See Spot run. People understand that sentence without controversy. But reading comprehension is made up of 4 keys, not 2.

Most people only look at 2 of the 4 keys in reading comprehension and that is why they don’t understand scripture. They look at nouns and verbs only. Another words, they look at the person, place or thing written about and they look at the action of the person, place or thing. They don’t consider the other 2 keys to unlocking understanding.

What are the other 2 keys? Adverbs and adjectives. Adverbs are used with verbs. Remember,  a verb is an action word. An adverb can modify verbs, adjectives and qualify words. Adverbs tell us who, what, where, when and how. So adverbs describe or clarify the verb. An example is the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Scripture tells us Jesus is coming back again. If we look at the first 2 keys only, nouns and verbs, we see Jesus is coming back. But look at Key 3, who, what, where, when and how. When we use Key 3 we learn Jesus is coming back – where? In the clouds according to I Thessalonians 4:13-18 and according to prophecy Zechariah 14:1-4 and Daniel 7:13,14 and Revelation he is physically coming to stand on earth in Israel.

So those using only 2 of the 4 keys confuse the second coming of Christ. Those who use the 4 keys of reading comprehension know and understand the second coming of Jesus is in two stages, one in the clouds and one on the mount of Olives.

When we try to understand what God is telling us, we need to use the 4 keys of reading comprehension:
~ nouns – person, place or thing
~ verbs – action words
~ adverbs – modify verbs, adjectives, and qualify words. They tell us who, what, where, when and how.
~ adjectives – descriptive words that define a noun. They describe a person, place or thing. They tells us which, what kind, how many and sometimes why.

If you use these 4 keys with everything you read and study, you will have a good understanding of what God is telling you and what others teach you. You can compare scripture to what other teachings teach and weed out truth from error.

There was a saying that went something like, the devil is in the details. Why? Because the details is where you find keys 3 and 4 of reading comprehension and if you do not read the details, your conclusion is only half right. Until next time.

Spiritual vs Carnal – Hurricane Harvey

This post is a little different, more of an observation.  Remember,  deception happens in the mind and when deception gets a foothold in one’s mind it filters into one’s heart. Once deception gets into one’s heart, they act on it. Then their actions are the actions of one who is deceived. That is why scripture warns us over and over to guard our mind and heart. That is how the enemy, Satan, attacks, twists, perverts and destroys people. So guard your heart and mind with scripture truth.

With the recent events of Hurricane Harvey, we have a perfect example of Satan using people against God’s people. Let me say from the beginning, I am not a member of Lakewood Church nor do I financially support Lakewood Church. I do not know Joel Osteen. But Joel states he is a believer in Christ and I take him at his word. I see fruit of a believer by the many relief efforts of Lakewood.

Whether I agree with Joel Osteen’s preaching or not is not important,  God is the Judge. Joel focuses his messages on encouragement. According to Romans 12:6-11, God has given believers gifts. I see two of these gifts with Joel, ministry and mercy. Clearly, Joel’s messages are messages of encouragement to believers.

There are some critics of Lakewood Church now coming against Joel Osteen for not opening Lakewood Church as a shelter for Houston residents during the flooding from Harvey. Reports are linked on the Drudge Report

So how do believers look at this charge against Joel Osteen and Lakewood Church? Some are making railing accusations. But I had to look at the whole picture and ask questions. Questions like, is Lakewood the only large church in Houston?

Friends, maybe because I live in Florida and have gone through several hurricanes, I see this matter completely different. Ever since Hurricane Andrew, there has been a mass effort to educate residents on the impacts of a hurricane hitting a specific area. Not only are we looking at the impact zone but hurricanes have “feeder bands” and these feeder bands are determined by how large the storm is. Harvey was huge, like Katrina. Common sense tells us, with a huge storm, the feeder bands will reach across a broad area. In this case, Harvey would reach Houston with feeder bands.

If Houston is prone to flooding as they say, and you see a huge storm heading your way,  predicted to make landfall as a Cat 3 hurricane, common sense tells you, you may want to consider evacuating. Even the Governor of Texas recommended flood prone areas should evacuate. Then the Mayor of Houston chose to state Harvey would be only a rain event and evacuations were not necessary.

Since when do Americans rely on the decisions of others to decide what is best for them and their families. Where does asking God what you should do come in?

Knowing Harvey was coming across the warm Gulf waters was an indication it could be stronger than a Cat 3 at landfall, just like Charlie hitting Punta Gorda Florida in 2004. Florida had 4 major hurricanes hit in 2004 in a six week period. My rule of thumb is, if a Cat 3 or above, evacuate. And large storms reach large areas.

Getting back to Joel Osteen. It appears to me that certain people want to single Joel out and Lakewood for whatever reasons. Lakewood is not the only large church in Houston. Noah never opened the doors during the flood to let the people in to the ark. And Lakewood has partnered with Franklin Graham’s  Samaritan’s Purse which specializes in disaster relief to help the people of Houston.

Shelters are already set up to handle relief efforts for the people who listened to a Mayor tell them do not evacuate. I do not blame the mayor. Where has common sense from the people gone? Can people no longer ask God or think for themselves? Clearly, any deaths from flooding in Houston, the blood is on the mayor’s hands for telling people not to evacuate. But the bottom line is the people should have asked God and made their own intelligent decision to evacuate or not.

One thing I know for sure, God hates those who sow strife and devisions among believers.

Proverbs 6:16-19 KJV  “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
[17] A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
[18] An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
[19] A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”

Friends, do not fall into the trap of the enemy by coming against God or God’s people. Every man will stand before God and give an account for themselves. If you listen to wrong advice, like the mayor gave those in Houston, you pay the consequences. And the mayor is not going to open his house for flood victims.

Now is the time to share Jesus Christ with people. Time to show God’s goodness working through you as so many volunteers have done in Texas by bringing their own boats to evacuate people. And yes, you have those consumed with evil, like the looters stealing from businesses and people, and those who point the finger at believers and curches. Remember, we overcome evil with good.

Until next time.

.

*9

.

Hearing God

When I first got saved I would hear people say God told them, and then they would state what God told them. I had heard God spoke to us through his word and through preachers preaching God’s word. But for God to actually speak to each of us, individually, that was a scary thought. After all, God Almighty speaking to me? I’d be on my face on the ground.

We know from scripture God spoke to people. We read God spoke to Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3. We know God spoke from heaven when Jesus was baptized in Matthew 3 where we read –

Matthew 3:16-17 KJV  ” And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
[17] And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

We know when Jesus was nearing the time of his crucifixion God spoke to Jesus in John 12:27-30 KJV  “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
[28] Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying , I have both glorified it , and will glorify it again.
[29] The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it , said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
[30] Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.”

Notice the people around Jesus heard God speak to Jesus. Then when God called Saul, called Paul, notice the people around Paul heard the voice of God but saw no man.

Acts 9:6-8 KJV  “And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
[7] And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
[8] And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.”

Believers today have the Holy Spirit living inside them and the Holy Spirit speaks to us. Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:1 the Holy Spirit even warns us. And remember what Jesus said in

John 5:25-29 KJV  “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
[26] For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
[27] And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
[28] Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
[29] And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

When God speaks to his people, they hear the words spoken to them in their spirit man. It is just like someone standing next to you speaking to you but you do not necessarily see them in the flesh. If you do not hear God speak to you, if you are a believer, are you tuned in to God? Scripture makes it clear, God’s people hear God’s voice.

John 8:47 KJV  “He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.”

And remember when Jesus said, my sheep hear my voice?

Even unbelievers hear God call them unto salvation. Some heed the call and many do not heed the call.

So how do we hear God speak to us? Then after you hear God speak to you, how do you respond? Yes, God speaks to us through his word and through other people, but he also speaks directly to us, are you tuned in?

Cleaning Your Room

People try to do “good” deeds to please God. Children are taught this concept of doing good deeds to please people. An example is a parent telling their child to clean their room. So, what is it? A or B?

Are parents pleased when their child cleans their room because –
A. The room is clean or
B. The child cleaned their room

Would A or B please God? People who try to please God by works often say – Look, I did this or I did that and because it helped people, God should be pleased with me, right?

Now bring it forward. Some will say because I go to church 3, 4, 5 or 6 times a week, God should be pleased with me, right?

Man might say – the parents are pleased with the child because the room is clean and because the child obeyed and cleaned the room. But what would God say about this situation?

Scripture tells us God looks on the heart. In this case it is not about the room being clean nor is it about the child obeyed. When God called Saul to be king in Israel, scripture tells us –

1 Samuel 10:9 KJV  “And it was so , that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.”

Then when Saul turned from God, 1 Samuel 16:7 KJV  “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”

Even the apostle Paul mentions children obeying but notice Ephesians 6:6 KJV
  “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;”

So if the child cleans the room and complains the whole time or argues with their parents, the parents might say, the room was cleaned.

I look back on my own Christian walk when I was saved only about a year or two and God asked me to do something I did not want to do. I remember telling the Lord, okay, I’ll do it but I do it under protest. Yes, I obeyed but my heart wasn’t in it.

God wanted me to give this guy a bible and that was okay but the man was so in love with himself that he was prancing around, messing with his hair, stroking his chest and just displaying his deep admiration for himself. I had set up a display and this man pulls up to set up his display. In obedience to the Lord, I walked over to him and said, God wants me to give you this as I handed him a bible. He took it and said thank you. I walked away.

Never did it occur to me back then that God brought that man to me. He “just happened” to set his display up near me. Then God tells me to go over to him and give him a bible. Shortly after giving him the bible, I left. I don’t know whatever happened with the man but I do believe he got saved and God had a plan for him.

All I saw back then was the man in the flesh. He was displaying his deep admiration for himself. I couldn’t see God had a plan for him. I couldn’t see God was using me to get to the man’s spirit man.

Yes, I obeyed God but my heart was not for the man’s soul. My heart wanted to obey God. People often say sanctification is setting aside. But the 1828 Webster dictionary says sanctification is where the affections of man are purified to a supreme love to God.

The child’s affections are not on cleaning their room. But when a child loves God supremely a child, from their heart, will do as God asks. And the parents are recipients of that child’s supreme love to God because the room is cleaned. Until next time.

.
.

*9
.

When Children Reject God – WWJD

Let me try to explain. As a blood bought believer, I raised my son in the Lord. My son got saved at a very young age and wanted to get involved with everything at church, to help the pastor and elders.

The pastor and elders would push him away telling him he was too young to help. My son would ask me why they didn’t want his help when he was 5, 7, 9, 11 years old. I would tell my son to remind them of 1 Timothy 4:12 KJV
” Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

They didn’t listen to him and my son started getting discouraged and it was no longer enough that I was encouraging him, he wanted church leaders and friends to encourage him too. At 12 years old my son re-dedicated his life to the Lord. Church leaders and friends were always pushing my son aside and telling him he was too young.

I was a large part of the music ministry so we were always at church. My son would come with me and try to work around the church with the men. They would push him away telling him he was too young to help. So he started bringing toys with him to play by himself.

At about 14 my son would start sneaking online on his computer and when I would look to see what he was doing, he would hurry and close the page. I noticed my son was changing. He started wanting black clothes. He gave up his scuba ( he is 2 dives away from being a master diver ) and sailing classes. And at 16 he told me he was leaving home.

What happened? The church pushed him away since he was 5 years old and at 15 he found some satanists who wanted him. Needless to say, in his eyes, I was the Jesus freak. What I was teaching and telling him he did not see in our church family for years.

When he decided to leave home, I told him I would not allow that. He threatened to drive a wooden stake through my heart when I was sleeping if I tried to stop him. Naturally I took him to a different pastor I knew and trusted but my son had lots of experience with pastors saying one thing and doing another. So no matter who the pastor was, my son had his fill of church people and pastors.

I shed many tears and said many prayers. I prayed God guide and direct me and the fleece I put out answered, let him go. My son stayed in touch with me because I didn’t try to stop him. I determined if I let him go and request he stay in touch, that would be better than him running away and me not knowing what happened to him. I thought of the prodigal story.

Seven years later I get a call from my son. He wants to come home. Ok, a prodigal right? I thought of Franklin Graham and his testimony. But my son wanted to come home with his darkness, his satanist ideas. So I said yes with the condition, no evil will be brought into my house. He agreed. And he is using a different name ( a name of darkness). I said no, your name is Jason and that is what I will call you.  Plus, he wanted to bring a girl friend with him. A girl who had his ideas of darkness. WWJD –  What would Jesus do?

You have no idea how many times I quote God’s word back to God.

Proverbs 22:6 KJV  “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Proverbs 11:21 KJV  “Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.”

And now, it is like God is giving me one last shot to get through to my son. One thing, of many, the Lord has taught me through all this is – believers lack of concern for souls. Not only a lack of concern for souls being saved, but a lack of how young people see the church has turned worldly. The church cares more about the things of this world than the souls of man. Even God tells us of the Laodicean church being lukewarm. The Laodicean church is a picture of the church in the last days – us.

Revelation 3:14-19 KJV  “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
[15] I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
[16] So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
[17] Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
[18] I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
[19] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

So I would covet your prayers for my son Jason ( and his girlfriend ) that the Lord create in him a clean heart and deliver him (as God promises) from the evil that has captured his mind. And for the salvation of his girlfriend’s soul. Yes, I believe in “once saved always saved” for the church age. There are so many scriptures that teach this including –

Ephesians 1:13 KJV  ” In whom ye also trusted , after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”

But believers can be deceived if they are not grounded in God’s word. Even some who are grounded turn away. Look at Solomon as an example. Was King David’s son Solomon saved? Yet, Solomon turned away from God and was turned to false gods and practices of satan.

My prayer is some how, the Lord use this post to help and encourage others. Be careful who you push away. My son knows exactly where I stand with the Lord and his word. Yet my son wanted to come home. In his darkness, he wanted to come home knowing I am light. I live in light. And if I can be an example to show him the love of the Lord for him, then praise the Lord.

.

*9

.

Was Solomon Saved – Turning Away

Last time we said –

God warned Solomon about not taking wives from the following nations:
~ Egyptians
~ Moabites
~ Ammonites
~ Edomites
~ Zidonians
~ Hitties

Don’t marry from these peoples. Why?
~ They do not serve the same god as the Lord. They serve false gods.
~ They will turn your heart away from the Lord God Almighty.

1 Kings 11:1-2 KJV  “But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
[2] Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.”

Paul tells believers the same thing in 
2 Corinthians 6:14-17 KJV

And when did they turn Solomon’s heart away from God?

1 Kings 11:4-11 KJV  “For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.
[5] For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
[6] And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord , and went not fully after the Lord , as did David his father.
[7] Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.
[8] And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
[9] And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,
[10] And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the Lord commanded.
[11] Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.”

Did Solomon stop believing in God? Or was it Solomon was trying to please his wives?

In 1 Thessalonians 3 Paul tells the believers he sent Timothy to them to establish them and comfort them concerning their faith. Why? Because they were suffering tribulations (not The Great Tribulation) but tribulations aka distresses of life and the Thessalonians thought they were in The Great Tribulation.

Why would Paul do this? Look at 1 Thessalonians 3, 1 Thessalonians 3:5 KJV  “For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.”

So because Solomon’s heart was turned away from God, was David’s labor in teaching Solomon in vain?

When people you labor with in teaching the gospel and the ways of God turn away from God, is your labor in vain?

Was Solomon Saved – Who’s Your Partner

Last time we said –

1 Kings 7:1 told us it took Solomon 13 years to build his house which means Solomon has been king in Israel now for a while. Solomon started the temple in his 4th year and it took 7 years to build the temple plus 13 years to build his own house. Solomon has about 24 years as king now.

And then, It happens.

Now the first physical temple is built in Jerusalem, by King Solomon, David’s son. Solomon prays during the temple dedication starting in 1 Kings 8:31. Then notice, after the temple dedication, the Lord appears to Solomon a second time.

1 Kings 9:1-10 KJV  “And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished the building of the house of the Lord , and the king’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he was pleased to do,
[2] That the Lord appeared to Solomon the second time, as he had appeared unto him at Gibeon.
[3] And the Lord said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
[4] And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:
[5] Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.
[6] But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them:
[7] Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people:
[8] And at this house, which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the Lord done thus unto this land, and to this house?
[9] And they shall answer, Because they forsook the Lord their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath the Lord brought upon them all this evil.
[10] And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses, the house of the Lord , and the king’s house….”

Notice God told Solomon, if you or your children turn from following me, I will cut off Israel out of the land. 1 Kings 9:6,7.

We know scripture tells us Solomon’s heart was turned away from God and we know Israel lost their land and it was not until May 1948 when Israel recaptured their land.

So how could a guy, after God appeared to him twice, turn away from God? Scripture tells us Solomon loved many strange women. Why does this matter? Because the strange women Solomon loved and married did not have the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Those strange women served false gods.

Starting in 1 Kings 9:16 and beyond,  God tells us Solomon marries Egypt’s Pharaoh’s daughter. Solomon gave the Queen of Sheba whatever she wanted in 1 Kings 10:13. This is the reason Solomon’s heart was turned away from the Lord.

1 Kings 11:1-2 KJV  “But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
[2] Of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.”

Paul tells believers the same thing in 
2 Corinthians 6:14-17 KJV  “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
[15] And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
[16] And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them ; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
[17] Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing ; and I will receive you,”

God warned Solomon about not taking wives from the following nations:
~ Egyptians
~ Moabites
~ Ammonites
~ Edomites
~ Zidonians
~ Hitties

Don’t marry from these peoples. Why?
~ They do not serve the same god as the Lord. They serve false gods.
~ They will turn your heart away from the Lord God Almighty.

And when did they turn Solomon’s heart away from God? We will look at that next time. Until next time.

.

*7

.

Was Solomon Saved Part 2 – Dreams

Last time we said:

Keeping our title of this post in mind, what do we learn so far?
– Solomon knew God – he loved the Lord.
– Solomon walked in the ways of the Lord.
– Solomon knew God showed his father David great mercy.
– Solomon knew his father David walked in God’s ways with an upright heart.

Based on what is recorded in scripture, was Solomon saved?

When God asked Solomon, What shall I give you, Solomon asked for a heart change.  He wanted God to give him an understanding heart so he could judge between good and bad. And notice what God replies.

God’s answer to Solomon’s request? God tells Solomon, normally people ask for one of three things:
~ long life
~ riches for themselves
~ the life of their enemies

1 Kings 3:11 KJV  “And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;”

But you asked for yourself understanding to discern judgment, I have done according to thy words.

God gives Solomon what he asks for PLUS MORE . God adds to what Solomon asked for and gives him things he did not ask for:
~ riches
~ honour
And if you walk in my ways to keep my statutes and commandments, as thy father David, then I will lengthen thy days,
~ long life

1 Kings 3:13-14 KJV  “And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
[14] And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.”

And Solomon awoke and it was a dream, verse 15.

We learn from this, God speaks to us when we are sleeping physically in our flesh. God speaks to us in dreams. So when you dream, you should keep a pad and pencil next to your bed so when you wake, you write every single thing down that you remember from the dream. Especially write every word from a conversation. Ask the Lord to help you write everything down. Then write all the symbols and colors you remember. Pay attention to every detail including were you walking to or from or standing still. Then you take scripture to help you interpret symbols.

Getting back to Solomon, we read God gave Solomon wisdom.

1 Kings 5:12 KJV  “And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.”

For us to understand Solomon and ask if he were “saved”, we need to stick with his life story. I am not going into all the detail but I want to look at the overall picture.

After Solomon’s dream and God speaking with Solomon in his sleep, in 1 Kings 6 God records it is 480 years after Israel came out if bondage in Egypt, in the 4th year of Solomon’s reign and in the month of Zif (the 2nd month) Solomon starts building the temple. We are told it took 7 years to build the temple and in the month of Bul (the 8th month) the temple was finished.

Solomon built his house too and after the building was done,  then we read in 1 Kings 8, in Jerusalem, at the feast of dedication, in the month of Ethanim  (the 7th month) the temple is dedicated and Solomon prays “if any man” in 1 Kings 8:31 -1 Kings 9:1.

1 Kings 7:1 told us it took Solomon 13 years to build his house which means Solomon has been king in Israel now for a while. Solomon started the temple in his 4th year and it took 7 years to build the temple plus 13 years to build his own house. Solomon has about 24 years as king now.

And then, It happens. We will pick it up from here next time. Until next time.

.

*9

.

Was Solomon Saved?

When we say the word, “saved” we use that word because it is more a New Testament word. Scripture teaches us the Old Testament saints had to keep the law for salvation. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ came to fulfill the law and we are justified by his blood atonement at the cross. And through faith in Christ and his blood paying our sin debt, we are saved. As Paul explains we must believe that in our heart and confess Jesus with our mouth.

Some people think they can loose their salvation based on their works. If they do something bad, they think they can loose their salvation. Salvation is not based on our works at all but on what Jesus did at the cross. Yet, some people do not want to believe God’s word on the issue.

Even some  “seasoned” believers think if someone stops believing, they can loose their salvation. Scripture tells us,

Ephesians 1:10-14 KJV  “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
[11] In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
[12] That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
[13] In whom ye also trusted , after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
[14] Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

Notice once someone gets saved, becomes a true believer, God seals them. We are sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise. We have another example of God sealing believers in the tribulation. God seals 144,000 Jews. 12,000 from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Once God seals them, do you think they can loose their salvation? No.

But let’s look at Solomon. Was Solomon saved? Yes or No? We know Solomon was King David’s son and Solomon was set up by God to rule and reign over Israel after David. We also know God spoke to Solomon and asked him what he would like from God.

1 Kings opens with David is old and getting ready to leave this world. Solomon is set up as king. David dies in chapter two and in chapter three, God speaks to Solomon. Notice when God spoke to Solomon?

1 Kings 3:4-5 KJV  “And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.
[5] In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.”

Notice, it was night time and Solomon was asleep. God appeared to Solomon while Solomon’s body/flesh was sleeping. God spoke to Solomon in a dream. This would indicate that while our body, our flesh sleeps, our spirit man is awake. How do we know this? Because when God asked Solomon a question, Solomon answered God. Solomon’s body was sleeping and Solomon had a dream and it was in that dream where God spoke to Solomon.

Do you dream? Do you hear from God in your dreams?

Then notice how Solomon answers God. Solomon did not just answer God, Solomon acknowledges first –
–  He knows God walked with his father David.
–  Solomon notices God’s great kindness to David in giving David a son to sit on the throne.
–  Solomon acknowledges his own inability by saying he is but a child and he does not know how to do things. (I can relate)
Then Solomon answers God and makes his request.

1 Kings 3:9 KJV  “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?”

Keeping our title of this post in mind, what do we learn so far?
– Solomon knew God – he loved the Lord.
– Solomon walked in the ways of the Lord.
– Solomon knew God showed his father David great mercy.
– Solomon knew his father David walked in God’s ways with an upright heart.

Based on what is recorded in scripture, was Solomon saved?

Next time, we will look at God’s answer to Solomon. Feel free to read ahead. Start at 1 Kings chapter 3 and read through to the end of chapter 12.

Until next time.

.

*9
.

Changes – It’s In The Seed Part 2

Last time we said –

So the tomatoes growing on a stalk are a creation. The corn is a creation. The baby is a creation. But the believer is a completely new creature. And Paul said to the  Colossians, you are dead. The old you is dead.

Scripture likens physical death of a believer as sleep. So the question is, when we sleep, is our soul and spirit sleeping or just our body? We will explore that more later because we are looking at “seed” here.

One great example Paul uses for believers to understand what kind of body we will have in eternity is laid out in 1 Corinthians 15. There were some people teaching there is no resurrection from the dead once a person dies. Paul told them they were wrong and Jesus Christ himself is our example.

1 Corinthians 15 starts with Paul explaining what the gospel of salvation is in verses 1 – 11 . Then Paul explains the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15 verses 12 – 31 . Then notice how Paul explains the resurrected body by using examples of different flesh in verses 32 – 49. And Paul likens this to “seed” in verses 35, 36 and 37. Then look at verse 44 –

1 Corinthians 15:44 KJV  ” It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”

And Paul concludes the chapter explaining all believers will not fall asleep ( die in the flesh ) but all will be changed.

The body we have now, in the flesh, is from the seed of Adam. So when you look at that tomato seed or corn seed you say this is tomato seed and will grow tomatoes. Or this corn seed is of corn and will grow more corn. And we, as humans, are seed from Adam and we grow more Adams, humans.

But if you are born again, born of God, you are a new creature. A whole new being created from the seed of the word of God. And that new creature is living inside your mortal body, your flesh. But one day, God is going to remove you from your fleshly body and give you a new body.

I post 1 Corinthians 15 so you can read this for yourselves.

1 Corinthians 15:1-58 KJV  “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
[2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
[3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
[4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
[5] And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
[6] After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
[7] After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
[8] And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
[9] For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
[10] But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
[11] Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
[12] Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
[13] But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
[14] And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
[15] Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
[16] For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
[17] And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
[18] Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
[19] If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
[20] But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
[21] For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
[22] For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
[23] But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
[24] Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
[25] For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
[26] The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
[27] For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted which did put all things under him.
[28] And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
[29] Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?
[30] And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
[31] I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
[32] If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.
[33] Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
[34] Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
[35] But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
[36] Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
[37] And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain :
[38] But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
[39] All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
[40] There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
[41] There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
[42] So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
[43] It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
[44] It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
[45] And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
[46] Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
[47] The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
[48] As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
[49] And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
[50] Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
[51] Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
[52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
[53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
[54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
[55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
[56] The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
[57] But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
[58] Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

Until next time.

.

*3

.