1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:11,879 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Studyheadquarters dot com. 3 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Dwell on These Things podcast. I'm 4 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:17,640 Speaker 1: John Stogey, and it's great to have you with us 5 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: this week as always, and today we're going to be 6 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:24,800 Speaker 1: looking at a best of episode. Today we're actually going 7 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:27,360 Speaker 1: to be looking back at a message that I shared 8 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 1: about three years ago from the Book of First Kings, 9 00:00:31,240 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 1: and it was at the end of a series that 10 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:37,240 Speaker 1: we had been looking at regarding the life of David. Now, 11 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:40,479 Speaker 1: the specific subject that we'll be talking about in this 12 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:45,200 Speaker 1: particular message is this idea of leaving a legacy of faith. 13 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 1: I'm sure that that's probably something you've thought about it 14 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 1: one time or another. That's certainly something that I think 15 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: about quite a bit. I'm at a season right now 16 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 1: where three of my four children are in the process 17 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 1: of getting married, and that's certainly a very exciting thing. 18 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 1: We're looking forward to all sorts of special things that 19 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:04,759 Speaker 1: the Lord has in store. So I'm thinking a lot 20 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 1: about legacy right now, and knowing that probably many of 21 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 1: us are thinking about the same thing, I thought it 22 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 1: might be fun this week to visit something that I 23 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 1: shared several years ago, again from the Book of First Kings, 24 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: regarding leaving a legacy of faith. So prepare to take 25 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:23,959 Speaker 1: your bibles and open up to the Old Testament the 26 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 1: Book of First Kings. Will be looking at portions of 27 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:30,360 Speaker 1: chapter two and chapter three today as we study this 28 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:34,720 Speaker 1: aspect of David's life and ministry and what came after 29 00:01:34,800 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 1: his life as he left that legacy. Let's take a 30 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 1: look together this morning. We're finishing up our study of 31 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:46,319 Speaker 1: David's life. We've been looking at this series really since 32 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 1: the month of January, and I've been several months looking 33 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:53,720 Speaker 1: through various portions of the Old Testament and seeing some 34 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:56,280 Speaker 1: of the things that were done in David's life and 35 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 1: through the work and the ministry that the Lord entrusted 36 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:01,920 Speaker 1: to him him And in the portion of Scripture that 37 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 1: we're looking at this morning, we're going to see an 38 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:08,639 Speaker 1: example of what it means to establish a legacy of 39 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 1: faith and the ways in which we have the opportunity 40 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 1: to pass on our faith to those who come after us. 41 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,360 Speaker 1: We're gonna be looking in two portions of Scripture primarily 42 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:21,080 Speaker 1: this morning. We're gonna start in First Kings, Chapter two. 43 00:02:21,200 --> 00:02:23,640 Speaker 1: So if you turn there with me, I'm just going 44 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 1: to read a few verses in First Kings two, and 45 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 1: then we're gonna come back and revisit them in a 46 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:29,959 Speaker 1: few minutes. And then I'm going to jump over to 47 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,800 Speaker 1: First Kings chapter three, so that the chapter that comes 48 00:02:32,840 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 1: right after that is where we'll continue. But this is 49 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:40,239 Speaker 1: what it says. Starting with First Kings chapter two, verse ten, 50 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 1: it says this, and speaking of when David passed away, 51 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:47,960 Speaker 1: and it says, then David slept with his fathers and 52 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 1: was buried in the city of David. And the time 53 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 1: that David reigned over Israel was forty years. He reigned 54 00:02:56,600 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 1: seven years in Hebron and thirty three years in Jeruz. 55 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 1: So Solomon sat on the throne of David his father, 56 00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:08,639 Speaker 1: and his kingdom was firmly established. Now, if you would 57 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:11,800 Speaker 1: jump over to First Kings three, starting with verse five, 58 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,280 Speaker 1: and in First Kings three, verse five, it says this 59 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 1: at Gibeon, the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream 60 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:25,240 Speaker 1: by night, and God said, ask what I shall give you, 61 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:29,239 Speaker 1: And Solomon said, you have shown great and steadfast love 62 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 1: to your servant David, my father, because he walked before 63 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 1: you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart 64 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 1: toward you. And you have kept for him this great 65 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 1: and steadfast love, and have given him a son to 66 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 1: sit on his throne this day. And now, o, Lord, 67 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 1: my God, you have made your servant king in place 68 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 1: of David my father. Although I am but a little child, 69 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 1: I do not know how to go out or come in. 70 00:03:57,640 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 1: And your servant is in the midst of your people, 71 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 1: whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to 72 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: be numbered or counter or counted for multitude. Give your 73 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 1: servant there for an understanding mind to govern your people, 74 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:14,600 Speaker 1: that I may discern between good and evil. For who 75 00:04:14,680 --> 00:04:21,800 Speaker 1: is able to govern this your great people? Let's pray, Lord, 76 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:23,479 Speaker 1: thank you so much for the privilege that it is 77 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:25,480 Speaker 1: to be able to look at this portion of your 78 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:27,840 Speaker 1: word together this morning. We're so grateful Lord that you've 79 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 1: given us access to it, and we have the opportunity 80 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:32,760 Speaker 1: to see the things that took place at the end 81 00:04:32,760 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: of David's life, and also the way the baton was 82 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:39,559 Speaker 1: passed to his son Solomon. We're grateful for the things 83 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 1: that are referenced and in this portion of scripture that 84 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 1: give us an example of what it looks like to 85 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:48,880 Speaker 1: establish a legacy of faith, to pass that on, to 86 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:51,640 Speaker 1: encourage those who come after us to understand what it 87 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 1: looks like to follow you. So, Lord, we pray that 88 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 1: you'd prepare our minds and our hearts to understand what 89 00:04:56,680 --> 00:04:58,560 Speaker 1: we're about to read. We pray that we would learn 90 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 1: lessons from it our hearts directly toward you, and help 91 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 1: us to understand a little bit more about the life 92 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 1: we live and the legacy that we leave. And we 93 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 1: thank you, Lord for your word. We commit this time 94 00:05:10,120 --> 00:05:17,039 Speaker 1: to you now and pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen. Now, 95 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:21,280 Speaker 1: the passing of a respected leader or a loved one. 96 00:05:21,640 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: When we have that sort of thing happen during the 97 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:25,840 Speaker 1: course of our life, I think most of us would 98 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 1: admit that that's one of the most challenging things in 99 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 1: life to deal with. I think for most of us, 100 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:34,800 Speaker 1: it's probably likely that at some point during your childhood 101 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 1: that was the first time you ever experienced the loss 102 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 1: of a loved one. On rare occasions, this is an 103 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 1: experience that we face later in life, But for most 104 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 1: people that's something they experience when they're a child for 105 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:48,720 Speaker 1: the very first time, and it can be very challenging 106 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 1: to process. I was actually reading a book very recently 107 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:55,239 Speaker 1: that included kind of a brief life story of the author. 108 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:57,039 Speaker 1: And the reason I say a brief life story is 109 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:59,800 Speaker 1: he still, by God's grace, hopefully got many years ahead 110 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 1: of him him because he was writing this story in 111 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 1: his thirties, so it was kind of his life story 112 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 1: up to his mid thirties. So his story is still 113 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 1: very much developing. But he was describing a season of 114 00:06:11,480 --> 00:06:14,159 Speaker 1: life that took place in his mid twenties in the 115 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:16,359 Speaker 1: portion of his book that I was reading not that 116 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 1: long ago, and he mentioned that the patriarch of his family, 117 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:24,280 Speaker 1: his grandfather, had passed away, and he talked about that experience. 118 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 1: He said that experience had a very profound effect on him, 119 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:30,919 Speaker 1: and it really changed a lot of things about his 120 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 1: day to day life going forward. He said he was 121 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:36,920 Speaker 1: highly aware of the fact that many of the blessings 122 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 1: that he enjoyed during the course of his formative years 123 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:43,760 Speaker 1: were directly tied to the wisdom and the hard work 124 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 1: and the others centered decisions that his grandfather made for 125 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 1: the overall benefit of their family, and that many of 126 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 1: them could acknowledge that many of the benefits and blessings 127 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 1: that they experienced were because of the decisions that this 128 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 1: particular man had made. Now, I think it's a very 129 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:03,720 Speaker 1: beautiful thing when you could directly identify the generational impact 130 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:05,640 Speaker 1: that a single life has had on the people who 131 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:09,480 Speaker 1: are born in subsequent generations. Sometimes you can really notice that, 132 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 1: And apparently in this particular case, that was definitely this 133 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 1: man's perspective. And when you look at David and you 134 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 1: look at the different things that took place during the 135 00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:19,600 Speaker 1: course of David's life, I think one of the things 136 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 1: that he makes abundantly clear is the fact that David 137 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 1: certainly wanted to have that kind of impact on the 138 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 1: generations that came after him. He wanted to have that 139 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:31,800 Speaker 1: kind of impact. He spent a considerable amount of time 140 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 1: contemplating the promise that God had made to him about 141 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 1: his royal lineage and what was going to take place 142 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:42,560 Speaker 1: after his natural days were complete. And even though David 143 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:45,160 Speaker 1: was a fallible man, and you could see a lot 144 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 1: of high points in David's life and you see a 145 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 1: lot of low points, so you could certainly say, yeah, 146 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:51,400 Speaker 1: he's a fallible man, I actually think those things are 147 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 1: purposely put in scripture, so we don't idolize people like David. 148 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 1: We're being shown that he's very much human, just like 149 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:01,240 Speaker 1: you and me. But even though he was a fallible man, 150 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:02,560 Speaker 1: I think it could be said that he made the 151 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 1: attempt to set up his descendants for success. He celebrated 152 00:08:07,000 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 1: their wins, he grieved when they went in the wrong direction, 153 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:14,040 Speaker 1: and he wanted to see them do well. And the 154 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:15,760 Speaker 1: portion of scripture we just read, and I'm going to 155 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 1: reread it for us here in just a moment, tells 156 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 1: us about David's days on Earth coming to an end. Again. 157 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 1: It says in First Kings two, starting with verse ten, 158 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 1: it says, then David slept with his fathers and was 159 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 1: buried in the city of David. And the time that 160 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 1: David reigned over Israel was forty years. He reigned seven 161 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:39,080 Speaker 1: years in Hebron and thirty three years in Jerusalem. And 162 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:42,079 Speaker 1: then it tells us about the baton being passed. It says, 163 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 1: so Solomon sat on the throne of David, his father, 164 00:08:47,920 --> 00:08:53,359 Speaker 1: and his kingdom was firmly established. That's how it describes 165 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 1: this baton being passed. So after forty years of serving 166 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 1: as king. And by the way, I don't know if 167 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:01,319 Speaker 1: you've ever taken the time this is. I realize what 168 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 1: I'm about to suggest is a very very boring thing. 169 00:09:03,679 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 1: But pick whatever country you want that has a monarchy 170 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:10,640 Speaker 1: or a series of presidents and look for a video. 171 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 1: You could often find these things on YouTube. I actually 172 00:09:12,960 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 1: just watched one this week about about England and the 173 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:19,440 Speaker 1: history of the monarchy in England, and it's very interesting 174 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 1: to see the people that serve for different periods of time. 175 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 1: Some people serve for as short as a year, some 176 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:28,199 Speaker 1: people serve for over fifty years, and so it kind 177 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:30,880 Speaker 1: of goes back and forth. And scripture reveals to us 178 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:36,080 Speaker 1: related to David's reign that David spent forty years serving 179 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 1: as king. That's a good long period of time. And 180 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:42,600 Speaker 1: then he died and the kingdom was transferred to his 181 00:09:42,679 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 1: son Solomon. We don't know the exact age that Solomon 182 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:48,600 Speaker 1: was at the time that the kingdom was transferred to him, 183 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 1: but he was a young man at the time. Most 184 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,360 Speaker 1: people seem to speculate that he was somewhere on either 185 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,320 Speaker 1: side of twenty, maybe a little bit before twenty, maybe 186 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:59,040 Speaker 1: a little bit after twenty, maybe right on the dot twenty. 187 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 1: Those are our best guess is but at twenty years old, roughly, 188 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:06,320 Speaker 1: Solomon becomes King of Israel, and by the grace of 189 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:09,200 Speaker 1: God were told that his kingdom was made strong and 190 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:14,280 Speaker 1: his leadership was firmly established among the people. And I 191 00:10:14,280 --> 00:10:15,960 Speaker 1: look at things like this and I can't help but 192 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:18,520 Speaker 1: wonder what it was like for him to assume that 193 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 1: kind of responsibility and all that would be involved in 194 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:24,720 Speaker 1: trying to lead a kingdom at such a young age. 195 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:26,680 Speaker 1: I don't think that that would be a very easy thing. 196 00:10:26,840 --> 00:10:28,640 Speaker 1: I don't know what your personality was like when you 197 00:10:28,679 --> 00:10:30,440 Speaker 1: were twenty. I don't know what your personality was like 198 00:10:30,559 --> 00:10:32,120 Speaker 1: when you were younger than twenty. I could tell you 199 00:10:32,160 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 1: of myself. Growing up, I had a personality type that 200 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 1: wanted to be thought of as older than I was. 201 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 1: If you told me, you know, if I was like 202 00:10:40,080 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 1: fourteen and fifteen and you told me I thought you 203 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:44,439 Speaker 1: were like seventeen or eighteen, you were like my best 204 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 1: friend ever, right. I always wanted people to think I 205 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 1: was older than I was. I don't still feel that way. 206 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:52,800 Speaker 1: By the way, that changed. I don't know when that changed, 207 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 1: but somewhere along the way it changed. But I remember 208 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 1: growing up I just wanted to be thought of as older. 209 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:03,080 Speaker 1: I wanted adults to trust me with tasks and responsibilities 210 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 1: that they wouldn't typically entrust to someone of a young age. 211 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 1: That actually made me feel quite good. Maybe some of 212 00:11:09,240 --> 00:11:12,320 Speaker 1: you have a similar personality to mine. And I would 213 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:15,760 Speaker 1: even say that some of that feeling that I experienced 214 00:11:15,760 --> 00:11:18,439 Speaker 1: at that age came from a genuine desire to serve. 215 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 1: But I also think, if I'm honest with you, that 216 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:23,400 Speaker 1: part of it was also connected to how I wanted 217 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 1: to be seen in the eyes of others. I wanted 218 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:28,760 Speaker 1: adults to treat me like I was one of them. 219 00:11:28,760 --> 00:11:30,960 Speaker 1: I have to give you I'll mention this because this 220 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:32,880 Speaker 1: might impact the way you treat some of the young 221 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:34,800 Speaker 1: people here in our church. I want to give credit 222 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:38,360 Speaker 1: to my home church up in the town of German, Pennsylvania. 223 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:40,320 Speaker 1: One of the things I have to say about the 224 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:42,840 Speaker 1: men of that church, particularly when I was a young teenager, 225 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:45,800 Speaker 1: they always treated me like one of the men, and 226 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:47,880 Speaker 1: it had a big impact on me. They didn't treat 227 00:11:47,960 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 1: me like I was some kid. They treated me like 228 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:52,120 Speaker 1: I was one of the men. And I remember noticing 229 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:53,800 Speaker 1: it at the time that they were being very intentional 230 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 1: about it. So I'm just planting that as a seed 231 00:11:56,960 --> 00:11:59,240 Speaker 1: for you ladies and for you men, you know, to 232 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:02,240 Speaker 1: treat the young people in such a way that they 233 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 1: feel like you're encouraging them to step up, and that 234 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 1: you see them in a respectable way in your own eyes. 235 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:11,960 Speaker 1: It will mean something to them. And I have to 236 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 1: tell you that at that season of life, when I 237 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:18,600 Speaker 1: looked at people in leadership, I thought leadership seemed kind 238 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 1: of glamorous. Have you ever had that thought in your 239 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:24,360 Speaker 1: mind that leadership might be kind of glamorous, You know, 240 00:12:24,400 --> 00:12:27,240 Speaker 1: it might be kind of special, might be just like 241 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:29,840 Speaker 1: something just seems so amazing. Right, Leadership just seems like 242 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 1: it'd be great all the time, Right, I'd like to 243 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 1: be in leadership. Here's what I've learned since. And by 244 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 1: the way, I think all believers eventually should come to 245 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: understand this. But I think real leadership is not meant 246 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 1: to be glamorous. I don't think it's meant to be glamorous. 247 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:48,319 Speaker 1: In fact, I would contend that if you're in leadership 248 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 1: and it feels glamorous, that you probably aren't actually leading. 249 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:54,720 Speaker 1: I think probably what's happening is you might be serving 250 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:58,440 Speaker 1: as a figurehead, and you may be getting credit for 251 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:01,960 Speaker 1: the work that other people are doing in that figurehead position. 252 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:05,760 Speaker 1: But real leadership is not really glamorous. The real essence 253 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:10,160 Speaker 1: of biblical leadership is not glamour. It's actually service. Biblical 254 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:14,840 Speaker 1: leadership we're going to live out what Scripture teaches. It's 255 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:17,480 Speaker 1: a kind of leadership that looks to Jesus as its 256 00:13:17,559 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 1: ultimate example. If the Lord did entrusts you with any responsibility, 257 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:24,160 Speaker 1: any influence, any leadership, if he raises you up to 258 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 1: a position in your work and your family and a corporation, 259 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:31,480 Speaker 1: in the community, politics, anything, it's got to look like 260 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 1: Jesus if it's going to be anything of lasting value. 261 00:13:34,559 --> 00:13:38,000 Speaker 1: And the kind of leadership that Jesus demonstrated during the 262 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 1: course of his earthly ministry was a form of leadership 263 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 1: that demonstrated a heart of service. So when you think 264 00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:47,559 Speaker 1: of real leadership, always equate that with service. And by 265 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:51,560 Speaker 1: the way, I'll even say this like in the marriage context. 266 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:53,559 Speaker 1: You know a lot of times when I'm doing pre 267 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: marriage counseling with couples will come to portions of Scripture 268 00:13:56,640 --> 00:13:59,360 Speaker 1: like it says in Ephesians chapter five, which starts talking 269 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:02,840 Speaker 1: about a husband's role of leadership in the home. And 270 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:05,280 Speaker 1: I've seen some people read that portion of scripture in 271 00:14:05,280 --> 00:14:08,319 Speaker 1: such a way where they think, sweet, right, that sounds great, 272 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:09,960 Speaker 1: and then you look at it and it's like, Yeah, 273 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:11,760 Speaker 1: what it's saying is you should be willing to die 274 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:16,359 Speaker 1: for your wife every day. Die for her every day. 275 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:19,480 Speaker 1: You know. Think about what Jesus did for you. The 276 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:22,520 Speaker 1: reason he demonstrated love for you that you feel so 277 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:26,040 Speaker 1: warm about is the fact that he died for his church. 278 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:30,400 Speaker 1: He didn't puff himself up. He sacrificially served for the 279 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:35,240 Speaker 1: benefit of his church. And so since Jesus was willing 280 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:36,840 Speaker 1: to serve that way, if he was willing to do 281 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 1: hard things and receive criticism at times from people who 282 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 1: didn't really like his decisions, and serve people without the 283 00:14:44,720 --> 00:14:47,800 Speaker 1: expectation of getting something equal in return, I think that's 284 00:14:47,840 --> 00:14:50,880 Speaker 1: also worth noticing. When Jesus served people, he wasn't expecting 285 00:14:50,920 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 1: they would give him something equal in return for the 286 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:55,960 Speaker 1: service that he offered them, because there's nothing we could 287 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:59,200 Speaker 1: offer him that would be equal in return for what 288 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 1: he's done for us. But christ Like leadership, it involves humility, 289 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 1: It involves a willingness to suffer and make sacrifices for 290 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:10,480 Speaker 1: the benefit of other people, even at great personal cost 291 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 1: to yourself. That's what real leadership looks like. You would 292 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 1: be willing to sacrifice and suffer for other people, even 293 00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 1: at great personal cost to yourself. Let me give you 294 00:15:19,200 --> 00:15:22,160 Speaker 1: two examples from scripture that show you and show me 295 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 1: what leadership really looks like. From the perspective of Christ. 296 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:29,440 Speaker 1: From Philippians, chapter two, starting with verse three, we're told this, 297 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 1: It says, do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but 298 00:15:33,600 --> 00:15:39,040 Speaker 1: in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each 299 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 1: of you look not only to his own interests, but 300 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:47,320 Speaker 1: also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, 301 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:50,800 Speaker 1: which is yours. In Christ Jesus, who though he was 302 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 1: in the form of God, did not count equality with 303 00:15:54,400 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 1: God a thing to be grasped. And by the way, 304 00:15:56,360 --> 00:15:58,680 Speaker 1: when it's saying grasp it's talking about this idea of 305 00:15:58,760 --> 00:16:02,400 Speaker 1: selfishly hold on Hell, saying he's not holding onto that 306 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 1: in a selfish way, even though he's God in the flesh. 307 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 1: He's not holding onto that in a selfish way. He's 308 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:10,400 Speaker 1: being generous with who he is. So it says, even 309 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 1: though he was in the form of God, did not 310 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:14,960 Speaker 1: count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but 311 00:16:15,200 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 1: emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being 312 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:22,760 Speaker 1: born in the likeness of men and being found in 313 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:26,640 Speaker 1: human form. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the 314 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:31,360 Speaker 1: point of death, even death on a cross. So there's 315 00:16:31,360 --> 00:16:35,680 Speaker 1: nothing meant to be glamorous about that description of Christ's 316 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:38,920 Speaker 1: sacrificial service. There's nothing meant to be glamorous about this 317 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 1: form of leadership and the kind of leadership that Jesus 318 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 1: demonstrated during the course of his earthly ministry. You basically 319 00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:50,000 Speaker 1: see him saying, I'm God, come in the flesh to humanity, 320 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 1: and yet I'm going to offer myself as a servant 321 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:56,800 Speaker 1: to them, even though many will not appreciate a single 322 00:16:56,840 --> 00:16:59,280 Speaker 1: thing that I'm doing on their behalf. And then you 323 00:16:59,280 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 1: look at what Jesus did in John chapter thirteen, verses 324 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:04,359 Speaker 1: one through five. There it says this. It says now 325 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:07,240 Speaker 1: before the feast of Passover, when Jesus knew that his 326 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:10,200 Speaker 1: hour had come to depart out of this world to 327 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:13,159 Speaker 1: the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, 328 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 1: he loved them to the end. During supper, when the 329 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 1: devil had already put it into the heart of Judas. 330 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:22,840 Speaker 1: Is Scariot, by the way, noticed that it's saying that 331 00:17:22,840 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 1: that Judas had already got it in his mind to 332 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:29,080 Speaker 1: betray Jesus, and Jesus is about to do what he 333 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:32,800 Speaker 1: does here also for Judas, who hasn't left the room yet. 334 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:35,920 Speaker 1: So Jesus already knows what Judas is about to do. 335 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:39,760 Speaker 1: And yet Jesus is about to serve Judas the same 336 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:42,800 Speaker 1: way he serves the other disciples. But it says during supper, 337 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 1: when the devil had already put it into the heart 338 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:48,600 Speaker 1: of Judas, is Scariot, Simon's son to betray him. Jesus, 339 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:51,800 Speaker 1: knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, 340 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 1: and that he had come from God and was going 341 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:57,760 Speaker 1: back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his 342 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:01,240 Speaker 1: outer garments, and taking a towel, gid it around his waist. 343 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:04,960 Speaker 1: Then he poured water into a basin and began to 344 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:08,959 Speaker 1: wash the disciples feet and to wipe them with the 345 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 1: towel that was wrapped around him. The custom of the 346 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:15,440 Speaker 1: age what it was like at that point. The person 347 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 1: of lowest rank would wash your feet when you came 348 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:21,600 Speaker 1: into a home. The person who had no status was 349 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:23,399 Speaker 1: the one who would wash your feet. And if you 350 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:25,280 Speaker 1: keep in mind, people were wearing, you know, sandals, and 351 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:28,680 Speaker 1: they're in roads that aren't paved. It's muddy, it's it's 352 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:31,200 Speaker 1: filled with mud, it's filled with animal waste, all sorts 353 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:33,399 Speaker 1: of things. And so when you're washing someone's feet, you're 354 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:36,240 Speaker 1: really getting your hands dirty. That's the kind of leadership 355 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 1: that Jesus demonstrated, also demonstrating a sacrificial a spirit of 356 00:18:42,440 --> 00:18:47,560 Speaker 1: service to someone like Judas who was out to get him. 357 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:49,880 Speaker 1: It's kind of an amazing thing, isn't it. But that's 358 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:53,400 Speaker 1: what he demonstrated. And that's an example that scripture encourages 359 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:55,320 Speaker 1: us to follow. And I come back to what this 360 00:18:55,359 --> 00:18:57,920 Speaker 1: scripture tells us our main scripture today when it talks 361 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 1: about Solomon following David as k You have Solomon now 362 00:19:02,119 --> 00:19:04,480 Speaker 1: in a position of leadership. And here's the thing. When 363 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:07,040 Speaker 1: you're in a position of leadership, you could use, especially 364 00:19:07,119 --> 00:19:09,800 Speaker 1: in a position like Solomon was in, you could use 365 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:11,840 Speaker 1: that to bring fame to your own name if you 366 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:13,679 Speaker 1: would like. And that's how some people would use a 367 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:16,119 Speaker 1: position like that. You'd use that to bring fame to 368 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:18,479 Speaker 1: your own name, it wouldn't be very difficult to do so, 369 00:19:18,920 --> 00:19:20,760 Speaker 1: or you could use it to bring benefit to the 370 00:19:20,760 --> 00:19:23,199 Speaker 1: people that you serve. Those are the two mindsets that 371 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:25,640 Speaker 1: you get the opportunity to have fame to your own 372 00:19:25,720 --> 00:19:28,120 Speaker 1: name or benefit to the people that you're trying to serve. 373 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:31,240 Speaker 1: And I love reading about the heart that Solomon exhibited 374 00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:35,080 Speaker 1: during the early years of his reign. Because Solomon wanted 375 00:19:35,119 --> 00:19:38,080 Speaker 1: to do what was right. He wanted to do this 376 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:40,960 Speaker 1: the right way. He did not assume that he had 377 00:19:41,040 --> 00:19:44,679 Speaker 1: all the answers at this young age that he was at, 378 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:47,480 Speaker 1: and he readily admitted that if he was going to 379 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:50,600 Speaker 1: do this well, he would need wisdom from God. That's 380 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:51,960 Speaker 1: what he admitted. He's like, if I'm going to do 381 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:53,520 Speaker 1: this well, I'm going to need God's help. I'm going 382 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:55,560 Speaker 1: to need him to intervene. Love what it tells us 383 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:57,840 Speaker 1: in First Kings three to nine, it says, this is 384 00:19:57,880 --> 00:20:00,199 Speaker 1: Solomon praying before the Lord. He says to the or 385 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:04,760 Speaker 1: give your servant there for an understanding mind to govern 386 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:08,959 Speaker 1: your people, that I made discern between good and evil, 387 00:20:09,880 --> 00:20:13,320 Speaker 1: for who is able to govern this your great people. 388 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:16,840 Speaker 1: He's just thinking about the enormity of the task that's 389 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:18,760 Speaker 1: been put before him. And so you have the Lord 390 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:23,119 Speaker 1: appearing before Solomon. He appears before Solomon in a dream, 391 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:26,199 Speaker 1: and he offers Solomon to give him anything that he 392 00:20:26,280 --> 00:20:28,560 Speaker 1: asked for. Now, could you imagine if God offered you 393 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 1: anything that you asked for? That is a dream come 394 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:35,560 Speaker 1: true for so many people. Right, if you're given that opportunity, 395 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:37,520 Speaker 1: what would you ask for? And so you have Solomon 396 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:41,240 Speaker 1: given this opportunity genuinely. The Lord doesn't qualify it in 397 00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:43,960 Speaker 1: any way. He just says, what do you want? What 398 00:20:44,000 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 1: do you want? I will give you what you want. 399 00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:48,080 Speaker 1: What do you want to request of me? I know 400 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 1: the task you've been given here, it's a big task. 401 00:20:50,440 --> 00:20:53,120 Speaker 1: What do you want? What do you need? And Solomon 402 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:59,720 Speaker 1: looks to the Lord and he asks for an understanding mind. 403 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:02,160 Speaker 1: I want you to do something miraculous in my head, 404 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:04,360 Speaker 1: I want you to do something miraculous in my mind. 405 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:06,600 Speaker 1: I want to be able to think and see and 406 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 1: perceive and understand things that I would not naturally be 407 00:21:10,359 --> 00:21:12,280 Speaker 1: able to understand. I want to be able to discern 408 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:15,000 Speaker 1: between good and evil. I want to be able to 409 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:17,640 Speaker 1: govern your people with wisdom. That's what I want, Lord, 410 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:18,960 Speaker 1: and I look at that, and I think, what a 411 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:22,119 Speaker 1: beautiful request? Not a beautiful request? Wouldn't that be a 412 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 1: wonderful thing if every leader prayed this way when they 413 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 1: were assuming their role of leadership? I mean, can you 414 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:30,119 Speaker 1: just imagine the way that would have an impact on 415 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:35,359 Speaker 1: nations and corporations and local churches and households if anyone 416 00:21:35,359 --> 00:21:37,240 Speaker 1: put in a position of leadership just came to the 417 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:40,199 Speaker 1: Lord at the moment they took on that position of 418 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:42,280 Speaker 1: leadership and said, Lord, can you just give me an 419 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:44,920 Speaker 1: understanding mind? Can you help me see things the way 420 00:21:44,960 --> 00:21:47,200 Speaker 1: you see things so that I treat people the way 421 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:51,560 Speaker 1: you treat people. That's basically what he was saying. And 422 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:55,159 Speaker 1: Solomon wasn't asking the Lord for anything natural, right, This 423 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:57,920 Speaker 1: was supernatural what he was asking for. He was requesting 424 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:02,520 Speaker 1: a supernatural intervention and how his mind would work. Do 425 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:04,359 Speaker 1: you ever pray that? Can? I just dare you to 426 00:22:04,359 --> 00:22:06,959 Speaker 1: pray that way? I remember the first time I came 427 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:08,960 Speaker 1: across the scripture. I was fifteen years old, and I 428 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:11,199 Speaker 1: was sitting at my desk in my bedroom and I 429 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:13,640 Speaker 1: used to just randomly open the Bible to different things 430 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:15,119 Speaker 1: and be like, all right, God, show me it was 431 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:18,280 Speaker 1: like the It was like the I don't know, like 432 00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:20,240 Speaker 1: turning the Bible into a game show or something. I 433 00:22:20,280 --> 00:22:22,000 Speaker 1: was like, Lord, what will you show me today? And 434 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:24,639 Speaker 1: I'd open it up and I'd look and I remember 435 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:26,520 Speaker 1: coming across this and I was like, oh, you wanted 436 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:29,080 Speaker 1: me to see this part. And I remember just eating 437 00:22:29,119 --> 00:22:32,480 Speaker 1: it up and I thought, wow you and with childlike faith, 438 00:22:32,520 --> 00:22:34,119 Speaker 1: I remember just praying. I was like, all right, if 439 00:22:34,119 --> 00:22:37,560 Speaker 1: you answered that for Solomon, I'm gonna I'm gonna ask 440 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:40,720 Speaker 1: that for me. Lord, Will you give me an understanding mind? 441 00:22:40,720 --> 00:22:42,240 Speaker 1: Do you think the Lord minds if any of us 442 00:22:42,320 --> 00:22:44,880 Speaker 1: pray that to him? Do you think if you asked 443 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:47,200 Speaker 1: the Lord, Lord, just please give me an understanding mind? 444 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:52,119 Speaker 1: Help me to see life myself, my service, like everything 445 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:53,639 Speaker 1: that you put before me. Help me to see it 446 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:56,440 Speaker 1: the way you see it. Help me to understand things 447 00:22:56,480 --> 00:22:58,639 Speaker 1: that I would not naturally understand. Do you think the 448 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:00,560 Speaker 1: Lord minds if we pray that? Of course he doesn't 449 00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:03,040 Speaker 1: mind it. He loves when you and I pray that. 450 00:23:03,040 --> 00:23:05,480 Speaker 1: That's what Solomon was asking here. He wanted to see 451 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:08,159 Speaker 1: things the way God sees things. He didn't want to 452 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:11,600 Speaker 1: have to rely on his own limited experiences. He also 453 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 1: didn't want to have to rely on the limited experiences 454 00:23:14,119 --> 00:23:16,920 Speaker 1: of his advisers as he was trying to make decisions. 455 00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:20,120 Speaker 1: He was praying for wisdom that would be divinely graced 456 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:23,760 Speaker 1: into his life. And I think that's something that all 457 00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:26,440 Speaker 1: of us should have a deep heart desire to possess. 458 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:29,679 Speaker 1: But if we're going to possess, that scripture gives us 459 00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 1: some clues how that's actually obtained. I think it begins 460 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:35,680 Speaker 1: with prayer. You have Solomon here coming to the Lord 461 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:37,600 Speaker 1: and just praying in faith. Lord, will you open my 462 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:41,400 Speaker 1: mind to understand things from your perspective, not the world's perspective. 463 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:44,120 Speaker 1: They always lead me wrong, But I want to see 464 00:23:44,119 --> 00:23:47,080 Speaker 1: it the way you see it. So he begins with prayer. 465 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:49,879 Speaker 1: There's a few other scriptures that speak to this as well, 466 00:23:50,119 --> 00:23:53,120 Speaker 1: One written down by Solomon in Proverbs nine to ten. 467 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:56,399 Speaker 1: Solomon wrote down, the fear of the Lord is the 468 00:23:56,440 --> 00:24:00,840 Speaker 1: beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One 469 00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:04,439 Speaker 1: is insight. Think about that. Tell me that's not the 470 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:09,600 Speaker 1: most counter cultural verse you could ever read. Right, The 471 00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:11,480 Speaker 1: fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and 472 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:14,840 Speaker 1: the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. That is 473 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:17,000 Speaker 1: not how this world chooses to live. But if you 474 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:19,080 Speaker 1: and I want to understand the mind and the heart 475 00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:22,920 Speaker 1: of God, that's something we need to internalize. It's talking 476 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:26,439 Speaker 1: about this reverence, this respect for the Lord. That's the 477 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:29,360 Speaker 1: beginning of wisdom. And then in Romans chapter twelve, verse two, 478 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:32,679 Speaker 1: you have the apostle Paul saying, do not be conformed 479 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:37,159 Speaker 1: to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of 480 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:40,199 Speaker 1: your mind, that by testing you may discern what is 481 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:45,000 Speaker 1: the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 482 00:24:45,760 --> 00:24:49,080 Speaker 1: I love how those verses go together with Solomon's prayer. Basically, 483 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:52,199 Speaker 1: it's teaching us to obtain the wisdom of God. We 484 00:24:52,280 --> 00:24:55,400 Speaker 1: need to live in a trusting relationship with God. We're 485 00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:57,840 Speaker 1: not living in a trusting relationship with God. How are 486 00:24:57,840 --> 00:24:59,920 Speaker 1: we going to understand the mind of God or obtain 487 00:25:00,359 --> 00:25:02,840 Speaker 1: the wisdom of God. It wouldn't be possible. And if 488 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:06,000 Speaker 1: our lives and our ambitions conform to the same standard 489 00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:09,720 Speaker 1: that this world idolizes, what ends up happening is we'll 490 00:25:09,760 --> 00:25:12,240 Speaker 1: end up seeing life and people in circumstances the same 491 00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:15,960 Speaker 1: way the world sees them. But if we trust in 492 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:20,719 Speaker 1: Jesus and if we live with reverence toward the power 493 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:25,040 Speaker 1: and the holiness of God. His word promises that he's 494 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:28,280 Speaker 1: going to transform the way we think. He will change 495 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:31,800 Speaker 1: the way we think, will enjoy real discernment, will enjoy 496 00:25:32,200 --> 00:25:34,640 Speaker 1: the opportunity and the privilege to be able to understand 497 00:25:34,720 --> 00:25:37,760 Speaker 1: the will of God as we make decisions, and those 498 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:40,760 Speaker 1: decisions likewise, we're not going to impact just our lives alone. 499 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:42,919 Speaker 1: It's also going to those decisions will also impact the 500 00:25:42,920 --> 00:25:47,480 Speaker 1: lives of other people. And when the Lord heard Solomon 501 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:51,040 Speaker 1: pray this before him, scripture reveals that the Lord was 502 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:55,320 Speaker 1: pleased that Solomon desired that kind of understanding. Solomon could 503 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:57,320 Speaker 1: have asked for wealth, could have asked for power, He 504 00:25:57,320 --> 00:26:00,000 Speaker 1: could have asked for fame, but he didn't. He didn't 505 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:03,560 Speaker 1: ask for those things most people. If you really analyze 506 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:06,639 Speaker 1: what most people are praying for, you discover that most people, 507 00:26:06,920 --> 00:26:10,840 Speaker 1: they mainly ask God to give them pleasures, comforts, or 508 00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 1: the esteem of this world. It's usually in one of 509 00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 1: those three categories pleasures, comfort, or the esteem of this world. 510 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 1: But that's not what Solomon prayed. Solomon knew he needed 511 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:25,240 Speaker 1: the mind of God more than he needed the treasures 512 00:26:25,280 --> 00:26:26,720 Speaker 1: of this world, and by the way we need the 513 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:29,280 Speaker 1: same thing. We need the mind of God more than 514 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:31,680 Speaker 1: we need the treasures of this world. And God was 515 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:35,119 Speaker 1: pleased with Solomon's request, and he told him that he 516 00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:37,600 Speaker 1: would receive what he asked for, and he was also 517 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:39,960 Speaker 1: going to receive all the other things that he could 518 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:42,960 Speaker 1: have asked for but didn't. I love what scripture tells 519 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:45,000 Speaker 1: us as it develops this story a little bit further. 520 00:26:45,040 --> 00:26:47,720 Speaker 1: In First Kings three, verse ten, it says, it pleased 521 00:26:47,720 --> 00:26:51,120 Speaker 1: the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said 522 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:53,000 Speaker 1: to him, because you have asked this, and have not 523 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:56,080 Speaker 1: asked for yourself long life, or riches, or the life 524 00:26:56,080 --> 00:27:00,479 Speaker 1: of your enemies, but have asked for yourself, understand to 525 00:27:00,520 --> 00:27:04,840 Speaker 1: discern what is right. Behold, I now do according to 526 00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:08,840 Speaker 1: your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, 527 00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:12,080 Speaker 1: so that none like you has been before you, and 528 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:15,480 Speaker 1: none like you shall arise after you. I give you 529 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:19,600 Speaker 1: also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, 530 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:22,560 Speaker 1: so that no other king shall compare with you all 531 00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:25,240 Speaker 1: your days. And if you will walk in my ways, 532 00:27:25,359 --> 00:27:28,960 Speaker 1: keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, 533 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:33,560 Speaker 1: then I will lengthen your days that's what the Lord 534 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:37,160 Speaker 1: promised to Solomon, and the Lord made good on this promise. 535 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:40,560 Speaker 1: Solomon was graced with wisdom, and his reign as king 536 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:43,720 Speaker 1: was prestigious and it was powerful. He was also made 537 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:47,120 Speaker 1: one of the richest men that have ever walked this planet. 538 00:27:47,600 --> 00:27:52,320 Speaker 1: And that was all great for a season. But one 539 00:27:52,359 --> 00:27:54,760 Speaker 1: of the things you end up discovering in Solomon's life 540 00:27:54,800 --> 00:27:57,320 Speaker 1: is that his life also demonstrated that the riches and 541 00:27:57,359 --> 00:28:00,920 Speaker 1: the other trappings of this world things can actually become 542 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:03,400 Speaker 1: a snare for us that distracts us from what life 543 00:28:03,520 --> 00:28:07,360 Speaker 1: is really all about. You have the Lord inviting Solomon. 544 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:09,399 Speaker 1: He's saying, look, Solomon, I'm gonna bless you with the 545 00:28:09,440 --> 00:28:11,280 Speaker 1: things here that you have requested. I'm even going to 546 00:28:11,359 --> 00:28:15,320 Speaker 1: give you other things as well. But my desire for 547 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:19,000 Speaker 1: you is that you walk with me faithfully. And that's 548 00:28:19,000 --> 00:28:22,760 Speaker 1: where Solomon got off track. The Lord invited Solomon to 549 00:28:22,760 --> 00:28:25,040 Speaker 1: be a man who walked with him faithfully. He encouraged 550 00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:28,280 Speaker 1: Solomon to keep his statutes and his commandments, just as 551 00:28:28,280 --> 00:28:31,840 Speaker 1: his father David had done. And again God even told 552 00:28:31,880 --> 00:28:34,840 Speaker 1: Solomon that his days upon this earth would be lengthened 553 00:28:35,320 --> 00:28:38,400 Speaker 1: if he did this. But Solomon's life offentually, it went 554 00:28:38,440 --> 00:28:42,520 Speaker 1: in a different direction, and from if my math is correct, 555 00:28:42,520 --> 00:28:46,120 Speaker 1: it appears that Solomon lived about ten years less than 556 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:48,920 Speaker 1: his father as a result of that. When you look 557 00:28:48,920 --> 00:28:51,520 Speaker 1: at First Kings, chapter eleven, verse four, it says, for 558 00:28:51,560 --> 00:28:55,520 Speaker 1: when Solomon was old, his wives and he married a 559 00:28:55,520 --> 00:28:59,440 Speaker 1: whole bunch of wives from different backgrounds and from different nations, 560 00:28:59,440 --> 00:29:03,120 Speaker 1: making these political alliances, and they worshiped these false gods, 561 00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:05,600 Speaker 1: and then they had this influence on Solomon. It said, 562 00:29:05,640 --> 00:29:07,960 Speaker 1: for when Solomon was old, his wives turned away his 563 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:11,400 Speaker 1: heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly 564 00:29:11,480 --> 00:29:14,320 Speaker 1: true to the Lord his God, as was the heart 565 00:29:14,680 --> 00:29:18,200 Speaker 1: of David, his father. So it makes a contrast here, 566 00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:20,320 Speaker 1: and it's worth noticing. Even though it's a lot of 567 00:29:20,360 --> 00:29:23,200 Speaker 1: positive things you could say about Solomon, it's worth noticing 568 00:29:23,800 --> 00:29:26,680 Speaker 1: that eventually, later in life, his life got off track. 569 00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:30,280 Speaker 1: Now here's the thing. I don't know how your life 570 00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:33,920 Speaker 1: on this earth began, what your context was like at 571 00:29:33,920 --> 00:29:35,920 Speaker 1: that time, or the things that you've endured during the 572 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:38,920 Speaker 1: course of your days leading you up to the point 573 00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:42,800 Speaker 1: that you're at right now. But regardless of whatever's come 574 00:29:43,400 --> 00:29:46,800 Speaker 1: in the past, wouldn't it be nice to finish well. 575 00:29:49,160 --> 00:29:51,600 Speaker 1: You know, whatever's come in the past, that's there, it 576 00:29:51,640 --> 00:29:56,400 Speaker 1: is what it is. Wouldn't it be nice to finish well? 577 00:29:56,600 --> 00:29:59,480 Speaker 1: David finished well. David had some bumpy roads, but he 578 00:29:59,520 --> 00:30:05,240 Speaker 1: finished we well. Solomon did not. So David finished well, 579 00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:09,320 Speaker 1: Solomon didn't. And what about us? How do we want 580 00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:12,800 Speaker 1: our lives to be remembered? I mean, if you're a 581 00:30:12,880 --> 00:30:14,880 Speaker 1: young person, do you think it's too soon to start 582 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:17,840 Speaker 1: thinking about that stuff? I don't think it's too soon. 583 00:30:19,520 --> 00:30:24,160 Speaker 1: Recently came across the obituary of a man named Harry Stamps. 584 00:30:24,200 --> 00:30:26,720 Speaker 1: Now I could read the whole thing to you, but 585 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:29,120 Speaker 1: I'm not going to read the whole thing. Might be 586 00:30:29,240 --> 00:30:31,800 Speaker 1: worth checking it out though it's not hard to find online. 587 00:30:32,360 --> 00:30:35,320 Speaker 1: But I came across this, and I enjoyed this obituary 588 00:30:35,440 --> 00:30:38,920 Speaker 1: very much. By the way, the older you get, the 589 00:30:38,960 --> 00:30:41,880 Speaker 1: more you read obituaries matter. It's kind of weird. It 590 00:30:41,880 --> 00:30:44,880 Speaker 1: seems cryptic, right, don't be weird like me, But this 591 00:30:45,040 --> 00:30:49,160 Speaker 1: is interesting. Mister Stamps. He actually passed away back in 592 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:52,480 Speaker 1: twenty thirteen, so it's been a decade. And I think 593 00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:54,920 Speaker 1: it was his daughter who took the time to eulogize him. 594 00:30:55,560 --> 00:30:58,640 Speaker 1: And these are a few remembrances that she had of 595 00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:02,400 Speaker 1: Harry's life, And in his obituary there's what she said. 596 00:31:02,720 --> 00:31:06,280 Speaker 1: She said, he had a lifelong affair with deviled eggs. 597 00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:13,120 Speaker 1: He loved lain cakes and boiled peanuts, Vienna sausages on saltines. 598 00:31:13,160 --> 00:31:15,920 Speaker 1: I have not tried that. Has anyone tried that? I'm game, 599 00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:19,680 Speaker 1: I'm game. He loved them. He loved his homemade canned 600 00:31:19,680 --> 00:31:23,280 Speaker 1: fig preserves, pork chops, turnip greens. And this was a 601 00:31:23,600 --> 00:31:25,680 Speaker 1: statement here. I'm trying to picture how this one worked 602 00:31:25,680 --> 00:31:29,240 Speaker 1: in my mind, but she said he also loved buttermilk 603 00:31:29,720 --> 00:31:35,320 Speaker 1: served in martini glasses garnished with cornbread. That was what 604 00:31:35,360 --> 00:31:40,360 Speaker 1: he liked. She said. Harry took fashion cues from no one. 605 00:31:40,400 --> 00:31:44,840 Speaker 1: His signature everyday look was all his A plain pocketed 606 00:31:45,320 --> 00:31:49,360 Speaker 1: T shirt designed by the fashion house Fruit of the Loom. 607 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:54,000 Speaker 1: His black label elastic waist shorts worn above the navel 608 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:59,080 Speaker 1: and sold exclusively at the Sam's Club on Highway forty nine. 609 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:03,640 Speaker 1: Pair of old school wallabies, she said, who can even 610 00:32:03,680 --> 00:32:06,680 Speaker 1: remember where he got those? That were always paired with 611 00:32:06,720 --> 00:32:13,080 Speaker 1: a grass stained MSU baseball cat stylin. Finally, the family 612 00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:16,240 Speaker 1: asks that in honor of Harry, that you write your 613 00:32:16,320 --> 00:32:19,600 Speaker 1: congressman and ask for the repeal of daylight savings time. 614 00:32:23,560 --> 00:32:26,240 Speaker 1: Harry wanted everyone to get back to using the Lord's time. 615 00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:31,800 Speaker 1: That's how his obituary ended. I thought, that's hilarious. She 616 00:32:31,840 --> 00:32:35,040 Speaker 1: should go into like that should be a side job, right, 617 00:32:35,160 --> 00:32:38,120 Speaker 1: writing stuff like that. And I read that, I was like, man, 618 00:32:38,160 --> 00:32:40,960 Speaker 1: I appreciate that family sense of humor. That was just 619 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:43,760 Speaker 1: so funny to me. But even in the humor, this 620 00:32:43,840 --> 00:32:46,840 Speaker 1: is what I'm noticing. And maybe you thought about this 621 00:32:46,880 --> 00:32:50,760 Speaker 1: a little bit too when you look at that. Would 622 00:32:50,760 --> 00:32:54,520 Speaker 1: she have written that if they didn't love Harry, she 623 00:32:54,600 --> 00:32:57,280 Speaker 1: loved Harry. They loved that guy, right, They loved that guy. 624 00:32:57,320 --> 00:33:00,520 Speaker 1: He was obviously a character. And I actually looked at 625 00:33:00,520 --> 00:33:02,400 Speaker 1: that and I thought it was a good reminder that 626 00:33:02,520 --> 00:33:05,200 Speaker 1: our lives actually do make an impact in this world, 627 00:33:05,200 --> 00:33:07,840 Speaker 1: even if you don't think that. It is. Even little 628 00:33:07,840 --> 00:33:10,200 Speaker 1: things that you're doing or being noticed by other people. 629 00:33:10,880 --> 00:33:14,520 Speaker 1: They're filing it away, your little quirks, your little habits, 630 00:33:14,960 --> 00:33:17,320 Speaker 1: the little things you say that encourage them, that point 631 00:33:17,320 --> 00:33:21,720 Speaker 1: them to Jesus. We're given a reminder even in something 632 00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:24,520 Speaker 1: like that that our lives do make an impact in 633 00:33:24,600 --> 00:33:28,600 Speaker 1: this world. We will leave a legacy, whether you're trying 634 00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:32,080 Speaker 1: to or not, you will leave a legacy. And it's 635 00:33:32,120 --> 00:33:35,280 Speaker 1: either going to be a legacy of walking with Jesus 636 00:33:35,360 --> 00:33:40,480 Speaker 1: and taking his words seriously, or it won't. If you 637 00:33:40,520 --> 00:33:43,240 Speaker 1: want to put a dividing line in it, It'll either 638 00:33:43,280 --> 00:33:46,280 Speaker 1: be a legacy of walking with Jesus and taking his 639 00:33:46,320 --> 00:33:51,440 Speaker 1: word seriously, or it won't. But it'll be something. It'll 640 00:33:51,440 --> 00:33:55,680 Speaker 1: either be a legacy of genuine faith being expressed through 641 00:33:55,760 --> 00:33:58,960 Speaker 1: serving others, or it's going to be a legacy wasted 642 00:34:00,360 --> 00:34:04,560 Speaker 1: on frivolities and things that don't matter and missed opportunities. 643 00:34:05,520 --> 00:34:07,040 Speaker 1: And I don't think the Lord is giving us this 644 00:34:07,120 --> 00:34:12,360 Speaker 1: opportunity so that we would waste it. By God's grace, 645 00:34:12,520 --> 00:34:15,040 Speaker 1: my prayer for us is that we will leave a 646 00:34:15,160 --> 00:34:19,319 Speaker 1: legacy of genuine faith in Jesus Christ. There is no 647 00:34:19,520 --> 00:34:21,799 Speaker 1: greater thing that could be said of you and me 648 00:34:22,080 --> 00:34:25,880 Speaker 1: when our earthly days conclude, other than we knew Jesus 649 00:34:26,040 --> 00:34:31,000 Speaker 1: and we walked with him daily. And what a privilege 650 00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:33,480 Speaker 1: it is for that to be the testimony that our 651 00:34:33,520 --> 00:34:38,080 Speaker 1: lives leave. I love the fact that and I'll say 652 00:34:38,080 --> 00:34:41,239 Speaker 1: this as we finish up our series looking at David's life, 653 00:34:41,239 --> 00:34:43,400 Speaker 1: and I just wanted to draw a little contrast for 654 00:34:43,520 --> 00:34:47,400 Speaker 1: us what was said of Solomon, what was said of 655 00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:50,919 Speaker 1: his father. One of those two things will be said 656 00:34:50,920 --> 00:34:55,240 Speaker 1: of us. We will either finish well walking with Jesus, 657 00:34:56,320 --> 00:34:58,719 Speaker 1: or we won't finish well because we chose to walk 658 00:34:58,760 --> 00:35:02,400 Speaker 1: the way of this world. My encouragement for us is 659 00:35:02,480 --> 00:35:06,279 Speaker 1: to remember that contrast and to remember that example, and 660 00:35:06,320 --> 00:35:09,680 Speaker 1: to actually be intentional about our walk with Christ, knowing 661 00:35:10,160 --> 00:35:13,759 Speaker 1: that it's going to have a direct impact on the 662 00:35:13,800 --> 00:35:16,280 Speaker 1: lives that we interact with and the people who daily 663 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:21,040 Speaker 1: who daily observe us and see us and are deciding 664 00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:24,000 Speaker 1: on the pattern of their life based on what they 665 00:35:24,040 --> 00:35:29,440 Speaker 1: see going on in hours. Let's pray, Lord, thank you 666 00:35:29,480 --> 00:35:33,120 Speaker 1: so much for your word and for the privilege that 667 00:35:33,160 --> 00:35:34,399 Speaker 1: it is to be able to look at a portion 668 00:35:34,440 --> 00:35:38,680 Speaker 1: of Scripture like this today and to see the contrasts 669 00:35:38,719 --> 00:35:42,640 Speaker 1: that you show to us in it. Lord, We're just 670 00:35:42,680 --> 00:35:46,440 Speaker 1: so thankful for the fact that you give us the 671 00:35:46,440 --> 00:35:49,560 Speaker 1: privilege to walk with you. You're not trying to operate as 672 00:35:50,600 --> 00:35:53,680 Speaker 1: God at a distance. You're right here in our midst. 673 00:35:54,040 --> 00:35:57,160 Speaker 1: You tell us that your promise is to be with 674 00:35:57,239 --> 00:36:02,680 Speaker 1: us all our days. And you invited those who came 675 00:36:02,719 --> 00:36:05,040 Speaker 1: before us to walk with you, and some did and 676 00:36:05,080 --> 00:36:08,000 Speaker 1: some didn't. You're inviting us in the same way, and 677 00:36:08,080 --> 00:36:10,480 Speaker 1: some of us will and some of us won't. Lord, 678 00:36:10,520 --> 00:36:12,440 Speaker 1: we recognize that most people in this world just live 679 00:36:12,480 --> 00:36:14,520 Speaker 1: for themselves. Most people in this world just go about 680 00:36:14,520 --> 00:36:17,760 Speaker 1: their day to day life consumed with their own selfish desires. 681 00:36:17,800 --> 00:36:19,760 Speaker 1: We understand that that is the way of this world, 682 00:36:19,760 --> 00:36:22,200 Speaker 1: and that's what most people pursue, and they do that 683 00:36:22,320 --> 00:36:26,320 Speaker 1: right from their earliest days right to the grave, paying 684 00:36:26,360 --> 00:36:29,040 Speaker 1: no mind to you, paying no mind to eternal things, 685 00:36:29,080 --> 00:36:32,320 Speaker 1: paying no mind to the fact that you truly desire 686 00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:34,319 Speaker 1: to transform us and give us a brand new way 687 00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:36,759 Speaker 1: of thinking and living. You desire to give us a 688 00:36:36,760 --> 00:36:39,000 Speaker 1: brand new life where you forgive us of our sin, 689 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:44,919 Speaker 1: help us to walk with you in holiness, and help 690 00:36:44,960 --> 00:36:47,799 Speaker 1: us to look forward to the future, knowing that there 691 00:36:47,800 --> 00:36:49,560 Speaker 1: may be some nice things that you give to us 692 00:36:49,600 --> 00:36:52,439 Speaker 1: on this side of heaven, But when we're in your 693 00:36:52,520 --> 00:36:55,320 Speaker 1: presence in eternity, that's when we're really going to see 694 00:36:55,560 --> 00:36:59,319 Speaker 1: the most wonderful things. Lord. We're just so grateful for that, 695 00:37:00,080 --> 00:37:01,960 Speaker 1: and we're grateful that you give us an opportunity to 696 00:37:02,000 --> 00:37:04,359 Speaker 1: taste some of those things now. I often think, Lord, 697 00:37:04,920 --> 00:37:08,000 Speaker 1: when we're gathered together like this worshiping You, that this 698 00:37:08,040 --> 00:37:11,319 Speaker 1: is a taste of eternity. This is a taste of 699 00:37:11,360 --> 00:37:14,080 Speaker 1: what our heavenly reality is going to be like. Fellowship 700 00:37:14,120 --> 00:37:17,040 Speaker 1: with others who love you, opportunity to sing together and 701 00:37:17,080 --> 00:37:21,120 Speaker 1: pray together, opportunity to enjoy each other's company. Lord, It's 702 00:37:21,160 --> 00:37:24,200 Speaker 1: a wonderful thing. And we're grateful for the community of 703 00:37:24,280 --> 00:37:26,680 Speaker 1: the Church that you've established. And the only reason we're 704 00:37:26,719 --> 00:37:28,840 Speaker 1: united to one another is because of the union we 705 00:37:28,880 --> 00:37:33,239 Speaker 1: have to you through your son Jesus Christ. So Lord, 706 00:37:33,239 --> 00:37:37,280 Speaker 1: thank you for facilitating that. Thank you for making that possible. Father, 707 00:37:37,400 --> 00:37:39,480 Speaker 1: I pray that if there be anyone in my hearing 708 00:37:39,560 --> 00:37:44,719 Speaker 1: right now who does not know you through your son 709 00:37:44,840 --> 00:37:48,479 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ, who has never trusted in Jesus to save 710 00:37:48,560 --> 00:37:51,200 Speaker 1: them of their sin, who's never received the gift of 711 00:37:51,200 --> 00:37:54,400 Speaker 1: salvation that's freely offered through your son, who came to 712 00:37:54,440 --> 00:37:58,360 Speaker 1: this earth to sacrificially serve us, the pray Lord, that 713 00:37:58,400 --> 00:38:00,160 Speaker 1: today would be the day that they would receive that 714 00:38:00,200 --> 00:38:03,319 Speaker 1: gift of forgiveness, that you offer through Jesus. Pray that 715 00:38:03,320 --> 00:38:06,520 Speaker 1: today would be the day that they receive new life 716 00:38:06,560 --> 00:38:13,000 Speaker 1: through your son, and that their perspective completely changes. Lord, 717 00:38:13,000 --> 00:38:15,400 Speaker 1: thank you so much for helping us to see things 718 00:38:15,640 --> 00:38:18,480 Speaker 1: supernaturally that we could never see with our natural eyes. 719 00:38:19,320 --> 00:38:21,719 Speaker 1: And thank you Lord for the privilege to celebrate your 720 00:38:21,760 --> 00:38:25,040 Speaker 1: presence right here with us today. We love you, Lord, 721 00:38:25,320 --> 00:38:27,359 Speaker 1: and we pray that by your grace that you would 722 00:38:27,440 --> 00:38:30,359 Speaker 1: establish a legacy of faith through the lives that you're 723 00:38:30,400 --> 00:38:35,160 Speaker 1: allowing us to live. We pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.