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The wise King’s lesson
Reading chapters in Ecclesiastes this morning, it made me think about our mind-set when tackling situations. It also caused me to think about interaction with others. Solomon starts off early in Ecclesiastes by differentiating between the wise and the fool. It was even deeper to understand that he described them in way which shows, even though wisdom is as far away from folly as light from dark, they always meet each other on the way. It was fascinating to know that they could never escape each other. No matter how far we try to move away from something, certain things will never be far enough. As I was reading about it, I started to think to myself “I’m not always wise, there are times I may do foolish things.” I then started to realise that what Solomon was saying was so. Even if we use the great wise king himself, his lifestyle clearly shows us this. A man who spent most of his time in analysis of life, came to find himself excelling in wisdom as well as folly. For may years I wondered…Why? Someone so wise can act so foolish at times, he was explaining how this happens in his own words. I’ve always sensed an element of frustration from Ecclesiastes, and the way in which Solomon speaks about vanity you can understand why.
L.E.A.P
Live, means to conduct oneself in a manner of consistency. When you live a certain way, it becomes apparent by onlookers what kind of lifestyle one leads. Ruth was not from the land of Israel, but she strove to be a worshipper of The Most High. When something unfolds, it is easy to look back retrospectively and decipher why things happened the way they did. A family moves away to another land, practically everyone dies and then one woman from another place comes back to the land. One would ask the question, why? It is clear to see however that Ruth was trying to live a life for God.
Throughout the first few chapters in the book of Ruth we become aware of Ruth’s relation and faith in Almighty God (Ruth 1:6, 14, 16, 17). This relationships is also in contrast to that of her sister in law Orpah (Ruth 1:15). By chapter two, Boaz testifies of the fact that he knew all the good work she had done for her mother in law, how she left mother, father and land (verse 11). Boaz also highlighted that her devotion to God was now very visible, it was becoming clear that her lifestyle portrayed someone who loved God (verse 12). This is what it means to live for God, living a lifestyle which reflects his splendour.
Example is something all believers should be. Ruth must have come to know God by someone’s example. Due to the fact her husband and other male members of the family had died, I believe it must have been Naomi’s example. The Bible talks about women drawing there husbands to God, Peter stated that “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.” Added emphasis is mine, it does lead me to believe (although this specifically refers to married women) that Naomi’s example was what showed Ruth the ways of God. Ruth learned how to be a mother from Naomi, as well as a women of faith. Be an example.
Answer the question posed to you, at any given time of the day. Peter wrote “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” Phillip was ready to preach Jesus, and was ready to expound upon the scriptures of the Old Testament. When the question arose “Of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?” No script, no plan, just what he knew from his experience and life. You must always be ready to answer the question. So answer it, whether by actions or by word.
Protect what has been given to you, to the end of your days. God gave us what is known as the full armour of God. We are soldiers in a battle and every soldier needs his protection. God gives us the best weaponry and artillery to defeat the enemies. From Ephesians 6:13 onwards we can read of the various components which make up God’s armour. Protect the great gift of God.
LEAP for Christ
Turn your face to faith
Faith is great, faith is vital. We all have faith. The faith we have however is in different things. The Bible says in Hebrews, that Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. The Hebrew word for substance here meaning the ground or setting stone. Faith is the platform for our relationship with God. Faith ultimately is what pleases God. On top of everything faith is personal. I can’t experience your faith personally, I can only try to understand it. God will honour one’s faith because he is true to his word. You may feel you must be some generationally-universally renown individual like John the Baptist or Paul the apostle to have faith but you do not need to be someone special to utilise faith in God.
This article focuses on King Hezekiah. A man that wasn’t the greatest man but he had faith. His faith was visible on more than one occasion. Picking up from Isaiah 37, we see that Hezekiah sent messengers unto the man of God. He highlights the fact that troubled times have arose. You may not know the significance in this, however recently, God has given me several dreams which have indicated, the first point of reference in danger should be him. God sees the fear we have and knows when we are afraid. He is so well pleased when we trust in him and ask for help. Verse six shows God’s response to Hezekiah’s plea “Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.” Israel is seemingly on the brink of destruction but the king’s faith in God is what saves the nation. The next few verses show God’s word come to pass and then messengers sent to Hezekiah stating the destruction is not off. Hezekiah was placed in fear again and what did he do? He went to the house of God and spread the letter before the Lord. Hezekiah spread his problems before God and began to pray. God’s response to this prayer is “He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it. By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD. For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.” This is a clear formula, faith equals results from God.
Hezekiah believe God could work above all. Moving onto the next chapter in Isaiah we see Hezekiah became sick. The man of God Isaiah comes to deliver a message to him, telling him he will die and not live (set your house in order). What does he do? He rejects the word from Isaiah with his faith, turning his face to the wall.
God’s response was to send Isaiah back saying “I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years. And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city.“
FAITH IS BIGGER THAN YOUR SITUATION!!!
Why should the work cease?
And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
One of the biggest motivations for me in life is the Bible! More importantly is the people inside the Bible, when one reads a story book, we so easily get attached to these characters who are fictional and treat them as real. This is the same feeling we portray when watching soaps and entertainment shows. The Bible is different! We can see the realness in the Bible and look at these people as those from history. As real as Adolf Hitler or Stalin, we believe these story’s because someone taught us these lessons. The two aforementioned were from the last century and a time will come when all those who experienced first hand torture and pain will be gone. What we will have left are books, videos and word of mouth. People easily believe in these stories without having personally experienced these times. This is one way in which people have surety believing things they did not witness. 
The above cited scripture is a segment from and encounter Nehemiah had during his time in captivity. Perhaps one of my favourite scriptures, although I have quite a few. Nehemiah gives the believer the best response to people who do not understand, are trying to disrupt your environment or simply just want you to do something else. He states what more believers should be telling people in there lives. Why should I come down to you and stop the good work I’m doing here for God, this will waste my time? We get caught up so much in life and of recent God has been showing me how our friends can disrupt our calling. Friends are not always positive that must be said, there are times when your friend will bother you and keep you from work. There has to come a time in your life however when you make a decision to stop putting life on hold and continue progressing in life.
On top of this statement, there are more attempts to prize Nehemiah away from his good work for God. Do you know how he replied? Nehemiah 6:4 reads “Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.” It is much easier to say no once than to be consistently perseverant. When those leeches in life suck you dry and continue to use you, you must be willing and able to say no. These were people in his life who were looking to do him evil and not good.
I want you from now on to look at things in life in the right frame of mind and decide whether you are going to allow the same people you said you would cut of years ago to remain a constant distraction. These could be people God has told you to cut affiliation with but you remained in contact for fear of alienation. A certain job God told you to quit but the money is too good in your opinion. These are all things which will test your faith and God sees everyone’s faith.
Be different.
Have I not Commanded Thee?
“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
I remember maybe a year or so ago, listening to an audio book, the writer was going through several quotes of people and came to a man who portrayed in my opinion serious courage. The man faced a terrible expedition to sea, with fierce winds and scared shipmen. The captain said rest assured we may not come back, but we definitely must go. This showed to me a man who was willing to act, even though many around him were afraid and lacked belief. Just as Joshua began to lead the children of Israel, God had encouraged him and stated some assuring words to him. If I say to you it will be safe in the beginning it can help you on your journey, if I said it during it may not be as effective as from the start. If I then wait until you complete the action and then tell you it is as good as useless. God set out in the beginning to encourage Joshua and us also in our lives that he has our safety at hand. He also assures us that we are in good hands (the best actually). Similar to this point, when Paul was shipwrecked (Acts 27 – from the start) he had a foreword of safety, being informed by God he would not die at sea.
Jesus told his disciples to go over to the other side before him and they went a certain distance and were stuck in boisterous winds. Jesus didn’t command them to go and get shipwrecked but they still had problems. Jesus could see them and came to them, Jesus never forgets his command nor what we feel inside. When Thomas doubted the resurrection Jesus appeared to him. There are so many times we find ourselves fearing a promise we have received.
I have showed you ample example of those in the scriptures who could act on a word from God and I am here to ask you the reader…What has God asked of you? what things are outstanding on God’s agenda for you?
How many times must he seek you before you listen and decide to act?
We are all commanded by God to act but what do we do with it?
God has commanded, we need to follow!
God bless
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