Sunday School: I Kings 15:1-24 Abijam (Abijah in II Chronicles 13).
Abijam follows Rehoboam. In the very short account of his reign in I Kings 15, he is portrayed very negatively, having "walked in the sins of his father." But in I Chronicles, one positive story is given, in which Abijah (Abijam) responds to Jeroboam's declaration of war. He reminds Jeroboam of his sin, and that he is not of the line of David and not under the covenant. He also reminds him that Judah has NOT forsaken the Lord, and has kept the priests and worship as commanded by God. God does indeed fight for them, and Jeroboam is defeated. Abijam reigns for only 3 years, but is well established.
Asa follows Abijam. Asa does what is right in God's eyes, tearing down the idols and removes the cult prostitutes, and even his grandmother from being the queen mother. He restores the sacred things to the temple. II Chron 14 provides information that is not included in I Kings short account. Asa sees to the building of strong cities and walls during years of peace. He also built up a strong army. When Ethiopia comes out against him with an army one million strong, Asa cries out to God for help and God defeats the army soundly. Chapter 15 details the reforms he made, as in I Kings.
I Kings gives a brief account of Baasha, king of Israel building Ramah in order to block travel and trade in and out of Jerusalem. Asa is said to have robbed the temple of the sacred things he'd restored there earlier to pay off Ben-Hadad, king of Syria, to get him to fight Israel for him. Ben-Hadad does this, and Ramah is removed, timber by timber, stone by stone by the men of Judah, who use the plunder to build their own cities.
Chronicles goes a step further with the story, however. After the defeat of Israel by Ben-Hadad, God sends a seer with a message to Asa: You have depended on yourself and your own means, rather than rely on me, and now you will have war always. Asa does not respond well to God's word and punishes the seer, as well as some of the people. In his last years, he is diseased in his feet, still does not seek the Lord, and is buried, remembered well by the people.
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What a reminder that a good start isn't always followed by a good finish. We must not grow self sufficient (how often we do when the trial is over, even after acknowledging God's power and help). We must always rely upon Him. I think of Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
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Meditation from the bulletin: "Empty cisterns drive us to the Fountain." Rutherford.
>>Indeed. And the Fountain never does run dry, nor is it stingy, but ever so generous!
Sermon, Colossians 1:24-29 Ministry's Goal Rev. Bart Lester
"....present every man mature in Christ..."
This is the goal at Eastwood, and in the past we have had a reputation for such. It was the place for especially a young man to go who wanted to be taught well and trained to be a mature man of God. Women also.
May we not lose sight of this. >>Eastwood has certainly been that for me!
Paul, in this passage explains that this is done by proclaiming the Gospel clearly and correctly, according to the Word, rightly interpreted. Maturity comes from the proclamation of the Word, and cannot occur with out the Word of God being central.
'mature' (verse 22) = being wholly blameless and above reproach.
A life dominated by love as in I Cor. 13. and in I Tim 1:5 a pure heart and a good conscience.
This proclamation invites toil, labor and struggle, and meets resistance. For Paul, this meant suffering. Paul's statement in verse 24 about 'filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions." was explained better than I've ever heard. It isn't that Christs sufferings were not sufficient, or effective. But in Acts 9, when Christ confronts Paul on the road to Damascus, He doesn't ask him why he is persecuting the Christians, but "why are you persecuting Me.?" A Christian's suffering is Christ's suffering. He is not claiming to be a mediator, but indeed his sufferings point to Christ.
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It has been one long week of pain, medical testing, illness, and facing the reality of depression.
Arthritis pain is constant and every day, but isn't severe or disabling (yet) so I can deal with it.
Left chest pain was found to be non-cardiac, so I can deal with that too.
Depression isn't crippling or overwhelming, but naming it (Thanks Mal!) is a good thing, and a step in the right direction. Sharing the details with trusted friends and prayer warriors is good too.
What a blessing to serve a God who is never changing, though all else is shifting sand. Who will never leave or forsake me. Who will always provide for me....and knows better than I do exactly what I need and will say 'no' to the things I think I want that He has not ordained for me. Whose lovingkindness is new every morning, so that I am not consumed. Who heals me spiritually and physically.
The closing hymn this morning is one of my favorites, and fit so well......
Like a River Glorious, is God's perfect peace.
Over all victorious, in it's bright increase;
perfect yet it floweth, fuller every day,
perfect yet it groweth deeper all the way,
Hidden in the hollow of his blessed hand,
never foe can follow, never traitor stand,
not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.
Every joy or trial falleth from above,
traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love.
We may trust him fully, all for us to do,
they who trust him wholly, find him wholly true.
Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blessed. (psalm128:1 KJV)
Finding as he promised, perfect peace and rest.
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