Pray Without Ceasing 04.24.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Thursday April 24, 2008 and today we are continuing our study on the book of I Kings. Please read Chapter 8 in your Bibile or Click Here to read. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=11&chapter=8&version=9

Today we will read and learn about the Ark of the Lord in the Temple, the glory of the Lord fills the Temple, and Solomon's sermon, prayer, and dedication to God. Today's message focuses on the importance of prayer.

The day had arrived for the dedication of the glorious Temple in Jerusalem, "Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto king Solomon in Jerusalem, that they might bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites bring up. And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude. And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims." (I Kings 8:1-6).

The Ark is where the presence of God dwelt above the Mercy Seat, "And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD." (8:10-11). The people stood in the courtyard and worshiped the Lord at the dedication of the Temple.

Solomon prayed the longest recorded prayer in the Bible and stressed to the Israelites the faithfulness of God, "And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart: Who hast kept with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him: thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day." (8:22-24). He is the source of all physical and spiritual life as well as the power to provide for and protect all who love and honor Him. The need to be cleansed of sin is prominent in this prayer, "When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them: Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, that thou teach them the good way wherein they should walk, and give rain upon thy land, which thou hast given to thy people for an inheritance." (8:35-36). The consciousness of sin and the need for forgiveness held a prominent place in this prayer.

Solomon knew well that there was only One True God and that God looked upon the heart, for he emphatically proclaimed, "That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else. Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day." (8:60-61). The word perfect implies wholeheartedness and single mindedness. God looks upon men's hearts and knows whether or not their prayer is a mere passing emotion or that they have truly turned to Him. What a different picture the history of the kingdom would have been if the reign of Solomon had been as true to the Lord as his marvelous prayer!

The One True God includes all three persons of the Trinity: God the Father, Jesus, who is God the son, and God the Holy Spirit. A Christian's daily conversation and conduct should express love and loyalty to the One True God. "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (I Timothy 2:3-6)

In today's message Jesus Christ is revealed through the perfect Temple of God before whom all kings of the earth one day must bow (I Kings 8:54). "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;" (Philippians 2:9-10).

Today's Psalm: 55:7
"Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice."

Today's Prayer: From Psalm 17
Dear Lord,
1Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.

2Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.

3Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

4Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

5Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

6I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

7Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.

8Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

9From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

In Jesus' name, I pray.....Amen

Have a teriffic Thursday.
God Bless,
Christina

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