Romans 5

3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Character only comes through life experience.

2 Chronicles 4-6

13 indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,”
that the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.

I want that cloud.

Acts 4

19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

If God has promised me the nation, I shall take the nation. My own body, my own church, my own self discipline, my own intellect, even my own faith... are not for consideration...that was David's error in numbering Israel. For His glory and for His name, through Him and because of His strength, and His faithfulness, I shall possess the land. Jesus Christ is Lord.

2 Chronicles 1-3

2 And Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the captains of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader in all Israel, the heads of the fathers’ houses.

Communication is the art of leadership.

6 But who is able to build Him a temple, since heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him? Who am I then, that I should build Him a temple, except to burn sacrifice before Him?

Our ministry to the Lord flows from His goodness to us: it must not be an attempt to contain Him!

1 Now Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

David sinned and numbered Israel. The Bible doesn't say why it was a sin...pride, lack of trust in God, whatever...the Bible tells us David sinned in doing this thing. We also learn that this sin released a destroying Angel in the land, and that the Angel stopped at Ornan's house, which was where David sacrificed to the Lord, and the plague ended. So here's the thing which blows me away: David builds the temple where everyone will come to worship God at the very place that represents the forgiveness of his own sin! Can we build for God in the exact spot we screwed up with the same bold confidence that God has forgiven?! Can we make our monumental failures monuments to the God of Mercy and Grace?

Romans 3

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith

Faith picks up all the blessings it doesn't deserve.
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1 Chronicles 27-29

19 "All this," said David, "the LORD made me understand in writing, by His hand upon me, all the works of these plans."


Revelation often comes from the Lord as we put pen to paper.
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Romans 2

29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

Pursue the inner life. Internal victory precedes public victory.

1 Chronicles 24-26

27 Some of the spoils won in battles they dedicated to maintain the house of the LORD.

The house is maintained by its people's victories.

Romans 1

29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,[c] wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving,[d] unmerciful;

I don't think we recognise evil as clearly as Paul did. "Undiscerning" is in the list. We can sin by approving what God does not approve.

1 Chronicles 21-23

30 to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at evening

Sounds like a good idea.

Acts 28

31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.

Who forbids us? Then we must do the same!

1 Chronicles 8-20

4 “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: “You shall not build Me a house to dwell in.....Furthermore I tell you that the LORD will build you a house..."

You can't outgive God, but its fun trying!

Acts 27

10 saying, "Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives."


22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.

What accounts for the difference between these two prophecies, given not long after each other?
Revelation is progressive, and can change according to intercession. God may reveal judgement, yet we can align ourselves in such a way that we receive mercy instead.
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1 Chronicles 1-3

History is a very important part of the Bible. The Jewish people did not view the Old Testament as myth - the importance of its reality is seen in the genealogies presented in these chapters.

1 Samuel 1-4

(1v13) 'Therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman'
Here we see an example of being drunk with the Spirit, rather than drunk with wine. Hannah's 'drunkenness' is exhibited by silent-but-coherent prayer to the Lord. There was no loss of self-control, but a 'pouring out' of her soul that leads to an answer to her petition. It was after this 'pouring out of the soul' that 'her face was no longer sad' (1v18).

1 Chronicles 5-7

for they cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him

Cry out in your battle!
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Acts 24

25 Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid

This cannot be left out if we are to see souls saved.

1 Chronicles 2-4

So God granted him what he requested.

Ask.

2 Kings 1-2

10 So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men." And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.


If I am a man of God, let the fire of His Spirit consume this Nation in His goodness and Glory!!
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1 Kings 22

43 And he walked in all the ways of his father Asa. He did not turn aside from them, doing what was right in the eyes of the LORD. Nevertheless the high places were not taken away, for the people offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.

It is possible to walk with the Lord, and have other "high places" in our lives. The high places must come down.
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Acts 13

2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

When we lay down our agenda just to simply minister to the Lord, that is often when He reveals His agenda.
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1 Kings 19-21

21 So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen's equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.


Serve, and receive promotion.
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Acts 12

7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side

Sometimes a divine shove is just the job.
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1 Kings 18

1 And it came to pass after many days that the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year,

Patience is essential for a prophet. It is necessary to wait for the word of the Lord. Even after God speaks, we must pause to weigh the word and consider carefully if and when, how and to whom we should deliver it.
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1 Kings 16-18

7 And also the word of the LORD came by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha and his house, because of all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD in provoking Him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and because he killed them.

We cannot fight evil with evil. The old playground philosophy of "he did it first" does not defer guilt, it multiplies it.
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Acts 11

15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.

Have we experienced the Holy Spirit fall upon us "as at the beginning"?

1 Kings 13-15

26 Now when the prophet who had brought him back from the way heard it, he said, “It is the man of God who was disobedient to the word of the LORD. Therefore the LORD has delivered him to the lion, which has torn him and killed him, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke to him.”

It is dangerous to preach obedience and disobey. All ministers are made examples of one way or another.

Psalm 113

Preached on this the other day, so here are a couple of points I made:
1. The language of praise - recognising the greatness (4-6) and the grace (7-9) of God
2. The lifestyle of praise - The bible gives importance to the need for genuine praise, worshipping 'in spirit and in truth'. Genuine praise will come from a heart that belongs to the Lord (a heart that has experienced His grace), and be part of a life that is lived for the Lord (a life that testifies to His greatness).

Ruth 1-4

Ruth chapter 2
Boaz, portrayed immediately as a godly man (2v4), finds his heart drawn to the sacrificing, serving, sojourning spirit of Ruth (2v11).

Judges 5-21

A recurring pattern emerges in the book. The people turn away from the Lord, then face life without His blessing. They cry out for deliverance, and God sends a rescuer. He delivers the people from their trouble/enemies, only for the people to turn away from the Lord again at a later date.

Clearly, the people are not able to hold to the covenant laws. The salvation they find at the hands of a God-sent deliverer is temporary, as it depends upon their own ability to be faithful to the Lord and to covenant laws. Judges sends a clear message - God's people need a saviour who can not only defeat the enemy, but can also maintain a perfect covenant relationship with the Lord on their behalf.

Acts 10

4 And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?"
So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.

Giving is one way to pursue God.
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1 Kings 10-12

9 So the LORD became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the LORD God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice, 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what the LORD had commanded.

Hearing from God is no substitute for obeying God.

7 And they spoke to him, saying, "If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever."

That is how to lead. Great advice.
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Acts 9

20 Immediately he preached the Christ[c] in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

Why wait?
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1 Kings 7-9

"11 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.
12 Then Solomon spoke"

There is a place we get to where our ministry stops and God takes over. Nonetheless, it was when the Glory fell that Solomon spoke. God wants our response, and loves to respond to our ministry to Him. Relationship.

"when their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is; 38 whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands toward this temple:"

Solomon directly links the peace/ plague within to the peace/ plague without. To the extent Christ reigns within us, we will establish His reign in the earth.
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