About a month ago I opened up my bible in boredom trying to see if the lord had a word for me. Well, it just so happened that I landed in first kings the page with chapter three right there just staring me in the face. So I thought, "Alright God lets see what word you have for me today." and I began to read first kings chapter three. It didn't take long until I got to the part about how God came to King Solomon in a dream and said, "Ask what I shall give thee".
I remember thinking, "Wow, Solomon is a very lucky man!". because he thought to ask God for wisdom to judge God's people righteously instead of wealth and success for himself. "If only God came to me and asked me that question".
1 Kings 3:10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
I'd bet when you was a kid there was a time when you imagined that you had a wish from a genie, I know I did. And let me guess, that wish was probably for all the money in the world or to be the richest person in the world, am I right?
But now that you're all grown up you can clearly see that all the money in the world will not solve any of your problems but will most likely end up creating a whole lot more problems (dealing with sin) for you to deal with.
1 Kings 3:13 And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee all thy days.
Ain't that something? Solomon not only got what he asked for but also got riches and honour without asking for it. I thought, "Man, what do I have to do to get God to come to me in a dream?!".
About a week later I was doing the same thing looking for another word from God, but this time I was using a different bible. Was it coincidence that I just so happen to land on the exact same page with first kings chapter three on it? This time I thought, "This can't just be an accident the lord must be really trying to tell me something".
So I thought about it for a little while and didn't think no more about it until a few days ago when I was thinking about what I should include in this very article that I am writing to you right now.
The Holy Spirit brought to my attention what Jesus said in Matthew 21:22, "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive".
The Holy Spirit said, "that was the same as Him saying ask what I shall give thee", like He had once told Solomon a long, long time ago.
Then I remembered a verse in James 4:3, "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts".
But it didn't stop there the Holy spirit explained to me the prayer of faith by reminding me about James 2:17, "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone".
But I was still a little bit confused so I asked God, "what is the work that must be done if someone asks you for something?". And he said, "The prayer is the work and the believing you receive is the faith". Thus we have the term the prayer of faith, "duh, I should have known that". I thought to myself.
But before this happened there was an incident when I was sleeping and the holy spirit whispered in my ear.
Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
What?, I hadn't heard or read that verse in at least a year or two. "Where was it now, if I'm not mistaken I think it was psalms 37:5". No it was psalms 37:4. Close enough for me since they both coincide with each other.
So, What is the point that God wanted me to get so I could tell you about it?
Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
We know that since God did this for Solomon He will do the same for you because He is not a respecter of persons.
God said Matthew 21:22 "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive". was the same as Him saying "Ask what I shall give thee". like He told King Solomon in 1 Kings 3:5.
We know that God said we do not receive when we ask because we ask for a selfish reason. James 4:3.
We know we must pray the prayer of faith in which we must believe we receive. Matthew. 21:22.
We know that it pleases God to ask for a heart of understanding righteousness and wisdom so that we could be a blessing to others like Solomon did. 1 Kings 3:5
We know that when Solomon asked for righteousness and wisdom that pleased God very much and he also gave Solomon both riches, and honour in addition to righteousness and wisdom.
We know that if we delight in Gods ways, He will also give us the desires of our heart just like He gave Solomon because Solomon pleased God with his desire to be a good king and judge righteously for the sake of God's people and not for his own self or selfish ambitions.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
But of course if you have a father like king David in which your mother is the desire of his heart, you'll have a head start on the learning curve from the rest of us peasants.
Hey, we may not be kings but what's even better is that we are joint heirs with the king of kings Jesus Christ!
Romans 8:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Here is your bible assignment for this week: To find out more about King Solomon by reading the book of 1 kings in your Bible or online at:
http://www.dailywordofgodgroup.com/christian/bible.php/1ki/
And of course your prayer assignment for this week is to pray the prayer of faith and ask God for an understanding heart of righteousness and wisdom so that you may be a blessing to other people, be specific if you can and do not get off your knees until you believe you receive it.
"Whew!" Praise God and thank you Jesus, I already received it, now it's your turn, what are you waiting for!?
David Hopkins is a "Christian Article Writer" who specializes in helping people remember to glorify God in everything that they do, so they don't miss out on any of His wonderful blessings.
Visit http://www.dailywordofgodgroup.com/christian/bible.php/1ki/ to read additional articles and to sign-up for a free newsletter to learn everything you need to know about why you should be putting God #1 in your life.
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