Israel enjoyed a time of great prosperity and blessing under King Solomon. His wisdom and humility before God ensured the blessings of God on the nation. As Pastor Mark emphasizes in today's study, when a nation recognizes God and bows to Him as the source of their peace and abundance, that nation will continue to receive His grace. We sometimes think of the “God of the old testament” as angry and stingy towards everyone, but we see in these passages His joyful benevolence on those whom He's called to be His own. It is His desire that we should receive His blessing and not His judgement, and so He calls us to obedience.

Pastor Mark's Wednesday evening teachings will give us an overview of God's Word from Genesis to Revelation. Tonight, Pastor Mark continues in the book of Judges.

One of the most common characteristics shared by the great leaders of the Bible, both men and women was humility. They were all dumbfounded that the God of the universe would choose them to carry out His plans that would affect all of mankind for all of eternity. Today, Pastor Mark shows that Solomon was no different. He recognized that the task before him would require much more than he had to offer. So he appealed to God to give him what he needed to do the job. Rather than taking the “I've got this” approach that's so prevalent today, we too should ask God to give us what we need to do His will.

One of the most common characteristics shared by the great leaders of the Bible, both men and women was humility. They were all dumbfounded that the God of the universe would choose them to carry out His plans that would affect all of mankind for all of eternity. Today, Pastor Mark shows that Solomon was no different. He recognized that the task before him would require much more than he had to offer. So he appealed to God to give him what he needed to do the job. Rather than taking the “I've got this” approach that's so prevalent today, we too should ask God to give us what we need to do His will.

Pastor Mark's Wednesday evening teachings will give us an overview of God's Word from Genesis to Revelation. Tonight, Pastor Mark continues in the book of Judges.

Solomon had a great relationship with the Lord, he'd even seen God in dreams and spoken with Him on two separate occasions. But as Pastor Mark points out in today's study, Solomon began to multiply wives, which was in direct disobedience to God's command that the kings of Israel were not to do so. Many of the wives and concubines were pagans who didn't worship the God of Israel. Instead they introduced Solomon to their idols and rather than exercising the wisdom he was so famous for and rejecting them, he began to dabble in those beliefs. The influences we allow in our lives can strengthen our faith, or destroy it.

Solomon had a great relationship with the Lord, he'd even seen God in dreams and spoken with Him on two separate occasions. But as Pastor Mark points out in today's study, Solomon began to multiply wives, which was in direct disobedience to God's command that the kings of Israel were not to do so. Many of the wives and concubines were pagans who didn't worship the God of Israel. Instead they introduced Solomon to their idols and rather than exercising the wisdom he was so famous for and rejecting them, he began to dabble in those beliefs. The influences we allow in our lives can strengthen our faith, or destroy it.

Bathsheba knew that David's son Adonijah was attempting to usurp the throne and take the kingdom for himself as David's successor. But she also knew that David had already promised the throne to their son Solomon. When she approached the king to tell him of Adonijah's rebellion, David recognized her distress and reassured her that he would keep his promise. As Pastor Mark brings out in today's study, David was in a position to relieve her anguish, because God had delivered him on many occasions. He also asks us if we've noticed God's deliverance from our distresses. Or do we mistake them for coincidence or a stroke of luck?

Bathsheba knew that David's son Adonijah was attempting to usurp the throne and take the kingdom for himself as David's successor. But she also knew that David had already promised the throne to their son Solomon. When she approached the king to tell him of Adonijah's rebellion, David recognized her distress and reassured her that he would keep his promise. As Pastor Mark brings out in today's study, David was in a position to relieve her anguish, because God had delivered him on many occasions. He also asks us if we've noticed God's deliverance from our distresses. Or do we mistake them for coincidence or a stroke of luck?

Just as the Lord wanted to take Israel into the fullness of His promise of the land so the Lord wants to do more than we can ever think or imagine in our lives. As we see God's interaction with the nation as they make their way into the Promised land we find important truths for how we can enter the fullness of our salvation and advance deeper in the abundant, Spirit-filled life God has for us.