Golden Pillar Class Study, teacher Dave Licon.
King Charles was recently crowned king of England. Undoubtedly he had a lot of training over the years to be king some day. Solomon saw his father David as king and must have received training to be king. Solomon wasn’t taking it for granted that he was going to be king. He told God he was only a child and didn’t know how to go in and out among the people. He asked God for an understanding heart. The Lord was pleased that Solomon asked for understanding to lead God’s people.
I Kings 3:7-10…O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in…the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge…so great a people?…the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
A little child doesn’t know anything – when the bills are due, how to go get a job, or anything. They trust you with all their heart and God wants us to trust him like that. Our understanding is like a library that we can access anytime we want, but God wants to lean on him, not our own understanding. God wants us to humble ourselves like a little child that needs to be led, to be fed, and instructed. We’re partners in life with Christ when we’re close to him every day. If we trust God and acknowledge him in all our ways, he’ll be close and direct our ways in our business and everything we do.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Martha and Mary were examples of two Christians serving God. Mary listened to Jesus, not just having a conversation. Martha was cumbered (over occupied) about many things and careful (full of cares). Martha was really busy but she wasn’t prepared. Maybe she felt Mary isn’t doing anything and she was carrying all the load. Mary was being prepared and getting instructions. We can get so busy and be so sure of what we’re doing that we don’t hear the Lord’s voice. We’re not listening to the Lord. Sometimes it takes a while to know what he wants us to do. If we’re faithful in little, the Lord said he will make us ruler over many thing. Mary chose the good part – to sit at Jesus feet and to be yoked to him.
Luke 10:38-42…a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving…said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her..help me. And Jesus answered…Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away…
A yoke is a piece of wood attached to animals to connect to a plow or cart they are to pull. We all have a load to pull and we need the Lord’s help and to be yoked together with him. When we were sinners, we came to Christ and he gave us rest. Mary had rest because she was yoked together with Christ. Being yoked together doesn’t stop when we’re saved, we need the rest and understanding that Christ gives. Martha was too busy to get rest and understanding.
Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke…learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
The Lord’s yoke – serving God is not hard! The devil doesn’t want us to believe that. He wants us to always be troubled. Martha was troubled but Mary was resting. The Lord didn’t condemn Martha. We need to learn, to wait, and pray. We can get good ideas but we need God’s direction for success. The apostles were yoked, working with Christ through his temptations.
Luke 22:28-34 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom…That ye may eat and drink at my table…and sit on thrones…Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you…But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. And he said…I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. And he said…Peter, the cock shall not crow…shalt thrice deny…thou knowest me.
Peter heard Jesus say the apostles would sit on thrones in Jesus’ kingdom. But Peter didn’t understand so he had it all wrong. Jesus said he was praying that Peter’s faith wouldn’t fail. Peter told Jesus he’d go to prison and die with Jesus. When a mob came to arrest Jesus and Peter cut off Malchus’ ear with a sword. Jesus told Peter to put away his sword. Peter didn’t understand. Maybe he thought Christ isn’t going to be king and this is over. He didn’t understand the scriptures or what Jesus said.
John 18:10-12…Peter having a sword…smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword…the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?…
When Jesus rose from the dead, he opened the disciples’ understand and then they understood. After Pentecost the disciples understood the prophesies and what Jesus had told them. Brother Dave was working in software licensing and given a job that he wasn’t qualified for. He was trained the steps to do the job but not told why and how things he did affected other things. He didn’t understand what he was doing until he prayed a lot and God helped him understand. We need God’s help. The apostles witnessed things that they didn’t understand until Jesus showed them.
Luke 24:44-49 And he said…These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
The Bible is a closed book before we get saved. After we’re saved, the Lord opens our understanding of the scriptures. Then we understand the word of God. We don’t understand everything but we understand as much as the Lord wants us to.
Revelation 5:1-5 And I saw…a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals…And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book…I wept much, because no man was found worthy…And one…saith… Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals…
Only Jesus can open the book to reveal how to do the will of God and to please him. If we put the word of God to work in our life, it is written in our hearts. God gives everything we need to be successful and fulfill his purpose he’s gives to us.
II Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Jesus spoke to the disciples before the crucifixion. Jesus is the word and he tells the Spirit of God what to tell us.
John 16:12-15 I have yet many things to say…but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth…whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine…All things that the Father hath are mine…and shall shew it unto you.
The Bible is a mystery to us unless the Lord reveals it to us. He does it when he wants to and for what we need.
Ephesians 1:9 Having made known…the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
We don’t pick our pastor. The Lord gives us a pastor that feeds us knowledge and understanding. He knows what we need.
Jeremiah 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
If we’re not saved, the Bible is a closed book. We need the word and the Spirit to teach us. They’re the greatest teachers of the universe. Even if we’re tired or pressed for time, we can ask God to give us something to feed us from his word.
Romans 11:33…the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways…
God has revealed the mystery of the gospel by his Spirit because we love God. Are we searching or are we letting the Spirit search so Jesus tells the Spirit what he wants us to know? The Spirit is to help us and teach us.
I Corinthians 2:7-10 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery…hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord…it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit…yea, the deep things of God.
Waiting on the Lord, he gives us understanding and shows us what he wants us to do. We need the Lord’s understanding on the job or if we’re retired. We need God’s understanding for the wisdom of the Bible is wisdom and life’s concerns
Psalm 25:4-5…Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth…thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.