Portrait of a King: You Can Lead!
2015-09-13
Pastor Jonathan Falwell
Memory Verse:
II Timothy 4:6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Today, we begin a brand new series incorporating the life and lessons from King Solomon, the wisest man to have ever lived. (1 Kings 3-God asked, 1 Kings 4:29-wisdom as measureless as the sand on the seashore.) Over the coming weeks, we will be learning from Solomon, and ultimately from God, how we can be the leaders God intended for us to be, how we can love those in our lives in a Godly way and how we can live life to the fullest…all to honor Him! These are lessons from God’s Word that will encourage us, that will be uplifting to all of us, as we seek to be all that God intended for us to be.
To begin this journey, let’s go back to the beginning of Solomon’s journey as king. David is nearing death and he shares some parting words with the next king.
1 Kings 2:1-4 Now the days of David drew near that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying: 2 “I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. 3 And keep the charge of the LORD your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; 4 that the LORD may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, “If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,’ He said, ‘you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’
1 Kings 2:1 (NLT) As the time of King David’s death approached, he gave this charge to his son Solomon: 2 “I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man. 3 Observe the requirements of the LORD your God, and follow all his ways. Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go. 4 If you do this, then the LORD will keep the promise he made to me. He told me, ‘If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’
David gave his son, Solomon, some life lessons here that will help him be the leader that David knew God wanted Solomon to become. These lessons are not only for Solomon, they are for you and me as well.
1. Learn from those who’ve gone before
vs. 1 As the time of King David’s death approached, he gave this charge to his son Solomon: 2 “I am going where everyone on earth must someday go. Take courage and be a man.
– You can learn from anyone, even those you don’t agree with
– Never dismiss the lessons learned from those of another generation
– 2 Chronicles 10, 1 Kings 12 Rehoboam’s rejection of the past
II Timothy 4:6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. – Paul encouraging Timothy to learn from his walk
2. Follow God’s path, not man’s – While we learn from the past, we follow God not man
vs 3a Observe the requirements of the LORD your God, and follow all his ways.
1Cor. 11:1 Imitate me, just (but only) as I also imitate Christ.
3. Don’t allow the blessings of God to keep you from obedience to God
vs 3b Keep the decrees, commands, regulations, and laws written in the Law of Moses so that you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go.
– It is easy to allow our current success to leave us lazy, comfortable and apathetic
– Greatest hindrance to what God wants to do next is resting on what God did before
– Solomon even got to the point where he head everything but felt empty
Eccl. 1:12 I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I set my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under heaven; this burdensome task God has given to the sons of man, by which they may be exercised. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind.
Eccl. 1:16 I communed with my heart, saying, “Look, I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My heart has understood great wisdom and knowledge.” 17 And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind. 18 For in much wisdom is much grief, And he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.
4. Begin with the end in mind
4 If you do this, then the LORD will keep the promise he made to me. He told me, ‘If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’
vs 3b …you will be successful in all you do and wherever you go.
Remember this, The victorious Christian life requires a commitment from you to stand on God’s truth, but also remember this, it is not dependent on past spiritual victories. START NOW!
– Starting now, what will you do differently to be the leader that God intended
– What changes are you willing to make?
– What disobedience, sin, do you need to seek forgiveness for?