Solomon's Wisdom

August 18, 2024 13th Sunday after Pentecost 1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14 Solomon’s Wisdom Year B Prelude Greeting Call to Worship (Inspired by Psalm 111) One: Praise the Holy One! Give thanks to God in the congregation. Many: God’s works delight us, inspire us, challenge us, and uphold us. One: Praise the Holy One! Give thanks to God in the congregation. Many. Righteousness endures forever. The covenant is everlasting. One: Praise the Holy One! Give thanks to God in the congregation. Many: Honoring God leads to wisdom. Let us praise the Holy One forever! (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Cheryl Lindsay) Invocation Holy God, we come together in your presence to offer worship, thanksgiving, and praise. We remember your covenant and acknowledge your abiding presence. Envelop us in your glory, strengthen us to confront the weariness of the world, challenge us to spread the good news, and empower us to be the church you have created us to be. Amen. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Cheryl Lindsay) Song Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah UMH 127 A Sermon for all Ages Lesson Opening: This lesson discusses the meaning and importance of wisdom, and the story of King Solomon. Consider some activities involving choice or moral dilemma to introduce the topic. To get started, select from one of the following openers, or select another of your own choosing! • Following instructions: wisdom comes from following God’s instructions. Play a simple game like “Simon Says” or “Follow the Leader” to practice following directions. • Ask: Have you heard of wisdom? Who do you think of as wise? • Bible Lesson:1 Kings 3:3-14; Ephesians 5:15-21 • Use whatever translation best suits you and your audience. This passage is one that could be acted out dramatically or simply read and described in turns. Most of the verses here are from the Old Testament, with a follow-up portion from Ephesians. • Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of David his father, only he sacrificed and made offerings at the high places. -1 Kings 3:3 • Set the stage by reminding students of who King David was, and explaining that his son Solomon had now taken over the throne. Solomon followed God for the most part, though he sometimes made mistakes…in this story, Solomon meets God. • Ask: If someone offered to give you something, anything in the whole world, what do you think you would ask for? • Describe how wisdom comes from God. We might think we are wise, but in our own eyes that just amounts to pride. True wisdom comes when we ask God for it, and He is happy to grant that request! God wants us to want wisdom. When we pray, listen to God, and study His word of truth (the Bible), we’ll know more about making positive choices and doing things that will be a blessing to ourselves and others. • Turn attention to another passage that reminds us of the importance of wisdom. Remind students that Ephesians is an “epistle” or letter, and that Paul is writing a letter here to remind people to be wise rather than foolish, and live for God and for others, celebrating what Christ has done… Pray: Say a prayer of thanksgiving to God for HIS wisdom and might. Ask for help in making decisions and doing what’s best. (Kristin Hughley) Affirmation of faith (from the Confession of 1967) In Jesus of Nazareth, true humanity was realized once for all. Jesus, a Palestinian Jew, lived among his own people and shared their needs, temptations, joys, and sorrows. He expressed the love of God in word and deed and became a brother to all. The risen Christ is the Savior of all humanity. Those joined to him by faith are set right with God and commissioned to serve as his reconciling community. Christ is head of this community, the church, which begins with the apostles and continues through all generations. God’s sovereign love is a mystery beyond the reach of the human mind. Human thought ascribes to God superlatives of power, wisdom, and goodness. But God reveals his love in Jesus Christ by showing power in the form of a servant, wisdom in the folly of the cross, and goodness in receiving sinners. The power of God’s love to transform the world discloses that the Redeemer is the Lord and Creator who made all things to serve the purpose of his love. (Presbyterian Outlook, Barbara Chaapel) Scripture 1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14 Sermon Solomon’s Wisdom Song Now Thank we all our God UMH 102 Prayers of the People (Presbyterian Outlook, Barbara Chaapel) (don’t print the whole prayer) All-loving God, creator, redeemer and sustainer of our lives, you are Truth, Grace and Love. For your presence with us, we are deeply grateful. Grateful for this earth, our home. For this church, our sanctuary and our community. For each other, our neighbors and for strangers that would become neighbors. And for our calling, our vocation to go into all the world in your name to serve those in need, to companion the lone and the lost. To befriend the friendless. To try to speak and do what is just, and what is loving. We are thankful for music, for the beauty of color, for silence, for the truth of diversity and variety in the fabric of your world. We are grateful for the changing seasons of the year, for growth and for fading, for sea and sky, for the cycling of days. For those with whom we share the world, and for those we love and those who love us. We pray that there may be more places of sanctuary in the world. Safety from the horrors of war. Safety from the violence of guns. Safety from the ravages of power that excludes the poor, the hungry, the old, the sick, the differently abled. Safety for those who feel unseen, unheard, unattended by love. We pray especially this day for the safety of children, whether they are in Israel, in Gaza, in Ukraine, in Darfur, or in our own towns and cities. And for the safety of the world’s seas and lands and wildlife, that they may have places of sanctuary from destruction and extinction. We honor the Indigenous peoples who lived here and loved this land long before we were here. May we hold their sorrow and face honestly the damage our ancestors perpetrated. May we honor the beauty of their tradition and learn its wisdom. As the natural world around us comes to its season of fullness and harvest, we are grateful for food, for daily bread, for the abundance of the land, for those who farm and harvest its good fruits. May all your people and creatures feed in abundance, and taste and smell the fragrance of earth’s produce. Show us ways to share the bounty that we have. We pray today for those who have recently lost those they love. For those who approach the end of life. For those who are sick and long for healing. Comfort them, calm their fears, heal their bodies and their spirits with your loving presence. May they see the sure sign of resurrection in the tiny seed planted in the earth, now grown to abundant harvest, and may they experience the hope of new life promised by your Son. For we know, dear God, that we are never alone; that peace touches our hearts; that love holds our hands; that you are near, our living heart. And so, on this Sabbath day, prepare our way into the ministry you call us to take up. We pray this and all our prayers, in the name of the One who taught us to pray, saying together, “Our Father …”. Lord’s Prayer Response to the Word (John 6) We have heard the word of God today. It is a taste of the bread from heaven. We have experienced the joy of worship. It is a taste of the cup of salvation. We have experienced God’s provision for our life. It is a taste of eternal life. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Jamie Greening) Stewardship Moment In the letter to the Ephesians, believers are instructed how to live: “not as unwise people but as wise.” Sometimes, it takes the wisdom of a child for us to grasp how to live as faithful stewards of all we’ve been given. The story is told of a little boy in church for the first time, who watched as the ushers passed around offering plates. When they came near his pew, the boy said loudly, “Don’t pay for me, Daddy, I’m only five.” Gratefully, in this place, we don’t pay on the basis of being members of a club or observers at a concert or ball game. Instead, we share from the abundance God has already provided for us. When we listen to those who are truly wise, child or adult, we’re able to recognize so many of the true gifts we’ve been given — the air we breathe, the food we eat, the love which surrounds us. Our natural response becomes one of gratitude. So this morning, in true appreciation for the gifts we’ve been given, no matter what our age may be, let’s offer our tithes and gifts to God. Prayer of Thanksgiving Remembering how Jesus invited his followers to love one another, we offer these gifts as signs of our love for our sisters and brothers. Because we have received much from your bounty, God, we ask you now to accept these gifts, to multiply them and allow us to use them so your presence will be known more fully in this congregation, in our community, and in your whole cosmos. AMEN (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Closing Prayer for those on Facebook Beloved of God, go from this place blessed with: Peace! Yes! Joy! Yes! Wisdom! Yes! And grace to share with all! Yes! Thanks be to God. Amen. Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, May 2024. Community Time Joys and concerns Benediction Filled to the brim with the goodness of God; the nourishment of Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, and the power of the Holy Spirit, go now in peace to serve God in all that you think, do and say. God’s peace will always be with you. AMEN. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Nancy Townley) Additional illustrations

A Permanent Home - repreach 2009

July 21, 2024 2 Samuel 7:1-14 A Permanent Home 9th Sunday After Pentecost Year B Prelude Call to Worship Come away, disciples of Christ, and rest from your labors. We are weary from our work. Come away, disciples of Christ, and leave the demands of the crowds. There are always more who need our help. Come away, disciples of Christ, and be renewed in fellowship with our shepherd. We too love the sheep, but need our own renewal. We too need to hear anew the teachings of Jesus, to give us strength for the journey. Come away, disciples of Christ, and draw courage from the one who gives us peace. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, BJ Beu) Invocation Wonderful Creator, you come to us with power and gentleness, strength and compassion, peace and joy. We come to you with hope and hopelessness, love and heartbreak, thanksgiving and lament. You fortify us as we go on our journey, assured of your presence and renewed by your love. Give us rest in our coming and our going. Give us joy in ministering in your name. May our worship restore our soul as we dwell in your presence. Amen. (Disciples of Christ Worship Ways, Cheryl Lindsey) Song Near to the Heart of God UMH 472 Children’s Sermon Title: God’s Promise to David Scripture: 2 Samuel 7 Target Age Group: 3rd-5th grade Lesson Opening Ask: Has someone ever made a promise to you? What was the promise? Did they keep it? Say: People don’t always keep their promises, but you know who does? God! Throughout the Bible we read about many promises that God made to different people, and He always kept those promises. Our story today is about a promise God made to King David, and what’s really cool about this promise is that in some ways it was fulfilled in David’s lifetime, but in other ways God’s promise was kept throughout all eternity! Tell the Story Explain It (Book): This is where you school ‘em! Say: Our story comes from the Old Testament book of 2 Samuel. This is the book that tells the story of David’s life. We have heard several stories from 2 Samuel already, including David being anointed as king, and David fighting Goliath. Last week we learned that Saul, Israel’s first king, was so jealous of David that he wanted to kill him! Say: During a battle between Israel and the Philistines Saul and David’s friend Jonathan, Saul’s son, were both killed. David was finally free from Saul’s attempts to take his life, but he was still saddened by the news that they had died. Say: God had strengthened David and given him victory over all his enemies. Finally there was peace in Israel and David settled into his palace. As he looked at all the splendor around him he said to Nathan the prophet, “How can I possibly go on living in such a beautiful palace while the ark of God stays in a tent on the outskirts of the city?” Say: You see, David had brought the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem, but there wasn’t yet a place for it to rest permanently. So the Ark remained in a tent that David had set up for it. Say: David wanted to build a house for God! Ask: If you were to build a house for God, what would it look like? What would be inside? Ask: Can any building or house truly contain God? Of course not! But David wanted to build a house, or a temple, where God’s presence would dwell and the people could worship the Lord. David wanted to honor God by building a temple. Say: That night the Lord spoke to Nathan telling him what to say to David. God said, “During all the years that Israel traveled in the wilderness I never asked anyone to build me a house. My presence was with you and I traveled in a tent so that I could be near to you. But now I will establish my people in this land and they will have peace at last. I will make David’s name great and I will bless him greatly.” Say: As God continued speaking He made an incredible promise to David. Let’s hear to God’s Word together, and as I read, listen for the promise that He made… Read 2 Samuel 7:11a-16 The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever…Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” Ask: Did you hear the promise God made to David? What was it? Say: God promised that even though David wouldn’t be the one to build a house for him, David’s son would. God also promised that there would always be someone from David’s family on the throne ruling over Israel! Ask: If you were David and had just heard God promise all these wonderful things to you, how do you think you would feel? How would you respond to God? Say: David responded by worshipping God. He was overwhelmed by God’s goodness toward Him and he prayed a prayer of thankfulness. Let’s read David’s response to God. Read 2 Samuel 7:18-29 (portions) Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign LORD, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign LORD?…. How great you are, O Sovereign LORD! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears…. And now, LORD God, keep forever the promise you have made concerning your servant and his house. Do as you promised, so that your name will be great forever. Then men will say, ‘the LORD Almighty is God over Israel!’ Connect it (Look): Apply it & Answer “How?” Ask: Do you think God kept His promise to David? You bet He did! After David died his son Solomon became the next King over Israel. And just like God promised, Solomon built a beautiful temple for God. We’ll hear more about Solomon and the temple in a few weeks! Ask: What was the other promise God made to David? (That someone from David’s family would always rule over Israel.) Say: God also kept that promise! Ask: Did you know that Jesus was David’s great, great, great, great, great, great grandson? Say: Even though Jesus didn’t sit on a literal throne in Israel, Jesus is the King of kings! He is the ruler of the entire universe! God kept His promise to David by sending Jesus through David’s family. God’s promise is still being fulfilled even to this day, because Jesus is still the King over all creation. Ask: Will there ever be a time when someone else becomes king instead of Jesus? Say: No way! Jesus is our King forever. There is no one more powerful than Jesus, and we can praise Him because He is a good and perfect King in every way. Ask: What are some reasons that Jesus is a good king? Say: One thing that makes Jesus a wonderful King is that He truly loves and cares for us, His people. He cares so much for us in fact that He was willing to die for us. Apart from King Jesus we are totally separated from God because of our sin. But Jesus is such a kind and good king that He died on the cross so our sin could be forgiven. Jesus has made a way for us to be brought back to God! Now, whoever puts their faith in Jesus is part of His forever kingdom! God’s Kingdom isn’t just in heaven when we die. His kingdom is also here and now! We can live in God’s kingdom now by following Jesus. Ask: What are some ways that we can be part of God’s kingdom? (Obey and love God, love God’s Word, care for others, share the gospel, etc.) Say: We can thank God for inviting us to be part of His Kingdom by sending Jesus to be our forever King. Let’s pray and thank God now! Review Questions • What did David want to build for God? (A temple) • Who did God use to tell David that he wouldn’t be the one to build the temple? (Nathan) • What was God’s promise to David? (David’s son would build a temple, and someone from David’s family would always be on the throne.) • Who is our forever King? (Jesus!) • What does this story teach us about God? Affirmation of Faith UMH #887 Passing of the Peace Scripture 2 Samuel 7:1-14 Sermon Walls – why we need them Walls are an important part of our life. What would we do without them, especially in our climate. They protect us, they help us define ourselves, it separates us from people and things that are not in our best interest. And there are certain walls, in certain buildings with have great meaning for us. They tell our story of who we are and what is important to us. Houses – beautiful homes Walls are an important part of our dwellings. They create beautiful homes and buildings. Beautiful houses of God Some of the most beautiful buildings in the world are the ones that we build for God. Churches are beautiful buildings dedicated to God. We just got someone asking to get married in our sanctuary, because it was such a beautiful place. Creating a beautiful place to worship God is a part of our worship experience. So when David decided that he was going to build a beautiful house for God – he was just trying to make sure that his God, had the same respect that all of the others gods of the people around him had. When a national leader came into power, it was expected that you would build a momument for God. What better monument to God could there be besides a house to come and to worship, and say thank you and to acknowledge God as the king of our lives. David’s intention -If he was going to be king – God had to be king David’s intention were very pure. He realized that if he was going to be King, that God had to also be King. God ad brought him from a very long way. God had brought him through some pretty tough times. God had bought his people through some times which questioned the very foundation of who they were and who they were supposed to be. But God had bought David to a good place now, he had bought the country to a stable place. And it was time to make sure that God was in that same place, and taken care of just as well. David had to learn an important lesson that day. Just because the world changes, just because our understanding of God changes – God remains the same. Nathan said no David was told that he was not the build God’s house. That God was not ready to join him in the mist of his success God is still king. God lives with the people.God doesn’t live inside of walls. David could not build a house for God – but God would build a house for David. God promised David that there would always be a member of his family on the throne. That his son would build the temple That his sons would be blessed, and that his son would have to power to be raised up so that David’s name would be remembered forever. People are the true house of God. God doesn’t live within walls, and never will. The true house of God is the hearts of his people. That is where God has always lived and where God will always live. God is free to live with the people. The real problem are walls of our hearts. Walls are important to us, they protect us. They define us, they tell our story. But walls can also hold us in, they can keep us trapped in beliefs that no longer serve out best interest, they can keep other people out, they can keep us from really witnesses what god is doing in the world. They do not contain the spirit of God. The real problem is not the walls that we build around us, the real problem is the walls that we build inside of us. Soldier story In World War I, there was a soldier who was killed in France. His friends wanted to make sure that he was buried before they had to move on. They went to the nearest cemetery to ask if they could bury their friend. The priest asked if he had been baptized catholic – and he had not. So the priest said that he could not be buried. Distraught they buried their friend right outside of the walls of the cemetery. The next day – the priest feeling guilty for not allowing the soldier to be buried within the walls –went outside and moved the fence, so that the soldiers grave would be inside. There are barriers that still need to be torn down People still need to bring them down. Ephesians talks about the walls of our hearts. The ways that we define ourselves in order to exclude those who are not like us. There were still ways that the congregation was dividing itself. Jews felt that they could not associate with gentiles. Greeks felt they could not talk to barbarians. - Anyone who is not like me is an outsider was the mindset. Ephesians message was that through Christ we are a new people. We are one people. Like to priest of the cemetery. He doesn’t change the rules, he just expands them to include everyone else. He changes definitions. The jews separated themselves as a way to get close to God – Through Christ, we are all bought near to God. Ephesians – we go from strangers to family All people, no matter who we are go from strangers and aliens to citizens, saints, members of the household of God. We go from divided, suspicious, self destructive to unified, loving and most importantly hopeful. Kindergarten story There is a television documentary about a kindergarten teacher who noticed that the thing she heard most on the playground was “No you cant play with us”. So she made a rule that from now on, all children had to play with whomever asked to play. Even in kindergarten, the children protested. How could we play with anyone who asked. We have a right to define who we want to play with. Other kids in the school could not understand this rule either. Why would you play with just anyone? The kindergarten agreed that they would try to go along with the rule for a week. When they say it worked – they agreed to do it all of the time. It helped them to meet new friends. A few years later, the teacher saw one of her former students in the store. Lisa was twelve now. She asked her old teacher if she still used the play with anyone rule. Yes replied the teacher. Lisa told her teacher that she too stuck to the rule – if including anyone who wanted to play with her in her world. It was very difficult. She got a lot of flack from her friends. A lot of people did not understand her, even more criticized her. But it was important for her to carry on with the rule to learn to play with anyone. How do we play with others? Walls are beautiful things. They are an important part of our life. But they also keep us locked in, they trap us, they stop us from seeing what God is doing in the world, and they stop us from participating in the real work of God. God inside of our walls, but God is also in the world. God dwells in the homes created for God, but God also lives in the hearts of his people. Those inside and outside. Who are the outsiders today? Who are the ones asking to play with us, and what are the ways that we tell them no? Today we live in a world that is so global, that we are neighborhood is bigger them we can comprehend. Jesus is calling us to think beyond being a good neighbor – to become a family of brothers and sisters. In spite of our differences, inspite of our different understandings – there is only one God. One god who has been with the people and always will. Where are we? Song I Love Thy Kingdom Lord UMH 540 Pastoral Prayer God of peace and hope, we are a nation focused on activity. From every source of media we have opportunities to go and see and do a host of activities. They beckon us to come and have fun, there are activities for all ages. But one of the most necessary activities we neglect is our need for rest. We crowd each day, that has been given by you as a blessing, with busyness. We forget what it is like to sit and listen, to rest, to take time to reflect. Help us to find the quiet moments in which our souls can be made whole again. We know that there will always be much for us to do to serve you in this world, but if we keep up this hectic pace, we will be unable to accomplish anything. We have lifted before you this day names of dear ones for whom we have concern. We feel helpless to lift their burdens and their sorrows. Let us turn these concerns over to you, for you are the Master Healer who restores our souls. Help us to place our trust and our lives in your unending care. For we ask this in Jesus’ Name. AMEN. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Nancy Townley) Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment Paul, writing to the Christians in Corinth, describes in great detail how he and his companions have engaged in ministry despite the hurdles they needed to overcome. How are we engaging in ministry in our own community, in 2024? Are you, are WE, engaging every day with patience, kindness, genuine love and truthful speech? Can we honestly declare and defend our work as servants of God? We can demonstrate our own desire to join with Paul as loving followers of Jesus as we share our morning offering. Will you let your financial contribution be one signal of your desire to fully engage in ministry? When you give a significant gift (meaning a portion, not a pittance; a tithe, not a token), you show your connection to those who endured much to share the Gospel. With a wide-open heart Paul appeals to the Corinthians to respond to his letter by opening their own hearts. Today, I do the same. Friends, let’s share our gifts, helping us open wide our own hearts to the love of God we know in Jesus Christ. Prayer of Thanksgiving With deep gratitude, God, we offer these gifts to you. We’re grateful for the many people of faith who have gone before us: Paul, Lydia, Peter, many from our own congregation. Help us use each gift to extend your Realm here on earth, sharing Good News with those who yearn to live in loving relationship with you, with others in this community, and with the wider world. AMEN (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook Beloved, listen! God calls us to worship in our gathering and in our scattering. May the Triune God bless you as you go from this place to answer God’s call to worship in everything you do in thought, word, and deed that you may be a blessing of love, hope, and peace to all you meet. Amen. Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, May 2024. Community Time – Joys and Concerns Benediction In your coming and going, may you encounter Jesus on the journey. In your coming and going, may you touch the source of power and healing. In your coming and going, may you find rest. Come and go in peace. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Cheryl Lindsey) Additional Illustrations

What do you need from God

August 19, 2012 Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost Year B 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14 John 6:51-58 “What do you need from the Lord” A genie in a bottle Three women were walking down a street and found a bottle laying on the side of the road. They picked it up and a genie popped out. The genie said, “You will each get one wish.” The first woman wished she was 20 times smarter. The genie made her 20 times smarter. The second woman wished she was 30 times smarter. The genie made her 30 times smarter. The last woman wished she was 60 times smarter. The genie turned her into a man. God is not a genie We may laugh at the joke of what people ask. But the truth is, that is what a lot of us, even he faithful think about prayer. We treat God like the genie in the bottle, who is willing to grant us the wishes of our heart. We see things that we want in life, and we ask God for them. And we wait for God to complete our order, and to make it all better. We wait and expect for God to give us the desires of our heart. We have to be careful when we pray. Prayer is not about a genie in a bottle in the sky granting the desires of our heart. Prayer is genuine conversation with God. Prayer is not so much about what we want in life, but about what we need. The king talks with God to get wisdom When a king took over his office, it was expected that he would go into a sacred cave, and wait on a message from the Lord. Scripture says that Solomon went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. At Gibeon, the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream. Solomon had a reputation of being a king of great wisdom, and Solomon had the honor of being the king who was allowed to build a house for God, the temple in Jerusalem. In the temple, Solomon did not have to travel to Gibeon to talk with God, he could talk with God in his own home. The Temple was built with an inner sanctuary, where the ark of the convenant stayed, with the presence of God. Solomon’s temple designed so that he could talk with God You know that only the Zadok priest where allowed to the inner sanctuary to care for God. But you may not know that the king was also allowed into the sanctuary in order to talk with God. The temple was built in a square, with four entrances. Ezekiel 40 gives the outline of the temple, so that the people can return to Jerusalem and rebuild it. God enters the building from the East. Once God enters the temple, no one else is allowed to enter on that side. The king has an entrance from the west, where he can walk all the way into the inner sanctum. No one else is allowed to come in that entrance. The priest come to temple from the north, the people come in to sacrifice at the south temple. I tell you this so that you know the temple was the place where Solomon could go to be with God. No longer did he have to go to Gibeon to sacrifice, he could sacrifice at home. Where do you go to be with God? Where do you go, when you need to be close to God? When you need to be in his presence? Is it the house of God? Is it the sanctuary? Is it a place in nature? The place that we go to find God is not a place at all- the place where God lives in our need to pray, to talk with God about our lives, to ask God for the things that we need. God wants you to ask Paul says that God already knows what we need in our lives, sometimes God knows better that we do. But he also wants us to be able to ask. To be able to articulate our needs, and to be confident enough to speak them, and most important to be in relationship in order to receive them from our Father who loves us. Asking has changed the world. Jesus asked the disciples to follow Him. They did, and Christianity has fundamentally changed this world. Martin Luther King, Jr. asked this nation to treat minorities with equality and it threw off much of the bigotry and injustice of his day. If you are married it is because you asked. If you have a job it is because you asked. Every day is an opportunity to ask God for his wisdom to know and do His purposes for your life. The great value of asking is it keeps us focused on the Lord. Yes, it may be a need in your life but for it to be meet or for you to have the wisdom to respond correctly, it will require the Lord’s help. Praying for wisdom keeps your focus on the Lord and his priorities. Let the spirit work in your life Words exchanged with God are not enough. We have to also be able to listen to what God has to say, and to see how it unfolds in our lives. Scripture says that Solomon’s prayer was for the ability to listen to God in order to lead his people. A heart to recognize when the holy spirit is working in his life to grant his and our request. This poem is called God says no, but in each case, I don’t hear God saying no, but God is saying trust in the work of the spirit…. ‘God Said, “No.”’ I asked God to take away my habit. God said, “No. It is not for Me to take away, but for you to give it up.” I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. God said, “No. His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.” I asked God to grant me patience. God said, “No. Patience is a by-product of tribulations; it isn’t granted, it is learned.” I asked God to give me happiness. God said, “No. I give you blessings; happiness is up to you.” I asked God to spare me pain. God said, “No. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.” I asked God to make my spirit to grow. God said, “No. You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.” I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life. God said, “No. I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.” I asked God to help me love others, as much as He loves me. God said, “Ahhh, finally you have the idea.” Solomon knew that genuine success could be experienced only in discerning and doing God’s will. In each case God did not say no, he said that the answer to you prayer can only be found in time, in relationship. If we ask god for something, but don’t stick around for he answer. We walk away assuming that God said no. how many times have you prayed to God for something. But did not stick around long enough to get the answer? How many times have you expected something from God, but not prepared yourself for the changes that answer takes. They say if you pray for rain, then you should really invest in an umbrella. God loves you, God wants to hear from you, God wants to answer your prayer. But you have to realize that it is God who answer s in God’s own way. “Ask what I should give you?” Scripture says that when Solomon stood before God at Gibeon, God came to him and said – Ask what I should give you? Ask what I should give you? When you have to attention of God, what is it that you ask for? What is it that you need right now from God? Solomon understood that true wisdom is being able to ask God for what you need, and not what you want. We have To understand that the desires of our heart, come from being in right relationship with God; from being open to the movement of the holy spirit in our lives. And having an ongoing relationship with God. And trusting that God will always do what is best for us. when we pray. God’s answer belongs to God not us. God’s baseball game There was a baseball going on. The game was between God’s team and satan’s team. Freddy and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The Lord's team was playing Satan's team. The Lord's team was at bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs. They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate named Love. Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because "Love never fails." The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because Faith works with Love. The next batter up was named Godly Wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch. Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass. Ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked because he never swings at what Satan throws. The bases were now loaded. The Lord then turned to Freddy and told him He was now going to bring in His star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace. Freddy said, "He sure doesn't look like much!" Satan's whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen! But Satan was not worried; his center fielder let very few get by. He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground. The roaring crowds went wild as the ball continued over the fence for a home run! The Lord's team won! The Lord then asked Freddy if he knew why Love, Faith and Godly Wisdom could get on base but couldn't win the game. Freddy answered that he didn't know why. The Lord explained, "If your love, faith and wisdom had won the game, you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, Faith and Wisdom will get you on base but only My Grace can get you home." "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast."--Ephesians 2:8, 9 (NIV). It is not our desires that answer our prayer, it is God. It is God’s grace that helps us to see the work of the spirit in our lives. No matter what our concerns, no matter what our request, our prayer is for a God listening heart and spirit - True wisdom for is submission and obedience to God’s work in our lives. Let us pray…… ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ It wasn't long before I had classmates hanging out in my room nights before Physics tests, asking for my help. I was always glad to give them help, and they knew that I wouldn't steer them wrong. Imagine, though, if every time I explained a problem to someone, they had said to me, "Well, that's a nice idea, but I think this way will work just as well..." And then they proceeded to use a different method, arriving at a different answer. Don't you imagine that after awhile, I would say "Excuse me, if you're not ever going to listen to what I tell you, why are you even bothering to ask?"