3/22/98, AM, Pastor McDearmon

Wisdom is the ability to deal with real life by making oral judgments with discernment.  much of what the preacher reveals is about wisdom, and how, for a while, he thought wisdom was equivalent to much book learning.

II.  Reign of Solomon
D.  His building of the temple
   1.  David's charge to Solomon
   2.  David's provisions for the temple
      a.  Survey various elements of David's provision

• Means of securing materials for its construction
• By charging the leaders of Israel to construct it
• The Levites that were to serve there were organized
• The other leaders were organized
• Final charge about the temple

     b.  The final charge to Solomon
     c.  his offerings of gold and silver
     d.  The nation's offering
     e.  David's prayer of thanksgiving

Some practical matters:

1. David demonstrated a next-generation concern for the work of God.  We ought to be concerned about 3 specifics
1. Second-generation leadership
2. Second-generation membership - conversions among the young in our midst
3. The viability of this area
2.  David expressed the primary elements of a sanctified masculinity.
3. David provided his son a sense of direction and destiny for life.

-  We see in Solomon's temple a picture of Jesus Christ.  We have New Testament warrant for seeing in Solomon's temple a picture of Christ.  He is the chief cornerstone.
-  We see in Solomon's temple a picture of teh church of Christ.  The church, thus, is the locale of God's presence.  David looked for skilled men out of reverence for God's house, to work on the temple.

3/15/98, PM, Pastor McDearmon

D.  His building of the temple 1 Kings 5-8, 2 Chron. 2-7
1.  The charge
   a.  The nature of early piety

• The knowledge of God
• A relational, experimental knowledge of God that motivates how we think and act
• It consists of cheerful responses to God.

   b.  The motives of early piety
Be thankful you have fathers who know God, and they care that you know God. 

• Filial considerations
• The rightness of early piety
• Because of God's omniscience
• The encouragement of the promise, "If you seek Him, He will let you find Him."  Matt. 7:7
• The fearfulnes of the warning:  "But if you forsake it, He will reject you forever."

   c.  The evidence of manly piety - To act, be courageous

3/15/98, AM, Pastor McDearmon

Life of Solomon
2 Viewpoints

I. The natural man - man is considered supreme, and mortal life is considered final.  The conclusion from this viewpoint is "All is vanity."  This viewpoint is often characterized by the phrase "under the sun."

II.  with God in proper perspective

I. Rise of Solomon
II.  Reign of Solomon
    A.  His first marriage --> He started well
    B.  Solomon's prayer --> for wisdom
    C.  His statesmanship
1 Kings 4:1-34, 9:10-10:29; 2 Chron. 8:9

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people."  Prov. 14:34  Another observation - The Judean region had only one deputy, the remaining were all for upper Israel.  Taxation is a powerful part of government.  As was the case there, so in American history.  Taxation triggers revolution.  1 Tim. 2:2 
God gives wisdom on two cases:
1.  One must fear Him
2.  One must receive His Word

7 aspects that he built after God's house

1. The building of cities
2. The enslaving of his enemies
3. He built a queen's palace for his wife
4. He offered sacrifices unto God  (The identity of David is "the man of God.")
5. He built a fleet of ships
6. He multiplied his wealth
7. He buitl up his military --> though at peace, he was still prepared for war.

Prosperity would become Solomon's worst enemy.

3/8/98, AM, Pastor Brackett

2 Kings 9
God works out everything to happen according to His Word.  Whatever God gives us to do, He wants us to do to serve Him and for His own glory.  Indeed, the Word of God is true. 

1. Do not be so foolish as to be forewarned of God's judgment, and yet keep in your ungodly ways.
2. Do not assure yourself that there are no immediate judgments on you--that all is well.
3. Do not follow in the sins of your fathers.

3/8/98, SS, Pastor Brackett

I.  The Biblical warrant for praying for pastors
Acts 4, 12; Phil. 1:19; Rom. 15:30; 2 Cor. 1:11; Eph. 6:19; 1 Thess. 5:25; 2 Thess. 3:1; Heb. 13:18
Sometimes extraordinary prayer [with] particular fervency is needed.  Other times it is just in our ordinary prayer with regular focus, frequency and fervency needed to pray for our pastor. 

II.  The fundamental concerns
    A.  Their preservation from the enemies of God
    B.  Their proclamation of the Word of God

1. The issue of deliverance
2. The issue of contrition
3. The issue of divine enablement
4. The issue of courage and right manner
5. The issue of the Word of God needing to run and have free course

III.  Several motivations for praying for pastors
    A.  It is our obligation to pray
    B.  It is both essential and effectual in its instrumentality.  "You have not because you ask not."
    C.  Because of the vital necessity of their work.  Eph. 4
    D.  Because of the exceptional difficulty of their work
    E.  Because of the frailty of the men themselves
    F.  Because of the indirect ministry of their work for us

If you do well, it is because your pastor is praying for you and preaching to you, so when you pray for him, you are praying for yourself.

1/7/01, AM, Pastor McDearmon

Ecclesiastes 10:8-11
IV.  D. 4. To Method

method - the procedure that we lay out adn follow.  A systematic process for doing something.

• The primary lesson is that the use of the mind is the major difference between the wise and the foolish. 
• The passage identifies 6 actions which were common to the original mindset, and they all involve risk (which should be anticipated) and they are representative of our life's labors.
• The key is vs. 10b.  "Wisdom has the advantage of giving success."  
• This wisdom involves planning, preparing and promptly performing.  1 Kings 5:17

Poetic Justice - when malicious men are punished in an ironic way.  Most commonly, a man in Solomon's day would dig a pit for the purpose of capturing wild animals.  If you dig pits, remember where the pit is.  Be wary; think ahead.  Wisdom is not knowing everything about wood or arcs, it is applying what you know.  Doing things God's way brings success.  When it comes to snake charming, you must use your skill before you are bitten.  A wise man uses the proper time and procedures. 
Prov. 26:27; Ps. 7

Conclusion

• We are reminded that our minds are among those talents with which God has entrusted us.  Mental laziness is evil.
• We are reminded of a wise man's manner of thinking.
• We are reminded that life is filled with endeavors that demand our attention.  Discipline your child while there is hope.

12/24/00, AM, Pastor McDearmon

Portraits of Manhood:  Simeon
Luke 2:22-35
1.  Person of Simeon
"Simeon" - "one who hears and obeys"
He is only mentioned here in the Bible, although other Simeons appear in the Old Testament. 
-  He was an ordinary man (not a priest, rabbi, or leader of the Jews).  He lived at a time when true religion was at a low point in Christendom.
-  He was a godly man.  He was "righteous and devout," obeying God because he loved God.  He was far more than just churchly.  He was a godly man from the inside out.

2.  Passion of Simeon
Passion - An ardent, fervent desire for something.  vs. 25 "looking for the consolation of Israel."  The "consolation of Israel" describes the coming Messiah.  Is your supreme passion Simeon-like?  "If you seek Him, He will let you find him."  Ps. 63:1; Jer. 29:13

3.  The Power of Simeon - that which moved him. 
Simeon was directed, influenced, guided and taught by the Holy Spirit.  "The Holy Spirit was upon him."  (vs. 25.)  Simeon, as all other true believers, was a man who knew the presence of God with him.