Pastor Jim Thomas
1 & 2 Kings: The King of Redemption History
1 Kings 5
- Success Favors the Prepared
- Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance
“One of the great dangers for Christians and for the world is that we are far, far too religious. We go to religious movies, we read religious books, we associate with religious people, we eat religious cookies and we wear religious underwear that is far too tight. Don’t get me wrong. I’m religious too. The problem is that the Holy Spirit isn’t.”
– Steve Brown, What Was I Thinking?
- Let’s become more eager to allow whatever we are “building” to stir within us a passion to worship God and increasing compassion to serve our neighbors.
- Let’s become more eager to extend the invitation of the Gospel to the “Hirams” in our lives.
“The whole of our life belongs to God and is part of His calling, both before conversion and outside religion. We must not imagine that God first became interested in us when we were converted, or that now He is interested only in the religious bit of our lives.”
– John Stott
“A right conception of God is basic not only to systematic theology, but to practical Christian living as well. It is to worship what the foundation is to the Temple; where it is inadequate or out of plumb, the whole structure must sooner or later collapse.”
– A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy
Discussion Questions
- Just as Solomon did business with Hiram, Pastor Jim suggests that we should collaborate with the world when it is wise to do so, as it can lead to evangelism. Do you agree? Do you tend to withdraw into a Christian enclave or do you look for opportunities to collaborate with non-believers?
- Hiram gets a taste of worship of Yahweh in verse 7. Who are the Hirams in your life? Have you ever considered the evangelistic impact you might have on those you work with?
- All work is God’s work for a believer. All work can be an act of worship. How can this shift in perspective change how you work in your day to day job?
“Behold, I am about to build a house for the name of the LORD my God, dedicating it to Him, to burn fragrant incense before Him and to set out the showbread continually, and to offer burnt offerings morning and evening, on sabbaths and on new moons and on the appointed feasts of the LORD our God, this being required forever in Israel. The house which I am about to build will be great, for greater is our God than all the gods. But who is able to build a house for Him, for the heavens and the highest heavens cannot contain Him? So who am I, that I should build a house for Him, except to burn incense before Him?”
– 2 Chronicles 2:4-9
“But I say unto you, that in this place is one greater than the temple.”
– Matthew 12:6
“The temple was but a symbol, and Jesus is the substance; it was but the shadow of which He is the reality… the Redeemer is greater than the temple, because He is a more abiding evidence of divine favour. God forever dwells in Christ Jesus, and this is the eternal sign of His favour to His people.”
– Charles H. Spurgeon
“Your life as a Christian should make non-believers question their unbelief in God.”
– Dietrich Bonhoeffer
“Do you want to know a truth that in the momentous challenges of our modern world will be at once a quest to inspire you, an anchor to hold you fast, a rich fare to nourish you and a relationship you will prize above all others? Listen to Jesus of Nazareth; answer His call.”
– Os Guinness, The Call