* The essential element of love is sacrifice.
* You know how much you love someone by how much you’re willing to sacrifice for them.
* Solomon’s willingness to sacrifice so much proved His love for God.
* Flocks and herds represented money back then.
* Can you imagine getting to 100k and realizing you have 42k more to go?
* This is sacrificing an animal every 4.2 seconds for a solid week without stopping.
* Two observations:
* 1) The way we live can be a thanks-offerings to God.
* The way we work, talk, think, serve, etc - all can say “thank you” to God.
* 2) Our very lives themselves are to be living sacrifices to the Lord.
* Today, people want salvation without sacrifice.
* They don’t want to give up anything - or they only want to give up “most” things.
* Luke 14:33 proves this is impossible.
* One of the reasons this is believed is because of faulty theology.
* We hear that Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice so we have to do nothing.
* We have to be willing to pick up our own cross before we will truly be saved.
* Every day we have an opportunity to offer ourselves as a sacrifice to the Lord.
1 Kings 8:63 (5/25/17)
Sacrifice
May 25, 2017 • Benham Brothers
1 Kings 1:8-10 (5/18/17)
May 18, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* Notice how Abiathar (bad priest) was attracted to Adonijah (the bad king). * Both guys were seeking a name for themselves. * But Zadok (the good priest), Benaiah (the warrior), and Nathan (the prophet) were all attracted to David (the good king). * The conniving, brand-building, ambitious, self-seeking man refused to hang around those who were faithful to the one true king. * Question - who is attracted to you and who are you attracted to? * All too often we see pastors staying away from certain people because what’s in them doesn’t jive with what’s in the others. * vs 32-25 - it was the prophet, priest, and warrior who made Solomon king! * We need to represent Jesus as king, and the only way to do it is to be like these guys!
1 Kings 1:15 (5/18/17)
May 18, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* What do you think of when the name Bathsheba is mentioned? * Now, how about Esther? * Both women ended up in the same spot - in a position to influence the most powerful man on the planet. * Both women got the king moving in the right direction and it positively affected their culture. * This is a picture of God’s redemption - He can make a message out of our mess if we let Him. * Also notice - both women needed someone to get them moving in the right direction. * Esther needed Mordecai and Bathsheba needed Nathan.
1 Kings 1:52 (5/18/17)
May 18, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* This verse shows us the very first words out of Solomon’s mouth. * Two oversvations: * 1) What he DID say: * Essentially, “it’s not my decision to put you to death - it’s yours” (Adonijah) * Solomon was showing mercy and giving Adjonijah a mulligan. * It would be Adonijah’s choice. * 2) What he DID NOT say: * “You have nothing to fear.” * Adonijah had everything to fear, but it would be based on his own behavior. * Solomon’s first act was to show mercy, but he did it in such a way that struck fear in the heart of this man.