Lessons on Life & Business
1 Chronicles 5:20 (9/20/23)
September 20, 2023 • Benham Brothers • 1 Chronicles 5:20
* Trust and Obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to Trust and Obey. * It all starts with Trust (security). * 1 Chronicles lists the names of leaders and the number of fighters in each tribe. * It was written to encourage those who were in Babylonian captivity to Trust and Obey. * Couched in the middle of all these names, we learn about three of the tribes and how God rescued them from an insurmountable army. * Vs 18-20 - “The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 men ready for military service—able-bodied men who could handle shield and sword, who could use a bow, and who were trained for battle. 19 They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish and Nodab. 20 They were helped in fighting them, and God delivered the Hagrites and all their allies into their hands, because they cried out to him during the battle. He answered their prayers, because they trusted in him.” * The Hagrites had over 100k troops. * How would God rescue them? * Notice three things: * 1) The trained for battle - they sharpened their skillset. * God gives ability, but we have to turn that into skill. * God didn’t make these guys good with the sword - they had to train for it. * 2) They trusted God - they didn't fully rely on their skills or weapons. * They relied on God for deliverance. * Whatever it is that you use in your day-to-day life (your tools, your gifting, your friends, your software, whatever) you must not rely on those things, you must rely on God. * I USE my tools but I TRUST in God. * If you're a farmer you use your tractor to plant crops but you trust in God to bring the harvest. * An insurance salesman uses his ability to connect with people to sell policies but he trusts in God to provide for him financially. * Victory comes when God knows that we trust Him more than the stuff He's given us to use. * We USE stuff but we TRUST God. * 3) The battle was the Lord’s - God ordained it because He had a plan for it. * Two types of battles: * Ones we cause - because of sin. * Ones God causes - so He can do stuff! * God allowed this battle because He was going to destroy the Hagrites and enrich the Israelites. * Vs 21-22 - “They seized the livestock of the Hagrites—fifty thousand camels, two hundred fifty thousand sheep and two thousand donkeys. They also took one hundred thousand people captive, 22 and many others fell slain, because the battle was God’s. And they occupied the land until the exile.” * How else would the Israelites get this stuff except through a fight? * Think of your life, the battles you face. * Is it from God? * If so, then He’s probably sharpening you, dealing w/the person, and enriching you both on the other side!
1 Chronicles 7:39-40 (9/20/23)
September 20, 2023 • Benham Brothers • 1 Chronicles 7:39–40
* We are in desperate need of male leaders to step up today. * Last week we talked about the Jezebel spirit - it seeks to emasculate and eliminate men. * But what qualities should a man exhibit? * The below gives us excellent advice as parents to raise up a generation of strong young men. * Vs 39-40 - “The sons of Ulla were Arah, Hanniel and Rizia. All these were the sons of Asher, heads of the fathers’ houses, choice and mighty men of valor, heads of the princes…” * Notice what is said about Asher’s sons. * They had four outstanding qualities: * 1) They were “heads” of their families. * Asher raised his sons to be leaders. * A leader knows where he’s going and shows others how to join him along the way. * 2) They were “chosen men.” * Asher raised his boys to be the cream of the crop. * EX: Chosen for the team. * They were the kind of men a father would choose for his daughter to marry. * They were men of high character and strong ethical standards who accepted responsibility. * 3) They were “valiant warriors.” * They were men of valor, like those who fought alongside David in his many battles. * They had a sense of boldness and conviction and were ready to take a stand when needed. * A boy becomes a man when he knows how to properly use his strength. * To provide for and protect others. * 4) They were “chiefs among the leaders.” * They were leaders among leaders. * Another word for leader is “prince.” * A prince is just a king waiting to happen. * Our boys need to know they have a KING in them!
2 Kings 9:32-33 (9/13/23)
September 13, 2023 • Benham Brothers • 2 Kings 9:32–33
The spirit of Jezebel is alive and well today. The same foul spirits that wreaked havoc on believers long ago are still around. They haven’t been judged yet. The Jezebel spirit is a controlling, domineering spirit, characterized by “anything goes” sexuality. Why sex? Other than the dominion mandate, t’s our first mandate and blessing - “Be fruitful and multiply.” The PURPOSE of sex is intimacy. The PRODUCT of sex is life. That’s why God makes it PLEASURABLE. But when the pleasure overtakes the purpose we forfeit the product - LIFE. Satan seeks to rob, kill, destroy - he hates life. The Jezebel spirit attacks life! It’s mantra is “I will do what I want when I want with who I want and if you stand in my way you die.” Dr. Michael Brown’s book “Jezebel’s War With America” is the best book out on the subject. The Jezebel spirit seeks to eliminate and emasculate. It’s what’s fueling Cancel Culture. It wants to get rid of anyone in its way or render them powerless. EX - Elijah stood against 400 dudes who came in the spirit of Baal, but he ran from one woman who came in the spirit of Jezebel. Baal - there is no God, but they didn’t want to kill him. Jezebel - there is no God, and she wanted to kill him. Elijah ran and God had to replace him with Elisha. Elisha anointed Jehu as king. He was a strong leader with a warrior spirit. He’s the one God rose up to deal with Jezebel. When he rode into town Jezebel looked out her window, knowing he came to kill her. Notice, however, who took her out: Vs 32 - “He looked up at the window and called out, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked down at him.” A eunuch is an emasculated man. These men forgot who they were until a warrior called it out of them! Vs 33 - “Throw her down!” Jehu said. So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot.” The very men she sought to control ended up killing her. These emasculated men were awakened to their masculinity by a man with a warrior spirit! 2 Corinthians 10:5 - we take out this spirit by demolishing the idea. There are people who would rather pray for Goliath than slay him. If the Jezebel spirit presents itself, we have to stand against it.
2 Kings 11:12 (9/13/23)
September 13, 2023 • Benham Brothers • 2 Kings 11:12
- Governing leaders are called “ministers” in Scripture (Romans 13) and it’s our job to lift them up in prayer. - We should pray for protection and power to make decisions as “under God.” - This aligns them under God’s authority, which gives them His provision and protection. - Sheep & Goat nations in the OT - determined by how they treat the people of God. - An OT picture of this is w/a priest named Jehoiada. - Backstory - King Ahaziah was killed. - When he died, his wicked mom, Athaliah, seized control and killed all his brothers. - She had the spirit of Jezebel in her. - But the sister of Ahaziah took one of his young sons, Joash, and hid him from her. - He hid in the temple for six years, under the protection of the priest, Jehoiada. - Then, the priest put a plan into action to introduce the king to Israel and remove Athaliah from the throne. - He brought out the king with armed guards all around him. - Vs 12 - “Jehoiada brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; he presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!” - Notice that they put the crown on Joash’s head and the testimony in his hands. - The Testimony is Scripture. - The spiritual leader of the day protected the governing leader of the day because he held fast to the Truth. - Do you want to know which governing rulers should be protected by spiritual leaders? - The ones who fear God and are willing to honor His Law - whether they are believers or not. - If a governing leader doesn’t fear God then he/she should get no protection from the spiritual leaders.
2 Kings 14:8 (9/13/23)
September 13, 2023 • Benham Brothers • 2 Kings 14:8
- How do you know when you’ve done something with the right motive? - By how you respond when it comes to pass or doesn’t come to pass. - EX: Peter in the boat. - Amaziah, king of Judah, started out so well. - He followed the Lord and God brought him success. - Vs 7 - “He was the one who defeated ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt and captured Sela in battle, calling it Joktheel, the name it has to this day.” - How would Amaziah respond to all this success? - Vs 8 - “Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, with the challenge: “Come, let us face each other in battle.” - The success got to his head. - He was now out to prove himself. - This would be like me beating David in hoops and then calling out Steph Curry on social media. - He started focusing on his success rather than the God who brought it to him. - The king of Israel told him that he was being cocky and that he’d get his butt kicked, but that provoked him all the more. - Vs 12-13 - “Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home. 13 Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah…” - Amaziah ended up enslaved by the man he challenged. - His pride became the death of him. - When you have the right motive in doing things, any type of victory or success makes you humble, not prideful. - Take inventory of yourself - when you achieve something great, how do you respond? - If you feel humbled by the success that’s come your way, then you know you have the right motive. - But if you feel like you need to continually prove yourself then your motive is off.
2 Kings 7:3 (8/6/23)
September 6, 2023 • Benham Brothers • 2 Kings 7:3
When you learn to lead your illogical emotions with your logical mind your life will end up on a whole new level. You keep you peace. You operate in power. EX: Disciples on the boat in the midst of the storm. The biggest blessing of thinking this way, however, is that you put yourself in a position to truly bless others. Backstory - The Israelites were under siege by an enemy army. It had last a long time, so there was famine in the city. The king was thinking about giving up. Elisha told him that God was going to miraculously turn things around, and that there would be plenty of food for everyone in less than 24 hours. God made the enemy hear the sound of horses and chariots and they thought the Israelites hired the Hittites, so they up and left, leaving everything behind. Four lepers were the ones God used to make this turnaround happen. Vs 3-4 - “Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate. They said to each other, “Why stay here until we die? 4 If we say, ‘We’ll go into the city’—the famine is there, and we will die. And if we stay here, we will die. So let’s go over to the camp of the Arameans and surrender. If they spare us, we live; if they kill us, then we die.” These guys weren't brilliant thinkers and expert business guys - they were simply normal people who used their brains to think logically. And this led them to do something that made complete sense. Vs 5-8 - “At dusk they got up and went to the camp of the Arameans. When they reached the edge of the camp, no one was there, 6 for the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots and horses and a great army, so that they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired the Hittite and Egyptian kings to attack us!” 7 So they got up and fled in the dusk and abandoned their tents and their horses and donkeys. They left the camp as it was and ran for their lives. 8 The men who had leprosy reached the edge of the camp, entered one of the tents and ate and drank. Then they took silver, gold and clothes, and went off and hid them. They returned and entered another tent and took some things from it and hid them also.” Thinking logically blessed them! But it didn’t stop with them. They used logic again. Vs 9-11 - “So they went and called out to the city gatekeepers and told them, “We went into the Aramean camp and no one was there—not a sound of anyone—only tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents left just as they were.” 11 The gatekeepers shouted the news, and it was reported within the palace.” The entire city of Israel went out and plundered the belongings of the enemy. God’s word had come true. And He used a few logical thinking lepers to make it happen! NOTE - God doesn't always work through our logic. Often times He goes the opposite because He wants us to learn to trust Him and to keep us relying on Him and not our own understanding. But outside of those times when God tells us to do something illogical, we need to think logically. Logical people think with "If, Then" statements. If I do this, then this will happen. If I don't do this, then this won't happen. The best “If / Then” logic is this - “If I do this ________, will it give me what I REALLY want?” EX: Eating a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts! It won’t give me what I really want - good health and long life!
2 Kings 8:4 (8/6/23)
September 6, 2023 • Benham Brothers • 2 Kings 8:4
God is a redeemer and restorer. When we mess up and then repent, He redeems us from the penalty and restores us so we become brand new. Case in point - Elisha’s assistant, Gehazi. He selfishly pursued the gifts of Naaman and lied to Elisha about it. Because of that, Gehazi ended up with Namaan’s stuff. He got the clothes he wanted, but also leprosy. When you pursue things ambitiously you may get them, but you’ll get the heartache and headache to go along with it. But how did Gehazi’s life end up? Well, many commentators believe Gehazi was one of the four lepers in 2 Kings 7. They selflessly chose to share the spoil with all of Israel. If this was Gehazi, it shows true repentance in his heart. He remembered all too well how concealing greed would bring punishment. Repentance isn’t just saying “sorry” - it’s turning around and going the opposite direction. Backstory - Elisha had healed a woman’s son. Then, when the famine hit, she and her family went to the land of the Philistines to survive. When she came back she didn’t have any land. So she needed to appeal to the king. When she went in for the appeal, look who’s in the king’s court. Vs 3-4 - “At the end of the seven years she came back from the land of the Philistines and went to appeal to the king for her house and land. 4 The king was talking to Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, and had said, “Tell me about all the great things Elisha has done.” God is a redeemer and restorer when you repent.
2 Kings 2:10 (8/30/23)
August 30, 2023 • Benham Brothers • 2 Kings 2:10–15
Our one job as a believer is the stay close to God. The closer we are to Him the more He provides for us and protects us. EX: Me w/my younger kids at the airport. The Bible says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8) God wants to be close to us - just like a good father wants to be close to his kids. Jesus echoes this - “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” (John 15:5) A branch on a vine stays really close - it wraps around it. Jesus didn’t say, “I am a tree trunk, and you are the branches.” We see a picture of this in the Old Testament. Elijah had been the prophet and it was time for him to depart. But he never died - a chariot of fire took him to heaven. His predecessor, Elisha, desperately wanted his blessing before he left. He specifically wanted a double portion of his spirit. Elijah essentially said, “if you stay close to me you can get it!” Vs 9-14 - Elisha got what he asked for! Staying close to Elijah gave Elisha three things: 1) Provision - God provided for both prophets. 2) Protection - they were under God’s divine protection. 3) Power - Elisha received the mantle! How do we stay close to God? The same way we stay close to our spouse - communication! You can be physically apart but talk all the time and you’ll be close. You can live with each other but never talk and you won’t be close. Talk to God and then listen to Him. How? Bible People Creation Circumstance Inner Voice
2 Kings 3:15 (8/30/23)
August 30, 2023 • Benham Brothers • 2 Kings 3:15
God wants to speak to you. He is always speaking. The question is, are we listening? Elisha needed to hear from God. He had been summoned on assignment from the king. So what did he do to get himself into position to hear from the Lord? He turned on the music! God created us so that our soul reacts to music. Vs 15-16 - Elisha used music to quiet his spirit. He had a harpist play soft music in order to drown out the world around him and tune him into God's voice. Slow worship music can calm you down and tune you into God and how good He is. Music can also rile you up and disrupt your spirit. Turn off the slow worship music and start blaring gangster rap and let me know how that makes you feel. It will have the opposite effect. Music touches the soul, so we need to be very careful on what type of music we put into our minds. The best music I like - soaking music (William Augusto).
1 Kings 10:7-9 (8/23/23)
August 23, 2023 • Benham Brothers • 1 Kings 10:7–9
Why would God allow someone to be successful? Why would He bless them with talent and ability to create a name for themselves? Why would He allow them to grow in wealth and fame? Reading these verses answers the question. The Queen of Sheba heard about Solomon’s success. She was a foreign ruler who lived over 1,000 miles away. She did not know the God of the Bible. Nothing would have drawn her to travel 1k miles unless she heard of someone who was more successful than her! Solomon’s outward success magnetized her to discover his inward secret. So when she came, he opened up and told her the reason for his success. Look at her response: Vs 7-8 - “But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. 8 How happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!” If she stopped here, Solomon would’ve gotten the praise. But Solomon deflected it to God - look at what else she said: Vs 9 - “Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness.” Solomon told her all about God and how He blessed him and His reason for doing so. She probably learned about King David and how David had a relationship with God and how God showed up in his dreams, etc. The result? She begins to praise God! This is why God gave Solomon success - so that others would praise Him! EX: The moon getting praise because it shines so bright - it’s just a reflection of the sun. The good news is, God wants to do the same with you! But you have to follow His commandments and trust Him with the result. He may or may not allow you to succeed in this life - but if He does, you reflect all the glory and honor to Him! If He doesn’t, you can rest assured you’ll be blessed beyond measure in the next life!
1 Kings 15:18-19 (8/23/23)
August 23, 2023 • Benham Brothers • 1 Kings 15:18–19
The success grid: With clarity come success. With success comes options. Increased options can diffuse clarity. Diffused clarity sabatages success. Backstory - King Asa was king of Judah - he started out really well. In one battle, he had 300k troops and the Ethiopians had 1m! He cried out to God - and God wiped them out! He had no option, so he was clear on what to do - it lead to success. Now, after this success, Asa had some options. Israel came up to fight against him. So Asa got strategic. Two of his enemies had united together and Asa feared they would attack his kingdom. Rather than appealing to God, as he did earlier, look what he did: Vs 18-19 - “Asa then took all the silver and gold that was left in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and of his own palace. He entrusted it to his officials and sent them to Ben-Hadad son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, the king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus. 19 “Let there be a treaty between me and you,” he said, “as there was between my father and your father. See, I am sending you a gift of silver and gold. Now break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel so he will withdraw from me.” When Asa had no options he called out to God… But when blessings increased so did his options. He no longer had to rely fully on the Lord because he could handle things on his own. Here’s the crazy part - it worked! But it cost him in two ways: 1) He turned wicked - he even imprisoned a prophet. 2 Chron 16:12 - “In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa became diseased in his feet. His disease was severe, yet even in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians.” 2) He caused others to sin. King Joash in 2 Kings 12 did the same thing many years later. The faith grid: With faith comes blessings. When blessings increase so do our options. When options increase it can lead to a lack of faith. Lack of faith sabotages our blessings. Why does it work like this? Because when options increase you don't need a miracle to make it happen anymore. EX: If you are poor and you have to pay a bill that you don't have the money to pay. EX: If you have plenty of money and need to buy a car. How do we make sure this doesn’t happen to us? Psalms 100:4 gives the answer - Thanks and Praise.
2 Samuel 24:10 (8/16/23)
August 16, 2023 • Benham Brothers • 2 Samuel 24:10
As we grow in Christ, our temptations should grow weaker and our convictions grow stronger. Temptations - 2 Timothy 2:22 says “Flee from YOUTHFUL lusts…” The same weight of temptation we felt as kids should not carry into adulthood. Convictions - our conscience should grow more sensitive as we grow in faith. EX: movies in the 80’s - they convict me now, but not back then. The life of David shows us what this looks like. Look at two occasions: Committing adultery w/Bathsheba: He committed the sin but felt no remorse. God had to send a prophet to rebuke him. He repented. We don’t see David sinning in this way anymore. Numbering the people: This was sin because it was born of pride. It would be like publishing your net worth. God let him do it to punish the Israelites for joining Absalom. Joab, his army commander, warned him not to do it. But David disregarded it and did it anyway. Then, after it was done… Vs 10 - “David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, Lord, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.” David’s conscience had grown more sensitive so his convictions were stronger. He felt bad before God had to send a prophet. God still sent a prophet, but it was to outline consequences not to bring conviction. Vs 11 - “Before David got up the next morning, the word of the Lord had come to Gad the prophet, David’s seer: 12 “Go and tell David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.’” NOTE - What was the difference in these two sins? On numbering the people he was fighting the fight and yet he grew prideful. On the sin w/Bathsheba he wasn't fighting - he got lazy and his laziness led him into sin. As we grow in Christ, our temptations should grow weaker and our convictions grow stronger.
1 Kings 6:1 (8/16/23)
August 16, 2023 • Benham Brothers • 1 Kings 6:1
What were David’s two greatest sins? His adultery with Bathsheba. Taking a census of the people. For both of these he was punished greatly. However, God can turn things around for our good and His glory when we repent! We see this in the very first verse of 1 Kings 6. Vs 1 - “In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites came out of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, the second month, he began to build the temple of the Lord.” Sin #1 w/Bathsheba led to the birth of the PERSON who built the temple. She gave birth to Solomon - the greatest king in Israel’s history. Sin #2 w/counting the people led to the purchase of the PLACE where the temple was built. Because of the plague caused by the census, David purchased property on Mount Moriah. God took the consequences of David’s two worst sins and built a temple! Romans 5:20 - “But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.” This isn’t an encouragement for us to sin. David paid dearly for both of those transgressions. It’s an encouragement to us to go on serving God after we’ve repented and confessed our sins. Two responses to sin: Guilt - we should feel this “temporarily.” Guilt is good when it leads us to God. We need to “release our guilt” after we have repented. EX: Release the goat (Leviticus 16). Gratitude - our natural response to God’s forgiveness. We should thank God for His mercy and grace. Mercy = not getting what you deserve. Grace = getting more than you deserve. KEY - Satan wants you to feel guilt, not gratitude. Why? Because gratitude draws you toward God. It bonds you to Him and Him to you. God can and will turn your sin around for your good and His glory if you let Him!
2 Samuel 21:1-2 (8/9/23)
August 9, 2023 • Benham Brothers • 2 Samuel 21:1–2
od is always speaking. The question is, are we listening? The problems we face in life are not typically the problem. The real issue tends to lie at the root. If we listen, God can help us get there. God speaks to you in a number of ways. Through the Bible. Through others. Through creation. Through your inner voice (conscience). Through circumstance. This is what happened Vs 1a - “During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord…” David looked at what was happening and asked God if He was speaking. Vs 1b - …”The Lord said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death.” We don’t know how God spoke this. It could’ve been an inner voice, or it could’ve been one of his prophets. The key is, David was listening! Vs 2-3 - “The king summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them….“What shall I do for you? How shall I make atonement so that you will bless the Lord’s inheritance?” David was willing to do something about that in which God spoke. It wasn’t enough to just listen, he was ready for action! Surrender is the path to clarity. We have to be ready to do what God says so He will speak clearly to us. In 2010, our office building almost collapsed to the ground. We asked God to speak. Over the next two weeks, we listened… and wrote down what he said. We listed 12 things He wanted to say. One of the things was “God’s yes does not equal God’s go! Are you listening to God? He wants to speak, and when He does He’ll help you get to the root.
2 Samuel 22:34 (8/9/23)
August 9, 2023 • Benham Brothers • 2 Samuel 22:34
God transforms those who are willing to partner with Him. King David shows us what this looks like. Saul had been pursuing David for several years. David was in a constant state of fighting and hiding. It must have been exhausting. Twice, David could’ve ended it himself. But he operated by principle, not pragmatism. God took Saul out Himself! Jonathon died as well (so Israel wouldn’t try to make him king). David responded with a powerful praise song in 2 Samuel 22 (Psalms 18). Vs 33 - “It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.” God was like David’s trainer for the fight. Like a trainer guiding a boxer. But God did even more - He didn’t just train him, He transformed him! Vs 34 - “He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. God didn’t take the bad situation away from David… He transformed him in the midst of it! He gave him new feet to handle the mess he was in! Think about a deer running through the forest. At any moment a stick or branch or hole could snap the deer’s leg. But it doesn’t. Why? Because a deer has the right feet to handle it! A deer runs gracefully through the same mess that would break a human’s leg. God will transform you in the midst of your struggle so long as you: Operate by principle. Make God your partner!