"On that night God appeared to Solomon,
and said to him, 'Ask! What shall I give you?'”
2nd Chronicles 1:7
If the Lord came to you and asked what you would like him to give you, what would you ask? Think about it a long time before you answer, because it will reveal the true state of your heart.
Solomon had just been made the King of Israel, and as a king he could have asked a multitude of things, great wealth, continuous victory over his enemies, the admiration of the people, many loyal servants, success in all he desired to do, and oh so much more. He was the king, and would have been justified in asking these things. But listen to what he asked:
vs 9-10:
“Now, O Lord God, let your promise
to David my father be established,
for you have made me king over a people
like the dust of the earth in multitude.
Now give me WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE,
that I may go out and come in before this people;
for who can judge this great people of yours?”
What did he ask? He asked to be equipped to carry out his ministry rightly before God. That would require wisdom and knowledge. His only concern was being able to rightly rule over God's people.
And listen to God's response to the deep humility of this man:
vs 11-12:
"Then God said to Solomon: 'Because this was in your heart,
and you have not asked riches or wealth or honor
or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life,
but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself
that you may judge my people
over whom I have made you king,
wisdom and knowledge are granted to you;
*AND * ...I WILL give you riches and wealth and honor,
such as none of the kings have had who were before you,
nor shall any after you have the like.”
God absolutely loves humility. He loves humility so much that it is his delight to pour out blessing on any son or daughter who will surrender himself/herself to him and seek above all to be equipped to carry out their call and fulfill the mission he has set before them. This is the very heart of God. Nothing could please him more.
"But seek FIRST the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things shall be added to you."
Matthew 6:33
Unexpected to that person will be the blessings God will add to the one who has such a heart. He surprises them and delights them and fills their hearts with joy. Oh if only all believers knew the secret of happiness, if all believers only understood what pleases God - and set their hearts to that alone. How many blessings are forfeited by the whiners and complainers who weary God with their never-ending complaints!
Brothers and sisters, take a good look at your heart toward God and ask yourself if your ATTITUDE is pleasing to him. Does God simply have to put up with you? Will you never seek to know what pleases him, and understand that in pleasing him your joy will come? If your heart is less than surrendered, pray and ask for grace to come to an attitude change, ask for help to bring before God an attitude that will delight him. It doesn't come naturally to us, we are proud and self-seeking by nature, it has to be sought after.
Go aside, take some time alone with God, and ask him to show how you can change your attitude before him and please him. THAT will delight him!
"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers,
transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed
into an angel of light.
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers
also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness,
whose end shall be according to their works."
2nd Corinthians 11:13-15
Ministers of righteousness?
In this passage we're called to discernment. There are ministers of Satan who LOOK LIKE ministers of righteousness, but who are actually "false."
Sit back and think about it - how would you know that a minister is not walking in the Lord, but is actually a deceitful worker? A "false apostle?" Someone desiring fame, all seats in the building filled ... for your money. Would you be able to tell?
Jesus told the RICH young ruler to PART with his riches and come follow him:
"He said to him, 'You still lack one thing.
Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven,
and come, follow me.'
But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful,
for he was very rich."
Luke 18:22-23
Many turn away from a man who preaches about sin, repentance, hell, or judgment. They think him "judgmental," or "harsh," or just too negative. On the other hand, they love the nice guy, the loving minister who tells them happy things. Friends, this is to get it backwards.
There is a literal hell. Read the words of Jesus who told us about hell:
"And do not fear those who kill the body
but cannot kill the soul.
But rather fear him who is able to destroy
both soul and body IN HELL."
Matthew 10:28
Sin is a destroyer. Sin has consequences. Jesus Christ warns people not to sin again lest they bring "something worse" upon themselves:
“See, you have been made well.
SIN NO MORE LEST A WORSE THING
COME UPON YOU.”
John 5:14
He warned that the way is narrow, and that FEW find it.
“Enter by the narrow gate;
for wide is the gate and broad is the way
that leads to destruction,
and there are MANY who go in by it.
Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way
which leads to life, and there are FEW who find it.
Matthew 7:14
If you're going to reject a minister because he's too negative, you'd reject Jesus.
The Lord's message was that in this life you will have tribulation, some will be imprisoned, some will die. He never ever once gave advice on how one can acquire a lot of money or worldly success. No, he said we must deny ourselves. Deny ourselves? Is there anyone in this modern world who could receive a word like that? Who is willing to deny himself? And take up his CROSS and follow him?
“If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world,
and loses his own soul?
Matthew 16:24-26
If you're being taught that you can have "your best life now," or if you're hearing the way to become rich and successful, if it's about developing "SELF esteem," you might be listening to a man who looks like a minister of righteousness (they usually smile a lot) but who is actually being led by Satan who does not want you to be willing to take up a cross and follow Jesus.
You're being deceived.
Take this message to the Lord in prayer and ask him to show you who the false ministers are. You might be surprised.
"Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of sickness;
I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none,
and for comforters, but I found none."
Psalm 69:20
Especially in the life of a child, continuing reproach will make him bitter, fearful, and despairing, and this will follow him around all his life. Children who have been thus treated will be the hateful ones among us. The sick at heart have not had the kind of input that makes a person healthy, and it will show in all he does. He's full of darkness and in this environment Satan can easily work all kinds and depths of havoc.
God has seen all the injustice that was perpetrated against such a person, and he stands to heal him and set him free of all the bondage that came as a result. He can be trusted to treat such a one tenderly.
"A bruised reed he will not break,
and smoking flax he will not quench..."
Matthew 12:20
God knows and he understands. The bruised may have sought help and found none, because no one can truly understand the state of his soul ...but the great Physician does.
Jesus Christ said:
"Those who are well have no need of a physician,
but those who are sick.
I did not come to call the righteous,
but sinners, to repentance.”
Mark 2:17
When the great Physician takes over, the life is drastically changed. But the person must start with repentance and he has to acknowledge that all the hatefulness and darkness inside is sin, because the remedy for sin is confession before God and difficult as it is, this is where we have to start. We are not to justify our sin no matter who or what caused it. Sin is sickness in the soul and healing must begin with acknowledging it and confessing it. When one acknowledges his sin, then the process of healing begins.
Jesus said:
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor;
he has sent me TO HEAL THE BROKENHEARTED,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed;"
Luke 4:18
If you are the brokenhearted, if you live in darkness and are oppressed, Jesus has come to proclaim liberty and release to you. Read this passage in Luke 4:18 above, over and over and over again until it gets down into your spirit.
And then pray with me:
"Father God, Jesus Christ your Son said he came for such as me, the ones who are sick of soul, brokenhearted, and oppressed. You know all my past, you know everything that has happened to me to cause me to go deeper and deeper into darkness, and the result is that I am devastated, a destroyed human being. You said YOU are the great PHYSICIAN, and I turn myself and my life over to you, asking you to heal me and set me free. Please help me to take the medicine you will prescribe even if it's painful and tastes terrible. Please grant me the grace to endure the surgery you will perform in my soul. If I had cancer, I would submit to the suffering involved in the remedy. My cancer is in my soul and I submit to you for the treatment you will give me. I trust you not to break this bruised reed, nor to put out what light is left in me, because your Word says I am safe in your hands. Receive me, Lord Jesus, and from this day forward lead me in the path of healing. I trust you with all my heart, for I have sought others who could not heal me but you alone can provide exactly what I need to bring me to wholeness. I thank you for caring so much for someone such as me.
