From Gary...When you wish upon a Star

When you wish upon a Star

Bible Reading - 1 Kings 3: 1-14 

Song - "I want to be a worker for the Lord"

I. Introduction

A. The Disney channel has become part of our T.V. 

     regime (Avonlea is our favorite).

B. This channel has all sorts of things on it though. 

     MMC, movies, cartoons, animated features.

C. There is one animated feature(pinnocho) where a 

     cricket sings "when you wish upon a star".

D. The concept of what we really want out of life says 

     much about our Christianity.

E. The passage ( 1 Ki. 3:5-14 ) about king Solomon 

    provides us with a positive example.

II. Body

A. The prologue: The situation of Solomon.

     1-4

1. Solomon was King of Israel: with a political savvy.

2. Solomon was aware of the people's sacrifices.

3. Solomon loved the Lord.

B. The possibilities of the Grace of God. 5

1. If you heard this--- what would you ask for?

2. If God said this to you--- what would you do?

3. If we asked for something--- what criteria would 

    we use?

C. The perception of God in our lives. 6

1. Solomon saw God in his father's life & in his own.

2. Solomon saw blessings and realized they were from 

    God.

3. Solomon perceived God & his own life as one.

D. The proper attitude for the Godly: 

     submission. 7

1. The song "count your many blessings is appropriate.

2. The sacrifice of pride is paramount to leadership.

3. The self-image of being God-dependent is 

     laudable.

E. The priority of the needs of others. 8-9

1. He realized the great task before him-- he thought 

    of others.

2. He realized HE was lacking.

3. He realized what we need to--- place others before 

    yourself !

F. The pleasure of God for the selfless. 10

1. What a short sentence-- with such great meaning.

2. What a success! How many of us have tried to please 

    God and FAILED.

3. What a blessing (example) to have God pleased with  

     you.

G. The pronouncement of the blessings of 

    God's will. 11-14

1. Things he could have asked for... life, riches, 

    enemies???

2. Thing of beauty was the wisdom of Solomon.

3. Things he didn't even ask for were given if he were 

    to be faithful like his father.

III. Conclusion

A. This passage gives us not only an historical account 

     of Solomon, but also an example to follow.

B. The perception of ourselves and also of others says 

    much about our submission to God.

C. The prayer for us: "Help us to do God's will"

From Gary V. Womack...Are We Thankful?

Are We Thankful?

We observe Thanksgiving once a year - Are we thankful every day ? What does it mean to be thankful?

Thanks - "An expression of gratitude. Grateful acknowledgment of something received by or done for one."

Note the order - A blessing, gratefulness, acknowledgment.

FORGETTING - is a failure to remember or notice what God has given to us. It's hard to be thankful & acknowledge what we don't recall.

Moses warned Israel not to forget God as their Provider and Protector.

Deut. 8:7-ff Forgetting to worship & serve God - the result of forgetting the blessings of God. The consequences: to perish.

After many generations of God's goodness...

Amos 6:1, 3-8 In Israel's wealth & ease, they forgot God.

Paul warns of this danger and where it leads

Rom. 1:18-ff When man forgets God - look where it leads.

DISCOURAGEMENT - Is a distraction from God's blessings. When we are discouraged, our focus changes to our self & away from God.

Num. 21:4-6 "Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very

discouraged on the way. (5) And the people spoke against God and against Moses: 'Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul I

oaths this worthless bread.' So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died."

It's easy to be thankful in good times

Phil. 4:6-7 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (7) and

the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

MURMURING - Is an expression of dissatisfaction with God & His blessings It's hard to be thankful while murmuring.

Ex. 16:1-4 Israel murmured for lack of food - God gave manna & quail.

Num. 21:4-6 (quoted above) Discouragement lead to murmuring.

1 Cor. 10:1-11 Israel serves as an example of unthankfulness & a warning to us not to do likewise.

COVETOUSNESS & LACK OF CONTENTMENT -

It's hard to be thankful when you want more

1 Sam. 8:1-7, 19-20 Israel was not content with God's arrangement - judges They wanted a king like their neighbors.

Heb. 13:5 "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' "

1 Tim. 6:6-7 "Now godliness with contentment is great gain. (7) For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."

HOW CAN WE AVOID BEING UNTHANKFUL?

1. Acknowledge God's goodness.

Psm. 100:1-ff A psalm of thanksgiving.

1. Assemble for worship & praise -

The Lord's supper is a reminder of the blessing of Christ's sacrifice.

1 Cor. 11:23-26 An acknowledgment of His sacrifice & of our thankfulness.

Thanks [eucharista] - "Denotes gratitude, thankfulness, giving of thanks."

Note - The Lord's supper is erroneously called the Eucharist by Catholics, along with their doctrine of transubstantiation, but you can see why they used this as a name for that memorial. The Lord's supper is an expression of thankfulness

2. Prayer - where we talk to God.

Col. 4:2 "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving."

3. Study God's word - where God speaks to us.

Col. 2:6-7 "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, (7) rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you

have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving."

4. Be observant - count your many blessings

Psm. 40:5 "Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in

order; If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered."

In heaven - a place of constant thanksgiving.

Rev. 4:1-ff "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power."

INVITATION - How thankful are we for the greatest sacrifice ever offered?