Author Archives: John Sanzone

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GODLY CONTENTMENT. I Timothy 6:6-10. 8/07/2022. #20.

⁶ Now godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ⁸ And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. ⁹ But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

1. The way of internal peace

                a. Paul summarizes how to avoid the striving which he had just condemned

                                a1. As in Gal. 5, Paul first describes the turmoil of men who desire fame and money

                                a2. Opposite of striving is contentment    

                b. Greek word for contentment here means “satisfaction within oneself”

                                a1. No desires or obsessions

                                a2. Discontent = desire for something more than what you have

                c. Paul prescribes 2 traits to eliminate greed:

                                a1. Godliness (lit., good devotion)

                                a2. Contentment (pleased within self)

                d. Godliness = devoted to holy living

                e. Godliness and contentment are major themes

                                a1. Matthew 6:24-34 – the Lord said that if we have food and shelter, be content

                                a2. Philippians 4:9-12 Paul learned to be content

                                a3. Job 1 Job the Lord took back what was his (Job owned nothing)

2. Divine perspective

                a. Paul provides the proper perspective:

                                a1. We enter and leave the world with nothing

                                                b1. What is accumulated is left

                                                b2. Life is temporary and fleeting

                                a2. Having the necessities of life is all we need (food and covering)

                                                b1. All the tools needed to be feed and sheltered are given by God

                                                b2. Beyond life’s necessities are bonuses and not entitlements

                b. Contentment with adequate provisions as we serve the Lord leads to peaceful satisfaction

3. Desire for more leads to misery

                a. Striving for greater power, pleasure, and possessions brings pain, dissatisfaction, and more desire

                                a1. Things cannot bring contentment and joy

                                a2. Pleasure yields desire for more pleasure

                b. Paul states that the desire to be rich is a snare

                                a1. A temptation that brings destruction

                                a2. Pursuing riches is an unworthy goal

                                a3. Foolish and harmful lusts = men will engage in sinful, deceptive, and self-destructive acts to gain pleasure and money

                                a4. Fleshliness and worldliness are gained by compromising faith and morals

                c. The love of $ is the root of all kinds of evil

                                a1. There are wealthy people who use their wealth to serve the Lord (rare)

                                a2. Some of the most miserable people are the rich (not bring happiness)

                d. Curbing desire for things and thrills is a battle, especially in an affluent society

                                a1. Can pull us away from the faith

                                a2. Godly focus takes constant diligence

Key Verse:   Matthew 6:24-34

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. ²⁵ “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? ²⁸ “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹ and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not [d]arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹ “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

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TEMPLE BLESSING. I Kings 8:54-61. 08/07/2022.

Sermon Notes.

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20220731_Morning

THE ANTI-CHRISTIAN. I Timothy 6:3-5. 7/31/22. #19.

³ If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

1. The dissenters

                a. Paul gives Timothy the measuring stick of true disciples

                                a1. Those who accept the teachings of Jesus Christ

                                a2. There are many who are professing believers who do not know or submit to biblical teaching

                b. Paul doesn’t make an evaluation as to whether these dissenters are saved or not

                                a1. I Corinthians 3 there are some saved who remain immature and grow very little

                                a2. There are false brethren (II Corinthians 11:26)

                c. The dissenters will not submit to “wholesome” words (healthy; English word, hygiene)

                                a1. Teachings leading to spiritual vitality

                                a2. They teach unhealthy things (false doctrine and ignorance in assembly)

                                a3. They reject godly teaching that leads to spiritual growth (rebellion)

                d. Can’t force someone else to grow

2. The doctrine

                a. Doctrine = teachings (true instructions)

                b. True doctrine has three qualities:

                                a1. From the Lord Jesus Christ (only authority for Church)

                                a2. Words that lead to spiritual growth (what to believe and how to live)

                                a3. Teaches how to be godly

                c. Biblical doctrine is the sole guide to faith

3. The disputers  

                a. The dissenters are motivated by the flesh

                                a1. I John 2:3-11 refuse to submit to any authority but their own

                                a2. Love arguing and self-promotion

                b. 1st trait = PRIDE (high-minded; lit., wrapped in smoke – conceited)

                                a1. Thinking highly of oneself over all

                                a2. Too arrogant to humble self

                                a3. Foundation of all sin

                c. Understanding nothing – thinking they already know spiritual truth

                d. Obsessed with disputes and arguments = “morbidly afflicted with striving and arguing over words (lit., word battles)      

                e. Due to pride, they compete for preeminence, having envy, jealousy, and strife

                                a1. They blaspheme God with errors

                                a2. They arouse evil suspicions (sow doubt about sound teaching)

                f. They are corrupt, loving disputes, having followed vain philosophies of tainted men

                g. Seeking gain in wealth and power by Gospel

Key Verse:  1 John 2:3-11

³ Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. ⁴ He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. ⁶ He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. ⁷ Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. ⁸ Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. ⁹ He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. ¹⁰ He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. ¹¹ But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

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HONOR THE BOSS. I Timothy 6:1-2. 7/24/2022. #18.

¹ Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. ² And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

1. A world apart

                a. Odd to speak of Christian masters owning Christian slaves

                b. Paul does not command that masters release their slaves (seems surprising to us)

                c. The world that then was

                                a1. Slaves made up to one-third of the Roman Empire and were a major part of all societies in the ancient world

                                a2. Christianity changed the perspective on slavery in society

                d. Abraham owned slaves

                e. Forms of slavery:

                                a1. Forced bondage by capture, purchase, or punishment (indebtedness)

                                a2. Volunteer servitude (attach to a house)

                                a3. Temporary slavery to pay a debt

                f. Slavery was common and accepted

2. What now?

                a. After slave owners became believers, what were they to do with their slaves?

                                a1. Paul did not command that they free their slaves (a social reality)

                                a2. Concentration on behavior

                b. Christian masters are to treat their servants well

                c. Ephesians 6:5-9 a change of behavior comes with coming to Christ

                d. Christian slaves are to obey and honor masters

                                a1. 1 Corinthians 7:21-24 Paul emphasizes to honor the Lord as a servant and God will use this

                                a2. 2 Kings 5, Joseph, Daniel, Nehemiah, and others were used of God as servants

                e. If a slave can be free, they should use this, but not to be insisted upon

                                a1. God wants to use us where we are

                                a2. It took time for Christian principles to permeate society

                f. Due to man’s sinful nature, slavery was a reality

                g. Servants were to honor their masters

                                a1. Honor believing masters as brothers

                                a2. How we act in the position we are in reflects on our Christian testimony

                h. God allows us to be in difficult and less than ideal situations in order to use us

3. The boss

                a. Today we are more likely to be in an employer/employee relationship than master/slave

                                a1. Same deference and respect is owed your boss or superior as a servant owes his master

                                a2. Our testimony at the work place and to authorities over us reflects on the Lord

                b. How a believer responds in his work place is the same as how he is to respond in the family, neighborhood, church, public, and anywhere else

                c. Being in a place that you do not want to be is not an excuse to behave poorly

                d. The Christian testimony is mandatory in all situations

Key verse: Ephesians 6:5-9

⁵ Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; ⁶ not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, ⁷ with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, ⁸ knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. ⁹ And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

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PURITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. I Timothy 5:21-25. 07/17/2022. #17.

²¹ I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. ²² Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people’s sins; keep yourself pure. ²³ No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your frequent infirmities. ²⁴ Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. ²⁵ Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.

1. OBSERVE ALL OF PAUL’S TEACHING

                a. Paul spent the last 3 chapters instructing Timothy is selecting godly leaders and being an example to others in word and deed

                b. Paul wanted Timothy to follow his teaching and to teach others to do so as well

                                a1. Godliness, particularly in leadership, was paramount

                                a2. The church can’t afford to lower biblical standards when choosing leaders

                c. Paul even makes an oath: he is charging these with Jesus and the angels as witness

                                a1. Demonstrates its importance

                                a2. Convenience is not to override following biblical precepts

                d. Without prejudice or partiality

                                a1. Not to install someone popular or influential if they are not qualified

                                a2. Not rejecting someone because they are not in “the inner circle”

                e. It is important to evaluate things through spiritual eyes and not social eyes

                f. Not to elevate a person to leadership quickly

                                a1. Must get to know a person before they are elevated to lead (testing)

                                a2. Many men have been ruined due to being elevated too soon

2. PURITY and PHYSICAL STRUGGLES

                a. Paul gives Timothy 2 warnings:

                                a1. Not to share in other people’s sins (Ephesians 5:8-21)

                                a2. To be careful not to fellowship with the ungodly or bow to peer pressure (Tim. was more introverted than Paul)

                b. On a personal note, Tim. apparently was having intestinal issues: take a little wine (kills bacteria) for stomach (avoid drinking the local water)

3. ALL WILL BE HELD TO ACCOUNT

                a. Important principle: some people’s sins catch up with them in this life, but some are not held account until after death

                                a1. No one gets by with anything

                                a2. Judgment will come (Revelation 20)

                b. Some people are honored for doing well in this life, but many are unnoticed until the Lord hands out rewards (I Corinthians 3)

Key Verse: Ephesians 5:8-21⁸ For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), ¹⁰ finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. ¹¹ And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. ¹³ But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. ¹⁴ Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” ¹⁵ See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, ¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another in the fear of God.

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EXILE & RESTORATION. I Kings 8:41-53. 07/17/22. #22.

⁴¹ “Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for Your name’s sake ⁴² (for they will hear of Your great name and Your strong hand and Your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this temple, ⁴³ hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name. ⁴⁴ “When Your people go out to battle against their enemy, wherever You send them, and when they pray to the Lord toward the city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name, ⁴⁵ then hear in heaven their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause. ⁴⁶ “When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive to the land of the enemy, far or near; ⁴⁷ yet when they come to themselves in the land where they were carried captive, and repent, and make supplication to You in the land of those who took them captive, saying, ‘We have sinned and done wrong, we have committed wickedness’; ⁴⁸ and when they return to You with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who led them away captive, and pray to You toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen and the temple which I have built for Your name: ⁴⁹ then hear in heaven Your dwelling place their prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause, ⁵⁰ and forgive Your people who have sinned against You, and all their transgressions which they have transgressed against You; and grant them compassion before those who took them captive, that they may have compassion on them ⁵¹ (for they are Your people and Your inheritance, whom You brought out of Egypt, out of the iron furnace), ⁵² that Your eyes may be open to the supplication of Your servant and the supplication of Your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they call to You. ⁵³ For You separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to be Your inheritance, as You spoke by Your servant Moses, when You brought our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord God.”

1. The foreigner in the land

                a. Solomon is not only concerned with Israel, but also foreigners who believe in God

                                a1. The stranger has the same right of petition as does Israel

                                a2. The testimony of God is to all people

                b. vs. 46 Solomon acknowledges that everyone sins

                c. Even though salvation was of the Jews, believing Gentiles, who have heard the testimony of God, could also receive forgiveness through the mechanism as the Jews

                d. Notice that these are personal petitions & not the general petition of sacrifice during festival days

                                a1. A personal God who hears individual prayers & petitions

                                a2. God’s favorable answer is based upon God’s mercy alone

                                a3. Sol. wants God to answer the plea of the God-fearing stranger

                e. Only God can grant victory over Isr.’s enemies

2. Exile

                a. Notice that Sol. doesn’t say “if” your people sin so that they are sent into exile, but “when” they sin

                                a1. Solomon foresaw the Exile

                                a2. Northern kingdom of Isr. = taken in 722 BC, less than 2 centuries after dedication of the Temple; Judah = 586 BC, 3 ½ cen. Later

                b. Sol. knew the hearts of the people

                                a1. Never did any repentance on Israel’s part last long (12 cycles of judges)

                                a2. Sol. did not see anything that was going to change the cycle of sin

                c. Sol. knew that after God had exhausted sending famine, pestilence, & disease, that he would have to finally send an invading army to remove Israel

3. Repentance & Return

                a. Sol. ends his prayer by pleading with God to forgive Israel when the “come to themselves”

                    (come to their senses)

                                a1. Punishment brings them to awareness of their sin & rebellion against God

                                a2. Lk. 15 the prodigal came to his senses

                                a3. Chose to repent under pressure

                b. Sol. bases his plea to God on 2 premises

                                a1. God is a compassionate & merciful God (not based on Isr. deserving forgiveness)

                                a2. God had made a covenant with Abraham which included the inheritance of Canaan,

                                      fulfilled under Moses/Joshua

                c. God had chosen Israel as his inheritance

                                a1. God’s choosing was not based upon Israel’s spiritual quality, but his choice

                                a2. God showed extreme patience & mercy to his people, & won’t forsake them

                d. The same is true of God’s church

                                a1. Mt. 28:19-20 God promises never to leave us                                 a2. Eph. 1:4, 1 Pt. 1:20, Rev. 13:8 chose his saints from before the foundation of the world (Rm. 9 not by merit or worth)

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ELDER HONOR. I Timothy 5:17-20. 7/10/22. #16.

¹⁷ Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. ¹⁸ For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” ¹⁹ Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. ²⁰ Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.

1. An honored position

                a. Elders are to be highly esteemed

                                a1. If a man who appointed to be an elder meets the qualification, he is honorable

                                a2. As with prophets, apostles, pastors, and deacons, elders hold a high position appointed by God

                b. Elders are teachers, protectors, disciplinarians, restorers, and mentors

                c. Paul mentions a special class of mentors

                                a1. Those who minister in Word and doctrine

                                a2. Full time workers, doing the job of pastor’s and teachers

                                a3. Worth being properly paid for their ministering to saints unto God (Deuteronomy 25:4)

                d. Not all elders were full time workers

                e. Hebrews 13:7-17 elders must give an account for those in the church body they serve

2. The work of an elder

                a. The elder has five basic jobs

                                a1. To be a model of Christian integrity

                                a2. To study and teach the Word of God

                                a3. To protect the flock against error

                                a4. To correct those who stray from faith

                                a5. To implement church discipline when necessary (for restoration)

                b. The elders act as guardians or gate keepers

                                a1. Ezekiel 3 serve the role as watchmen

                                a2. There are ever subtle errors that creep into a church (must guard against them)

                c. Acts 20 Paul warned the elders that wolves will come among them to ravish the flock

                                a1. Not all men who appear to be holy, are holy (must guard against influence)

                                a2. Temptation in high positions are great (pride, seducing doctrines, factions…)

                                a3. Many churches have been ruined by men in leadership controlling all

                d. Elders face many challenges: apathy among believers, rebellion, accusations, and rivalries

                e. An effective elder = a man of prayer, study, wisdom, grace, faith, and teaching

                                a1. He instructs, ministers, and visits

                                a2. With other elders he makes important decisions for the church

3. Protect your elders

                a. Accusations against elders take 2 or 3 witnesses

                                a1. Elders are easily accused by the jealous and vindictive

                                a2. Start 1 step up from Matthew 18:15-18

                b. Elders who are found guilty of sin must be publically rebuked, for it is public sin

                                a1. II Samuel 12 David was publically chastised

                                a2. Galatians 2 Paul confronted Peter before all

                                a3. I Corinthians 5 there is a deterrence to others in public accountability

                c. Responsibility and accountability = go together

                                a1. Luke 12:48 a higher standard for leaders

                                a2. Leaders can strengthen or destroy 

Key verse: Hebrews 13:7-17

⁷ Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. ⁹ Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them. ¹⁰ We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. ¹¹ For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. ¹² Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. ¹³ Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. ¹⁴ For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. ¹⁵ Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. ¹⁶ But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. ¹⁷ Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

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TEMPLE MERCY. I Kings 8:22-40. 7/10/2022. #21.

²² Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven; ²³ and he said: “Lord God of Israel, there is no God in heaven above or on earth below like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts. ²⁴ You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day. ²⁵ Therefore, Lord God of Israel, now keep what You promised Your servant David my father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man sit before Me on the throne of Israel, only if your sons take heed to their way, that they walk before Me as you have walked before Me.’ ²⁶ And now I pray, O God of Israel, let Your word come true, which You have spoken to Your servant David my father. ²⁷ “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built! ²⁸ Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O Lord my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You today: ²⁹ that Your eyes may be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place. ³⁰ And may You hear the supplication of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear in heaven Your dwelling place; and when You hear, forgive. ³¹ “When anyone sins against his neighbor, and is forced to take an oath, and comes and takes an oath before Your altar in this temple, ³² then hear in heaven, and act, and judge Your servants, condemning the wicked, bringing his way on his head, and justifying the righteous by giving him according to his righteousness. ³³ “When Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and when they turn back to You and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication to You in this temple, ³⁴ then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your people Israel, and bring them back to the land which You gave to their fathers. ³⁵ “When the heavens are shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against You, when they pray toward this place and confess Your name, and turn from their sin because You afflict them, ³⁶ then hear in heaven, and forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk; and send rain on Your land which You have given to Your people as an inheritance. ³⁷ “When there is famine in the land, pestilence or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers; when their enemy besieges them in the land of their cities; whatever plague or whatever sickness there is; ³⁸ whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows the plague of his own heart, and spreads out his hands toward this temple: ³⁹ then hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and act, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of all the sons of men), ⁴⁰ that they may fear You all the days that they live in the land which You gave to our fathers.

1. Perspective

                a. Solomon acknowledges the limitations of the Temple

                                a1. The God of the universe can’t be confined to a building or location (not contained by multiple universes)

                                a2. God, and not the temple, is key to Israel’s wellbeing

                                a3. The temple exists due to God’s covenant

                b. The temple will be God’s “dwelling place” (point of contact between God and Israel as long as the people obey the covenant)

                                a1. God’s covenant with Abraham = eternal

                                a2. David will have a descendent to sit on the throne until all is fulfilled

                                a3. God’s blessing upon Israel is contingent upon their obedience (Deuteronomy 28)

2. Prayer of forgiveness

                a. Only a small portion of this prayer of dedication deals with dedicating the temple

                b. Solomon spends most of his time on a key purpose of the temple

                                a1. Not focused on the worship of God (a prime consideration for holiness)

                                a2. Centers on God forgiving Israel when they sin (key focus of offerings in Leviticus)

                c. Solomon recognizes how sinful Israel is

                                a1. Not “if” we sin, but “when” we sin

                                a2. The history of Israel was full of rebellion

                d. Solomon acknowledges that God will send disease, blights, famine, pestilence, enemies, and plagues when Israel rebels and refuses to repent

                                a1. There is no logic to sin against God, but men do so anyway

                                a2. Even when severely punished men often rebel and stubbornly refuse to repent

                e. Notice that the supplication to God that Solomon has in mind is the plea for forgiveness

                                a1. When God’s people plead for mercy, Solomon asks that God will forgive them

                                a2. This prayer begins the tradition of praying toward the temple

                                                b1. No such concept about tabernacle

                                                b2. Daniel 5 Daniel prayed toward Jeremiah

                                a3. God was said to dwell between cherubim

                d. Solomon makes 2 pleas

                                a1. If someone swears an oath before God, may the petitioner be heard

                                a2. Judge the evil person and sustain the righteous (must include himself)

3. Repentance

                a. Sol. admits that Israel is going to rebel

                                a1. Often, they will not repent

                                a2. God will judge them with plagues, famine, and invaders

                b. Sol. pleads that God will forgive them when they turn back to God

                                a1. Notice that Sol. knows that Israel will not turn back until they are severely punished

                                a2. The fear of the Lord is illusive for selfish people

                c. Even though forced repentance is not freewill repentance, Sol. pleads for forgiveness, even when the repentance is coerced

                d. Sin nature means that few truly righteous exist                 e. Only God’s mercy prevents total destruction

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WIDOWS INDEED. I Timothy 5:9-16. 07/03/2022. #15.

⁹ Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, ¹⁰ well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. ¹¹ But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, ¹² having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. ¹³ And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. ¹⁴ Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. ¹⁵ For some have already turned aside after Satan. ¹⁶ If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

1. In light of other passages

                a. Often Paul or other writers will state a general principle in absolute terms

                                a1. Jesus did not mean that anything ask for, you will get (Matthew 18), for often we want selfish things (James 4)

                                a2. Proverbs 22:6 does not mean that every well-trained child will be godly

                b. Proverbs, parables, and illustrations are generally true, but not universally true (a diligent man doesn’t always become rich, the godly often suffer from hunger, the prodigal does not always return,…)

                c. Interpretation depends on many principles:

                                a. Compare with other passages

                                b. Context, grammar, and setting

                                c. Careful translation work is necessary

                                d. Seeming contradictions are actually different aspects of defining truth

2. The widow on the roll

                a. A widow who can be supported by church:

                                a1. Mature (60+)

                                a2. Faithful (wife of one husband, faithful in ministering to others, holy, helpful, and hospitable)

                                a3. No family members to support her

                b. Widows who are not to be enrolled for aid:

                                a1. The ungodly

                                a2. Younger widows

3. The young widows and the church

                a. Young widows will tend to want to remarry, not wanting to just be helpers in church

                                a1. I Corinthians 7 this is not universally true, since Paul argued for single servants (note Anna’s service in Temple)

                                a2. Younger more active women will tend to be idle, busybodies, gossips, desiring to marry, and wanderers

                b. “Wanton against the Lord” = refers to breaking their pledge to serve Lord only

                                a1. Not necessarily, leaving the faith

                                a2. Restless, with divided interests

                c. Not all widows are gossips or busybodies, but Paul had seen enough to know trend

                d. “Turning after Satan” = not losing faith, but tempted to become fleshly and worldly

                e. Paul concludes that the church must not become a welfare organization

                f. Paul’s point = temptation of idle youth is stronger than most pledges (I John 2:15-25)

                g. Matthew 26:41 our spirit is willing to commit to the Lord, but the spirit is very weak

Key Verse:  1 John 2:15-25¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. ¹⁸ Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. ¹⁹ They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. ²⁰ But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. ²¹ I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. ²² Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. ²³ Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. ²⁴ Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. ²⁵ And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.