Words that Changed a Nation 1Kings 8: 22-53

INTRODUCTION:

They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable–and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace– but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death! Patrick Henry, March 23, 1775 Richmond Virginia

·         These are the words spoken by Patrick Henry a little over 250 years ago.  Some credit this speech as turning          the tide towards resisting England and starting the Revolutionary War.

·         The speech was given in a church in Richmond Virginia. 

·         Words are powerful.  The Bible puts it this way…

Now if we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we direct their whole bodies.  And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. Consider how a small fire sets ablaze a large forest. And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among our members. It stains the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.  Every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish is tamed and has been tamed by humankind, but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. — James 3:3-8 (CSB)

·         Today we will see a public prayer, like Patrick Henry’s speech, that turned the tide for the Nation of Israel.

·         Powerful and prophetic, King Solomon’s prayer is a placemat put on the finished work of the LORD’s house.  It        will set the pattern for the rest of Israel’s history.

1.      The he addressed.

o   The God of Israel was .

Lord, who is like you among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, revered with praises, performing wonders? — Exodus 15:11 (CSB)

There is no one holy like the Lord. There is no one besides you!  And there is no rock like our God.  — 1 Samuel 2:2 (CSB)

o   The God of Israel is completely .

At that time Jesus said to the crowds,“Have you come out with swords and clubs, as if I were a criminal, to capture me? Every day I used to sit, teaching in the temple, and you didn’t arrest me.  But all this has happened so that the writings of the prophets would be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and ran away. — Matthew 26:55-56 (CSB)

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. And may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will do it. — 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (CSB)

o   The God of Israel is beyond .

I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us ​— ​ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. — Ephesians 3:17-21 (CSB)

2.      Heaven and .

o   Solomon prays out 7 situations.

1)      Problems with others. (31-32)

2)      Problems with enemies. (33-34)

3)      Problems with provisions.  (35-36)

4)      Problems with sicknesses.  (37-40)

5)      Problems with outsiders. (41-43)

6)      Problems with a battle. (44-45)

7)      Problems with captivity. (46-51)

o   In each of these seven situations King Solomon describes a five-fold pattern.

1.      Description of the problem.

2.      The cause of the problem.

3.      The possibility of prayer.

4.      What will happen in heaven.

5.      What will happen on earth.

Our .

o   Jesus told us that we would experience problems in this world.

Jesus responded to them, “Do you now believe?  Indeed, an hour is coming, and has come, when each of you will be scattered to his own home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” — John 16:31-33 (CSB)

The .

1)      Some problems are self-inflicted. 

So, then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord.  Let a person examine himself; in this way let him eat the bread and drink from the cup. For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep.  If we were properly judging ourselves, we would not be judged, but when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined, so that we may not be condemned with the world. — 1 Corinthians 11:27-32 (CSB)

2)      Some problems are common to all man.

For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. — Matthew 5:45 (CSB)

3)      Some problems are persecution from the enemy.

Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you. Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed. If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler. But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name. For the time has come for judgment to begin with God’s household, and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God? And if a righteous person is saved with difficulty, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?  So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator while doing what is good. — 1 Peter 4:12-19 (CSB)

The.

o   The possibility of prayer is one of the greatest biblical truths for the Christian.

o   We are called to pray at all times.

Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  — 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (CSB)

o   We are exhorted to pray about all things.

Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:6-7 (CSB)

o   Prayer is the highway to receive mercy and grace.

Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need. — Hebrews 4:16 (CSB)

The response of . 

o   We are promised that God hears and answers our prayers.

This is the confidence we have before him: If we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked of him. — 1 John 5:14-15 (CSB)

o   Our prayers are pleasing in heaven.

When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand in the presence of God; seven trumpets were given to them. Another angel, with a golden incense burner, came and stood at the altar. He was given a large amount of incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up in the presence of God from the angel’s hand. The angel took the incense burner, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it to the earth; there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake. — Revelation 8:1-5 (CSB)

Changes on EARTH. 

May you judge your servants, condemning the wicked man by bringing what he has done on his own head and providing justice for the righteous by rewarding him according to his righteousness. — 1 Kings 8:32 (CSB)

may you hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your people Israel. May you restore them to the land you gave their ancestors — 1 Kings 8:34 (CSB)

forgive the sin of your servants and your people Israel, so that you may teach them to walk on the good way. May you send rain on your land that you gave your people for an inheritance. — 1 Kings 8:36 (CSB)

may you forgive, act, and give to everyone according to all their ways, since you know each heart, for you alone know every human heart, so that they may fear you all the days they live on the land you gave our ancestors. — 1 Kings 8:39-40 (CSB)

Then all peoples of earth will know your name, to fear you as your people Israel do and to know that this temple I have built bears your name. — 1 Kings 8:43 (CSB)

May you forgive your people who sinned against you and all their rebellions against you, and may you grant them compassion before their captors, so that they may treat them compassionately. — 1 Kings 8:50 (CSB)

EMERALD CITY:

1.      Words are powerful.  They have the power of life and death.  For the believer words give us access to heaven.  Does anything need to change with the words that you speak?

From the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is filled with the product of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. — Proverbs 18:20-21 (CSB)

2.      The words that King Solomon spoke set the course and direction for the history of Israel.  Another King is coming, and his words will do the same.

Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with justice he judges and makes war. His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on his head. He had a name written that no one knows except himself. He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. A sharp sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty. And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  — Revelation 19:11-16 (CSB)

Then I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse and against his army. But the beast was taken prisoner, and along with it the false prophet, who had performed the signs in its presence. He deceived those who accepted the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image with these signs. Both of them were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. The rest were killed with the sword that came from the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds ate their fill of their flesh. — Revelation 19:19-21 (CSB)

He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him.  He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.  But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. — John 1:10-14 (CSB)