House-cleaning Time

This is a time to start fresh—to wash windows, sweep the doorstep and purge your closet. Sometimes our spiritual lives need a deep cleaning, too. As you refresh your space at the start of this new season, don’t neglect the space inside—your very soul, the core of who you are. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

Usurpers

In David's old age, Absalom's brother, Adonijah, repeated his brother's folly in attempting to take the throne from his father. Joab and Abiathar the priest abdicated with Adonijah, but Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet remained with David, knowing that Solomon was his sworn heir. Nathan urged Bathsheba to persuade the king to quickly install Solomon. If you want to inherit God's promises, prepare now to contend with usurpers - throne-stealers.

1 Kings 1:29 - "The king sware, and said, As the LORD liveth, ...Solomon ...shall reign after me, and he shall sit upon my throne in my stead."

Solomon's Divine Destiny

The prophet called Solomon, "Jedidiah," "beloved of Jehovah." David knew that God chose Solomon to reign and build the Temple. "He hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel," 1 Chronicles 28:5. Adonijah could not succeed. All thrones belong to God.

1 Kings 1:38-39 - "Zadok the priest, and Nathan ...caused Solomon to ride upon king David's mule, ...the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon."

David Charges Solomon

Here are two of the most revered men in all human history - David and Solomon. The old king is passing the torch to his son. "I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, ...that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest." Every man needs to hear words like that from his father.

1 Kings 2:10 - "So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David."

House-Cleaning Time

King David felt Solomon should dispose of some old problems. David remembered how Joab killed Abner and Amasa in cold blood. "Let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace." Solomon sent Benaiah to execute Joab. David also reminded Solomon of Shimei's cursing the king. "Hold him not guiltless." Solomon promised Shimei that if he ever left Jerusalem, he would die. He did, so Solomon ordered him slain. Sooner or later, righteousness demands a house-cleaning.

1 Kings 2:12 - "Then sat Solomon upon the throne of David his father; and his kingdom was established greatly."

What Riches Were Meant to Do

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. – Ephesians 4:28

It always amazes me when I preach about prosperity and someone comes up to me and says, "I don't need much prosperity. I'm a simple person with a simple life. So I just ask God for enough to meet my needs." They think that's humility, but it's not. It's selfishness! They don't realize it, but they're actually saying, "All I care about is meeting my own needs. I have no ambition to help meet anyone else's." They could ask God for a million dollars, take out just enough to meet their needs, and give the rest away. But that doesn't even occur to them because when it comes to money, they've been brainwashed by a world that says if you have it, you've got to keep it. That philosophy has hindered the ministry of Jesus Christ on the earth today. It has caused preachers to set aside their calling and get secular jobs just to survive. It's handicapped churches and stunted the growth of ministries that could have reached thousands more for the Lord. It takes money to preach the gospel. Jesus Himself knew that, and contrary to what some people think, His ministry was not a poor one. He had so much money coming in and going out through His ministry that He had to appoint a treasurer. His name was Judas. But Jesus didn't store up that money for Himself. He gave it to meet the needs of those around Him. He had such a reputation for giving that on the night of that last Passover when Judas left so abruptly, the disciples assumed that Jesus had sent him out to give to the poor. Can you imagine how much and how often Jesus must have given to the poor for the disciples to make that assumption? Jesus never built a worldly empire for Himself. But that doesn't mean He was poor. It means He was the greatest giver who ever walked the face of this earth, and it's time we started following in His footsteps. Don't turn down the wealth God wants to give you just because you don't "need" it. Dare to accept it, then pass it along to those who do. Stop working for a living and start working for a "giving." Discover for yourself what riches were really meant to do.