CHARGED

Can I pray for you in any way?

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In Christ, Mark

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"I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said. "So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in His ways and keep His decrees and commands, His laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go and that the Lord may keep His promise to me: 'If your descendants watch how they live and if they walk faithfully before Me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.'“

1 Kings 2:1-4

This ends our reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

In the first chapter of 1st Kings, we read about the formal anointing of Solomon as the new king of Israel. In his later years and nearing the end of his life, you’ll remember how David appointed Solomon after another son, Adonijah, attempted to steal the kingship away.

With this in place, we see where David provides special guidance to King Solomon in the opening four verses of chapter 2, giving him a charge with specific instructions before he went “the way of all the earth” (code for dying). Here are the precise things that David called Solomon to do:

1. “Be strong.”

David knew all too well that being king was a real challenge after having to overcome countless adversaries which included his own sons. Before Adonijah, you’ll recall there was Absalom who conspired against David, causing him to flee Jerusalem for fear of his life.

There was little doubt that Solomon would face adversity himself while on the throne and so David exhorted him to “be strong” as he ruled over Israel.

2. “Show yourself a man.”

It’s estimated that Solomon was around 20 years old when he was made king and so David’s words were meant to encourage his successor to lead as if he were a man and not a youth. Any perceived vulnerability would open a window of opportunity for an opponent and so David knew it would be important for Solomon to lead with maturity if he was going to be successful.

3. “Observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in His ways and keep His decrees and commands, His laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do.”

There was no gray area here…no room for Solomon to wonder what he should do as king for David lets him know that ruling properly meant seeking and doing “what the Lord” required.

First, Solomon was to walk in the Lord’s ways. This meant that Solomon was to surrender himself to the will of God which would ensure he went where the Lord wanted him to go and so to do what the Lord wanted him to do.

Secondly, David told Solomon to keep the Lord’s decrees, commands, laws, and requirements. God didn’t leave room for doubt when it came to what He expected of His people. Rather, He provided clear direction through His word. For us today, we have the added benefit of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit when we believe in Jesus as Savior…a Spirit that illuminates the Word of God and brings us discernment and understanding. All we need to do is be fully obedient to His instructions…just as David was calling Solomon to do.

So what was in this for Solomon? What would he have to gain by following his father’s direction and staying obedient to God?

The answer is found in this scripture passage for we see the following benefits laid out for Israel’s new king if he submitted all he did to the Lord who blessed him with the chance to reign:

1. Prosperity in everything he did…wherever he went.

2. Fulfillment of the Lord’s promise to his father, David.

That promise was as follows:

“If your descendants watch how they live and if they walk faithfully before Me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.”

Since Solomon was a descendant of David, all he needed to do was watch how he lived, allowing God to lead his life so to walk faithfully before Him with his heart and soul…and in turn the Lord would continue to ensure the one on the throne of Israel would be in David’s lineage.

And so as we close this message, we see where Solomon had been charged by his father regarding how he was to conduct his affairs as Israel’s king.

But what about us? Do we have a charge that we’re to follow in our own lives?

Well. the answer is a resounding “YES”!

For our Savior Jesus, before He ascended to sit in power over all things in Heaven and on earth, gave His followers their charge…a charge grounded in carrying on the work that He began. Here’s what He commanded:

“All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

Note that the key orders here are all action items:

1. “Go.”

As Christians, we’re required to be proactive. Jesus doesn’t expect us to sit and be complacent. He expects us to get out and about to tell others about Him. There’s no other option given but to go and get to work in His name to help others find their salvation in Him.

2. “Make…disciples of all nations.”

Note how making disciples (Jesus believers) is our main goal as we go. And this disciple making is not restricted to a certain place or a certain select group. Rather, we are to go and make disciples of all nations which means we need to be ready to go anywhere the Lord calls us to go and seek anyone He leads us to. This is the essence of evangelism in the purest sense…evangelism that every believer is charged to carry out.

3. “Baptize…in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”

As we work to make disciples, helping them to be saved by Jesus, we’re to facilitate them being baptized in His name as well as the name of His Father and the Holy Spirit…the Holy Trinity that is Three in One. As these new Christians are baptized, they make a public proclamation of an internal change of faith…first dying to their old selves when going under the water so to emerge washed clean and resurrected as new creations in Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). While baptism in and of itself doesn’t save anyone, it does let others know that they have accepted Jesus as their Savior.

4. "Teach…them to obey everything I have commanded you."

Once the disciple accepts Jesus as Savior and experiences the symbolic spiritual death and resurrection through Jesus found in baptism, they’re prepared to learn all about their Savior. Believers are charged to teach them about Christ and everything He commanded…and this means that we need to know what He commanded to do so. This is why daily Bible reading and study is so critical as a part of our spiritual discipline as Christians. The bottom line is that we can’t even hope to teach others about Jesus if we don’t know Him ourselves.

Friends, Jesus gave it all for us, dying on the cross and willingly sacrificing everything He had in this world so He (and we) could gain access to God (His Father and ours) forever. He saved us and charged us to go to the unsaved ourselves, promising that we will never do it alone when He said:

“I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Jesus doesn’t just charge His followers to go anywhere and everywhere to share the Gospel with anyone…and then leave them to it. Rather, He walks alongside us every single second of every minute of every hour of every day. He promised He would and perfectly carries out everything He says He will do.

So the question today is this:

How well are you carrying out the charge Jesus gave?

One thing is for sure…it’s not optional. Jesus made it clear that Christians are to Go and  Make disciples before Baptizing them and Teaching obedience to His commandments. .

It’s time to get busy my friends. For indeed, the harvest is plenty but the workers are few (Matthew 9:37-38) but Jesus stands ready every day to help us reap a bounty as we commit ourselves to carry our His Great Commission.  

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.