Bible In One Year-Day 165 (Saturday, June 14, 2014)

Commentary: 2Chronicles4-6. Solomon was committed to building the temple of the Lord. The foundation was laid in chapter3 and the structures put in place in chapter4. He furnished it with all the materials David his father had provided and dedicated in chapter5 (1-10). When all these were put in place, the priest completed their task in the Holy of holies; the Levites started their prophetic (i.e. spirit filled) praise. As we discussed earlier in 1Chron25, genuine praises that brings down the glory of God must be inspired by the Spirit of God; the Spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus, John16:13-15. The praises they offered here in chapter5 brought down the glory of God because it was inspired by the Spirit of God. Solomon only prayed after seeing the glory of God. This is the essence of praise and worship in the house of God. It is pathetic that many don’t know the essence and purpose of this aspect of fellowshipping with God. Ignorance of this is what makes them to get late to church. And when they get to church after praise and worship, they are in a hurry to live thinking that prayer has been said. It isn’t like that, beloved. Note that praise was offered and the glory filled the temple. You are the temple of the Holy Spirit, when you praise God, His glory fills you and prepare you for other activities. The prayers that you pray after that carries faith because the Holy Spirit has filled you with His glory and power;

Romans 8:27 “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will ofGod.”

The Holy Spirit prepares the heart for the prayer of faith. Imagine the contents of the prayer of Solomon in;

2 Chronicles 6:29-30 “Then what prayer or what supplication soever shall be made of any man, or of all thy people Israel, when every one shall know his own sore and his own grief, and shall spread forth his hands in this house:Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)”

This is the reason why some get the answers and miracles to their heart cry faster than some other ones even though they prayed the same prayer. We could gather together for prayer but we receive answers differently. Instead of the heart being filled with the testimony of Jesus (the spirit of prophecy which talks to our heart and builds our faith), it is filled with negative thoughts and other discouraging activities because it was not prepared.

Another lesson is that there is a glory that goes with praises and there is another that goes with other activities in a service. You never know which could break the yoke you have been crying to God for. And the devil who is very wicked knows how to make one miss it.

The manner of prayer is worth considering. Solomon started by quoting God’s promises. By doing this, the faithfulness of God was challenged. This is in line with what God says in His word;

Isaiah 45:11 “Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.” (also Psalm105:5).

Psalms 105:5 “Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;”

Take His promises and past works to Him and let Him know you trust in His faithfulness and not in your ability to pray or fast. The centurion let Jesus know that he trusted in His word and Jesus was challenged.

After this he started making his requests known. First, he used God’s promises (God’s word) as basis for his faith. If your faith is not based on the word of God, prayers withers easily and does not go beyond the ceiling, i.e. it is not efficient. It is the Spirit in the word that carries your prayer to the throne of grace where mercy releases answers. Second, his prayers were centered on righteousness of heart and not with a set mind (2Chron6:38-39). These two are the pillars of unabated and efficient prayers; faith and right mind, i.e. righteousness of heart.

Psalms 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Psalms 102:17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.

To be destitute is to be naked before God, nothing hidden from him. Whenever you stand to pray, learn to be a destitute like the man in Luke18:10-14. God reads and listens to the voice of your heart and not your appearance. Praises prepares the heart to receive from God.

Let us seek for the old path where we could find rest. Let us listen to the trumpet’s sound, wherewith we could escape the calamity to come. Our reading for today is 2Chronicles7-9. Keep the fire burning and alive.