How High is Your Horse? (Lesson 1)

A look at pride and how to avoid its consequences.

1 Kings 12:12-15 NASB Then Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day as the king had directed, saying, "Return to me on the third day."  (13)  The king answered the people harshly, for he forsook the advice of the elders which they had given him, (14) and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke; my father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions."  (15)  So the king did not listen to the people; for it was a turn of events from the LORD, that He might establish His word, which the LORD spoke through Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

Rehoboam, son of Solomon is now King.  Because of his father’s reign, the people are suffering with high taxes.  They have come to Rehoboam to ask that he give them relief. 

Don’t be too proud to listen to your elders.  Rehoboam rejected the advice from the Elders.  They told him to position himself as a servant leader.  What does the bible about our elders? 

Proverbs 16:31 NASB A gray head is a crown of glory; It is found in the way of righteousness.

Proverbs 11:14 NASB Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory. 

Rehoboam turned to his friends for advice.  They told him to be tough and show them who is boss.  That is the advice he chose.

Don’t be too proud to listen to those under your authority.  One of the marks of a great leader is to be willing to listen to those under you.  Parents need to listen to their children.  Coaches need to listen to the players.  Pastors need to listen to their congregations.  Bosses need to listen to their employees.

Power has a way to produce pride that tends to stop up our ears.

IT IS GOOD!

Genesis 1:9-10 NASB  Then God said, "Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear"; and it was so.  (10)  God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good.

Enjoying the things God has made.  On vacation this week.  Come back next week for a new series.

Go out and tell someone about Jesus.

Have a Great week and God Bless

Why Not Get A Supreme (Lesson 4)

Jesus brings order to chaos and restoration to brokenness.  He is SUPREME in our lives.

Colossians 1:18-23 NASB  (18)  He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.  (19)  For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him,  (20)  and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.  (21)  And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,  (22)  yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach--  (23)  if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister.

In Christ we are reconciled to God.  Paul tells us that Christ is the Head of the Church.  He is firstborn from the Dead.  He is risen, preeminent and has paramount rank, dignity and authority.

Christ died and through His blood, we are presented blameless before GOD.  That means that when we are saved we are justified through the blood of Christ.  God does not see us as saved sinners.  He sees us as if we had never sinned at all.

NOW THAT IS SUPREME.

Why Not Get A Supreme (Lesson 3)

Jesus brings order to chaos and restoration to brokenness.  He is SUPREME in our lives.

Colossians 1:15-17 NASB  (15)  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  (16)  For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him.  (17)  He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

Christ is the Creator God who holds all things together.  Paul is showing that Christ is God.

Let’s think about what it means for Christ to be the creator that holds all things together?

It does not matter where you go Christ is there.  It does not matter what you are talking about Christ created it.  No matter who is in authority, who sits on a throne, who rules this nation or that country, Jesus Christ holds it all together.

Our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ is all-powerful, all knowing, and has always been.

Why not have a Supreme.