God's Second Appearance To Solomon.

Gods Second Appearance To Solomon 

‭I Kings 9:1-2 NKJV‬

[1] And it came to pass, when Solomon had finished building the house of the Lord and the king’s house, and all Solomon’s desire which he wanted to do, [2] that the Lord appeared to Solomon the second time, as He had appeared to him at Gibeon. 

The word of God consists of history of what has happened, commands, prophecies of what will happen, warnings, guidelines of how to live and the promises of God. The Lord's appearance today was to give Solomon warnings. They follow the verses hereunder. Warning is described in the dictionary as, " ... something said or written to tell people of a possible danger, problem, or other unpleasant thing that might happen".  Greg Morse, a witer in desiringGod has this to say on God's warnings. " God, from the beginning, has graciously warned his people of the hidden and inevitable consequences of their rebellion. Beginning in the garden, he spoke to the sinless man, “in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die” (Genesis 2:17). When he commands and warns us in the New Testament, do we listen?". Warnings are not only in the Old Testament estament, they are also in the New. In daily life, " Warning and danger signs are critical tools in both preventing injury and increasing awareness". God must have seen ahead to appear a second time to warn Solomon . How do you handle warnings? How do you react to it?  There are things you must be careful about under God. Receive it with joy because it will protect you. Good morning.

Negotiations With Hiram

 Negotiations With Hiram

‭I Kings 5:8-9 NKJV‬

[8] Then Hiram sent to Solomon, saying: I have considered the message which you sent me, and I will do all you desire concerning the cedar and cypress logs. [9] My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon to the sea; I will float them in rafts by sea to the place you indicate to me, and will have them broken apart there; then you can take them away. And you shall fulfill my desire by giving food for my household.

This is the fifth in our series on Negotiations. They are excerpts of our book on Leadership Negotiations. You may read parts of the vignettes we posted on: 6th and 14th June, 2022; 17th and 27th June, 2023. Negotiations are essential leadership skills needed for success. In one of the vignettes we said that, " Life is full of negotiations. From United nations discussions to classroom teaching and into marriage, the key is the wisdom to negotiate. Many people loose opportunities because they couldn't separate how they feel from the skills they needed to negotiate." Both Hiram and Solomon were great negotiators. Read the details of their discussions again in vv.5-9. The Negotiation Academy says that, " At its core, it( negotiation) involves engaging in strategic conversations to reach an agreement, finding common ground, and increasing understanding among participants. Its significance reverberates across diverse domains of life, playing a pivotal role in shaping outcomes and relationships". When people lack negotiation skills, they resort to conflict. In business, successful deals and collaborations  would hinge on these agreements. " Negotiations set the tone for contracts and partnerships :and are a driving force behind the growth of any nations economy." They form the vital forces sustaining any  thriving enterprise or a nation. King Solomon started well. When people lack negotiation skills, they fight and fuss over things they could simply resolve. Notice that they even discussed workers feeding. We must learn to negotiate  details. Even Christ negotiated with the father ( John 17:4 ). Share with us your experience in negotiations. Good morning.

The Prayer Of Hiram

The Prayer Of Hiram

‭I Kings 5:7 NKJV‬

[7] So it was, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly and said, Blessed be the Lord this day, for He has given David a wise son over this great people!

Perhaps it's occasion like this that prompted David to have written that , " A wise son makes a glad father,but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother."( Prov. 10:1). It didn't matter where the father was; whether he was a Phoenician King or one in Israel. In Prov.17:21, David repeated again: " It is sad to have a foolish child; there is no joy in being the parent of a fool."  You can read a few more in Prov.17:25, and Prov.19:26. Bill Edgar in a blog post comments like this: " Sons, you may not realize how you affect your parents (or teachers), but you have the power to make them happy or miserable. Sons should remember their power over their parents when they contemplate whether to obey the introductory exhortation of Proverbs. “Hear, my son, your father’s instructions, and forsake not your mother’s teaching (1:8).” it is this recognition that prompted Hiram to pray the prayers above. A foolish child would have abandoned the project of building the temple for personal aggrandizement. It took a Phonician King to celebrate King Solomon.  Christ followed the father's advice without protest. How will you do in your time?

What will be your testimony? Good morning.

Managing The Supply Chain

Managing the Supply Chain 

‭I Kings 5:1-2, 6 NKJV‬

[1] Now Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon, because he heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father, for Hiram had always loved David. [2] Then Solomon sent to Hiram, saying:

[6] Now therefore, command that they cut down cedars for me from Lebanon; and my servants will be with your servants, and I will pay you wages for your servants according to whatever you say. For you know there is none among us who has skill to cut timber like the Sidonians.

It is very surprising that at a time most empires and communities were trying to be independent and self sustaining, Solomon's wisdom had moved him to contemporary business practice... effective management of a supply Chain. You can not achieve significance with a subsistent self help. Rafael Vela in July 2023 qoutes popular  business phrases: "Competition today is not between companies but between supply chains" and ¨Success cannot be achieved unless you have a successful supply chain¨. He says that these " encapsulate a fundamental shift in the way businesses operate and compete in the modern global marketplace". Yet Solomon had discovered  this in his time by the wisdom of God. Vela says that the supply chain " ...involves the coordination and optimization of all activities involved in the production, procurement, and distribution of goods and services. By effectively managing the supply chain, businesses can ensure a seamless flow of materials, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction". So, by the time the temple was dedicated, that chain had accomplished purpose. How do you accomplish in your projects?  God's supply chain in the New Testament was activated in John 3:16. Today millions are surging into the kingdom. I pray that as you discover your Hiram, may all things work together for your supply. Good morning.

The Wisdom to Administer

The Wisdom to Administer 

‭I Kings 3:27-28 NKJV‬

[27] So the king answered and said, “Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him; she is his mother.” [28] And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered; and they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.

In the next chapter, v.29, it is reported, " Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the sons of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt". Suddenly it dawns on us that what Solomon prayed for has come to pass. This wisdom is " Divine wisdom... from above. It is the wisdom from God by God. James 3; 17 – “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” These eight characteristics differentiates this Wisdom from the one of v.15, which earthly, sensual and demonic. Divine wisdom affects the quality of the life we live. Prov.4:7 enjoins us to look for this kind of wisdom because it is the principal thing. In the expression of this wisdom,  Solomon records, " A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back.” ‭‭Pro.29:11‬. It is strategic the way Solomon solved this problem between the two women. We didn't hear that the other woman protested the judgement . How could she? Wisdom took over. Ask God for wisdom to talk, for wisdom to answer, and for wisdom to act. When widom takes over, your reactions sre different.  You need this wisdom to lead, to administer and to run on a daily basis. Good morning.

Walking In Truth

Walking In Truth 

‭I Kings 2:4 NKJV‬

[4] ...that the Lord may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,’ He said, ‘you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’

King David is speaking. To remain in a place of influence and affluence, all David needed to do was teach his children to walk in truth. Later in the New Testament, we hear John  who owned the same sentiments. " Nothing gives me greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth,”(3 John 1:4). It is possible to know the truth, and not walk in the truth. When anyone does that, we call the person a hypocrite and a liar. In that 3 John, the story is about church members who testified that Gaius was a man who walked in truth. One Writer says, " In his absence, some church members testified of Gaius’ faithfulness (v3). Their testimony seems unsolicited and it’s this that makes it all the sweeter; John wasn’t asking for a report on Gaius, yet these church members felt compelled to share that he walks in truth. As Gaius’ spiritual father, their revelation is music to John’s ears; he’s brimming with pride as he commends Gaius for his faithfulness (v4)". What would people say about your walk in truth? So God told David, " If your children walk before me in truth...".  We can go on. " Jesus says He is the truth (John 14:6), Isaiah calls the Lord “the God of truth” (Isaiah 65:16)". So if we are committed to Jesus, we are committed to walk in truth. However, Science and Philosophy says there's  no absolute truth, that truth is relative. Prtagorast was a Sophist. He said that man , and not God was the measure of all things, including truth.  He follows that up in Plato's Dialogue by saying, " What is true for you is true for you, and what is true for me is true for me." That is a whole confusion about the truth. So Jesus arrived with the answer, " I am the way, the truth and the life..." Thank you Lord You dont need the dialectics, you just need Jesus to walk in truth. The truth will yake you and your children to the throne. Good morning.