24 August 2008
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
504th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade (BfSB)
Mission Readiness Exercise (MRX)
Micro-WORD Service
Fort Lewis, Washington
BIG IDEA: WISE Christians will ask God to help them know the difference between RIGHT and WRONG.
REFERENCES: 1 Kings 3:1-12; 1 Kings 4:30-33 NLT (In fact, his wisdom exceeded that of all the wise men of the East and the wise men of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite and the sons of Mahol—Heman, Calcol, and Darda. His fame spread throughout all the surrounding nations. He composed some 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs. He could speak with authority about all kinds of plants, from the great cedar of Lebanon to the tiny hyssop that grows from cracks in a wall. He could also speak about animals, birds, small creatures, and fish); Solomon Ask for Wisdom (2 Chronicles 1-9); Proverb 23:23 GNT (Truth, wisdom, learning, and good sense – these are worth paying for, but too valuable for you to sell); 2 Samuel 11:1-15 NLT (David & Bathsheba).
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: 1 Kings 3:4-9 (NLT)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: 1 Kings 3:4-9 (NLT)
III. READ THE TEXT: 1 Kings 3:9 (NLT) Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that WISE Christians will ask God to help them to know the difference between RIGHT and WRONG.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “How to Know the Difference between RIGHT and WRONG”
VI. INTRODUCTION: We are just hours away from the START-EX of this Mission Readiness Exercise; and many of you are wondering how well you will display your knowledge of your subject matter. You’re wondering if the S-3 SGM going to give you a break; or if the S-3 is going to let up. The exercise hasn’t even kicked off yet, and you already maxed out with stress.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 1: You want to do well; and you want to look SMART doing it.
a. So, the question is how can you receive the wisdom needed to accomplish the MRX mission that lies before you?
b. The Proverbial Writer – King Solomon - once said in Proverbs 24:5-6: Being wise is better than being strong; yes, knowledge is more important than strength.
c. After all, you must make careful plans before you fight a battle, and the more good advice you get, the more likely you are to win.
d. All of us would agree that King Solomon had it right. But do you know how he got it right?
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 2: As an Army Chaplain, I’m often asked by soldiers (of all ranks): How do you always know the difference between what’s right and wrong?
a. What technique do you utilize to help you determine the right choice? In other words, “how do you get right?
b. The answer that I give might surprise you, but I sincerely believe in the “Solomon Avenue of Approach”.
c. For instance, I’m the father of three sons, and if you were to ask my sons to share with you something that I often say to them.
d. They would probably share with you the phrase, “Life is all about Choices”.
e. The choice you choose to make today could have extraordinarily positive benefits in your life later, or it could have devastating results futuristically.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 3: It all depends upon your choice.
a. Therefore, it behooves us to know the difference between what Right is & what’s WRONG; and to “prayerfully” make our choices.
b. Now, you may also recall that since we’re started the rehearsal for this exercise, I’ve been quoting King Solomon and Proverbs daily at our BUBs.
c. After all there are 31 Proverbs: one for every day in the month. But there is a reason for quoting Solomon.
d. The reasoning behind my Proverbial Quotes is simply “wisdom”.
e. For example, in our Biblical Text today, we find the writing of a man that the Bible proclaims (outside of Jesus Christ) is the wisest man that has ever lived. His name was King Solomon.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 4: Research indicates that King Solomon was the second son of Bathsheba and the 10th son of King David.
a. He reigned “peacefully” for 40 years in Israel. Of course, as you might imagine, there are stories and events that led to his birth.
b. You know them all to well!
c. For who can ever forget the story of the beautifully created, Bathsheba and how she lured King David, through her balcony bathing techniques to request her presence in his chambers?
d. And what believer doesn’t remember how David expeditiously requested her presence and instructed her husband’s Command Sergeant Major to place SGT Uriah on the Infantry front line in Iraq? Long Story – short:
e. David made a poor decision that caused 9 months of travail and agony and ultimately murder, death and grief.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 5: In spite of many hours and days of praying and fasting – due to poor choices - Bathsheba loss her first child. Solomon was her second.
a. In our text, this afternoon, we are given personal insight to a person’s most precious time – his SLEEP TIME.
b. For the Bible tells us that it was at night during Solomon’s dream that the Lord spoke to Solomon and (like a gene) asked him to ask Him for whatever he wanted.
c. Solomon weighed down by the stresses of being the Commander and Chief.
d. And perhaps the pressures of his MRX Start-Ex and interacting with Brigade Command Sergeant Major Rozumny (smile); Solomon requested (from God) an understanding heart of wisdom to lead His people.
e. Solomon made the “Right Choice”. Need I say that Solomon’s choice impress God so greatly that God, Himself, said:
f. “Because you have asked for this and haven’t grasped after a long life, or riches, or the doom of your enemies;
g. … but you have asked for the ability to lead and govern well, I’ll give you what you’ve asked for—I’m giving you a wise and mature heart.
h. There’s never been one like you before; and there’ll be no one after.
i. As a bonus, I’m giving you both the wealth and glory you didn’t ask for—there’s not a king anywhere who will come up to your mark.
j. And if you stay on course, keeping your eye on the life-map and the God-signs as your father David did, I’ll also give you a long life (1 Kings 3:9-12 MSG)."
****** TAKE 5 BEATS ******
MOVE 6: King Solomon wanted wisdom to know the difference between Right and Wrong as he governed God’s people.
a. He asked God.
b. Likewise, if we are going to become wise enough to know the difference between Right and Wrong;
c. we too have to (as Christians) have to ask God for wisdom.
****** TAKE 5 BEATS ******
CELEBRATION: Let us pray. O’ gracious God who reigns over the heavens and the earth;
we collectively ask you today for wisdom (not only in the midst of this MRX) but also for our lives as we make decisions individually and subjectively.
Bless us with the wisdom to know the difference between RIGHT and WRONG. Amen!
To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that WISE Christians will ask God to help them to know the difference between RIGHT and WRONG.
