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I KINGS 10:9

Intro: The visit of the Queen of Sheba - journeyed 1500 miles one way. 75
       days. Came to prove him with hard questions  Christ mentioned her
       coming. Her  astonishment of Solomon - wisdom - house that he
       build - meat of his table... 10  fat oxen, 20 oxen from the fields,
       100 sheep plus harts, bucks & fallow deer &  fatted fowls daily.
       His servants, ministers & cup bearers, his ascent to the house of
       the Lord. "No more spirit in her."

I. "BLESSED BE JEHOVAH THY GOD."
        A. Solomon a very gifted man. God gave him wisdom.
                1. Naturalist, botanist, zoologist.
                2. Prolific writer; 1005 songs, 3000 proverbs.
                3. Not the least of these gifts  was his ability to
                   manifest them in such  a way that men glorified in
                   Jehovah the source and not in man, the  instrument.
                        a. Should people say "you are a marvelous
                           teacher" (O God  where did I fail?).
                        b. "God has anointed you to teach." (thank you
                            Father).
                        c. You're on dangerous ground when people start
                           to tell you  how wonderful you are.
                                1. Danger of believing it.
                                2. There must be too much of me & not
                                   enough of Him  coming through.
                                3. Reporter, "To what do you attribute the
                                   success of  the church?"
        B. Jesus said  "Ye are the light of the world."
                1. He established the Christian as a light.
                        a. A light has one essential purpose: to give
                           forth light.
                                1. If it fails in its purpose, it is
                                   useless.
                                2. There is nothing quite so useless as
                                   that person who  has taken the name
                                   Christian, but is failing to give
                                   forth light.
                        b. Christ told of difficulty or folly of hiding
                           Iight.
                                1. "Men do not light candles & then put
                                    them under  bushel."
                                2. "A city set on a hill cannot be hid"
                                    why?
                                3. You as a Christian are bound to be
                                   obvious in this  dark world.
                                4. A true conversion experience is bound
                                   to show. How  is it to show?
        C. "Let your light so shine," That when they see your good
            works... glorify  God.
                1. There are ways of doing my works that draw attention
                   to me.
                        a. Jesus warned of manner of giving, praying,
                           & fasting.
                        b. Human nature in me desires recognition.
                        c. I like the plaque "He's a real man of prayer"
                           "He walks close  to God."
                2. We need to take care in relating our experiences.
                        a. Sometimes my side gets more attention than
                           God's side.
                1. "When I laid my hands on them I..."
                2. My prayers never healed anything. My witnessing never
                   saved  anybody.
        My preaching never stirred a soul. God is the one who healed...
        saved... stirred. Use this instrument. Praise His Name.