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AND NOW ON TO OUR MAIN STUDY FOR HANUKKAH 2016…

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MAIN STUDY—HOW DO YOU GET THE HEART OF A KING?

 

[Note: All verses cited are KJV as cited by E-Sword 2004 unless otherwise noted…]

If there’s been an overarching theme that has been prevalent in my thoughts this year, it’s clearly been activities involving lots of travel—especially in regards to attempting to make what I originally thought at first were reasonable and appropriate petitions to several prominent people. Whether those efforts either might eventually yield significant fruit or on the other end of the spectrum will be proved to be at best a significant waste of time on my part, time and His grace will only tell.

 

Part of the original impetuses for these attempts at petitioning certain people, in retrospect, may have in certain places been inappropriately prompted by fear and external pressures (especially on the financial end) that might have colored my thinking and outlook to the point where I almost felt like a trapped animal raging in a cage looking for anything or anyone to get them out of that cage NOW. But like it or not, the petitions are now out there for Him and others to see—and I’m at the point where for the most part the best I can do for now is to allow the chips to fall where they may and believe Him for the results.

 

But I also wonder what would have happened if I had not originally been so bold as to not only be willing to start such efforts in the first place, but also invest the necessary time, effort, and financial resources required in those same attempts to make those things happen. I equally wonder if I would have not made those attempts whether I would have regarded it as wisdom to have refrained from doing so OR later on in retrospect (which would in that time frame happen to be this time I’m at now) be kicking myself for not taking advantage of those opportunities to do so down the road. Strangely enough, the fact that even if I might have been right or wrong in doing so, I can at least say that I attempted to do something while those chances were in front of me…and that it was better in the long run to have made those attempts than sitting there sucking my thumb and feeling sorry for myself and not attempting to at least give Him something to work with.

 

It is with that backstory in mind in which I try to emphasize the importance of what a “king” or “ queen” is in Scripture—and how this relates to various aspects of this time of year. In particular, allow me to really put the focus on a verse in Proverbs that has been on my mind lately and in which (especially after a men’s conference in Amarillo I attended recently) has been a Scripture I’ve been claiming lately for my own life…

 

PROVERBS 21:1

KJV--The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

GNB---The LORD controls the mind of a king as easily as he directs the course of a stream.

JPS-ASVII--The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD as the watercourses: He turneth it whithersoever He will.

BBE--The king's heart in the hands of the Lord is like the water streams, and by him it is turned in any direction at his pleasure.

JB2000--The king’s heart  in the hand of the LORD,  the rivers of water, he turns it wherever he will.

EWB-CB: The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, As the division of waters are in the hand of the gardener: He turneth it whithersoever He will.

HRB--As streams of waters, the king's heart is in the hand of YAHWEH; He inclines it wherever He desires.

IAV--The king's heart is in the hand of YY , as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

 

But what if anything does the person and concept of a “king” has to particular do with this particular time of year? A few quick historical things to consider first before we get much farther down the theological road:

  • Among the carols that those who observe Christmas (and even those who also do the occasion of the Epiphany afterwards in the more mainline churches) include “We Three Kings of Orient Are”—an obvious allusion to the Gospel accounts of Y’shua’s birth.

  • We also find in the account of the story of Hanukkah a couple of things—(1.) the specific prophecy in Daniel chapter 9 about the “kings of the north” and the “kings of the south” that would precede…. (2.) the rise of the Grecian/Syrian king Antiochus Epiphanes that would be the impetus for the Maccabean rebellion and the events that led to the eventual creation of the Hanukkah festival itself…

 

It might be a little hard to see at first, but those that look a little deeper than the surface on these things might find that underneath the usual trappings of these particular holiday occasions, something somewhere has at least a few fingerprints of at least one or more kings and/or various authority figures involved in this process. Even a later Jewish festival called Purim gives us an example of the effect a earthly king can have on the lives of people through the examination of the story of Queen Esther:

 

Est_5:6  And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.

Est_5:7  Then answered Esther, and said, My petition and my request is;

Est_5:8  If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my petition, and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do to morrow as the king hath said.

Est_7:2  And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.

Est_7:3  Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:

But why do we seem to put such importance on the powers and abilities of a “king” or “queen” or “person of prominence”? If we can go back to Numbers chapter 30 again and see the importance of a vow—ESPECIALLY when it comes from a person of authority, maybe it’ll shed a lot more light on why we feel the need to attempt to make such petitions to said people in this process--

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[From the book “A’Wise And A’ Foolish In Canaan’s Land” by Coy Reece Holley:]

As I studied Numbers 30: OVER and OVER again, I also went through a concordance and went through every possible verse that I could see that related to vows and also to “staffs”—but I couldn’t see at first how a vow and a staff in the Word of God could be similar to each other. But then when I asked my God to try to put this in terms that I could grasp and understand so you could, too…it then began to fall into place the more I looked at this. And I found as a result time and time again that our God takes the vows and commitments that we make to ourselves, to Him, and to others around us VERY seriously. We are judged, like it or not, by others a lot of times by whether or not our word is good and that we will do things for someone else in the way that we promised we’d do in the first place. 

The way that He revealed this to me was when I looked closely at what the purposes a vow serves for someone and what a “staff” in the Bible did. I found that these BOTH do at least 5 things or are symbols of greater and wonderful things spiritually that we could not understand on our own power and strength and without His direct revelation. Throughout the Word of God, a staff and a vow both do the following:

  • AUTHORITY—A staff in God’s Word was something that a person in authority carried that told the whole world that they have the power over something or somebody. For instance, a king would at times carry a scepter or a staff to let the whole world know who’s boss. And don’t the guards on your unit carry a stick or something that should tell you that if you do something wrong that they have the authority to break your bones if you don’t do something that they tell you to do?

Well, in order to make a vow in the first place, doesn’t it make sense that you have to have the ability and the AUTHORITY to keep that promise that they made? If you plan to do something for someone, you had BETTER make sure that you have the power to carry that purpose out to the bitter end.

  • BATTLE—A staff is also used in the Word to talk about something that is used as an instrument of war. During ancient times, a staff could also be thought of as a glorified ax…Yes…this sucker could literally chop your head off if you weren’t careful.

But what is even more important here is that a staff was usually used in a time of major crisis.  Let me ask you—whenever you made a promise to someone…no matter what it was…did you tend to make it at a time where things were going great in your life? Or was it instead made at times that you were in desperate need of something and you couldn’t get by one moment longer without it? We as members of this human race tend make promises at times when we are under the most stress. We plan to do something in return for someone who does something for us. God (even in our worst times) makes promises to us, too…things like “…He will never leave us or forsake us…” and “I’ll be with you…even unto the end of the age…” So we also find that a staff and a vow are symbols that we can see that represent to us times of crisis and war and times where we’re definitely under the most pressure in our lives.

  • ENABLING—Both a staff and a vow do something to someone who otherwise has no ability to do it on their own. For example:

PS 23:4 (KJV) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

And how about…

Psalm 119:49-51 :: New International Version (NIV)
 Psalm 119
z Zayin
49 Remember your word to your servant,
for you have given me hope.
50 My comfort in my suffering is this:
Your promise preserves my life.
 

  • PROTECTION AND PROVISION

These two I really want to talk about together—for in a way they are the same thing, but in another they aren’t. But it’s easier for me on both of these to use the same Scriptures that I want to use here for both of those points. And the best place to do it is once again in the Psalms…

Psalm 66:14
vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble.
 

Psalm 77:8
Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time?


Psalm 85:8
I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints- but let them not return to folly.


Psalm 105:42
For he remembered his holy promise given to his servant Abraham.
 

Psalm 106:12
Then they believed his promises and sang his praise.


Psalm 106:24
Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe his promise.
 

Psalm 119:38
Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared.
 

Psalm 119:41
May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD , your salvation according to your promise;
(Whole Chapter: Psalm 119 In context: Psalm 119:40-42)
 

Psalm 119:50
My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.
 

Psalm 119:57
You are my portion, O LORD ; I have promised to obey your words.
 

Psalm 119:58
I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.
 

Psalm 119:76
May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.
 

Psalm 119:82
My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, "When will you comfort me?"
 

Psalm 119:116
Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed.
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We also see several things that King Solomon said himself in Proverbs about who kings really are, what they do, and how their subjects might act in response to those kings’ reactions:

 

Pro_29:2  When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

Pro_25:2  It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

Pro_8:15  By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

Pro_16:12  It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.

Pro_16:13  Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.

Pro_22:29  Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

Pro_25:3  The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.

 

The Roman centurion with a sick servant who came to Jesus/Y’shua and made his request before the very King of Kings Himself in a way that even astonished that same King Himself because of an understanding of the concept of authority that should be basic to anyone with any sort of rulership over anything--

Mat_8:9  For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

 

SO NOW COMES THE $64,000 BIG QUESTION—since we know what a king IS and what he might truly have the ability to do, how can we in a GOD-CENTERED way make an appropriate petition to any earthly “king”, “queen”, or anyone in any sort of authority position over us that might be able to do something that can either positively or negatively impact our lives? And more importantly—how can we make petitions before our Heavenly King for what we might require and ask of Him?

 

Here’s a few ideas and thoughts I might have to that in response—

  • Understand FIRST that there is a BIGGER KING of Kings in even higher authority over this particular earthly king you’re believing for favor from! Seek FIRST THIS KING BEFORE you start the process of entreating this other earthly king!

2Co_9:8  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Heb_4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Php_4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

 

  • Use appropriate Divine wisdom and discernment as to how to properly deal with that particular earthly king/authority figure. [(Ex.) How does he/she prefer to act? Likes/dislikes? Personal routine and schedule? Personal obligations and time limitations involved?, etc.]

  • Take time to CAREFULLY prepare your petitions/requests in a way that might best get their attention while still being appropriate to the particular situation at hand.

  • Ask yourself the following journalistic-type questions BEFORE you take action and/or submit said petition to that authority figure! [(Ex.) WHO? WHAT? WHY? WHERE? HOW?, etc.]

  • Spend even further time in prayer and study as to how to best do this petition preparation work and seek HIS voice and counsel on it. ALSO—consider as needed seeking appropriate Godly outside counsel as well BEFORE you go much further in submitting these petitions to these particular authority figures!

  • Be prepared to utilize the following traits as you go forward in this process:

(a.)  Proper use of decorum, manners, sensitivity, tact, and diplomacy 

Col_4:6  Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

The story of Nehemiah and his efforts in helping to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem is one example of how wisdom can be best used in making requests to an authority figure and then later being able to utilize any resources they are able to provide in a way that accomplishes the plans and purposes of our God.

(b.) Persistence/perserverance—In this particular area, Hannah was a prime example of one who made her request known unto God—but she had to also go to someone of lesser earthly authority…namely the priest Eli. Let’s say that his initial first impression of Hannah wasn’t very complimentary. But her persistence led to this answer from Eli:

1Sa_1:17  Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

Scripture eventually records that Eli became the ultimate direct personal beneficiary of the granting of her petition before God when she came back to Eli and gave Samuel up to him to be dedicated to the Lord’s service and said to him why she was doing it--

1Sa_1:27  For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

(c.) Patience

(d.) Resourcefulness

 

  • If possible as you make such requests, don’t just make petitions for yourself before that particular king/authority figure. Try to also consider others that you might know of that might not otherwise have that access that you currently have with this particular authority figure. See if there’s a way that you can also attempt to be a blessing to those other people you know of by taking advantage of the chance to also request that this “king”/”queen” also consider getting involved in their particular situations and making a difference in their lives as well as they might be able to do so. [(Ex.) You can say that this would truly be the principle of the Shumash “servant” candle at work and in action—not just by words, but also by practical deeds, too. Even if you can’t directly help that person yourself, sometimes enlisting the aid of someone else that may have more resources at their disposal might be a bit more valuable in the long run than anything you might be able to personally do. You in essence are SERVING these other people by representing them before this authority figure and asking on their behalf what can be done for them.]

1Pe_5:5  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

 

  • If you’ve then done what you can in this particular situation, then start resting in such Scriptures as these:

1Pe_5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

[ALSO: Mark 11: 22&23; Ps. 20:  , etc.]

 

So again we see--

Pro 21:1  The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

 

SO WHAT MIGHT BE YOUR BEST HOPES IN BELIEVING GOD FOR THE FAVOR AND HEART OF THAT PARTICULAR KING YOU’RE PETITIONING RIGHT NOW DURING THIS HARD WINTER AHEAD?

  • Remember that there’s a much higher King above us all—and even over that particular authority figure you’re highly concerned about!

  • “Kings” and “queens” and those in authority can have a great effect (either positive or negative) in even what might be the most mundane matters in our lives. It’s first and foremost a matter of how they utilize those powers for good or bad that makes a difference one way or another.

  • It takes these 2 Rs and 3 Ps to have a shot at doing things properly: Resourcefulness, Respect, Persistence, Perserverance, and Patience..

  • We would also do well to keep in mind that the taking of petitions and requests to an earthly authority figure reminds us of a higher Heavenly King who is even more easily entreated and has a heart of compassion and listening ear to hear the requests we might have before Him in His courts. Let’s not forget the immense privilege and opportunity to humbly seek His face and ask Him FIRST AND FOREMOST for any requests we might have of Him in our time of need!

  • Don’t forget as well—there are also times where YOU might have some authority, too, over certain situations. Just as you would desire that the authority figures over you utilize that authority wisely, so should you in the particular areas He has given you authority and dominion over. Keep in mind that in due time, you WILL eventually reap what you sow. Do your best to make those seeds sown GOOD ones and NOT BAD!

  • Be receptive to input and feedback from others (whether they might be kings or not)!

  • Keep in mind the good things (whether small or great) that you may receive from others at the prompting of your Heavenly King! Not everyone has to be a “king” in order to do something for you or on your behalf. Even the garbage collector or the postman who does the smallest favor for you everyday can be used by Him to do the greatest of things for you. Thank and praise Him for the unlimited ways that He is able to do so on your behalf—and don’t box or limit Him or try to tell Him how He should do things for you! Let Him do it the way that He wants to…it’s probably going to be a whole lot better than anything you could come up with anyway!

 

During this upcoming Festival of Lights, remember that even the smallest lights among us can be the greatest and brightest ones at times…and can sometimes come in the most unexpected of packages. Remember the things that “kings” can give us—even as they come in disguise of the lowliest among us. It’s not enough in challenging times like these to curse the darkness…But anyone with even just a little light can light a candle that will shine further than we might expect and come from the wackiest of places. And that same Light who desires to be entreated by us can keep us from stumbling as we do so.

 

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As has been my usual tradition around this time of year, enclosed at the end of this newsletter is my special handout “9 Reasons Why I Observe Hanukkah”. Years ago, when I received the revelation about why I should personally observe this unique Jewish festival, the Lord specifically gave me NINE special reasons why I as an evangelical Christian might wish to consider observing Hanukkah—literally one reason for each candle of a hanakkiah going through 8 nights of this “minor” but still special Jewish festival. As always, I feel that you will find this handout enlightening and inspiring as we march forward into a challenging winter ahead.

And once again, my final thoughts before I leave you once again until the next edition....Remember that it’s folks like YOU who have joined in the area of prayer, financial provision, and other ways that have made these Divine connections and opportunities possible. My tip of the hat personally goes out to each one of you for playing YOUR part in helping these ministry efforts go a little further down the road than it has been. I only simply ask that you not only continue to do so even more and more, but that each of you out there reading these things that’s interested in keeping these efforts going and being of some assistance to myself and these particular ministry efforts consider doing the following:

  • ) AGAIN ONE MORE TIME--BUY, BUY, BUY any one and/or ALL of the books I now have available on Amazon! That’s an IMMEDIATE way you can be of some help to me not only in the area of my own personal finances, but in also even helping me begin to reach some of the goals I have for this future ministry including such things as:

  • ) Formal filing of DBAs for all of these new business endeavors and also eventual formal incorporation of what would be called “Broken and Shattered Promises Ministries”

  • ) I also already have plans in the works once more financial and/or other resources become available to me to see that special edition copies of all of my new books would be sent and made available FREE of charge to various prison ministries and prison chaplains, domestic violence and/or sexual assault facilities and/or organizations, correctional officers and other law enforcement officials, families of offenders and/or ex-offenders, and victims of violent crime.

For too long, most of the Church and universal Body of Christ has given short shrift to those who have been affected by the criminal justice system here in Texas (or worse--done absolutely NOTHING at all while Rome burns). Through personal experience, I have seen in many ways that in the eyes of those affected by crime, the Church has a TON more work to do than it realizes. I say that very soon, though--if I have anything to do with this thing (as He gives me the grace, ability, and resources to do so), this will NO longer be the case...at least as far as things here in the immediate Plainview/Hale County area might be eventually concerned! Even if it’s ONLY a teaspoon full amount that can be done on my end initially, it’ll at least in my eyes be better than doing nothing at all.

  • ) And that, my friends, is where you can come in and participate...FIRST, seek the Lord and see what He might have you to do in regards to these things. If He doesn’t say anything, don’t sweat it. I am confident as always that if He has kept me from stumbling as I’ve walked for Him up to this point...then He’s more than able to provide all that I may need to continue to go the rest of the way that He may need me to go. But if He does point something that He wants you to be obedient to do (whether through intercession and/or something else), then I simply ask that you do what He says for you to do...and let me know once you do find out as well so that I can help you plug in and find a way to get involved.

As I personally pray Psalm 20 over you BELIEVING THAT ALL of the petitions that you’ve asked Him for during this time of Hanukkah—and in the Name of the One True Light of the World and Heavenly King who loves to be entreated by those He loves in their greatest time of need…

Shalom rubakah and have a great Hanukkah season--

Coy Reece Holley

Broken and Shattered Promises Ministries

AND Broken and Shattered Promises

Online Publishing
Nine Reasons Why I As An Evangelical Christian Have Decided To Observe Hanakkuh (Abridged Version)

(1.) It represents a time of dedication/rededication to those things that my God has shown me that He wants me to believe in. [(Ex.) What do you stand for? What do you truly believe in?]
(2.) It reflects on the turmoil around us and foreshadows a future time where kingdoms will be in conflict to a point where only our Savior Himself can come in and fix it all.
(3.) It foreshadows a time of transition and a future crisis point where people will literally have to choose between material security or our relationship and dependence on God ALONE to provide for our every need and concern.
(4.) It illustrates to us how truly our God will do miraculous things on our behalf for those who will OBEY Him and truly HEAR His voice.
(5.) It shows that our focus should be on the Great Commission our Y'shua/Jesus (who in Hebrew literally translates to be our SALVATION) left behind for us--and NOT on petty doctrinal conflicts, extremes, fancies, and controversies on ANY side that DOES NOT properly contribute to that focus.
(6.) It reminds us of the One True Light in the darkness that helps us to see where we're going--and what is the True Way and Path He wants us to walk in.
(7.) To quote Kenneth Copeland: "...FEAR TOLERATED IS FAITH CONTAMINATED! Perfect Love casts out ALL fear. Fear has torment--and there is NO torment in your God!"
(8.) THE SHUMASH CANDLE reminds us of what Herbert W. Armstrong emphasized while he was alive of our need to focus more on "...the way of GIVE instead of the way of GET".
(9.) I could say this last point many ways...but the best way I could do it is by using a quote Mr. Armstrong also said (along from what I understand a few others have said something similar to this as well)--"Brethren, we have already read the end of the story--and in the end, WE WIN!!!!!!!!!"

(Abridged Version (C) 2006, Coy Reece Holley. All rights reserved.)

 

 

 

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