FROM THE ROYAL BOUNTY

During the reign of Solomon over Israel as king, his wisdom enabled him to lead that nation to greater heights in peace than either David or Saul had done in battle. He gained world renown for his knowledge and for the riches and beauty of the buildings he erected.

Meanwhile, down in Africa, there ruled a queen who has become legendary for her beauty and for the riches of her kingdom. The Bible simply calls her, the Queen of Sheba. She too, learned of the reputation of the King of Israel. The tenth chapter of 1st Kings gives the record of her visit to pay tribute to him. She came with rich gifts but she brought requests also. She did not go away disappointed in either the things she saw, the things she learned or in the fulness of the gifts she received from him.
1 Ki 10:13 And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty.

These words serve to remind us of God's goodness toward his creatures and His special goodness to those who have received Christ as their savior.

From The Royal Bounty

The blessings from the royal bounty,

far beyond our wildest dreams,

flow, by Grace unmeasured

like a sparkling mountain stream.

We ask for strength to bear a burden.

He gives us strength to lift a friend.

We ask for grace to bear a sorrow.

He gives peace that will never end.

We ask just one opportunity,

just one task to win his praise.
He opens wide the Royal Bounty,

lets us serve Him all our days.

We come to Him, unworthy creatures,

stained by sin, lost, undone

then from the riches of His bounty

we hear the words."Welcome. son."

When we come in simple asking

seeking only daily bread,

it seems he opens Heaven's windows

and the Royal bounty's ours instead!

Man seldom stops to think of the abundant goodness of God. How long has it been since you praised Him for the royal bounty of creation? How drab this world would be if God had provided only those things absolutely necessary for our existence. The trees and plants which he provided for food are marvelous provisions for food, clothing and housing. On top of their providing our needs they also have beauty and fragrance. The birds have their place in the overall scheme of nature as well as providing food for man. Isn't it marvelous that the King has provided, from his Royal Bounty, the beauty of their plumage and the sound of their songs?

In the very food which sustains us, we receive of the king's bounty. Our bodies could be sustained by nourishment without our receiving any pleasure at all. Out of His Royal Bounty he has given us the sense of smell. Bread would be just as nourishing if we could never smell it baking. The calories and all the food value could do its work if we never tasted the flavor of it..What a wonderful bounty to our very existence is the pleasure of smell and taste!

A certain social life is necessary for the continuation and orderly progress of the human race. Then, from the royal bounty of the King comes the emotion of love ,which makes our contact with family and friends not just another essential, but a treasured experience.

This bounty isn't confined to our physical life. In the realm of the spirit, the bounty is even greater. Consider, for instance, man's instinctive desire to worship. Leave him alone and he will prostrate himself before any number of lifeless idols. However, as he approaches the true and living God, he sees the way opened, not for prostration before a distant god but which is all we might dare to expect or to ask, but out of the Royal Bounty His divine love opens the way for fellowship. This relationship with God moved John to express it thus, "Behold! What manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God! Among all the religions devised by man, none have ever dared to suggest such a thing. The worship of other gods always demands humiliating rites while those who come to God through Jesus Christ can sing. 'I'm a child of the King!' What a great honor he would bestow upon us o merely accept our service and our gifts..In fact it would truly be 'Amazing Grace' should he receive anything from our unworthy hands but as we come pleading acceptance of our offerings, He opens wide The Royal Bounty and says"Let's be partners". This is what Jesus had in mind as he spoke..Mat 11:29 Take
my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

The Apostle Paul had signed on in this partnership and was able to say,1 Cor 3:9 For we are laborers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. If one would enjoy such a relationship with God he must learn that God does not consent to becoming a junior partner in OUR pickayunish ffairs but invites us to get in the harness with Jesus in the Grand usiness of bringing souls to Him.

Another example of his royal bounty is found in the accounts of those who came to Jesus in the New Testament were seeking relief of physical distress and went away with sins forgiven. Our God does nothing in halfway measures.

When he bore our sins in his own body on the tree, he bore ALL our sins. When He died for the sins of the world, He died for the sins of ALL the world, leaving out no one. When we come to Him in repentance asking forgiveness he saves us TO THE UTTERMOST! He reaches into the lowest depths os sin and despair and places us in the heights of the glory of His promises even making us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus [Eph.2:6]

As Jesus hung on the cross one of the two thieves made a simple request to be remembered by the Lord. He seemed to have a fear which is common to man, that of not even being remembered after this life. Certainly such a man as this had left behind no worthy monuments or great works which might cause men to speak his name in fond remembrance. He was a thief who admitted to being deserving of the punishment he was receiving. He knew he was not .worthy of even being remembered but the prayer goes forth from the depths of his penitent heart, [Lord, when you come into the kingdom of which your superscription speaks, will you just remember the thief who shared this hour with you?" Immediately, the Royal Bounty is opened and the gracious word are spoke, which still thrills unworthy hearts.'Today wilt thou be with me in Paradise.".

On one occasion, the disciples had fished all night and had caught nothing. All they really wanted on this occasion was to catch a few fish. Then along came the Master.

"Cast your nets on the other side"

"But Lord, we've fished all night and taken nothing. Nevertheless, at thy word we will."

They had only desired a few fish but they got their nets full. When they came to shore, they even found one already cooking on the fire! The Royal Bounty didn't end even there. They were soon to learn the thrill and joy of fishing for men.
Perhaps we set our sight too low. If we are to receive of the Royal bounty, then why not set our goals higher so that when we achieve our desires, the Bounty will be even greater.

Sometimes man may come seeking relief from the hopelessness of the hour but
receives hope that fadeth not away. Consider the woman who had been taken, according to those who came dragging her through the streets, in the very act of adultry. What hope could she possibly have? She knew she was guilty and according to the Law of Moses, deserved to be stoned. If only she might be spared the agony of such a death! She knows she has no right to expect such mercy. Think of her great joy as the King lifts her to her feet. The Royal Bounty is opened. Not one stone has bruised her body but the bounty is even greater
as the words fall upon her ears,"Neither do I condemn thee. Go, and sin no more."

Look around you and see those who seek some purpose in life to make their
existence meaningful and bearable. They run after this cause and that. They throw themselves into various passing efforts because life without a purpose seems unbearably boring. Only when one comes to the King do they find the real answer to their desires. He opens His Bounty and says, "I am come that you might have life and have it more abundantly." There is plenty of incentive for
getting up in the morning if one is going to spend the day walking through it with the King!. What a glorious bounty is ours! If we but kneel before him in obedience He says,"be my hands in service." "Allow us to praise you with our voice" might be our request and he answers, "Be witness of me to the whole world". Come to Him asking for one job to do and he offers instead an entire lifetime of service.

Man, in his search for truth might have asked for someone to teach him ABOUT God but what would it have accomplished had man learned all the facts about God's eternal timeless existence and his holiness and omnipotence and yet had no idea how to reach Him? In this case, Jesus IS the Royal Bounty! John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Christ did far more than show us God's Glory and how God intended man to live. He is the WAY into the Father. In every other field of knowledge man must search diligently for the answers to some of the most perplexing problems, yet in the field of our relationship with God we have one who does more than point the way. Instead he says, "I am the way".

Men are willing to spend their wealth and their time and energy searching for a way to live a little longer in theis frail, burdensome body. Millions are spent each year searching for cures for the ailments which shorten our lives..The cost of medical care doubles then redoubles and the undertakers still reap the final benefits. When man reaches the end of his life span all his knowledge and wealth can't prolong his stay on this earth. Here we see the great Bounty from our King , Phil 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned
like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Praise God, He offers us not a few more hours of miserable existence but eternity in a new and glorified body!

Now to return to the verse which was our text; 1 Ki 10:13 And king Solomon gave unto the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she turned and went to her own country, she and her servants. The question now to be faced is, What do YOU want from the Lord? God has made us a promise, Psa 81:10 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. Often our desires are too narrow. We yearn for those things which can endure for but a short season when we should be thinking on the scale of eternity. Instead of longing for those things which will offer us a little pleasure of doubtful value let us ask for that which will cause us to rejoice for evermore.

We who know Christ as savior must learn to enlarge our desires until it embraces all the will of God for us. This is how Jesus taught us to pray. 'Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.' Why should we ask for the corruptible things of the world when the entire storehouse of heaven can be ours?

Learn to look beyond the petty trials of this daily life as did Paul when he said,"Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

Learn by experience how much greater the blessings can be when we come in
obedience to His Word and no longer start our prayers with, 'Give me' but say instead say," Lord please receive from your unworthy servant, the gifts and service he brings." It is when we do this that he lifts us up to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

For those who are lost. You only need to come to him seeking the forgiveness of your sins. He will open wide the Royal Bounty and give you ever so much more than you ask. In addition to the forgiveness of sins He will give you the assurance of eternal life. He will provide for you a mediator so that you might come without fear to the throne of Grace to find help in time of need. He will provide you and intercessor in the person of the Crucified, glorified and risen and exalted Christ He will even provide you a helper for your prayer life..He has promised that the Holy Spirit will make intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. These are only the beginning for the blessings to be had are without number. First, however you MUST come seeking forgiveness. Jesus said you MUST be born again..