2Chronicles Sermons by Rev. Mike Jones [Revised June 12, 2020]
IIChr 16:9 THE HEART GOD SEEKS
IIChr 20:12 SOME THINGS I KNOW
IIChr 20:1-25 VICTORY OF PRAISE
IIChr 20:6-12 DEPENDING ON GOD
IIChron 29:- 2Kings 18:4 SPIRITUAL HOUSECLEANING
IIChr 31:20-21 OBEDIENT OBEYING
IIChr 15: Old Fashion Revival
Asa had just become King of Judah. He was a good man who lived right and as a result God Blessed him and the land of Judah. He was able to Build up the Land and defeat vast armies (over 1 million soldiers against him!!) by trusting in the Lord. See 14:11.
God has done much the same for us here at Grace– In the past year and a half we have accomplished “miracles”: We have painted the outside of the Church and Parsonage, put in new sidewalks, paved all our parking, obtained new pulpit furniture, remodeled and re-carpeted the Parsonage – and in spite of all this we have been able to advance from barely making ends meet financially to the place now where we can tithe our Church income to help support the Children’s Home, the State Promotional Office, and 4 Foreign Missionaries and still have a little left “in the pot”. We have been able to see increased involvement from our Young People and, as Pastor, I have been able to see spiritual growth among some of the members of the Church.
Our Outreach work has grown tremendously in this time. We now at least double our congregation each Sunday via broadcasting our Service over the Radio. The newsletter ministry has over doubled (I mailed 225 newsletters the first mailing and 500 last week), The cassette ministry has been begun and is continually increasing (I’ve already given away over 50 times as many tapes this year as I did all of last year.). Tracts and Bible Study Booklets are given out regularly and we hope we’ll soon see this part of the work reach it’s potential.
[There have been some “set backs” along the way also. We have lost several of our people to others Churches where they’re now actively serving; Most of our growth has been “outward” instead of “upward”; and most of the programs are works of the Pastor instead of burdens of the members.].
In today’s lesson God saw that Asa needed to see beyond his victory to VICTORIOUS LIVING so He sends him the ingredients of an OLD FASHION REVIVAL. Let’s see what they were and Have one HERE!!!
1. Spirit anointed Preaching vs 1 How many pray for God to anoint the Pastor and his preaching?? [Without that anointing we have lectures instead of lessons; pronouncements instead of preaching]
2. Standards in the Pulpit vs 3
A) Shows people God- not man
B) Pastors (Teaches) the People
C) Guidelines- Law Standards
3. Stability among the People vs 4 7
A) STABILIZE OUR LIVING- “Up and down” living needs to stop
B) STABILIZE OUR FAITH- Distress and disaster shake people’s faith
C) STAY AWAY FROM SIN- Sin brings Punishment
D) STRENGTHEN OUR GOALS- vs 7 “Be Strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded. [Stable families; increased attendance; more effective outreach; safe community.]
The RESULTS:
1. IT AFFECTED SOCIETY: Removed the idols AND THE PEOPLE THAT CLUNG TO THEM!!! Deal with Sin in your life. Get rid of the things causing it.
2. IT AFFECTED THE PEOPLE: “They fell to him out of Isreal in abundance, when they saw that the Lord his God was with Him”- People are looking for a Church that stands for the right regardless of the consequences.
3. IT AFFECTED THE CHURCH: The Church made a covenant to serve the Lord 10 15
IIChr 15:4 TROUBLE
2Ch 15:4 But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.
Trouble is a common Problem: Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
Refuge from Trouble is available: Ps 9:9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Ps 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Trouble can turn to Triumph: Ps 50:15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
Trouble should bring us to God: Ps 60:11 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.
IIChr 16:9 THE HEART GOD SEEKS
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars (2 Chronicles 16:9).
Verse 1-6 Baasha, king of Israel (Part of the family) came against Asa, King of Judah and began to build Ramah on the main highway in order to form an embargo on Judah- None would be able to come in or go out past this “choke hold”. [Satan tried to do the same thing in our life today-
1) Family: If Satan cannot defeat you then he will defeat someone whose defeat will defeat you.
2) Busy Schedules: And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. (Luke 8:14)
3) Failure in our life- 1) Burdens we bear, 2) Baggage we carry, and 3) Badness (Sin) we do.
In order to get relief Asa took all of his gold and all of the gold of God’s house and make a covenant with Benhadad, king of Syria and asked him to attack Baasha so Baasha would be distracted from building Ramah. [Satan will tell you today that the way to get relief is to spend your money and God’s money on distractions].
The plan seemed to work as Baasha retreated and Asa made Judah take down Ramah and use the material to build other cities- Looked like a victory; until the Preacher came. Hanani came and told Asa he had depended on his own wisdom and wealth instead of depending on God and as a result he would have wars the rest of his life.
In this sermon, Hanani makes a stunning statement about how God is looking to do good for those who seek Him.
How do I get close to God so He will establish me – Nevertheless for David’s sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem: Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 Kings 15:4-5).
Brazen Altar- Sin Debt, Laver (Women’s Mirrors)- Daily washing; Candle sticks- Light in soul; Table of Shewbread- Satisfaction of hunger; Altar of Incense- able to bring needs to God. But still something is missing. You need to get into the Holy of Holies where the shekinah glory of God dwells and determine to be in the very presence of God.
Know Him as Savior, then as Master, finally as Friend.
House sold but one nail kept. Dead cat hung on nail and family finally had to move.
IIChr 20:12 SOME THINGS I KNOW
(2 Chr 20:12) O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.
It is important to know what you know because what you believe determines what you do. Doctrine produces Duty. (Our main thing used to be soul winning, now it is how to live a successful life on earth. The boat is sinking, spending our time painting our stateroom will not change that. Our job is to rescue the perishing not pamper the pitiful.)
Believing the wrong will lead to wrong actions- leak in windshield that came from roof. Basing your life on news, Oprah, or the latest trends will not produce eternal values.
1) I KNOW I AM SAVED-
A) Based on Faith in Christ-(Acts 16:30-31) And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? {31} And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. My Salvation and my family
B) I Know I can make it as a Christian- (2 Tim 1:12) …I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
2) I KNOW MY CIRCUMSTANCES ARE CONTROLLED BY GOD- (Rom 8:28-29) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. {29} For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
3) I KNOW IT IS WORTH EVERY SACRIFICE IN ORDER TO SEE HIM FACE TO FACE WHOM SO LONG I HAVE KNOWN HEART TO HEART- (1 John 3:2) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. Christianity is not a Religion I follow; it is a Relationship I enjoy.
4 times is Scripture the phrase “The Just shall live by his faith is used”
1) Hab- To conquer doubts about circumstances
2) Rom- To Convict of Sin
3) Gal- To commit to Christ as only hope
4) Heb- To Cause to continue in confidence
Abraham did not slay any giants as David did, nor did he write any proverbs as Solomon did; he simply believed God. He did not confront any pharaohs or dispense any laws as Moses did; Abraham simply believed God. He was not a learned scribe like Ezra or a great builder like Nehemiah. He did not have Samson’s strength or Mordecai’s political savvy. Abraham simply believed God. He did not command the sun to stand still as Joshua did, or walk through flames as the 3 Hebrews children did or spend time in the Lion’s den as Daniel did; he simply believed God. He did not see great visions as Ezekiel did, or call down fire from Heaven as Elijah did; Abraham simply believed God.
Boys in Bangkok- Faith failed in the fire of temptation.
IIChr 20:1-25 VICTORY OF PRAISE
How do you defeat a problem God allowed in your life? How do we get God to deliver us from a problem He brought us too? This is a story of just such a situation.
There are many reasons that problems exist in your life:
1) Sometimes it is the Devil- Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8).
2) Sometimes it is the Dumb- I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all (Ecclesiastes 9:11).
3) Sometimes it is the Desires- But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed (James 1:14).
4) Sometimes It is the Doubts- (When Peter was sinking while walking on the water) And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? (Matthew 14:31).
5) Sometimes it is the Disobedience- For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous (Romans 5:19). All have sinned.
6) Sometimes it is the Disease- All of us have the same sickness Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. (2 Kings 13:14) but almost all of us have other sicknesses along the way.
7) But sometimes it is the Divine- The people who were invading his country were people whom God had ordered Israel not to destroy when Israel conquered the Promised-Land And the LORD said unto me (Moses), Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession. (Deuteronomy 2:9)? The Moabites and the Ammonites were the descendants of the incesteous relationship of Lot and his daughters after the fall of Sodom and Gomorra and they were a constant “thorn in the side” to Israel but they were there because God had put them there!
Moab left to test us to see if we will walk with God-I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died: That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not. Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua (Judges 2:21-23).
SIDE NOTE: Possible that a bombing in Paris came about because a woman was disobedient in Genesis. Many of the recruits to ISIS come from the land occupied by the Ammonites and Moabites.
God allowed problems can be found throughout the Bible:
Adam was led to do what he did because of a problem put into his life by God- And Adam said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat (Genesis 3:12). Adam did not have a choice about his companion- He went to sleep and when he woke up a strange woman creature was living in his house and she was the only one of her kind in the world!
Job was a good man living a godly life who suddenly had his world turned upside down because God allowed Satan inside the boundaries of blessings that God had erected.
Jesus was “Led of the Spirit” into the wilderness to do temptation battle with Satan.-And taught us to pray “Lead us not into temptation”
How do we deal with the Problems in our life?
We resist the Devil.
We suffer the Dumb
We crucify the Desires
We conquer the Doubts with the word- For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith (1 John 5:4).
We repent of the disobedience
We pray for healing for Disease
But how do you deal with a problem that God allowed in your life?
We conquer the divine obstacles by lifting our praise to God and depending on Him to bring us through what He has brought us to- And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever (2 Chronicles 20:20-21).
Our answer is Believing God’s Love and praising God in Faith. (Honestly, I tried all week to make the answer more complicated but God kept saying, “It is that simple”).
Trusting God and Praising Him can turn a problem into a plus- Israel took three days to collect the loot left after God defeated the Moabites and Job got back twice as much as he had before. Example of call to Coward to counsel a friend- Got to take out trash, help a friend avoid a terrible mistake, and receive $50! God is wonderful. All because they praised God instead of pouting about their problems.
Job also had to deal with God allowed Problems and his answer was simple- Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips (Job 2:9-10). And later he could say “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in Him” (Job 13:15).
IIChr 20:6-12 DEPENDING ON GOD
2 Chr 20:6-12 (P716) Jehosaphat said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. O our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’ “But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.”
Jehosaphat was faced with a great dilemma. Because he had trusted God and followed God’s directions about not destroying the Ammonites; these same people were now seeking to destroy him.
We, too, are faced with great dilemmas because of God’s Direction. I want us today to see these Dilemmas as a place of Dependence instead of Defeat.
3 REASONS WE MUST DEPEND ON GOD:
1. Lack of Wisdom
2. Lack of Time
3. Loss of Control-
3 AREAS THAT DEPENDING ON GOD IS VITAL:
1. Building a Home- Ps 127 We lack Wisdom to Lead, Time to Build Relationships, and the ability to control society’s influence.
2. Battling our Enemies- We lack Wisdom to know when to fight, time to adequately prepare, and control over circumstances.
a. Escaping Egypt (Represents Sin)
b. Conquering Jericho (Represents Development Problems)
c. Defeating Giants (Represents Personal Battles)
3. Beyond this Earth- Earthly wisdom won’t get us there, time is running out, and we can’t control God.
3 WAYS WE DEPEND ON GOD:
1. Faith in His Care-
a. Circumstances- Rom 8:28
b. Provision- Faith Promise
2. Faith in His Justice- Rom 12:19 (P1576) Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
3. Faith in His Forgiveness-
Parable of two cups- one black, one white. Black is upside down- no light or use. Even if I turn it up it is used for the wrong thing (Pepsi). You need a white cup that can be used for coffee. Which cup are you??
IIChron 29:- 2Kings 18:4 SPIRITUAL HOUSECLEANING
1) Open the Door- Find the Problem vs 3
2) Recruit a Team- Call the Levites to help vs 4
3) Commit to the Task- Consecrate yourselves vs 5-11
4) Remove items that have become Idols 2Kings 18:4 Brazen Serpent
5) Celebrate your clean house- vs 30
IIChr 31:20-21 OBEDIENT OBEYING
Hezekiah was a good King who prospered because he was obedient to God. If we are going to prosper in God’s will for our life then we must learn to obey also.
Obedience is much easier talked about than lived- The Devil doesn’t mind a person professing Christianity as long as they do not practice it.
Obedience must also be founded upon Faith- When I try, I fail, when I trust, I succeed.
What Obedience Cost:
Comfort- The Story of God’s provision for Elijah- I Kings 17:1-7 (P705)
Cross- Obedient unto Death, even death on Cross
Casual Christianity- Can’t remain Luke Warm
FEAR- Fear God and Keep His Commandments
Fear of Consequences
Fear of God
Fear of Society’s reactions
Love- If You love me, Keep my Commandments
Love God MORE than sin
Love God’s Favor MORE than Sin’s Pull
There are 3 levels of Obedience:
1. We HAVE to: We obey because of FEAR. We should fear and reverence God, and many times fear brings us to Him, but He wants us to be more than Slaves- He wants us to be FRIENDS- vs 15.
One of the strangest incidents in the Bible is when the Samaritans inhabited Israel. They brought their own gods and disregarded God so God sent lions among them. This prompted them to send for a priest of God who taught them enough about God so they wouldn’t offend Him (and thus the lions wouldn’t attack them!). It says they “Feared the Lord and served their own gods” (II Kings 17:24-33). There are a lot of people today who serve God just enough to keep the lions off them!!
2. We NEED to: We obey because of REWARD (Selfishness–Children obey because of fear of spanking; Teens obey to get the keys to the Car!). Many people obey God in hopes of getting something out of it- Remember the man who paid his tithes and then sued his preacher because he didn’t get rich like he thought he would! In this day of “health and wealth” preachers who say that serving God will erase all sickness and debt it’s a common thing for people to be “righteous for reward”.
If we aren’t careful we’ll do the same thing, however– “Lord, if you’ll heal my child I’ll study my Bible”. “If I can get this job I’ll start coming to Church regularly”. The saddest part of this type of obedience is that if God doesn’t give us everything we desire then we use that as an excuse not to serve Him!!
3. We WANT to: Service motivated by LOVE. Jn 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. This is what God is looking for (He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is that loves me. Jn 14:21). This kind of Service:
A) Centers in the Giver instead of the Gift- (Job served God under all circumstances). It has always bothered me that most people are more interested in this world that going to be with God. It is when we value Praise and Popularity and Possessions more than God that we begin to obey the lusts of the Flesh instead of the Laws of God.
B) Does not measure Sacrifice. Jacob served 14 years for Rachel and “they seemed to him but a few days because of his love for her” (Gen 29:20). Like the Father who ruins his health to provide an education for his child, or the mother who sits us night after night with a sick child; a Christian who loves God ignores the pain and the problems in order to please the Father. We live in the day of the “Convenient Christian”; One who is willing to do anything for God as long as it doesn’t cost them money or inconvenience (David said, “I will not offer sacrifice unto the Lord of that which cost me nothing” II Sam 24:24).
C) Gives God what He’s looking for: God gave Adam and Eve everything they needed; including a way to give God’s love back to Him– by not eating of the forbidden fruit! God does not NEED our Work but He longs for our Love.
How do we demonstrate this Love:
A) We accept His offer of Love for us- I John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. One of the most heartbreaking things is to offer someone your love and have them reject you; Which is what you do to God every time you turn down His offer of Salvation!
B) We keep His commandments because we love Him and we Love Him because we keep His commandments! John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. When you Love someone you want to Do things for them and spend time with Them. Love is not just some Mystical Emotion but a Motivating Force in our life.
C) We share God’s Love with Others- I John 3:17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
If I asked you today if You Loved God probably most of you would answer that you did. But let me ask the question the way Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me MORE than these???”. Do you love God enough to accept the Salvation Jesus died to pay for?? Or do you love your own will and way more?? Do you love God enough to Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him into any area of service HE wants you to do???
THE PROBLEM IS NOT THAT WE DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO; THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE DON’T LOVE ENOUGH TO DO WHAT WE KNOW!
Love Defined- I Cor 13:4-8 Love is Long suffering, kind, doesn’t envy, is not boastful or proud, acts correctly, is not self seeking, is not easily provoked, doesn’t look for evil or rejoice in it, but desires the truth; bears all things, believes all things, has continual hope, endure all things, and never ceases.