Opening Questions:
A TALE OF TWO KINGS...
2 Chronicles 12:1-8
Vs. 1-2
We see here that God chose to bless King Rehoboam eminencely. His kingdom became established he grew in strength and stature and all Israel prospered as a result. Despite Gods blessings Rehoboam and Israel abandoned God and forsake him. They were unfaithful to the Lord and turned away from his commands and decrees.
When things are going well in your life and it is obvious that God is blessing you, do you rely on God more? For most people the temptation is to abandon God. We stop reading and praying. We starting rely on our own strength again and we forget that it was God who has allowed the "good times" in our lives and the blessings that come with it!
Just like Rehoboam, far too often we forsake God and turn out backs on him. Its not until we are forced to our knees again through some tragedy of unfortunate circumstance that we truly start to seek God again. Why is that? When life is going well and and we perceive to have little trouble, Satan is busy working, trying to take our eyes off Jesus and our faith. Satan knows that if he is successful in pulling our hearts away from God if only for a moment, then he knows he can stunt our growth spiritually and in some cases permanently.
Vs. 2-5
Sin always has a consequence and we have to see the serious implications our sinful nature can have in our lives. For Rehoboam this meant his kingdom was now in jeopardy, Gods rath was against him and he was going to be subject to the king of Egypt for the rest of his life. For us the further and further we slip away from having an intaminent relationship with God, we allow our selves to become subject to the world and its desires. We no longer become subject to God our father and soon find ourselves subject to another king...our sinful nature.
Our challenge as disciples is to never allow our zeal and fervor for the Lord to waiver. We have to dive into Gods word continuously in good times and in bad times. We have to fall to our knees daily in pray to God and rely on him for strength and wisdom.
Vs. 6-7
Praise God for his grace and mercy in our lives. When we repent and chose to humble our selves before him he always shows mercy on us but think of what would have happened in Israel if Rehoboam would have stayed faithful to God? How much more would God have blessed them? Staying humble in our walk with God and in life in general is the key to staying close to God. Regardless of our life circumstances whether good or bad we have to fight spiritually to stay close to God and not allow Satan to gain a foot hold in our lives spiritual.
Vs. 8
God spared Rehoboams life, however, he did allow Rehoboam to become subject to the King of Egypt for a time. Why did God allow this? So that Israel could learn the difference between following God and following the world. John 10:10 says that..."A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full." God wants us to have a fulfilling life, free from regret and the damages of living a life in subject to our sinful nature. Make Jesus Lord of your life and become subject to him alone!
2 Chronicles 14:2-15
V.s. 2-6
Here we see another King, King Asa who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord by following all that God had commanded . He did not allow Israel become unfaithful by turning towards other Gods. He routed out all the idol worship and pagan sacrifices in Judah and he commanded his people to seek the Lord God and to obey all his laws and commands. As a result God gave King Asa and all of Judah rest!
Things are going good in Asa's life. His kingdom is established, there is peace in the land and his nation is prospering. So what does Asa do? Does he lay back and take life easy?
Vs. 7
We see that Asa continued to worship the Lord and follow his commands. In his time or peace he fortified the cities of Judah. Why? God never promises us that there will never be trouble. In fact God promises us that trouble will come. King Asa was preparing his people for the impending trouble. Like wise spiritualy we need to all ways seek God and fortify our selves spiritually. Ephesians 6:13 says..."Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that WHEN the day of evil comes; you may be able to stand your ground..." It does not say if the day of evil comes but rather WHEN the day of evil comes!
Like King Asa we have to prepare our hearts and minds for action in trouble and out of trouble so that our faith and trust in God can be unswerving!
Vs. 8-15
When the day of evil comes Asa was prepared spiritually and never wavered in his faith towards God. Asa never abandoned God the way King Rehoboam had and King Asa trusted and relied on God for deliverance. When we stay faithful to God in the good times, we prepare our selves for the tough times in our lives. We are able to see God and his deliverance and there is no question in our minds that he will provide, protect and comfort us in all situations. As Jeremiah 29:11-13 says "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
See God with all your heart in season and out of season, in good times or bad. Stay humble before the Lord and let him fight your battles. Reply on God and trust in his deliverance for your life! Be subject to the Lord your God and serve him alone and truly you will have life and have it to the full! Amen!
- When things are going well in your life how often do you read and pray?
- Do you trust God and seek his will in the little decisions in your life?
- When times of trouble come, how often do you read and pray?
A TALE OF TWO KINGS...
2 Chronicles 12:1-8
Vs. 1-2
We see here that God chose to bless King Rehoboam eminencely. His kingdom became established he grew in strength and stature and all Israel prospered as a result. Despite Gods blessings Rehoboam and Israel abandoned God and forsake him. They were unfaithful to the Lord and turned away from his commands and decrees.
When things are going well in your life and it is obvious that God is blessing you, do you rely on God more? For most people the temptation is to abandon God. We stop reading and praying. We starting rely on our own strength again and we forget that it was God who has allowed the "good times" in our lives and the blessings that come with it!
Just like Rehoboam, far too often we forsake God and turn out backs on him. Its not until we are forced to our knees again through some tragedy of unfortunate circumstance that we truly start to seek God again. Why is that? When life is going well and and we perceive to have little trouble, Satan is busy working, trying to take our eyes off Jesus and our faith. Satan knows that if he is successful in pulling our hearts away from God if only for a moment, then he knows he can stunt our growth spiritually and in some cases permanently.
Vs. 2-5
Sin always has a consequence and we have to see the serious implications our sinful nature can have in our lives. For Rehoboam this meant his kingdom was now in jeopardy, Gods rath was against him and he was going to be subject to the king of Egypt for the rest of his life. For us the further and further we slip away from having an intaminent relationship with God, we allow our selves to become subject to the world and its desires. We no longer become subject to God our father and soon find ourselves subject to another king...our sinful nature.
Our challenge as disciples is to never allow our zeal and fervor for the Lord to waiver. We have to dive into Gods word continuously in good times and in bad times. We have to fall to our knees daily in pray to God and rely on him for strength and wisdom.
Vs. 6-7
Praise God for his grace and mercy in our lives. When we repent and chose to humble our selves before him he always shows mercy on us but think of what would have happened in Israel if Rehoboam would have stayed faithful to God? How much more would God have blessed them? Staying humble in our walk with God and in life in general is the key to staying close to God. Regardless of our life circumstances whether good or bad we have to fight spiritually to stay close to God and not allow Satan to gain a foot hold in our lives spiritual.
Vs. 8
God spared Rehoboams life, however, he did allow Rehoboam to become subject to the King of Egypt for a time. Why did God allow this? So that Israel could learn the difference between following God and following the world. John 10:10 says that..."A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full." God wants us to have a fulfilling life, free from regret and the damages of living a life in subject to our sinful nature. Make Jesus Lord of your life and become subject to him alone!
2 Chronicles 14:2-15
V.s. 2-6
Here we see another King, King Asa who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord by following all that God had commanded . He did not allow Israel become unfaithful by turning towards other Gods. He routed out all the idol worship and pagan sacrifices in Judah and he commanded his people to seek the Lord God and to obey all his laws and commands. As a result God gave King Asa and all of Judah rest!
Things are going good in Asa's life. His kingdom is established, there is peace in the land and his nation is prospering. So what does Asa do? Does he lay back and take life easy?
Vs. 7
We see that Asa continued to worship the Lord and follow his commands. In his time or peace he fortified the cities of Judah. Why? God never promises us that there will never be trouble. In fact God promises us that trouble will come. King Asa was preparing his people for the impending trouble. Like wise spiritualy we need to all ways seek God and fortify our selves spiritually. Ephesians 6:13 says..."Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that WHEN the day of evil comes; you may be able to stand your ground..." It does not say if the day of evil comes but rather WHEN the day of evil comes!
Like King Asa we have to prepare our hearts and minds for action in trouble and out of trouble so that our faith and trust in God can be unswerving!
Vs. 8-15
When the day of evil comes Asa was prepared spiritually and never wavered in his faith towards God. Asa never abandoned God the way King Rehoboam had and King Asa trusted and relied on God for deliverance. When we stay faithful to God in the good times, we prepare our selves for the tough times in our lives. We are able to see God and his deliverance and there is no question in our minds that he will provide, protect and comfort us in all situations. As Jeremiah 29:11-13 says "For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
See God with all your heart in season and out of season, in good times or bad. Stay humble before the Lord and let him fight your battles. Reply on God and trust in his deliverance for your life! Be subject to the Lord your God and serve him alone and truly you will have life and have it to the full! Amen!
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