Live In Careful Obedience

I. EXORDIUM:

If you want people to describe you in 1 word, what will it be?

Have you lived in careful obedience?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To emphasize careful obedient life

IV. TEXT:

2 Chronicles 27:6 (NLT)

6 King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God.

Pray:

Father-heart GOD, let me always live in careful obedience to You and to Your Words.

V. THESIS:

Always live in careful obedience.

VI. TITLE:

Live in Careful Obedience

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Purpose: Sequel to 1 Chronicles and supplement to book of Kings.

B. Feature: Spiritual element in the history is more emphasized in Chronicles than in Kings.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Life of King Jotham, son of King Uzziah:

1. Became powerful (2 Chronicles 27:6)

2 Chronicles 27:6 (NLT)

6 King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God.

a. Unlike his father, King Uzziah (2 Chronicles 27:2)

2 Chronicles 27:2 (NLT)

2 Jotham did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. He did everything his father, Uzziah, had done, except that Jotham did not sin by entering the Temple of the Lord. But the people continued in their corrupt ways.

2. Careful to live in obedience

a. To obey is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22)

1 Samuel 15:22 (NLT)

22 But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

b. Be careful to obey (Leviticus 26:3)

Leviticus 26:3 (NLT)

3 “If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands,

c. We live to obey in faith (Habakkuk 2:4, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38)

Habakkuk 2:4 (NLT)

4 “Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.

Galatians 3:11 (NLT)

11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Hebrews 10:38 (NLT)

38 And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”

3. Unlike his father: King Uzziah (2 Chronicles 27:6, 2 Chronicles 27:2)

2 Chronicles 27:6 (NLT)

6 King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God.

2 Chronicles 27:2 (NLT)

2 Jotham did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. He did everything his father, Uzziah, had done, except that Jotham did not sin by entering the Temple of the Lord. But the people continued in their corrupt ways.

a. Jotham ended well (2 Chronicles 27:9)

2 Chronicles 27:9 (NLT)

9 When Jotham died, he was buried in the City of David. And his son Ahaz became the next king.

B. Unlike his father:

1. Sought the LORD at first (2 Chronicles 26:5)

2 Chronicles 26:5 (NLT)

5 Uzziah sought God during the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear God. And as long as the king sought guidance from the Lord, God gave him success.

a. Just like Judas, started OK

2. Fame spread far and wide for the LORD helped Him wonderfully. (2 Chronicles 26:15)

2 Chronicles 26:15 (NLT)

15 And he produced machines mounted on the walls of Jerusalem, designed by experts to shoot arrows and hurl stones from the towers and the corners of the wall. His fame spread far and wide, for the Lord gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful.

3. Became proud leading to His downfall (2 Chronicles 26:16)

2 Chronicles 26:16 (NLT)

16 But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the Lord his God by entering the sanctuary of the Lord’s Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar.

IX. CONCLUSION:

It's not enough to be obedient from start and end disobedient. Always live in careful obedience.

2 Chronicles 27:6 (NLT)

6 King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God.