Sunday Morning February 28, 2010
Bel Aire Baptist Church
Series: “Royalty” [#9]
FORGOTTEN DEVOTION
2 Chronicles 27:1-9
Introduction:
Revelation 2:18 (NIV)
"To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.”
Christ says that He is the Son of God. He is the One to whom a person owes his life. Christians do not own themselves but belong to Jesus Christ who has purchased them through His blood. We are not to compromise with the world.
Christ says that His eyes are like a blazing fire. Christ sees all. He sees us when we make compromises. There are times in Scripture that we see fire being used as a purifier, (ie… the refiner’s fire).
Christ says that His feet are like burnished bronze (brass). Christ is able to step down hard upon all seductive teaching and compromise. He rules and He judges. His feet will crush those who compromise with the world.
King Uzziah had been very successful until he decided he could go into the Temple and offer up sacrifice. Because of his disobedience, he was inflicted with leprosy and ended his days alone. His son Jotham ran the kingdom until he died and then he became King of Judah. Our text has only 9 verses concerning Jotham. You can read in 2 Chronicles 27 of his commitment to God and his success. Just like the Church of Thyatira, King Jotham was doing a good job. They were ministering to the people and God was blessing them greatly.
Have you ever heard the statement, “The good is the enemy of the best”? Sometimes we have the idea that doing good or being good is enough. While we should do good and be good, that’s not enough. We are called to be devoted followers of Christ. We know that because Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
2 Chronicles 27:2 (NIV)
“He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done, but unlike him he did not enter the temple of the LORD. The people, however, continued their corrupt practices.”
2 Kings 15:34-35 (NIV)
“He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done. The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the temple of the LORD.”
So what’s the point? We are called to be totally devoted to Christ.
In order to be totally devoted to Christ, we must…
1. Stop being tolerant of evil.
Jotham was doing a great job but he was being tolerant of wrong. When we just walk by something that is wrong and tolerate it; we are telling everyone else that it is o.k.
Revelation 2:20-21 (NIV)
“Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling.”
The Church of Thyatira did the same thing. They were tolerating a false prophetess to teach within the Church. Notice, that she called herself a prophetess. She claimed that God had called and gifted her to teach and proclaim the truth. Therefore, the Church appointed her as a teacher and gave her the right to teach within the Church.
In order to be totally devoted to Christ, we must…
2. Stop keeping company with evil.
Once she had an audience, people begin to not just listen but do the evil things that she condoned. If you allow the enemy a forum, he will eventually get you’re your life. The idea of “As long as it doesn’t affect me or my family, it is o.k. is dangerous”; because it will eventually affect you and your family. Jesus gave her time to repent, but she was not willing.
Revelation 2:22-23 (NIV)
“So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.”
If you roll around in the “pigpen” with the pigs, you are going to get dirty. Jesus is reminding us that there are consequences to sin and we need to be careful with whom we follow.
In order to be totally devoted to Christ, we must…
3. Hold on.
Revelation 2:24-25 (NIV)
“Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): Only hold on to what you have until I come.”
We know what is right and Jesus is telling us to hold on to that and not fall for what the enemy is doing. Remember that Jotham and this Church was getting it right. I believe that our Church is getting it right also. We must be careful to not just give in to the enemy.
Conclusion:
For those who are overcomers, there are 2 promises given.
Revelation 2:26-28 (NIV)
“To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations-- `He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery'-- just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star.”
> The overcomer is given power over the nations.
This is clearly the promise of ruling and reigning with Christ throughout eternity. The day is coming when Jesus Christ will return to earth and conquer all the forces of evil. Every knee shall bow and confess that Jesus is Lord. The overcomers will participate in that day, the glorious day of redemption with Jesus Christ. We will be given positions of rule and service throughout the universe.
> The overcomer is given the morning star.
This is Jesus Christ Himself. The overcomer will be with Jesus Christ for all eternity.
Are you an overcomer?
