Preached at Living Stone Community Church
Standish, Maine on 15 August 2004 6:00 pm service
Please stand for the reading of God’s word.
[v.7] For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,
[v.8] And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.
[v.9] And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the Lord their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
[v.10] And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree:
[v.11] And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the Lord carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger:
[v.12] For they served idols, whereof the Lord had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.
[v.13] Yet the Lord testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.
[v.14] Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the Lord their God.
... you may be seated
I would like to use as a subject tonight:
Lord, I know what your word says ... BUT (repeat)
By a show of hands ... how many of you know right from wrong? By a show of hands how many of you ... who know right from wrong always do the right thing?
Not many ... Well, my question to you tonight is: why?
You see ... when we know right from wrong and we still choose to do wrong, then I believe that we suffer from one of two problems.
1. When we knowingly choose wrong, I believe that #1 we flat out don’t care about the consequences.
Well, if that shoe doesn’t fit you, then try this size.
2. When we knowingly choose wrong, I believe that we don’t care about the consequences or #2 we simply have no fear of authority.
Case in point ... how many of you have ever gone over the speed limit? I’m looking for some honesty here. Now the law, the authorities, regulates the speed, for your own belief, mind you. They determine the speed limit as XY & Z on certain highways, interstates, school districts, and residential areas ... and they have it posted up and down the highway. Yet and still [Oh, I’m preaching to myself] I speed.
Maybe they have it posted because they realized that most drivers suffer from short-term memory so they post the speed limit every so many yards to remind us just in case we forgot 100 yards later what the speed limit was.
I speed even though I know that “An average of 115 people die each day in motor vehicle crashes – that equates to 1 every 12 minutes.” Yet and still I speed.
Well I’m diagnosed myself as having one of two problems. Either I flat out don’t care about the consequences ... or I just simply don’t fear authority.
Well, some of you might be thinking that I’m being a little too far fetched... but let me help you to understand how I came to this conclusion. You see ... I diagnosed myself with this because I took my speeding a little further, went out, and bought myself a radar detector to help me break the law.
Now, how many of you have gone so far as to buy something or like the children of Israel, make something, to help you cheat, to help you disobey, to help you sin against God.
Ya’ll have to bear with me as I set this sermon up ... you see, while I was preparing, when the Lord put this Sermon on my heart ... I began to be convicted of some things that I was doing. Oh yes I was ... I don’t know if you understand this or not but before a preacher can preach to you ... he must first preach to himself.
So I’m preaching to myself right now ... you see, when I’m speeding it is as if I saying Maine State Police ... I know what your laws say BUT ... (1) I’m late for work, (2) I got to pick my daughter up from track practice. Maine State Police I know what your law says BUT I’m late for Sunday school; you don’t understand, I need to get to the grocery store.
Well I want to talk to you this evening about the children of Israel ... you see, they know what the Lord God said and they knew what He required ... yet and still they decided to do things their way.
You see ... they chose to lean on their own understanding. It is as if they are saying ... Lord, I know what you said ... BUT
Let me pause right here for one second and give you another illustration. Have you ever told your children step–by-step instruction on how you want things done. The ABCs and 123s ... giving them so much information that they do not have to even think for themselves, yet and still they go off and do the very opposite of what you instructed them to do.
It’s as if they are saying Daddy, I know what you said..., but I chose to do things my way. Daddy, I know what you said ... but my room looks better dirty than it does clean. Daddy, I know what you said ... but all of my friends are doing it.
Well that is exactly what we see here in our text. God gave Israel step-by-step instructions and yet they chose to do things their way.
Well let me give you a brief introduction of what has taken place here in 2 Kings.
This long chapter is a history lesson and record of Israel’s last king Hoshea and how he led the Northern Kingdom into captivity. One thing about History ... is that it is never merely a series of accidental events, for behind every nation is the plan and purpose of God. In chapter 17, the Holy Spirit explains to us how Samaria fell because of their flat out rebellion and disobedience to God.
Let me stick a pen ... right here and pause to tell you one thing ... We [America] had better wake up, because Romans 2:11 tell us that "For there is no respect of persons with God. Moreover, I don’t believe that he is a respecter of nations either.
Now if you take the time this week to read First and Second Kings you will discover that if God so severely chastised His own people Israel, what must He do to America today for all of the rebelling that we as a nation have done against Him?
- We have taken pray out of school.
- We are debating whether we should take IN GOD WE TRUST off our money.
- States across this country are legalizing gay marriage
- Governors are coming out of the closet about their perverted lifestyles
- Kids are coming more and more disrespectful to the parents and any adult for that matter
- We have reality television shows about cheating housewives, and shows about swapping spouse.
- Abortion at an all time high
We live in a day whereby the church has conformed to the world instead of the church conforming the world to God. It is as if we have adopted that old adage ... if you can’t beat them join them.
Well, I’ll say this then I’ll move on. One thing we had better remembered is that “History" as one old preacher said is "His story" and we better get our act together before we as a nation become History.
Well ... what are you talking about preacher? Well, let me straighten this up and put us back on track.
You see ... Israel was a nation that simply forgot God. Now I can’t even fathom ... how one could forget God?
Well, as I was preparing myself to preach ... while searching the scriptures of ways that Israel forgot ... I became convicted again ... and the Holy Spirit reminded me of how I too sometimes get in a hurry to eat, forget to take time to thank God for the food that HE has given me. If I over sleep, or on some days when I’m been lazy, I slide right out of bed and forgot to take time to think God for waking me up in the morning, cloth in my right mind.
One or two of you may have been praying for a job and once you got it ... you forget to thank God. Prayed for a place to stay ... got it and forgot to pause and thank HIM for putting a roof over your head; clothes on your back; heat in weather; air conditioner in the summer.
Oh, how we are quick to forget.
I want to help you understand how Israel got to the point of forgetting what God had done for them.
Watch this ...
[v.7] For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods,
Let me park right here for one second, and deal with this. You see...it sounds to me like they had a memory problem.
Yet, they forgot all that God had done for them. Many times, if you searched the scriptures, you will discover that Moses told them to remember lest they forget.
In Deuteronomy 6:12: "Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. Remember the Lord and not to forget His mercies."
He also told them in Deuteronomy 8:2: "And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or no."
Just like the Children of Israel ... there are so many things that we take for granted. We can get puffed up and start to think that we did all of this by ourselves.
My daughter as sweet as she is ... sometimes complains about having to walk to school, or to basketball practice ... then I often wonder if she realizes that while she is complaining about walking, of how many people who wish they could walk. On the other hand, if she even stops to consider how many people without legs wished they had her legs so that they could walk.
We have so much to be thankful for this evening ... for all that He has done for us.
Instead, we are just like the Israel of old ... you see they forgot how God had redeemed them from Egyptian slavery and had purchased them to be His own people. They forgot about the annual Passover feast that was put in place as a reminder to them of His grace and mercy.
Scriptures tells us in [v.7] that they even started to fear other gods. In other words ... they started to put their trust in idols instead of the only true and living God, the creator of Heaven and earth.
And that may hold true for some of you. Some of you have started to put trust in man; some of you have started to put your trust in your job; in the type of car; in your lifestyle; in your status; in your titles; positions that you hold in the community.
We often make that same mistake. Rather than confront our enemy and destroy it, we adapt and compromise. We amend our beliefs to suit the many alternative gods around us, including godlessness.
Oh yes we do, how else can we explain the existence of laws in favor of abortion or the radical acceptance of homosexuality as an alternate lifestyle, just to name a few? That’s what Israel was up against. They were constantly being negatively influenced by their conquered foes.
Oh, but Israel wows don’t end there ... walk with me [v.8] ...you see not only did they fear other gods but they
[v.8] And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.
It is as if they were saying ... Lord, I know what your word says ... BUT, (1) all of my friends are trying it; (2) all of friends are doing it; (3) all of my friends smoking it; (4) all of friends are drinking it. And I don’t see anything happening to them ... so why can’t I be just like them?
But what I want you to understand this evening ... is that we Christian can’t do what the world is doing; we can’t say what the world is saying; we can’t believe what the world is believing.
In fact, we are reminded in Romans 8:1. There is therefore now no condemnation to them, which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
You see ... it is one thing to know right from wrong and it is another to practice it. Our text tells us that they walked, which mean that they [practiced, lived like, talked like, and they walked like] the heathen so much so that there was no distinction between to two.
Although we are in the world ... we are not of the world. Walk with me...
[v.9] And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the Lord their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
What we need to understand tonight is that what begins, as secret sin ultimately becomes open sin. We see here where the nation deliberately provoked God.
Just as the examples that I gave you early of how I deliberately speed and how our children deliberately disobey us. Well the same holds true, you see ... God had told them step-by-step what was expected from them on Exodus Chapter 20 ... and I sure that all of you is familiar with Exodus chapter 20 (so let turn there and read it for ourselves)
Exodus 20
[v.1] And God spake all these words, saying,
[v.2] I am the Lord thy God, [in other words, make no mistake about – who I am, but just in case you forgot] which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Now listen to the step-by-step instructions
[v.3] Thou shalt have no other gods before me. [so we are starting to see how Israel began to fall.]
[v.4] Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing [golden calf] that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. And that’s the ABCs and here comes the 123s ... so much instruction that they do not even have to think for themselves. Watch this:
[v.5] Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
And if that wasn’t enough instruction ... God had Moses restate or shall I say remind them of these instructions [the ten commandments] in Deuteronomy Chapter 5.
Step-by-step instruction, the ABCs and 123s but what did Israel do ... turn back to 2 Kings 17
Walk with me
[v.10] And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree: Which was a violation of Exodus 20:3 "Thou shalt have no other gods before me"
[v.11] And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the Lord carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger: Which was violation of Exodus 20:5 "... for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
[v.12] For they served idols, whereof the Lord had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing. Which was a violation of Exodus 20:5 "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God," and a violation of Exodus 20:3 "Thou shalt have no other God before me."
[v.13] Yet the Lord testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.
However, what did Israel do ... the same thing that we do today? We reject him. The Lord sent godly prophets to warn them and to plead with them, but the people turn their backs to him.
Watch this [v.14] Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the Lord their God.
You see ... God warned them through the prophets that judgment would come, but the people deliberately went on from sin to sin.
Jesus tell us over in Matthew 25:13 to "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." Jesus also tell us in Revelations 22:20 "...Surely I come quickly..."
Yet and still some of us play Russian roulette with our souls putting off being saved, putting off giving our life to Christ today, because we think that, there will be a tomorrow.
Well, I got news for you ... just like Israel thought that they were going to get away with their sins and their rebellion. In fact it took 250 years before they face there doom, but two things remain constant about judgment. That is judgment is (1) swift and it is (2) certain ... in other words, be warned your day of judgment is coming. So I suggest that you get your business fixed with Jesus while you still have a chance.
Can you image ... the children of Israel heard preachers like Elijah, Elisha, Amos, Hosea, and Isaiah, yet they refused to repent and turn back to the Lord.
Like some of you, who hear powerful sermons by your Pastor, Jason Jones, and you too refuse to give your heart totally to Christ.
Well what would happen if you lost all that, you have ... why does if take destruction or devastation for people to turn their hearts to the Lord. Why does it take lost of job, lost of loved one, sickness, and or disease before we line our lives up with the Lord? Some people lives are a living hell and they still refuse to give their life to Jesus.
Well, my I submit to you again, Judgment is coming.
Well Israel learn the hard way ... down south the old folks use to say that a hard head makes a soft behind. Well the same hold true ... the only cure for apostasy is God’s judgment. Which was the result of Israel’s captivity by the Assyrians?
I’m reminded here of a story of A young lady who occasionally walked through the park after work, and one day she decided to stop at a little stand to have her picture taken by a photographer. She was very excited about her picture being taken. As she walked out of the park, she looked at the Polaroid picture in total amazement. She turned and headed back to the cameraman. When she got their she stated, "This is not right! This is not right! You have done me no justice!" The photographer looked at the picture and looked at her and stated, "Miss, you don’t need justice, what you need is mercy."
All jokes aside, if God dealt with us justly, none of us would be here today. Sometimes we think we look good, but if we look at the real picture under the microscope of God’s eye, justice is not what we really want....
Well there is going to come a day when mercy ends and justice begins ... and I implore you to seek God’s mercy while it is still available. You see ... Jesus came to this earth once as Savior ... the next will be a judge.
So whenever you are feeling like you don’t want to obey and you start to search for an excuse and you are about to say Lord, I know what your word says ... BUT
Well, I encourage you to flip the words and say I know what the world has to say, BUT GOD’s word says in ...
Romans 5:8
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Well, I encourage you to flip the words and say I know what the world has to say, BUT GOD’s word says Romans 6:17.
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine, which was delivered you. 18. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
You see ... I know what the world has to say about temptation, BUT GOD’s word says in I Corinthians 10:13.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
You can look at the heathens around you and despite what they are doing just be reminded of Joseph said to his brothers in Genesis 50:20.
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
- Whenever you are in a situation and seems like there is no way out ... don’t do what the world would do and panic but remember what God spoke through Jehaziel in 2 Chronicles 20:15.
"...Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
Ends might not be meeting right now ... but my Bible tells me over in [Philippians 4:19] "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
You see ... God gave Israel step-by-step instruction and with the instructions, He gave them a choice. Unfortunately, Israel chose to reject Him.
God has also given us that same choice. The fact of the matter is Life is full of choices. There are daily choices: “What will I wear? What will I have for breakfast? Should I go out with the boys after work?”
Then there are weekly and monthly choices: “Where will I get the car gassed up? How much money will I spend at the Mall? Should I get my nails done? Which Peter should I rob in order to pay Paul?”
You get the point. Much of what we do is left up to us. Most choices we make without hesitation. It’s a matter of style, or ethic, or money! However, the tough choices take a little more time. “Who should I marry? Where will I go to college? Should I buy a fixer-upper or a brand new home?”
Well what influences your decisions? I’d like to think that we do our homework and explore all the possibilities before we plunge ahead, but that would be far from the truth.
Truth of the matter ... what usually influence our decisions are things like popularity, power, and comfort ... and what everybody else is doing.
Someone once said that there are good decisions and there are quick decisions, but there are few good quick decisions.
Scriptures tell of a very bad quick decision that Herod made on the spur of the moment when he rewarded his stepdaughter with a blank check. In his wild excitement, she called for the head of John the Baptist. It’s easy to condemn Herod for his foolishness, but how often do we act in a similar manner, making decisions that have the most far-reaching consequences in haste. We allow ourselves to be carried away by our passions, and we end up choosing impulsively ... often to our misfortune.
It’s easy to figure out the cause of Herod’s mistake. He was drunk, distracted, and impulsive by nature. As believers in Jesus Christ, we can never afford to make decisions in such a reckless manner. The Apostle Paul challenges us to live as wise men, not fools. (Eph 5:14-17)
Well I said all of that to say that your choices matter ...
I implore you to not be like the stiffed neck people of our text. So the question is:
You know what the word has to say, BUT ... will you chose to go on doing things your way.
- Whom shall we serve?
- Shall we serve the gods of day time television to help you solve your problems
- The gods of astronomy and your daily horoscopes
- Or shall we choose to serve “whom we know”... the One True and Living God?
The choice is yours. It’s always been yours. No one will force you to choose the right path. You have to choose it for yourself. Will you be like the Israelites and allow yourself to be influenced by false religions? Or will you take a stand for the Lord Jesus Christ?
The choice is yours. You know what Gods word has said, BUT will you choose...
- The god of power, or Our God with all power in His hand?
- The god of complacency, or Our God with inspiration to challenge?
- The god of unholiness, or Our God of righteousness?
- The god of skepticism, or Our God who is precise in His proverbs.
- The god of separation and division, or Our God of amazing unification.
- The god of compromise, or Our God who changes not!
It is my prayer that all of you will say
Lord, I know what your word say’s and I choose you. I chose you because you are
- The Creator of the Heaven and the Earth
- Alpha and Omega
- I chose you King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
- I chose you because you are the Rose of Sharon
- I chose you because you are the Lily of Valley
- The Bright and Morning Star
- You are bread when I’m hungry
- Water when I thirsty
- Strength when I’m weak
- Friend to the friendless
- Mother to the motherless
- Father to the fetterless
- Help in the time of trouble
- Doctor in a sick room
- Lawyer in a court room
- I chose you because you are my everything
Invitation
There maybe someone here who may have made some bad choice in their life ... and want to get themselves right with the God. Well you can do that right now as I offer the invitation to Christian discipleship.
As the Musician, makes her way to the organ ... I would like all heads bowed, all eyes closed. This is the most important part of this entire service. The invitation to Christian discipleship. There should be no moving, no talking. SAINTS you should be praying that someone would turn and accept Christ as their Savior.
There maybe someone here who has not accepted Christ as their personal Savior. If this is you then this is your opportunity to make the right choice and chose to make Jesus your Lord and Savior.
If this is you, I would like you to raise your right hand. All eyes should be closed ... DON’T BE AFRAID. Jesus is ready to come into your life and save you ... don’t put off to tomorrow what you can do today.
Jesus said in Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and sup with him and he with me."
There maybe someone here who has accepted Christ but for whatever reason ... you have made some bad chooses and you have not been serving as you know that you should. If this is you, I would like you to raise your right hand.
There maybe someone who simply would like for me to pray with them ... you are about to make a decision that could impact the rest of your life and you are seeking God’s guidance. If this is you, please raise your right hand.
There maybe someone who is new to the area and is looking for a Church home. These wonderful people would welcome you here ... but if this is not the church that you wish you join then I’m sure Pastor Jones will assistance you in finding a Bible believing church where you can worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth. If this is you ... raise your right hand.
- PRAYER
Benediction
Jude 24-25
"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,"
"To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."
