Introduction

Good morning, family. If you have your Bibles or Bible apps handy, please turn with me to 2 Chronicles 12:1-11. As we dive into His Word today, we're going to be exploring some big themes: the consequences of rejecting God's authority, the benefits of faithfulness to the Lord, and authentic and synthetic faith.

We live in a world where faith often feels like a commodity, something to be picked up and put down as it suits us. But our faith isn't a trinket or an accessory. It's not something we can customize to fit our desires or current trends.

As A.W. Tozer wrote, "True faith rests upon the character of God and asks no further proof than the moral perfections of the One who cannot lie."

Let's read together now from 2 Chronicles 12:1-11:

The Consequences of Rejecting God's Authority

After Rehoboam’s position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the Lord. Because they had been unfaithful to the Lord, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of King Rehoboam. With twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen and the innumerable troops of Libyans, Sukkites and Cushites that came with him from Egypt, he captured the fortified cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem. Then the prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam and to the leaders of Judah who had assembled in Jerusalem for fear of Shishak, and he said to them, ‘This is what the Lord says, ‘You have abandoned me; therefore, I now abandon you to Shishak.’ The leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, ‘The Lord is just.’ When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, this word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: ‘Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak. They will, however, become subject to him, so that they may learn the difference between serving me and serving the kingdoms of the world.'"

The Benefits of Faithfulness

The benefits of faithfulness to the Lord are manifold, and they are not always what we might expect ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO