The Lord Stays With Us

I. EXORDIUM:

Have you heard about the expression, "Stick with me and you'll go places!"?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Belivers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To encourage believers to stick with GOD, and seek always GOD.

IV. TEXT:

2 Chronicles 15:2 (NLT)

2 and he went out to meet King Asa as he was returning from the battle. “Listen to me, Asa!” he shouted. “Listen, all you people of Judah and Benjamin! The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with him! Whenever you seek him, you will find him. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you.

Pray:

Father-heart GOD, please stay with us. May we always find You when we seek You and thank You for not abandoning us.

V. THESIS:

GOD will stick with us, shows Himself to us and He will not abandon us.

VI. TITLE:

The LORD Stays With Us

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. If you stay with the LORD, He will stay with you.

1. Bear much fruit if you remain in the LORD (John 15:4)

John 15:4 (NLT)

4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

2. His Presence will go with us and give us rest (Exodus 33:14)

Exodus 33:14 (NLT)

14 The Lord replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”

3. He will not leave us until all promises have been fulfilled. (Genesis 28:15, Genesis 31:3, Exodus 3:12)

Genesis 28:15 (NLT)

15 What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.”

Genesis 31:3 (NLT)

3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your father and grandfather and to your relatives there, and I will be with you.”

Exodus 3:12 (NLT)

12 God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.”

B. If you seek GOD, you will find Him:

1. Included in the 3-fold promises of prayer (Luke 11:10)

Luke 11:10 (NLT)

10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

2. Seek GOD while He may be found (Isaiah 55:6)

Isaiah 55:6 (NLT)

6 Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.

3. Seek GOD's face always (Psalms 105:4)

Psalms 105:4 (NLT)

4 Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.

C. If you forsake GOD, He will forsake you.

1. Forsaking GOD is idolatry (Jeremiah 1:16)

Jeremiah 1:16 (NLT)

16 I will pronounce judgment on my people for all their evil— for deserting me and burning incense to other gods. Yes, they worship idols made with their own hands!

2. The devil's number - 666 - (John 6:66)

John 6:66 (NLT)

66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him.

a. If you forsake GOD, you turn to the devil

IX. CONCLUSION:

Come back to GOD and stick with Him again and He will stick with you.

(Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 1:5)

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NLT)

6 So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Joshua 1:5 (NLT)

5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.