Hearing God’s Voice The man who would not listen: 2 Kings 14:11 “… Amaziah, however, did not listen… 1
I.) Listening results in Fearing the Lord: • 2 Chronicles 25:1-4… Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years… 2 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly. 3 ANer the kingdom was firmly in his control, he executed the officials who had murdered his father the king. 4 Yet he did not put their sons to death, but acted in accordance with what is wriSen in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the LORD commanded: (Deuteronomy 24:16) "Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sins.” 2
2. Listening results in Serving the Lord • 2 Chron 25:7-10... A man of God came to him and said, "O king, these troops from Israel must not march with you, for the LORD is not with Israel- not with any of the people of Ephraim. 8 Even if you go and fight courageously in baSle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow." • Amaziah asked the man of God, "But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?” The man of God replied, "The LORD can give you much more than that." • So Amaziah dismissed the troops who had come to him from Ephraim and sent them home. They were furious with Judah and leN for home in a great rage. • 2 Kings 14:7 tells us what happened: … He was the one who defeated ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt … 3
3. Choose to Obey the Lord • Jesus said… MaS 7:24-27 …"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into pracece is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundaeon on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into pracece is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 4
Similariees of Gen X (1965-1983) and Gen Y (1984-2002) • Both love community • Both appreciate authenecity • Both recognize the world is messed up • Both hunger for beSer, more healthy families • Both are at home in the world of digital technology • Both learn nest through images, relaeonships and experience 5
Baby Busters vs Millennials Gen X (1965-1983) Gen Y (1984-2002) Ane-Establishment Work within Establishment Angered by Broken World Challenged by their Broken World Cynical and Jaded Opemisec Struggles with Authority Struggles with Reality Wants to escape their problems Wants to fix their problems Ignores Leadership and Authority Chooses Leadership and Authority My Job is an Irritant My career is a place to serve Who cares about transcript/ Load up the transcript and resume resume? I’m not interested in leadership I plan to change the world 6
• When the freedom to choose presents itself to us, we need to remember: • 1. Fear the Lord … • 2. Serve the Lord … • 3. Choose to Obey His Voice … 7
4. Not Listening brings difficulees : • 2 Chron 25:14-15…When Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down to them and burned sacrifices to them. The anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him, who said, "Why do you consult this people’s gods, which could not save their own people from your hand?” While he was sell speaking, the king said to him, "Have we appointed you an adviser to the king? 8
5. Not Listening brings Conenued Decline • 2 Chron 25:13… Meanwhile the troops that Amaziah had sent back and had not allowed to take part in the war raided Judean towns from Samaria to Beth Horon. They killed three thousand people and carried off great quaneees of plunder. • 2 Chron 25:17… ANer consuleng with his advisers, King Amaziah of Judah sent this challenge to Israel’s king Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu: "Come and meet me in baSle!" • 2 Chron 25:19…You may be very proud of your conquest of Edom, but my advice is to stay home. Why ser up trouble that will bring disaster on you and the people of Judah?" • 2 Kings 14:11…Amaziah, however, would not listen, so Jehoash king of Israel aSacked. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh in Judah 9
• Destruceon of the Jerusalem : 2 Kings 14:12-14.. Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah… Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate-a secUon about six hundred feet long. 14 He took all the gold and silver and all the arUcles found in the temple of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace. He also took hostages and returned to Samaria. • Death of the King : 2 Kings 14:19-20… They conspired against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish, but they sent men a^er him to Lachish and killed him there. 20 He was brought back by horse and was buried in Jerusalem with his fathers, in the City of David. 10
• Develop a listening heart • Isaiah 55:2-3… Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me that your soul may live. • Ma` 13:15…For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ 11
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