ENTER INTO A COVENANT
2 Chronicles 15:1-7
Key verse: 3, “Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.”
Introduction:
ASA — physician, son of Abijah and grandson of Rehoboam, was the third king of Judah. He was zealous in maintaining the true worship of God, and in rooting all idolatry, with its accompanying immoralities, out of the land (1 Kings 15:8–14). He died in the forty-first year of his reign, greatly honoured by his people (2 Chr. 16:1–13), and was succeeded by his son Jehoshaphat.
As you see in verse 3, the situation in Israel was bad when Asa became king. The Prophet of the Lord made the situation clear to Asa in verse 2, “Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.”
King Asa and the people entered in to a covenant to seek God, v. 12, “And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;”
Three things are involved in a covenant with the God of Heaven: Exalt the Savior; Equip the Saints; and evangelize the Sinner.
I. EXALT THE SAVIOR
A. Christ needs to be exalted In the family, Philippians 2:9, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:”
1. Christ should hold the highest respect among the members of the family.
2. Children should learn about the Savior in the home under the teaching of their father and mother.
3. Church attendance should be taught by example, Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
a. Children imitate their parents. If you go to the house of God irregularly, you children will take note that you do not think God is important and will drop out in their teen years.
b. Only one hour a week in church is a good way to damn your children to Hell.
B. Christ needs to be exalted In the Church.
1. Followers of God, Eph. 5:1, “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;”
2. Walk in Love, Eph. 5:2, “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
3. Prove what is acceptable to God, Eph. 5:10-11, “Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”
4. Walk circumspectly, Eph. 5:15-17, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”
II. EQUIP THE SAINTS
A. Perfecting the saints, , Eph. 4:11-12, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”
1. The responsibilities of the leadership of the church are to teach and train.
a. For the work of the ministry.
b. For the edifying of the body of Christ.
2. Perfecting the Work of the Ministry, Joshua 1:5-6, “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. 6Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.”
B. Edifying the Body of Christ.
1. Foul language, Eph. 4:29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
2. Bad habits, 1 Cor. 10:31-32, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:”
3. God warns the Believer, Col. 3:24, “But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.”
III. EVANGELIZE THE SINNER
A. Marching orders, Matt. 28:19-20.
1. Make disciples.
2. Baptize the disciples.
3. Teach the disciples.
B. The Harvest is plenteous.
1. The time is right, John 4:35, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”
2. A Great harvest, Luke 10:2, “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.”
C. The Laborers are few.
1. The laborers are not the pastors. They are the members of the Lord’s churches.
2. Americans Christians have become lazy expecting their pastors and deacons to do the job of the members of the church.
a. Where is the JOY of God’s people?
b. It is in faithful service to the Lord, Matt. 25:21, “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
CONCLUSION
Will you enter into a covenant with the Lord to honor Him in your family life; in your church attendance and service in order to provide a good testimony for whoever might be watching?
Will you work with your pastor so that he might reach others with Gospel of Christ and build a strong church for the glory of Jesus Christ?
There is Great Joy in serving Jesus Christ and winning others to Him.