The lineage of Solomon – Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat – 2 Chronicles 12 – 20
Paul and the Ephesians’ Church– Acts 19, Ephesians, Revelations 2:1-4
Gleaning
·
The
revelation of the Word
·
Choice to
obey that revelation
·
Choice to
press on, continue in obedience
Solomon; Rehoboam; Abijah; Asa; Jehoshaphat – a type of men of courage
There is a history of great victories in battle
against their enemies, and then afterwards, there is record of abandonment or
incomplete obedience to God, that usually opens the door again to the attack
from the enemies, continued disobedience – a vicious cycle.
Asa – 2 Chronicles 14:2-3 – He did what was right in the eyes of God. He removed the high places and commanded the people to seek the Lord (v.4-5). The removal of the high places was evident for the people to see, so he wasn’t just playing lip service. Asa also sought the Lord and He gave them victory over the Cushites (v.8-13)
When the prophet spoke the word of God to Asa in 2 Chronicles 15: 1-7, he harkened in
obedience. He continued to seek God earnestly. However in Verse 17 – although he did not remove the high places, his
heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life.
2 Chronicles
16:7-10
When our hearts are lacking in total obedience, we are
at risk of destruction. Imagine after Asa’s seeking the Lord earlier, his
refusal to remove all the high places was a kind of “open door” that eventually
got him into trouble at the end of his life.
Jehoshaphat
– 2 Chronicles 17: 1-6. V.6 says he
removed the high places. He was discerning – in 2 Chronicles 18:6, he insisted on a real prophet from God for he
knew those of Ahab were not genuine. He respectfully stood his ground before
Ahab. Strangely, Jehoshaphat still went to the battle, but God spared his life.
He was reprimanded in Chapter 19 and
subsequently re-established his obedience to God in the appointment of judges.
God even gave them victory in a war that followed.Sadly, at the end of his life, verse 33 says the high places were not removed and also made an alliance with King Ahaziah who was guilty of wickedness (verse 35)
Paul; The Church in Ephesus – a type of men of courage
This was post Calvary – the “producer”, the “old man”, sin’s
very source had been killed at the Cross and buried. The “New man”,
“New-Life-Producer”, has been given.
Paul - Acts 19 – Paul in Ephesus, spoke boldly and
persuasively in the synagogue for three months, and then had discipleship
meetings with them for two years. Verses
8 -11.
Ephesus was known as the “guardian of the temple of the great
Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven – Acts 19:35b. Idol worship was popular in the city.
But Paul obediently took Jesus, the complete Gospel and there
was commotion in the kingdom of darkness. There was a riot in Ephesus and Paul
eventually left. But the seeds had been sown, not in disobedience, but total
obedience. There were disciples in Ephesus.
The Church in Ephesus – Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. In Chapter 1:17, Paul wrote that he prayed
that they may know the Lord “better”. The letter reminded them of the life that
they once lived and encouraged them to continue in the new life, the Christ
life. The end of the letter in Chapter 6, there is the popular “armour of God”
charge to the Church. He also asked them to pray for him for courage to speak
the mystery of the Gospel boldly and fearlessly.
Revelations 2:1-7 –
verse 4 shows that
something had happened, there was a discontinuation in their walk in obedience
that Paul had commended them about earlier. Jesus was calling them to return to
Him, the Way, their first love.
Prayers
v
Thank God for
His men of courage, He has been helping them deliberately. Thank Him for the
nations in Europe and other nations that doors have opened to them to present
Jesus (Poland, Italy, Romania, France, Germany, etc.)
v
Even as the
Lord presented the burden to us regarding the June referendum that will
determine the UK in Europe, as His men of courage enter Europe, Lord, cause
Your work through them to be deliberate with “casting seed”, presenting the
Gospel of Jesus Christ and making disciples.
v
For us
heartcryers, that God will find us faithfully travailing for His men of
courage; that they will keep at and fulfil His mission through them in Europe
and the nations.
v
Help Your men
of courage to pay attention to Your Word and instructions to them, so that that
they do not fall into error. 2
Chronicles 15: 1- 4 (NIV) - “The Lord is with you when you are with Him.
If you seek Him, He will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will
forsake You”.
v
Give our men
continuous humility and reverence for You Lord! Even after great victories and
revivals, Lord keep them humble and obedient, not proud or forgetting what You
have done in and through them.
v
O Father,
cause Your men to be consistent in their walk and obedience to You! Remove the
errors that we saw in Solomon, Rehoboam, Abijah, Asa and Jehoshaphat, let every
“high place in their hearts be removed TOTALLY”. Lord, let the Cross be ever
before them!
v
2 Chronicles 12: 7 - 8 – the Lord had to teach His people a
lesson even though He had shown mercy. Lord, please help Your men of courage to
always obey you, knowing that even though You show mercy, there are
repercussions on even other people (the e.g. of David who caused 70,000 men to
die because of his disobedience in taking a census). The disobedience of not
removing all the high places continued in the era of the kings that followed.
v
Lord, like
the apostle Paul, let Your men of courage be consistent in their obedience.
Paul never looked back after Jesus encountered him! Just as there was no
mention of Paul abandoning God’s instruction, let Your men be consistent. Paul
was desperately obedient, consistent to God!
v
As Your men
of courage go into Europe, Europe that in the past brought the Gospel to many
nations, let the nations respond to the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
just like the church at Ephesus did. Paul was consistent and deliberate in
Ephesus, but the people of Ephesus did not continue right. And let them be
consistent, no more abandoning their first love.
v
At the end of
Paul’s life, he declared that he had finished the tasks, mission that God had
given him. Unlike Jehoshaphat and other kings, there is no record of
disobedience in Paul’s life. He had encountered the Man of Calvary; he was not
and did not go back. Lord, give Your men of courage the passion to accomplish
Your tasks through them.
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