About

Big Apple Chapel is a New Testament based church in New York City, modeled after the pattern of the early church, with a strong emphasis on following Christ as a community of His disciples.

Services
  • Sunday - 10:30 am
  • 520 8th Ave, 16th floor
    New York, NY
  • phone: +1 (973) 837-1041
 

Sermons

BAC Sermons

2 Chronicles Survey Part III Companions of Consequence

1996-07-01 2 Chronicles

"Don't be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals" 1Cor 15:33

I. Heeding the Halfhearted

A. Stubborn Spouse 21:1 Now Jehoshaphat slept...Jehoram his son reigned in his stead. 6 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab for a wife: and he worked evil in the eyes of the LORD. 7 Yet the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever...18 And after all this the LORD smote him in his bowels with an incurable disease.

B. Contaminated Parent 22:1...So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned. 3 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab: for his mother was his counsellor to do wickedly. 7 And the destruction of Ahaziah was from God...Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the LORD had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.

C. Halfhearted Self 2Ki 10:28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. 30 the LORD said to Jehu, Because you have done well in executing that which is right in my eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. 31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, who made Israel to sin.

II. Walking with Winners

A. Courageous Wife 22:10 But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah. 11...Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.

B. Captain Courageous & Companions 23:1 And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds...into covenant with him. 3 And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said to them, Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the LORD has said of the sons of David. 16 And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD'S people. 18 Also Jehoiada appointed...as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David. 19 And he set the porters at the gates of the house of the LORD, that none who was unclean in any thing should enter.

1. Dwell on God's Promises 2Ch 15:8 when Asa heard these words & prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage

2. Depend on God Acts Ezra 7:28...I was strengthened as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me

3. Desire God's Blessing Da 10:12 Then said he to me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that you did set thy heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 19 And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be to you, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken to me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for you have strengthened me.

C. King Courageous 24:2 And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 4...Joash was minded to renew the house of the LORD. 5 And he gathered the priests...Go...gather..hasten...

III. Burying Oneself with Losers

A. Corrupt Counselors 24:17 Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened to them. 18 And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served images and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.

B. Corrupt Self 24:19 Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again to the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear. 20 And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, Thus says God, Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, that you cannot prosper? because you have forsaken the LORD, he has also forsaken you. 21 And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD. 22 Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it.

C. Consequences of Corruption 24:24 Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because Judah had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash. 25 And when they had departed from him, (for they left him severely wounded,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. Why did Joash forget the kindness of Jehoiada? Why was he susceptible to the wrong counsel? How can we recognize and avoid the wrong counsel/companions?

2. T or F  If you don't like your consequences, change your causes. Galatians 6:7

3. What kind of covenant relationships do you have? How do they help you glorify God?

4. Does God send prophets and low-volume judgments today? How do you recognize them?

5. How does the Lord strengthen His people today? What can you do to strengthen yourself?

Daily Dependence; Understand Sanctification/Service; Messenger Shooter; Belittle God  (no fear)