JOTHAM, JESUS AND YOU

2 KINGS 15:32-38

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. START RIGHT [v. 32-34]

1. We Can’t Always Choose Our Situation [v. 32-33, Esther 4:14]

... who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

2. We Cannot Choose Our Parents [v. 32-33, Ezek. 18:20]

The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

3. We Can Choose to Live for the Lord [v. 34, Joshua 24:15, I Kings 18:21]

-And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

-And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

 

II. WATCH THE LITTLE THINGS [v. 34-35, 2 Chr. 27:2]

 

1. Seek to Please the Lord [v. 34a, Galatians 1:10]

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

2. Seek to Follow a Godly Example [v. 34b, 1 Cor. 11:1]

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

3. Seek to Follow Christ [v. 35a, Philippians 3:12, almost 20 times in the Gospels Jesus said “Follow Me”]

-Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

 

III. USE EARLIER SUCCESS TO SERVE THE LORD [v. 35-38]

 

1. Make Much of the Lord’s House [v. 35b, 1 Timothy 3:15, Acts 11:26]

-But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

-And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

2. Make Much of the Lord’s Business [v. 36a, Luke 19:13]

And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

Occupy - pragmateuomai, to busy oneself with, i.e. to trade:--occupy

3. Make Much of the Lord’s Record-keeping [36b-38,  1 Corinthians 4:1-5]

LET a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.