Sunday Morning

Sept. 3, 2000

 

2 Kings 11:20 And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king's house.

 

Proverbs 11:10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

 

I’m convinced -- that the church is a blessing to the whole world!

That we are a blessing to the world around us -- OH they may not know it --- and sometimes we don’t --- show the LORD to them through our life like we should --

Sometimes we could use more wisdom and love --- in our speaking up for JESUS.

Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

 

Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

 

God in speaking to Abraham -- spoke of a way that through Abraham there was going to be a hope, a way of blessing, that God was going to provide a way of salvation ---

It mentions the gospel being preached to Abraham!

Hey --- He believed--- He obeyed GOD -- He had Faith

WE must do the same -- believe the gospel -- obey God -- have faith--

then we are blessed ---- and the world around us can be blessed because through our life -- the Gospel can be made known to them -- then they can have Faith and obey! and be blessed!

We the church are a blessing --- to this world --

Husbands have been saved because of a saved, believeing praying wife

Parents have been saved because of believing praying children!

Children have been saved because of believeing praying parents

Friends have been saved because of believing praying friends!

The CITY -- OXFORD, FLORIDA -- COULD COME TO A PLACE OF REJOICING -- WHEN IT GOES WELL WITH THE RIGHTEOUS!

WE read the verse:

Proverbs 11:10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

Genesis 30:27 And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake.

 

 

 

Genesis 39:5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

 

 

 

We also read a verse in II Kings----

2 Kings 11:20 And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king's house.

This was during the time of the divided Kingdom --

Athaliah -- was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel--

Of course -- these parents were self serving and did not serve the Lord Jehovah --

Jezebel -- promoted an idolatrous religion -- that was against the one true God!

many practices of these other pagan beliefs -- were much more abusive to humanity

it’s amazing how abusive -- many pagan beliefs are to humanity --

GOD LOVES PEOPLE -- He’s not willing that any should perish--- God is no respected of persons

so you actually find that those that are true believers and followers of the LORD --

had much more respect for their fellow man than other beliefs --- you find that women were always treated better among the believers -- than the world

Strangers were to be treated right

the less fortunate were always treated better under true Christianity!

God is JUST --- that means he is ultimately fair! sometimes too fair for our good! But along with that justice is something even more powerful -- LOVE -- which many times produces MERCY!

Scripture says the soul that sinneth shall die --

and

that there is none righteous no not one!

so.....

if it were not for God’s LOVE and therefore mercy

THERE would be NO hope for any of us!

But the LORD made a way to be just and still reach to man with LOVE and MERCY!

EVEN when wickedness and sin seemed to rule in humanity --- and even in your life or my life ---

yet hidden away -- in God’s provision -- was a redeemer -- there was hope!

WE see this in this story of Athaliah!

Things looked quite hopeless in the Northern Kingdom at this time! ----

 

 

Evil seemed to prevail ----

Proverbs 3:32 For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.

this wicked evil woman-- Ataliah -- was one of those froward -- which this scripture says is and abomination to the Lord:

She wanted what she wanted --- enough to do what she did!

 

 

 

 

 

Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

 

 

 

At one point --

Apparently a political alliance-

this Athaliah married King Jehoram of Judah

NOW -- Ahab and Jezebel- Athaliah’s parents had ruled the Northern Kingdom -- But--

Athaliah married Jehoram--- who ruled the other part of Israel -- which is called Judah - (the other part of the divided kingdom)

This guy -she married -- Jehoram -- had murdered his brothers when he came to the throne --

Jehoram was also commited to paganism --and did not follow the Lord God Jehovah!

Jehoram contracted an incurable bowel disease and died at age 38

so their son -- Ahaziah became king when he was 22--

after only 1 year of being the king he was killed

AT THIS POINT --- ATHALIAH -- DECIDED TO TAKE OVER!

SHE QUICKLY HAD ALL THE MALE HEIRS TO THE THRONE KILLED! -- SO THAT SHE COULD CLAIM THE THRONE!

WHICH SHE DID!------

so the kingdom went from bad to worse! --

this woman had killed her own grandchildren to take the throne and be Queen!

BUT unknown to Athaliah -- one little baby was saved from her evil muderous clutches!

This reminds me of when Herod -- was having all the male babies killed in hopes to kill the baby Jesus born to be KING!

Even when evil -- seems to be in control--- God is making a way of salvation!

Those who hold the secret--- are a blessing to the whole world!---

Proverbs 3:32 For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.

 

In our time -- where wickness abounds -- there is a secret with the righteous! ---- there is a secret of salvation with the church--- it is revealed by the spirit to others who are hungry -- they can get in on the blessing of the Church, the blessing of Jesus, the blessing of Abraham!

So while Athiliah is -- reigning -- and promoting false gods---

with those of the Priesthood ---- is a secret

and that is --- that the little baby -- boy -- an heir to the throne -- has been saved alive and hidden! to be revealed at the right time!

This little boy -Joash - has been hidden in the temple--

When Joash was 7 --

Jehoiada got a group of leaders together--- and revealed Joash to them -- to let them know there was hope for a KING -- other than Athaliah!

Jehoiada -- took an oath from them all -- in the house of the LORD -- that they would be for Joash -- that they would guard him -- and they would fight for him

to which they agreed

So Jehoida -- brought out weapons from the House of the LORD-- spears & sheilds of David!

2 Cor. 10:4-5 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

[5] Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

 

If we are to see victory -- to see the LORD have his way -- We must take up spiritual weapons! NOT carnal weapons!

LOVE PEOPLE ---- fight evil!

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

 

So they brought this boy out -- Joash -- and made him king! Anointed him clapped and Shouted

GOD SAVE THE KING!

ATHALIAH -- HEARD -- CAME OUT --

AND THERE WAS THE KING BY THE PILLAR! --

2 Kings 11:13-17 And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the Lord.

[14] And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason.

[15] But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the Lord.

[16] And they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king's house: and there was she slain.

[17] And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people that they should be the Lord's people; between the king also and the people.

 

 

 

We are to be priest unto our GOD

 

 

Some day -- we will be there with Jesus as he takes back the world--- and we will rule and reign with Christ!

In the mean time--- Sometimes it seems the enemy has it made --

Sometimes -- when trials and opression and lifes preasures weighs down upon you---

Remember --- That they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength!

When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

Micah 7:7-8 Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.

[8] Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.

 

 

Sometimes is seems like evil is ruling the kingdom ---- But the Lord is a Way-maker!

 

He can take you throught the storm or say to your storm -- Peace be still!