Study

When All Is Not Enough

August 8, 2018 by in Study

Text:

2Kings 23:25-27:

25 And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.

26 Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal.

27 And the LORD said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.

 

Theme:

When All Is NOT Enough

 

Introduction:

  • The text comes from the Books of the Kings, also known as 1st and 2nd
    • The Books of the Kings were originally one book in the Hebrew scriptures. They were first separated into two books when they were combined with the books of 1st and 2nd Samuel in the Vulgate.
    • The authorship is uncertain with certain portions glaringly parallel to Jeremiah
    • Covers a period of 453 years from the ascension of Solomon to the subjugation of the kingdom by the Babylonians.
    • Contains similar information to the books of Chronicles, but:
      • Books of Chronicles are more comprehensive
      • Kings gives prominence to the kingly…Chronicles gives prominence to the Levitical order.
  • This portion of scripture found within the Second Book of the Kings occurs during the reign of King Josiah.
    • King of Judah
    • Son and successor of King Amon
      • Began his reign at age 8
    • Sought after the God of his forefather King David at age 16…8 years into his reign
      • Before this, Judah had worshipped idols primarily for 70 years beginning during the reign of Manasseh, King Hezekiah’s son.
      • Before this, the people of Judah had allowed God’s temple to be overrun by idolatry.
      • Before this, Jehovah was not the supreme Word to the people.
    • He stands foremost among all the kings of the line of David for unswerving loyalty to Jehovah
      • Josiah sought to and was able to destroy all relics and practices of idolatry in Judah
    • Josiah’s reaction to his prophecy given
      • In the 18th year of his reign, Josiah worked to repair the temple of God to its previously beautiful state.
        • In rebuilding the temple, the priest found the scroll of the original Law of Moses (the Penteteuch)
        • Josiah read it and was alarmed at the contents à the bible does not tell exactly what struck him
          • He could have read…
            • Genesis 1:1 that read, “In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth.”
            • Exodus 20:3 or Deuteronomy 5:7 that read, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
            • Exodus 35:2, “Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.”
            • Exodus 22:20, “He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.”
          • Whatever it was, it made Josiah send for the prophetess Huldah to explain
            • Huldah prophesied to Josiah that he would not see the wrath of God put upon the people of Judah for their idolatry and adultery against God.
              • Regardless of their wrongdoings, Josiah still gave all to the people as their King!
      • Josiah did ALL that he could to make things right with God for the people of Judah
        • He did it out of love
        • He did it out of responsibility
        • He did it out of a selfless desire
        • He did it in accordance to God’s Will for him in his life
          • JOSIAH DID ALL THE RIGHT THINGS…ALL THE RIGHT WAYS
            • Josiah turned “to the Lord with all his heart” to the degree that he loved his people as God had loved him!
            • As an important High Point, Passover was able to be held in the temple à a major milestone for the people of God that had not occurred since the days of King Hezekiah.
    • Josiah died in work and service toward liberating the people of Judah
        • In resisting pharaoh’s passage through the land of Judah, Josiah, fighting in disguise, was killed by a random arrow.
          • Josiah was funeralized royally and with much sorrow at the loss of this great King
          • The prophet Jeremiah reflects upon the reign of this great King often with the same plea to the people of Judah… “turn to God”
          • Josiah reigned for 31 years!!!!!!
    • In spite of all Josiah’s efforts, God still did not spare the people of Judah from His wrath!
      • Verse 26 of our text says, “Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal.”
        • In accordance with the prophecy of Huldah, Josiah died before God’s wrath was released upon Judah.
      • In the example of Josiah, we can see WHEN ALL IS NOT ENOUGH!!!!

Body:

  • Have you FELT that ALL IS NOT ENOUGH?
    • No matter what you do…
      • The bills still kept mounting up
      • Folks still won’t act right
      • You still FEEL down and depressed
      • You keep messing up
      • Problems keep following you
    • The question is did you really do ALL?
      • Make sure that you are giving and have given ALL à What is ALL??
        • The greatest commandment is stated by Jesus in Luke 10:27, “…Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”
  • What should we do, when we HAVE done all!
    • Ephesians 6:13, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to STAND.”
    • After doing what we should do…ALL…we should wait on God to show us what He has already done!!!
      • Psalms 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God:”
      • Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
  • We are left feeling that ALL is enough
    • James 4:2, “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.”
    • Mark 9:23, “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”
    • Matthew 17:20, “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
  • BUT, there are times, like with King Josiah, WHEN ALL IS NOT ENOUGH!
    • When we speak against the Holy Spirit…ALL IS NOT ENOUGH
      • Matthew 12:31, “Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.”
      • We have denied the very power that brings our liberation!!
    • When we seek retribution and change in the life of another or others…ALL IS NOT ENOUGH
      • We can only work out our OWN à Philippians 2:12, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
      • Found only through Jesus, the Christ, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” (Ephesians 1:7)
    • When it is just NOT God’s Will for us…ALL IS NOT ENOUGH
      • We must give ALL based on what God CAN do and not what He WILL do!
        • Daniel 3:17a, “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace….”

Conclusion:

  • So, sometimes OUR ALL IS NOT ENOUGH, but GOD IS….
    • Stay true to the vision given by God!!!
      • The Hebrew boys knew what God could do but then proclaimed what God WILL do!!
        • Daniel 3:17b, “…and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.”
      • When we don’t know, it’s about what God can do, BUT when He has given us the vision of His promise for us, it is all about what He WILL do!!!!
        • Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” à What God says will happen…WILL happen!!
      • VICTORY is not about what we do (all, some, or nothing at all) è it is all about God’s GRACE!!!!
        • Thank God for His GRACE that IS ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!
          • 2Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
          • So, do as in Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
  • WHEN ALL IS NOT ENOUGH — God’s GRACE IS

So, HOLD ON!!!!

 

#375

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