When Hezekiah asked the people to bring in portions for sacrifices and provisions for the Levites, they brought so much that the leftovers were piled in heaps. They responded abundantly when given the chance.

Our missionary from India is home for a two year furlough. He needed a lawn tractor to mow his very steep lawn. A plea was made. One generous family came forward and bought him a brand new lawn tractor. It will be more than enough.

God can do anything and meet ANY need. Just have faith and give Him a chance!

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32

READ/HEAR:  2 Chron. 31

God’s Church is not a building but a group of people who have been made clean by the blood of Jesus. In studying King Hezekiah, we see a leader who had a true burden to rebuild and restore for the Lord.

Through the years that I have served the Lord, I have seen a diminishing of importance of where you worship and what you wear and an increase in importance of relationship with God and His people.

Those that build the church are relational, loving, and merciful. They are warm but firm in their convictions. They are giving rather than looking to receive. They are prayerful rather than condescending. They are involved and responsive rather than aloof and distant. They are full of the Holy Spirit and God’s Word.

This building is eternal and the gates of hell shall not prevail.

READ/HEAR: 2 Chron. 29,30

Uzziah began as a good king but became lifted up with pride. He committed a grave error by assuming he was qualified as king to go into the Holy Place and offer incense, a job reserved for priests. God struck him with leprosy which he suffered with until his death. He had a good start, but his reign ended in humiliation and grief.

Elvis and many church musicians had a good start and exhibited talents and abilities granted by God. During their lifetime they become taken with the allure of the things and false values of this life. Then they experience a downfall and painful end.

Katy Perry, a pop singer and judge on American Idol, had a good start with parents who are pastors. Somewhere along the line, she was sidetracked and now even mocks Christianity. The same story is seen in other entertainers … the Nick and Joe Jonas, Jessica Simpson and others.

Hopefully, they will come to their senses as the Prodigal did and return.

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.  Ps. 84:10b

READ/HEAR: 2 Chron. 26-28

God spoke to the people of Judah and Jerusalem through prophets, but they would not listen.

People have that tendency. They don’t want to listen to God’s voice, especially when it cuts against the grain of their bad habits and their self-serving lifestyle. They are no different today.

As the Headmaster of Trinity Christian School, I often begged the High School students to stop texting on their phones when they were driving. Do you think they listened? Probably not.

There have been some scary automobile accidents that students have had. Now just what do you suppose was the reason they were so distracted that they had an accident? I wonder.

Lord, stir us by your Holy Spirit and open our ears to hear Your Voice. We need You.

READ/HEAR: 2 Chron. 24, 25

Generally, kings of Israel would often slay all their competition … even their own brothers who could possibly challenge for leadership. This barbaric practice even happens today when we harbor feelings of contempt for those who show leadership ability that threatens ours.

A posture of prayer support and goodwill towards others who rival us is the godly response.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Phil. 2:3,4

READ/HEAR: 2 Chron. 21-23

When Jehoshaphat inquired of the Lord at the prospect of war with a vast enemy military alliance, the prophet Jahaziel declared, “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.

God indeed gave them a great victory. He assumed the responsibility for the outcome as they placed their faith in Him.

Can we thereby ask the Lord to fight our battles?   YES!

What is your battle? Cancer … marital issues … wayward children … bad knee? Call upon the Lord and let Him assume the struggle. Your key to participation and victory is YOUR FAITH. Trust Him completely. Then, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.

READ/HEAR: 2 Chron. 20

Jehoshaphat and Ahab had aligned themselves to go to war and were inquiring of the prophets and advisors about what to do. They received much ear-pleasing advice, but it was all from counselors who were essentially looking out for their own good, saying what the kings wanted to hear.

Micaiah, a true prophet of God, had a completely different message. He gave what God gave him to say, and it was contrary to the advice of the other prophets. It came to pass, sadly, because he predicted the death of Ahab, king of Israel.

The truth is not always easy to embrace. We seek the Lord’s counsel through His Word, We embrace it and live by it although it’s not always the easiest and most popular course of action. We die to self here in this life and live forever with God in the after-life.

READ/HEAR:  2 Chron. 18,19

Asa was generally a good king for Judah, but in his end, he relied upon everyone but God. He made alliances with other kings for his safety. He relied upon physicians rather than the Lord for the condition in his feet. This caused his downfall, and the loss of the kingdom.

Jesus said, “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.” The Lord through prayer and trust needs to be our first recourse in every situation. By this, we maintain His blessing and leading in all of life’s circumstances.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. Eph. 3:20

READ/HEAR: 2 Chron. 15-17,

Rehoboam was a bad king. His son, Abijah, became king of Judah and was bad. Asa, Abijah’s son became the next king, but was good. No doubt, his mother was a good influence. Because his father had fourteen wives and twenty-two sons, it would be interesting to know how the different influences from the many wives affected the lifestyle of the sons.

In many families, the grandparent also has a strong influence in the formative years of a child. God can use the influence of family members to shape the spiritual character of a child and see him turn out good, regardless of his father’s standing.

A key is to call upon the Lord and ask Him for His help. Just as the kings would call upon the Lord for favor when going into battle, parents and grandparents can call upon the Lord in prayer to impact the lives of children who are in the spiritually formative years.

READ/HEAR: 2 Chron. 12-14

The Queen of Sheba was overwhelmed at the achievements of Solomon. God had given him the wisdom and wealth to create an exhaustive, lavish kingdom. He was an example of the production a human is capable of when favored by God.

His impressive accomplishments all traced their beginnings to his prayer agreement with God. Yes, he was born to be a king. Yes, his father was a king. Yes, God used him to be a blessing to the nation of Israel. Is he any different from any child of God who likewise receives the wisdom of God found in Christ Jesus.

You are capable of great things through Christ Jesus.

READ/HEAR: 2 Chron. 9-11