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Sundays Sermon Podcast

Calvary Chapel Kampala
  • 1 Peter 1 "Our Living Hope"
    "We all remember Peter, that disciple that opened his mouth too much with Jesus. Peter later, however, because one of the chief pillars of the early church. Peter and Paul were the two major apostles in bringing the gospel to the Jews (Peter) and Gentiles (Paul). The themes are hope, holiness, and suffering. This letter was mainly to bring encouragement and renewed motivation to live in Godliness no matter what the circumstances"
  • Nehemiah 13 "Cleaning House"
    "When you clean your house do you only have to do it once and then it remains clean? No. There is dirt around here and messy people. It takes a continual maintenance and cleaning. When you take a bath do you only have to do it the first time and then you don't have to bathe anymore? No, we get dirty living in this world. We need to keep on cleaning or we stink and become grotesque. The people had made many promises in chapter 10 of what they were going to do for God and how they were going to live. Unfortunately, when Nehemiah went back to report to the King the people had turned quickly back to the sin and impurity that they had said they would not do. Through God's Word, and spiritual leadership, God's people were going to clean house again. This chapter is about cleaning that which was rebuilt. It is a maintenance process to examine your life, family, church, and leadership to make sure they are according to the standard of purity that God has shown us in His Word. "
  • Nehemiah 11-12 "Rebuilding Together"
    "The work of rebuilding is not something we can do alone. We need God obviously, but we also need one another. There are a few lasting lessons that we can take with us about rebuilding our lives. We are given a reminder of those lessons in these final chapters. The people were now right with God, and together they continued in the day-to-day decisions that made this rebuilding last. Let us be reminded that: Rebuilding Together Needs People. Rebuilding Together Needs Praise. Rebuilding Together Needs Provisions."
II Chronicles 31-32

2 Chronicles Chapters 31-32 “Real Commitment”

 

Intro:

  • The doors of God’s house are opened
  • Revival people coming back to God’s house
  • The “mountain top” is over, now it’s time for commitment, and an outworking of our faith

 

  1. I) Real Commitment in Giving (31:1-21)

A) Giving our lives (Verse 1)

  1. Before we talk about commitment in specific areas we must first make sure that we have totally committed our lives to God.

& Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

  1. B) Giving our finances (Verses 2-21)
    1. Leaders give first (2-4)
  • The pastor is an example to the flock in giving.
  • He was not going to tell the people to do anything that he was not willing to do himself.
  • Sadly today the pastors neglect giving while encouraging people to give to them!
  1. Firstfruit and Tithe (5-6)
  • Firstfruits speak of the first and the best of what we have. Many times we are tempted to give God the last and the least
  1. Story of the rancher… “the Lord’s cow died”
  • Tithe is 10% a good place to start.
  1. John Wesley pushed the sensible formula on finances: "Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can." We appear to have concluded that two out of three isn't bad.
  2. Accountability (7-15)
  • He questioned the priests. There was a record—financial integrity in the ministry—not just one person.
  • He saw the people gave generously. This will be the case in a healthy church…more than enough.
  • He put faithful people in charge of accounting and saving. (they were faithful vs. 15)
  1. A good cause (16-21)
  • The money was used to build up the house of God and to support the workers.
  • We are giving into the family.
  • He prospered because it was a work of God vs. 21

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. II) Real Commitment in Growing (32:1-8)

A) Defense (Verses 1-5a)

  1. God wants to church to grow in defense and awareness of our enemy. To prepare ourselves for his attack.

& Ephesians 6:10-13 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

  1. B) Offense (Verse 5b)
    1. The church can also grow offensively by studying Gods word, evangelism, and prayer

& Matthew 16:18 “…on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

& Ephesians 6:17 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”

  1. C) Leadership (Verse 6a)
    1. As the church grows so will the leadership.
      1. Moody said, “I would rather but 100 men to work then do the work of 100 men”

 

D) Encouragement (Verses 6b-8)

  1. Here is a real key to growth—encouragement! Healthy sheep reproduce, and it’s the job of the pastor to care for the flock and make sure that they are healthy and encouraged.
  • The best way to encourage people is to help them get their eyes off of themselves and their problems and put their eyes on God.

& Hebrews 12:1-2 “…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”

  1. III) Real Commitment in Trusting (32:9-23)

A) The enemy tried to cause doubt and fear (Verses 9-19)

  1. But he didn’t know what he was talking about. God is greater than all other gods.
  2. Don’t listen to critics who try and minimize God and His Word.

 

  1. B) Hezekiah and the people put their trust in God
    1. And great is our God!

& 1 John 4:4 “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

  1. There will be a day when the enemy who talked BIG will be ashamed

& Philippians 2:10-11 “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

  1. IV) Real Commitment in Humbling (32:24-33)

A) We have prideful hearts

  1. Even the best men and women of God can fall to pride like Hezekiah
  2. The real question is are we willing to humble ourselves before we experience serious problems?

  1. B) God will lift up the humble
    1. We will only prosper in this life if we decide to be humble

& James 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”