SF541 - A Modern Day Miracle (2 Chronicles 24 1-14)

SF541

A MODERN DAY MIRACLE

2 Chronicles 24:1-14

INTRODUCTION

Raising Money

I heard about one pastor who came up with the ingenious idea of wiring all of the pews with electricity.  So on Sunday morning he announced to the people that they were going to begin a multi‑million dollar building program.  He said, "Now I want everyone of you who will pledge $500 to the building program to stand up, and he hit a button and about fifteen people involuntarily stood up."

He then said, "I want all of you who will pledge a $l,000 a piece to the building program to stand up."  He hit a second button, and this time about fifty people involuntarily stood to their feet.  Well the pastor was getting excited now.

Finally he said, "I want everyone of you who will pledge $l0,000 to the building program to stand up." With that he threw the master switch and electrocuted fourteen deacons!

 I read one time about a fellow who kept visiting his pastor almost everyday saying, "I want to do something to help you."  Well he was driving the pastor crazy and finally in order to get some peace and quiet, the pastor said, "Look, here are the names of ten members of our church who are relatively wealthy and they never attend.  Here's some of my personal stationery.  Go write them and see what you can do with them."

Well a few days later the pastor could hardly believe it.  He received a letter from one of the wealthiest members of the church who had not been in church for years.  The letter said:

"Dear Pastor:

I realize that I have not been as active as I should have been, and I have not been attending the services regularly.  Furthermore I have not been faithful financially to the work of the church. I am enclosing a check for $5,000 and I assure you that I will be at all of the services from now on. Then at the bottom of the letter there was a P. S. that said:

Dear Pastor:

Would you please tell your secretary that there is only one 't' in 'dirty' and no 'c' in 'skunk?"

BIBLICAL BACKGROUND

The return of God’s people (23:16-17)

A reign of God’s prince (24:1-4)

The reluctance of God’s priests (24:5-7)

The result of God’s Presence.... God’s People accomplished a God sized Task!

Because of God’s Presence these became a...

Great people, Godly people. Grateful people. because they were a giving people

I want you to see that their greatness was not so much in what they gave as it was in how they gave.

I would not tell anybody in this church what they ought to give next Sunday.  But I can tell you how you ought to give whatever it is you give.

1A,       THEY GAVE OBEDIENTLY (8-9)

1B.       They Followed Their Leader (8)

God anoints men not methods

Joash loved God and wanted to please God

Joash

Did not always do what was easy - right is hard

Did not always do what was expedient - right in unpopular

Did not always do what was expected - God is unpredictable

But he did what was right - the Chest was the right thing then and still is now.

2B.       They Honored Their Lord (9)

Giving is not a matter of choice.  Giving is not even a matter of money.  Giving is a matter of obedience.

When you give your offering next Sunday you're not giving it to a building, you're not giving it to a budget, you're not giving it to a box, you're giving it to God.

2A.       THEY GAVE OPENLY (10)

1B.       No One Refused (5,10a)

The command was universal (5)

The congregation was united (10a)

“Nobody gave the same thing, but everybody gave something!”

2B.       Everyone Rejoiced (10b)

(2 Corinthians 9:7)  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

I heard about a man who asked a friend one time, "If you had a million dollars would you give me half of it?"  His friend said, "Well sure I would."

He said, "Well if you had a thousand cows would you give me half of them?"  His friend said, "Well sure I would."

He said, "Well if you had five hundred hogs would you give me half of them?"  He said, "Well sure I would." 

He said, "Alright, if you had two hogs would you give me one of them?"  His friend said, "Now that's not fair, you know I've got two hogs."

3A.       THEY GAVE ABUNDANTLY (11-12)

1B.       Because the Need was Great (2)

God’s House needed

To be restored = to mend

To be refinished (13)

To be refurbished (14)

2B.       Because the Lord is Good

This was a way to express their love for God!

Farmer John

Dr. Jerry Vines tells the story of a young farmer boy named John who was married a young age. The farmer was very poor and could not by his wife a diamond ring.

She said to him, “John if you ever get up enough money, I have always wanted a string of real pearls.”

John’s heart was touched. He decided he would save up his money. John decided to give up tobacco. Every time he wanted some tobacco he would put the money for the pearls into the tobacco pouch. As the years went along John’s wife became an invalid. He loved her so much he took care of her like she was a little baby. He just filled her life with love.

After many, many years it came anniversary time. After the supper big old John took his wife and put her in her favorite chair. He said “Close your eyes.” She closed her eyes, and he got his tobacco pouch out. In it was a string of pearls.

He put the string of pearls around his wife’s neck and said, “Now, open your eyes.” She opened them up and said, “Oh, John are they real?” He said, “You better believe they are.” She said,”Oh, John they are so beautiful! Why did you do it, John?”

John fell on his knees, buried his face in her lap and, through tears, said, “Just because I love you.”

I trust when you walk by this chest next week, if Jesus were to ask you, “Why did you do that?”

You will be able to say,”Just because I love you!”