Doing Right But Not With A Loyal Heart
Doing right, but not with a /loyal heart[1]/
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read Text: (2 Chron. 25:1-16).
2. Regarding Text:
(1) Amaziah, at age of 25 ascended to the throne of his father, king of Judah.
(2) Began by killing those who killed his father.
(3) Ended by disregarding the prophet of God, and incurring the anger of God.
(4) Amaziah did right, but only up to a point! He did so without a loyal heart.
3. Loyalty is commanded and implied by the Scriptures, and it is expected from our Lord (Lk. 9:57-62; Rom. 6:16-18; Heb. 10:38; James 1:6-8; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
4. If our lives are not completely converted, committed, and loyal to Christ Jesus, we are doing nothing more than going through the motions, and no less guilty than Amaziah.
5. I want to encourage you to be loyal to God, to follow God with a loyal heart!
(1) It is the right thing to do for God (Psa. 96:8).
(2) It is the right thing to do for yourself (1 Tim. 4:8).
(3) It is the right thing to do for others (Titus 2:11-14; Mt. 5:13).
DISCUSSION: I DO NOT SEEK TO DISCOURAGE ANYONE FROM DOING THE RIGHT THING, BUT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT IT, IT DOES MAKE US THINK –
I. why follow the lord at all, if your heart is not loyal?
1. Tradition (We are quick and right to condemn others who follow...)
(1) It is what my parents did.
A. Mom and dad always went to church services. I go to church services.
B. Mom and dad were baptized so I was baptized.
C. It is not wrong to follow / obey / honor your parents (Eph. 6:2; Col. 3:20).
D. BUT, we (individual, parents, congregation, etc.) have an obligation to make sure our children are taught to follow the Lord by faith (2 Cor. 5:7).
E. Your service to God must come from your desire / commitment / conviction.
(2) It is what I have always done.
A. Some folks have no more idea than that as to what they do and why.
B. To obey the gospel, but never grow past fundamentals is wrong (Heb. 5:12-14).
C. Illustrate: Boys riding alley and jumping bike from one hill to next.
D. Loyalty to petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul in this world--and never will. (Samuel Clemens / Mark Twain).
2. Want to please men.
(1) We all want to be liked. Some follow the Lord knowing that it will please their family, friends, wife, husband, etc.
(2) Eph. 6:5-7. Following the Lord to impress or please men is not proper!
(3) Following to please men will not carry you into eternity!
A. For “starters” the folks you are trying to please are likely to let you down.
B. For “enders” if they are true friends & Christians they want you follow Christ!
3. It is the right / moral thing to do/
(1) We are glad that most people have at least some sense of morality.
(2) We are glad that some folks know that it is good to follow God’s word!
(3) But, the New Covenant / Testament / Christianity is far more than a system of ethics!
A. It is a reflection of the wisdom of God!
B. How much profit can it be if you respect the things commanded, but have little or no respect / loyalty to the one who commanded them?
4. Why follow the Lord, if it is not with your whole heart? You cannot serve two masters (Mt. 6:24; Rom. 6:16-18).
II. what is the end for one who follows the lord without a loyal heart? (Amaziah’s was not good).
1. Your worship will be easily corrupted (cf. 2 Chron. 25:14-15).
(1) When you “go through the motions” in worship = lip service (Mt. 15:7-9).
A. We understand the concept and we will not tolerate it (child, employee, waiter, etc.).
(2) Pure worship requires only two elements – (Jn. 4:24).
A. Easy to introduce/encourage innovations when you are not loyal to God’s will.
B. Easy to let your feelings be your guide when you don’t know will of God.
a. Instrumental music feels good. I don’t see what is wrong with it! (cf. 2 Thess. 5:21).
2. Your daily activities will be easily corrupted.
(1) Loyalty to the Lord motivates / causes us to live differently from the world.
A. Titus 2:11-12.
B. 1 Pet. 1:15-16; 2:9.
C. Gal. 2:20.
(2) When our loyalty does not first belong to Christ (i.e. self, family, etc.) –
A. Feelings and emotions guide our honesty.
B. Feelings and emotions control our tongue (Eph. 4:26; James 3).
C. Feelings and emotions control our actions when wronged by others (Rom. 12:17-18).
D. Feelings and emotions dictate the way we dress (1 Tim. 2:8-10).
a. Ladies should dress in a modest manner professing godliness!
b. Men should dress in a modest manner professing godliness!
c. Our dress should not profess ungodliness! Especially in the assembly!
3. Our relationship with God is easily interrupted.
(1) “After the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD, they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there.” (2 Chron. 25:27).
(2) Humanism, worldly wisdom, materialism, etc. have an attraction.
(3) We deceive ourselves into thinking that God / Christ / church require little commitment on our part.
A. Denying but believing – “once saved always saved.”
B. Denying but believing – “obeying the gospel is not essential.”
CONCLUSION:
1. Illustration: Hasan K. Akbar
(1) The soldier charged in the grenade attack on comrades sleeping in tents in Kuwait was scheduled for a hearing Monday that could lead to a court-martial, the Army announced Thursday. Sgt. Hasan K. Akbar, 32, a soldier in the 101st Airborne Division, will face an Article 32 hearing at Fort Knox, which is similar to a grand jury hearing in civilian courts. Two soldiers died and 14 were wounded in the early morning attack on three tents March 23, days before the brigade moved into Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
(2) Hasan K. Akbar did a lot right (uniform, training, overseas, serving…)
(3) But Hasan K. Akbar’s loyalties were misplaced.
2. Where do your loyalties lie? Are you doing right? Is it with a loyal heart?
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[1] Outline from www.geocities.com/bragwell. Additions and adaptations made by Toby L. Soechting for preaching at Howe, TX – June 2003.