OBEY THE LORD GOD AND PROSPER

PROCLAMATION

“Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before The Lord his God.”  2 Chronicles 27:6 (NIV)

EXPLANATION
After King Uzziah died with leprosy, his son Jotham, who had ruled the government and the people during his illness, succeeded him as king of Judah. (2 Chronicles 26:21-23)  Jotham did that which was right in the eyes of The Lord and he did not make the mistakes that his father made. (2 Chronicles 27:1-2)  He rebuilt the wall of the temple and fortified the forts and towers in the countryside. (2 Chronicles 27:3-4)  He conquered the Ammonites and they paid him money and grain annually. (2 Chronicles 27:5-6)

APPLICATION

Every good and perfect gift, including prosperity, comes from The Lord God. (James 1:17)  We are blessed in more ways than we can count.  When we obey The Word of God, we are also blessed with the additional conditional blessings that He has for us.  Blessed and prosperous is the man who delights in God’s Holy Word. (Psalm 1:1-3)  If we want to be blessed in more ways than we already are, then we need to walk more uprightly and steadfastly in the ways of The Lord God.  Because The Spirit of The Lord God is within us, we are in this world but not of it, (John 8:23) and we must walk circumspectly and not as the unsaved worldly sinners walk. (Ephesians 5:15)  We must walk the Godly walk.

WALK IN THE LIGHT AND NOT IN THE DARK

Proclamation:

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”  Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by King David under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  David knew that without the help and guidance from The Lord that he would wander down the wrong path.  By meditating on The Word of God (Psalm 119:97) and by obeying it kept him from going down the evil path. (Psalm 119:101)  The Word of God illuminated his path and gave him directions. 

Application:

The steps and directions of a good man are ordered by The Lord God. (Psalm119:133)  If we read, study, and obey The Word of God and acknowledge His influence in our lives, then He will direct our paths. (Proverbs 3:6)  It is not wise for us to walk down the dark road of life by ourselves.  If we choose to do that then we are sure to stumble.  We need to let The Lord God direct us, and provide the light on our path.  As we plan, begin, continue, and complete every work and purpose in this life, we need to include God in it.  For it is in Him that we live, move, and have our very being. (Acts 17:28)  Walk in the light of the presence of The Lord and be blessed. (Psalm 89:15)

OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD

Proclamation:

”If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin."  1 John 1:6-7 (NIV)

Explanation:

The Apostle John, who referred to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved, recorded in this general epistle that we cannot have a fellowship with The Lord God if we do not obey His Word.  We must believe and walk in His way, in His light, and maintain fellowship with our Christian brothers, if we want Him to cleanse us and forgive us of our sins.

Application:

Many people claim to be Christian, but their actions do not support their claim.  Believers must walk with The Lord God, as Enoch (Genesis 5:22) and Noah (Genesis 6:9) did.  Once we believe that Jesus, The Christ, is The Son of God who was raised from the dead, and accept Christ as our personal savior, then we will be saved and our relationship with The Lord God is secure. (Romans 10:9)  We may be in or out of fellowship with Him, based upon our behavior, but our relationship does not change.  Just as we are still our parents children even when they punish us or put us out of their house.  The fellowship may be broken but the relationship is still the same.  We still sin, we confess our sins, we ask to be forgiven, (1 John 1:9), and then we persevere and continue to walk in His way. (Ephesians 6:18)   By walking His way and obeying His Word, we demonstrate and maintain our fellowship with God.