The Lord is Able to give thee Much More

2 Chronicles chapter 25. We can start reading verse 1 and go through verse 9. We are introduced here to a new king of Judah, Amaziah. A new king. And second Chronicles 25 started verse one. Amaziah was 20 and five years old when he began to reign and he reigned 20 and nine years in Jerusalem.

And his mother's name was Jehobadan of Jerusalem. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but, but not with the perfect heart, not with the perfect heart. Now it came to pass when his kingdom was established to him, he slew his servants that had killed the king, his father, but he slew not their children, but did as it is written in the law, the book of Moses, where the Lord commanded saying, the fathers shall not die for the children, neither shall the children die for the fathers, but every man shall die for his own sin.

So he's starting off pretty good. Well, then this kingship starts to get to his head. Moreover, Amaziah gathered Judah, he's the king of Judah, together and made them captains over thousands and captains over hundreds according to the houses of their fathers throughout all Judah and Benjamin. And he numbered them from 20 years old and above and found them 300,000 choice men able to go forth to war that could handle spear and shield. So he's automatically wanting to expand the kingdom.

He's not content with what he has. Then here's the main problem. He hires also 100,000 mighty men of valor out of Israel, the other tribe, the northern and southern kingdom. So he didn't consult the Lord, he just hires the men Verse 6 hired that's exactly right. We'll see how much he hired for mighty men of valor out of Israel for a hundred Talents of silver now.

I looked that up and that's about that's over It's anywhere from 1 million to 6 million dollars. That's a lot. It's a king's ransom. It's what one guy said It's a lot of money But oh here's here you go this guy's gonna spoil it at all but there came a man of God and to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee, for the Lord is not with Israel. That's pretty plain.

He's not with them, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim. But if you will go, do it, be strong in the battle, God shall make thee fall. You're not gonna win. Fall before the enemy, for God hath power to help and to cast down. God does, these men don't. It's like Ephraim, trust in horses, battles and shields and whatnot.

And I think in Hosea. And Amaziah said to the man of God, wrong question, wrong question. He said to the man of God, but what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have already given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, the Lord is able to give thee much more than this.

That's our title. Much more. That's where we'll stop. Now to continue on, you don't have to read, but this Amaziah, I don't know if he's reluctant, but he does what the man of God says. He goes, he sends these Israelites back. They are so humiliated.

Now, they got over a million dollars today. In today's, some say six million, some of those upwards of 60 million or so, I don't know, they said it's a weight thing. But you would think you'd be happy. You got money, you saved your life, you didn't have to do anything, you could go home.

Well, they were so humiliated, their pride, that before they left the lands of Israel, they sacked a couple of cities and killed 3,000 men. That's in this chapter. This is the Israelites, this isn't Judah. Okay, so King Amaziah goes in and has war, he whips them, but he doesn't kill them all. David would have killed them all. Don't leave any of the flesh, don't leave any of the worldlings. He brings 10,000 of them back, it says, I think in verse 14 and 15, and he brings back their gods and he sets them up.

Then the same man of God comes to him and says, What are you doing? And then the king says, who said you could come into this court? You better leave or we're gonna kill you. So the man of God, like in the gospels, dusts his feet off and says, I'm just telling you, your life is in danger. And then at the end of the chapter, King Amaziah dies.

But there's this general introduction and general observations of what's going on here. If you have made a mistake, says this is Mr. Spurgeon, if you have made a mistake, bear the loss of it, but do not act contrary to the will of the Lord. The Lord can give you much more than you're likely to lose. And if he doesn't, will you begin to bargain and to chaff with the God and argue with him?

The King of Judah, had hired an army from idolatrous Israel, and he was commanded to send them home, send home the fighting men because the Lord was specifically, he says, not with them. He was willing to send away the host, only he grudged pain. He down-paid them before they even fought. He grudgingly paid the hundred talents for nothing. Oh, for shame! If the Lord will give the victory without the hirelings or mercenaries, surely it was a good bargain to pay their wages and be rid of them.

May we be willing to lose money. That's a tough one. That's a tough one. We don't want to lose any money. It's my money. No, it isn't. Let us be willing to lose money for conscience sake, for peace sake, for Christ's sake. Rest assured that these losses for the Lord are not losses. Even in this life, they are more than recompensed. In some cases, the Lord prevents any loss from happening. As to our immortal life, we will lose, for Jesus is invested in heaven. Fret not at apparent disaster, but listen to the whisper.

The Lord is able to give thee much more. this and this is we need to constantly remind us now this is a moral lesson now the scriptures is much more and people just use this and they'll talk about the money and this and that we're gonna we're gonna get right we're gonna get to the gospel it's a little bit let me a few other things let me give you a few examples there's examples in the scriptures of what has happened here this King Amaziah when the prophets he asked them What about the money? And you can tell what a person's heart is when they talk about stuff, and things, and money, and they're not content with the grace of God. Turn with me to Revelations chapter 1. Is the Lord not able to give us much more than money? Now the funny thing is, is in I think 1 Chronicles, or I'm sorry, 2 Chronicles 27, I am Isaiah's king, his grandson, the Lord gave him a hundred hundred talents of silver and in cattle.

So he did, he did, he repaid. So he did. But if you keep it in a strict context, you know, money, but we're not, we're not keeping it. We're going to see Christ in all this and not necessarily speak, speak about money, but revelations chapter one, this is the apostle John.

Where's he at? Well, we don't have to worry where he's at. We know where he's at. Revelations chapter 1, starting in verse 9, I, John, who also am your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos. He's in exile. Why? For the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. That's why he's there.

But while he's there, if you read the rest of the chapter, what did he see? Oh my! He saw the glorious Alpha and Omega in verse 11. He heard the voice, he turns to listen to the voice. and he sees these candlesticks, and he sees, and when I saw him I fell at his feet, and he laid his right hand upon me, and he said, fear not, am I the first and the last, and I am he that liveth. He saw the Lord Jesus Christ in a vision. He wouldn't have seen that if he hadn't been at Patmos. So, this loss was not a loss. This was much more. Okay, turn to Philippians chapter 3. Philippians chapter 3 and verses 8, 9, and 10. Philippians 3 verses 8, 9, and 10. Here's Paul.

He was set at the feet of Gamaliel. I'm sure he was probably going to be well taken care of. But he says, doubtless I count all things but loss. for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but done." It's not doing anything for or against my salvation. It means absolutely nothing. It's just material stuff, if we're talking about that. I count on Dung that I may win Christ.

That's his desire, to be found in Christ, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law. And he knew that. He was a teacher of the law. He studied the law. He knew what the law was all about. But he knew righteousness could not be obtained. How did he learn that?

Through the preaching of the gospel. Through the revelation of the mystery of Christ. Christ and him crucified. be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." Matthew chapter 19. Matthew chapter 19, this person here perhaps, this man was like Amaziah. Maybe this guy we're reading about here in Matthew was like this king in the second Chronicles. Matthew 19 verse 16.

And behold, one person came to Christ and said, good master, what good things shall I do that I may have eternal life? And Christ said unto him, why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is God, But if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. And he said, oh, which one?

I've done them all. Thou shalt do no murder. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness. Honor thy father and thy mother. And thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. The young man said, all of these have I kept from my youth up. What lack I? Oh, there's a perfect individual right there.

Jesus answered him, if thou will be perfect, go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor and thou shall have treasures in heaven and come and follow me." Now Christ isn't giving him a condition. Christ knows his heart and he knows he's not going to do it.

Verse 22, but when the young man heard that he went away sorrowful for he had great And as Spurgeon and all these other men that you read and I've read say, riches has slain its 10,000s, poverty maybe 1,000. Well to do. And we may not think we're well to do here, but we're much more well to do than let's talk to Jean-Claude about our brethren in Africa.

Verse 23, then Jesus said unto his disciples, barely I say unto you that a rich man shall hardly enter the kingdom of heaven. Shall hardly enter the kingdom of heaven. Well, this man we're talking about here in Amaziah, one writer said, you don't have to turn to Hosea chapter seven and verse eight talks about Ephraim is a cake half turned.

So it's good for nothing. So when they were cooking cakes back in this time, you made sure that they were flipped so both sides were done. But he's a cake half done, good for nothing. It's like that baby that Solomon said, you know, split that baby in two and give it to both women and the wife said no, the mother of the child said no. He just figured out who his baby was. Half gospel is no gospel at all. It's not going to do any good.

And this half, this cake half turned. Oh, we're religious, we're coming to church, we're giving to the poor, we're doing all this stuff. We're not doing anything else. We go home. That's not religion. Religion is fully cooked, fully committed to the gospel of the grace of God, fully committed to Christ. It's not half, because it's not good for anything. And lastly, turn to Mark chapter 8. It's an example of what we're looking at with Amaziah. Mark 8, verse 34-38. Mark 8, verse 34, we'll start there, up to the end of the chapter.

And when he had called unto him with his disciples, this is Christ speaking, also he said unto them, whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whosoever will save his life is going to lose it. But whosoever shall lose his life for my sake, and the gospels, the same shall save it.

For what shall it profit a man, Amaziah, if a man shall gain the whole world? So take that hundred talents, take that millions of dollars back. What do you've got? You're still gonna go fight and then bring back and then bring these other gods with you. What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the son of man be ashamed when he cometh in the glory of his father with his holy angels. That's examples. That's examples of what we're reading here in, turn back to 2 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles 25.

But this lesson is much more than a moral one, as I said before. It's the truth. Christ is in every scripture. Now, I don't see him in every scripture, but that's because my eyes are, I see through a glass dimly. But when we look at a passage of scripture, when I read this, I saw, I latched onto that last phrase, the Lord is able to give thee much more than this. What's much more? Yes, he is able. The Lord is able. He says the Lord is able.

You may have some friends and relatives or this or that that can help you out, but there's always something to pay. It's a debt. We owe God everything and yet it's amazing. We pay nothing. I mean, to gain salvation, we pay nothing. It's free. That's how grace comes to us through Christ, through what He's done. It's totally free. It costs us nothing. It costs the dear son.

Yes, he is able, and yes, he can, and by God's grace through faith, we say yes, he will. God is able to give thee much more. This isn't a question mark. This is, if you do this, he's able. He's just simply able. Yes, our God is able. Turn with me to Ephesians chapter three. Ephesians chapter three. And verse 20, now unto him that is able, now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us, unto him be glory in the church by Jesus Christ throughout all ages, world without end. I think we're getting ready to be there next week. Now he's able, that's what the scripture says. and Jude 24. Jude 24. Now unto Him that is able. What's He able to do? To keep us from falling and to present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy. He's able to do much more.

We can't keep ourselves. We fall every day. We'll come in here. We fall in here. We'll go outside. We'll fall in there. The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. If we confess our sins, not if, but as we confess our sins, which a believer will do. So he's now able to keep us from falling. He's able to present us faultless. How's that possible? Not with us, not by our works of righteousness, which we have done. by His grace and mercy, faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy."

I like this one. Turn to Daniel chapter 3. These three, well actually three and four, Daniel, these three men, and Daniel, they knew this. They knew this. Daniel chapter 3, look at verse 13 through 17. Daniel chapter 3. I love this story by the way because you see Christ in here and again that's who we're talking about. God is able to do much more, is able to give you much more. And He has through Christ.

And Nebuchadnezzar, this great king, in his rage and fury, commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these three men to the king. And he spake unto them and said, is it true that you do not serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now, if you be ready, that at that time, the time you hear the sound of the cornet, the flute, the harp, the sakhba, the psaltery, the dulcimer, and all kinds of music, that you fall down and worship the image which I have made, it'll be well. But if you worship not, you shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning furnace, and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

Now that's interesting. And it's still going on today in a lot, most religions. If you fall down, that's considered worship. But we worship the Lord in the Spirit and in truth. See, it's always outward show. I know this is Old Testament, but it's the same thing. If you've got ornate windows, and you've got a steeple, and you've got this and that, you just walk in and you're automatically worshipping.

No, I don't think so. I don't think so. And the three men said, answered, and they said to the king, this is the king. Are they being insubordinate? No. You worship God, and you can submit to the governors and the president, but when they say to do something contrary to the word of God, we're free in Christ. We're not bound by that at all. So they answered him, we're not careful to answer you in this matter.

If it be so, our God whom we serve, here it is, is able. It says right here, he's able. He's able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship golden image which thou hast set up." Throws them in there, and the king himself says, well, there's, we threw in three, there's four. Well, there's Christ in the Old Testament. He's there protecting them. It burned all their, their clothes didn't burn, It burned the ropes and the fire was so hot that when the guards opened up, it consumed them.

And then you've got this one Daniel chapter six. Turn to chapter six. Now Daniel doesn't say this, but he agrees. The king, the king's a little bit, I like his wording in here. Daniel chapter six, starting in verse 20. Daniel's in the lion then. Starting verse 18, the king went to his palace, passed the night fasting. Neither were instruments of music brought before him, and his sleep went from him. He threw Daniel in. He knew he was wrong. He signed the letter, stamped it, and you can't reverse it. So he feels bad because he loves Daniel. So he had no sleep.

Then the king arose very early in the morning and went and hasted to the den of lions. And when the king came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto David. And the king spake and said unto him, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest, able to deliver thee?

He even saw this. God is able to give us much more than this money that we've lost upholding the gospel and upholding the truth, and siding with worldlings whom the Lord says, I am not with them. We've got to be so careful here. We've got to be so careful.

Then Daniel says to the king, king, live forever. My God has sent his angel and has shut the lion's mouth that they have no hurt, have not hurt me. For as much as before him, innocence was found in me and also before the old king have I done no hurt. Innocence in Christ. We're not innocent, but we are in Christ.

That's the amazing thing. Now to our last phrase, that last phrase in our text. The Lord is able, we've looked at that. We've looked at the general observations into what's going on here. The man of God told the king, the Lord is able to give thee much more than this. Now where's the gospel in that? Well, turn to Romans chapter five. Romans chapter 5. He's able to give us much more than this.

Money, absolutely. Health, surely. And security, positively. But much more. Romans 5 verse 20. Moreover, the law entered that the offense might abound, but where sin abounded, Grace did much more abound. Much more. Much more. Grace, we have much more grace than when we were in sin, in trespasses and sin, in the complete atonement of Christ for us. Much more. We have much more peace from Satan's sin in this world. We have everlasting life in Christ, the gift of God to us.

Because He first loved us. Much more. What about contentment? Contentment with this life and contentment with the life after. He that gave us Christ, how shall He not give us much more? Much more love, mercy, undeserved mercy. It's free, it's gratuitous mercy. We didn't Asked for it, we didn't want it, by nature it repulses us because we like to work. That's why the king asked this question. What about this money? And the prophet didn't even answer. Didn't even answer. What about trials?

Much more, yeah. Afflictions, yes, but they are used to grow us. In Bruce's comment in Bible class, don't you want to be more like, made more like Christ? Don't you want to be more like Christ today and tomorrow? Well, oftentimes he brings, he crosses our paths.

We want to do this. We got our plans. And this is, guys, you know, women, they ask and they just want an answer. We've got to lay everything out. We want, okay, by the time we get to here, what if the Lord crosses our path? We want to do this. Oh, then we'd get aggravated. Lynn and I were talking about that. Henry told a story about two preachers got in a car accident. One of them got hurt real bad, and he's laying there by the car haul bloody, and the ambulance, and he said, you okay? You doing okay?

He just says, God is sovereign, and I'll be thankful. That's all he said. Yes, he is sovereign. He is thankful. As I said, if God spared not His darling Son for us, He will surely, freely give us much more. Much more. Much more. And this much more is only in Christ Jesus, our reigning and ruling Sovereign Lord.

So let's not look, in closing, let's not look to the stuff. You take it, it comes, it goes. And a couple passages in Proverbs I completely skipped over. I guess I should have been back here instead of the first part of that introduction. And you can just listen to this and not have to turn there, but it's in Proverbs 23 and the other one's in Proverbs 8. Proverbs 23 and verse 5, wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not?

For riches certainly make themselves wings. They fly away as an eagle towards heaven. And in Proverbs chapter 8, verses 18 and 19, riches and honors are with me, yea, doable riches and honor and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, says Christ, yea, than the fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver. We cannot outspend our Lord. He gives us all things freely in Christ Jesus.

Well, let us not look to stuff, let us not seek to be high or important in the eyes of this world. Jeremiah says this, the same, better than I can say it, Jeremiah 45, I'll read it to you, verse 5. And seekest thou great things of thyself? Seek them not. Seek them not. Don't seek great things.

Let the world, let the world solve the cancer problem. Okay? Let the world solve the economic crisis. Let the world And they have the reward. That's what Christ is talking about. They have the reward right here, right now. That's all they have. Because they're like Amaziah. They're a cake half-turned, half-baked. What about the stuff? Well, may we not be like Amaziah, but rather may we be like Mary in Luke chapter 10. I like to read this because I have to continually be reminded myself. Luke chapter 10 verses 38, 39 and 40.

Now it came to pass as they went that Christ entered into a certain village and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. There's nothing wrong with that being hospitable. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at the Jesus feet and heard his word. But Martha was covered about with much serving, and came to him and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister has left me to serve thee alone? Bid her, therefore, that she would help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things, but one thing, one thing, one thing.

If we could get that in our mind. And yes, we pay taxes. We render under Caesar what Caesar. And we have to work for a living by the sweat of our brow because Adam fell. But he did much more than fall and making us have to work. He plummeted the whole race in sin. And now we're trying to figure out our own way to get out. And Christ is the only ladder. Christ is the only bread, the only food, the only manna that we need. But we'll try every other thing.

But Mary, Mary preferred what she was doing instead of helping a sister. Eating? She chose the one thing needful. Mary had chosen that good part, which incidentally, it's much more. Shall not be taken away. It won't be taken away. We have to continue to remind ourselves, Christ and His words, she's chosen the best part. Sit at my feet.

Can you? Can you have too much Christ? Can you read too much? Can you hear, listen to message? Can you do, can you have too? No, you can't. No, you can't. If the gospel message is about Christ, you cannot over, you cannot, our cup overflows. But if we're doing all this other stuff and, oh, I, you know, Bible's closed, take it off the shelf, dust it off, Brethren, may we seek Christ, may we adore Christ, ask forgiveness from Christ. When Bruce was talking this morning, I thought how many of us are our children, or we've instructed our children to just ask God, Lord, show me Christ in the word, show me myself, just simple, just simple. Show me me in this word and show me Christ, just simple. but we have to order our prayers and all this, no. May we seek Christ, adore Him, and ask forgiveness, and it will be well with us.

It shall be well. The Lord is able. This Lord, maybe not our Lord, small l, but He's able to do what? To give us much more than this. So get our eyes off of material things and look to Christ. And may it will be well with us. And I pray we can say this in closing. I just found this. May we be able to say this.

And in that day, thou shalt say, oh Lord, I will praise thee. Though you were angry with me, your anger is turned away and you comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid. May we be able to say that because we truly lost what we lost in Adam. We've gained much more in Christ. Bruce, would you close us, please? Thank you.

The Lord is Able to give thee Much More

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The Lord is Able to give thee Much More

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