Bible Text: 2 Chronicles 31 | Preacher: Pastor Steve | Series: Stewardship
2 Chronicles 31:21 And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.  All the kings’ horses and all the kings’ men couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty back together again.
What does it take to put back the pieces of someone’s broken life, marriage or family?
2 Chronicles 28:24 In the very first month of his sole reign he opened the temple doors to repair them and restore the Lord’s house, since Ahaz, his wicked father, had barred the temple.
The GRACE OF GOD repaired what had been broken
2 Chronicles 29:1-3 Hezekiah became king when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah. And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done. In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the LORD and repaired them.
2 Chronicles 29:6-7 For our fathers have trespassed and done evil in the eyes of the LORD our God;
…they have forsaken Him (turned away)
…have turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the LORD, (rebellion)
…and turned their backs on Him. (arrogance)
They have also shut up the doors of the vestibule (stopped seeking after the Lord)
…put out the lamps (light = word or guidance)
…and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel (worship)
2 Chronicles 29:10-11 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us. My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense
King Hezekiah is a model of the Holy Spirit at work in the lives of believers in Jesus!
2 Chronicles 31:1-6
There are 4 basic steps in putting the pieces back together
Step one: Cleansing
2 Chronicles 31:1 Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and broke the sacred pillars in pieces, cut down the wooden images, and threw down the high places and the altars– from all Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh– until they had utterly destroyed them all. Then all the children of Israel returned to their own cities, every man to his possession
Step two: Godly Discipline
2 Chronicles 31:2 And Hezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites according to their divisions, each man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and peace offerings, to serve, to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the camp of the LORD.
Matthew 12:43-45 …an evil spirit leaves a person…returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order… the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil…all enter the person and live there….that person is worse off
Step three: Application and Integration of the Word of God
2 Chronicles 31:3-4 The king also appointed a portion of his possessions for the burnt offerings: for the morning and evening burnt offerings, the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths and the New Moons and the set feasts, as it is written in the Law of the LORD. Moreover he commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to contribute support for the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the Law of the LORD.
Step four: Stewardship
There is a direct relationship occurring between the free flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives and our responsiveness and responsibility of our stewardship.
2 Chronicles 31:5-6 As soon as the commandment was circulated, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of grain and wine, oil and honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything. And the children of Israel and Judah, who dwelt in the cities of Judah, brought the tithe of oxen and sheep; also the tithe of holy things which were consecrated to the LORD their God they laid in heaps.
Proverbs 11:25 A generous man will prosper. But he who refreshes others will be refreshed himself. He will be refreshed
Proverbs 22:9 Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor
Psalms 112:9 They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever
Ecclesiastes 5:13-14 There is another serious problem I have seen under the sun. Hoarding riches harms the saver
We reap what we sow; We get what we give;
Ecclesiastes 5:10-11 Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers
No man has been honored for what he received in life. He’s only honored for what he gave away.
Giving makes me more like God
Giving draws me closer to God
Giving is the antidote to materialism
Giving strengthens my faith
Giving is an investment for eternity
Giving blesses us in return