2 Chronicles 15:2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him, Hear you me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you… (a missionary sermon): — I. IT MAY TEND TO RECOMMEND THIS DIVINE MAXIM IF WE CONSIDER — 1. The effect it had on him to whom it was addressed. 2. The blessing it brought down on those who regarded it. II. LET US CONFIRM THE PROPHET'S AXIOM. The Lord is with them, and with them alone, who are with Him. Consider — 1. The evils which would result from the blessing of God being on our labours while we are not with Him. (1) God's being with us is a proof of His approbation of our tempers and dispositions. When we are not with God we are not holy. If God were to convert the heathen by us while we are in such a state, those who were changed by our efforts would naturally infer that the tempers they see in us were those that please God. Thus God would be made to bear a false testimony to us. (2) Were God to be with us in this great work while we are not with Him, it would be to counteract His great design in calling us by His grace. God's grand design is to purify His people. (3) It would be the means of propagating a kind of religion totally different from the mind of Christ. The apostles illustrated their teaching by a holy life. (4) If God were to grant our missionaries success while they were not walking with Him, they would be totally incapable of nourishing up their converts when they had made them. 2. The pleasing results which would follow if God were to be with a people for so long a period as He was with this people. (1) Abundant means. (2) Aid to use these means aright. (D. Marshman.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you. |
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