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II CHRONICLES 12:14

"SEEKING THE LORD"

Intro:   King Reheboam was a disappointment. Though his father Solomon was
         wise, he was  very foolish, and because of his folly the kingdom
         was divided. When we see a man  who has been given splendid
         advantages and opportunities yet ends up a failure, the question
         arises how did he fail?

I. "AND HE DID EVIL."
        A. Followed bad counsel.
                1. "Blessed is the man who walketh not..."
                2. When he came into the throne of his father.
                        a. 10 northern tribes sought relief from
                           oppressive taxation.
                        b. Old counselors said yes, young said no.
                3. He did not seek God for wisdom thus followed bad
                   advice.
        B. He trusted in his military strength.
                1. One of his first acts as king was to fortify the
                   cities.
                2. He built strongholds and put garrisons in them.
                3. When Shishak king of Egypt came against him, he sought
                   not the Lord for help, but trusted in his military.
        C. "He forsook the Law of the Lord."
                1. And the people followed him.
                2. He was made leader.
                        a. He led them in the wrong direction.
                                1. Away from their source of strength.
                                2. Help.
                        b. So when the crisis came, they failed.

ll. WHY THESE EVILS?   "HE SOUGHT NOT THE LORD."
        A. In every case, a failure to seek God.
                1. He sought men for wise counsel.
                2. He sought to his military for strength.
                3. He forsook the law of the Lord.
        B. How often do we fail to seek God for help for our needs.
                1. We turn to man for help.
                2. We lean upon our friends for strength.
                3. "It is better to put your trust in the Lord than your
                    confidence in man."
                        a. How often have men let us down.
                        b. How many times has God failed you.

III. "HE PREPARED NOT HIS HEART TO SEEK THE LORD."
        A. If your heart is prepared to seek the Lord it becomes the
           pattern of your life.
                1. You don't need someone to remind you to pray.
                2. One of the first questions our counselors are taught
                   to ask, "have you prayed about this?"
                3. God becomes your first recourse instead of your last
                   resource.
        B. We are instructed to "trust in the Lord with all our heart,"
           what does this mean?
                1. The heart is the deepest area of your being. The
                   very core of your existence.
                        a. Our minds are fickle, subject to change.
                        b. You may give God your mind for a moment but
                           when you give Him your heart, that's forever.
        C. The importance of conditioning our hearts to seek the Lord.
                1. The difference between the good path or the evil path.
                2. The difference between life or death.
        D. How to prepare my heart.