"Blessing and prosperity flow through a whole heart."

According to Dr. Michael Breece, this is the theme of both I and II Chronicles, and in this next sermon in "History Lessons," he explains what a whole heart is through the book of I Chronicles. This history book is full of examples -- from David himself to the tribes that came to make him king.

Continuing "History Lessons," Pastor Steve preaches on II Kings. It shows Israel and Judah’s spiritual decline ending in destruction because their kings and people turned from God, worshiped idols, and became like the surrounding nations. Their exile was not proof that God failed, but that God kept his covenant warnings. Their example forces us to examine own own lives: are we worshiping God rightly, resisting being conformed to the world, and becoming more like Jesus? Only he is the perfect King, who (unlike Israel and Judah's kings) leads his people into righteousness and life!

Continuing the mini-series, "History Lessons, Pastor Steve preaches on 1 Kings. He offers us some warnings about spiritual decline. Israel began strong under Solomon, but his divided heart led him away from God, and the kingdom eventually split and spiraled into idolatry.

In Solomon (the wisest king ever!), we see that no one is immune to spiritual decline; even he, with such great wisdom and blessing, turned from the Lord. We see how leaders carry extra responsibility for those God entrusts into their care; Rehoboam and Jeroboam led the people deeper into sin. And we see what a slippery slope sin is. Israel’s kings rapidly went from bad to worse, especially under Ahab.

Yet even Ahab’s story shows that God responds to repentance with mercy, leaving us looking forward to the only perfect King, Jesus, whose kingdom will never fall!