THE KEY TO CONSECRATION

Text- 2 Chronicles 29:5-11

Introduction

This evening our text is found in 2 Chronicles 29:5-11 and the title of my message is, “The Key To Consecration”.

After the service a little boy lingered behind and insisted on seeing the missionary.

"Ah my lad," said the kind missionary as he patted the boy's head, "Do you wish to consecrate your young life to this noble work?"

"No, sir," replied the boy, "I want to know if you've got any foreign stamps."

Each year the President of the United States addresses the people of our country on the State of the Union.  Next Sunday will be my 5th anniversary as your pastor and this evening I would like to speak to you on the state of our church.

As this day approaches I anticipate it with mixed feelings:

    1)    Because I am glad I am still your pastor after 5 years.
    2)    But as your pastor I am not pleased with the direction our church is headed in at this time.

Here in chapter 29 we find that during this time in Israel's history a man named Hezekiah has taken the throne in the kingdom of Judah.

In verse 1 we are told that he began this reign when he was 25 and that it lasted for 29 years.  In verse 2 we are told something very important about this man and that is, "he did right in the sight of the Lord".

Truly this is a characteristic that is needed in each one of our lives today.

Before Hezekiah became king of Judah we find in chapter 28 that a man named Ahaz was king.  What are we told about this man?

2 Chronicles 28:1-4, 19, 22 Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord.   2 He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and also made cast idols for worshiping the Baals.   3 He burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his sons in the fire, following the detestable ways of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites.   4 He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree...   19 The Lord had humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had promoted wickedness in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the Lord...   22 In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the Lord. (NIV)

It is believed by many that Ahaz was the wickedest king Judah ever had.  Because of this man's wickedness the spiritual condition of God's people had reached an all time low.

Because of the terrible spiritual condition of the people, Hezekiah gathered together all the priests and Levites and began to talk to them.

Let's look now at what Hezekiah said to these people and how we can apply it to our lives today.  There are four essential keys to consecration mentioned in this passage.