Old Testament Scripture Reading: 2 Chronicles 28:22 – 25 (KJV)
2Ch 28:22 And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz.
2Ch 28:23 For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.
2Ch 28:24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.
2Ch 28:25 And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Hebrews 10:31 – 39 (KJV)
Heb 10:31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Heb 10:32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
Heb 10:33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
Heb 10:34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
Heb 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
Heb 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
Heb 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
Transforming Power Statements:
1) Just as it was in time past, even among the “chosen people of God” so it is even now among the Church, as far as the ease at which people drift away because of a desire to maintain some kind of outward acceptance among the lost who press to set a different standard which is more acceptable than the reality of what the true teaching of the Scriptures really are. (Just as did King Ahaz under the pressure of popularity and what looked to him like success among the Assyrians)
2) When the Gospel had been ratified by God by the resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ, and the Church came into being, their teaching was also met with persecution, imprisonment, execution, etc. nevertheless, the Church continued in the Scriptures and the Apostles doctrine and is still intact today, as we can see; however, there is a great apostasy among the “visible church” just as the Scriptures have predicted as a sign of the last times.
3) Just as the writer to the Hebrews has written to the persecuted believers, stating that they should endure all opposition to the message and cultivate the mindset to entrust the indwelling Holy Spirit, Who will preserve and guide each one who takes a stand on the Word of the Gospel!