WHEN WE DO NOT BELIEVE

(2 Kgs. 17:14)

INTRO.

1. Not believing not necessarily mean you don't believe in God or that there is a God.

2. Does mean we are not responsive to his will, don't take him seriously.

(1) Psa. 78:32--Israel knew they had a God, wondreous works, but believd him not!

(2) Psa. 106:24--Believed not his word.

WHAT IS OUR CASE WHEN WE DON'T BELIEVE? (2 Kgs. 17:14).

1. We will not hear.

(1) Hear means more than admitting words into the ear.

a. Gal. 4:21--"Do you not hear..."--Pay attention to what it is saying!

(2) Matt. 13:9, 13-15.

(3) Matt. 15:10--"Hear, and understand"--Understand: Gk. word means to put it all together!--Put the parts together to learn all the truth.

(4) Jn. 8:43--Understand: to know, perceive--Cannot hear my word!--Heart not open to it. Why heart not open to it?

a. Have been indoctrinated by others.

b. Have preconceived beliefs.

c. Have no concept of truth!

d. Refusal to accpet what you don't want to believe. (Morally, religiously, etc.)

(5) Acts 10:33--Ready to hear God's word!

(6) 1 Thess. 2:13--Received--Not only listened but accepted it.

2. We will harden our necks.

(1) Prov. 29:1.

(2) Heb. 3:12, 13--Take heed--Exhort.

(3) "Harden" in 2 Kgs. 17:14--To be dense! Spiritually dense!

(4) Heb. 3:15 (Psa. 95:7, 8)--Hearing and hardness joined together!

3. We will reject the Lord's statutes.

(1) Neh. 9:16, 17--Refuse to obey.

a. Heb. 10:25--Won't obey this!

b. Col. 3:12, 13--Won't obey this.

c. Acts 2:38--Won't believe this.

d. Phil. 2:12--Won't believe

(2)  Jn. 5:38-39, 45-47.

4. We will follow vanity.

(1) Vanity in O.T. often refers to idolatry and idols.

(2) Something unprofitable in spiritual sense.

(3) Covetousness--Col. 3:5--Idolatry.

(4) Vain hope

5. We will go after the ways of those around us.

(1) Eph. 5:8-16.

(2) Rom. 12:1, 2--Failure to be transformed.

(3) Will follow:

a. The world's attitude toward the Bible.

b. The world's way of dress.

c. The world's way of speech.

d. The world's way of materialism.

CONC.

1. Text in 2 Kings 17 still relevant—Very modern!
2. Threats to us still real.
3. A call to be faithful to the word and will of God.