In this sermon, the speaker, Joshua Daniel, discusses the importance of facing challenges and being tested in order to grow spiritually. He references the story of Rehoboam in the 10th chapter of the Bible, where Rehoboam had to deal with the grievances of the people after his father's reign. The speaker emphasizes the need for kindness and humility, contrasting it with the arrogance and nastiness of some people. He encourages listeners to pray for the law of kindness to be on their tongues and to have a true humbling of their hearts.

Welcome to the Lord's Challenge, our weekly quarter hour broadcast bringing the reality of God's Word to all people everywhere. Stay tuned as Joshua Daniel challenges us to a walk with God and the corresponding impact that will have on our lives, families and society today. If we turn to the 12th chapter and look at 5 and 6, 2nd Chronicles 12. Then came Shemiah the prophet to Rehoboam and lo the princes of Judah that were gathered together in Jerusalem because of Shishak that was the king of Egypt who invaded them because of Shishak and said unto them thus said the Lord you have forsaken me and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak. 13th verse for Rehoboam was 41 years old when he began to reign and he reigned 17 years in Jerusalem the city which the Lord had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there and his mother's name was Namah and Ammonitess. See a mother's values come down to a boy or girl who was she from lots family the mother was from lots family so there came that instability into Rehoboam and inbuilt instability but don't forget Ruth was a Moabitess lots family but she overcame that so completely by following the truth now in this case Solomon's son Rehoboam did not overcome his nature it was a seesawing nature you know like we have today you know seesawing people you can never be sure what they are going to do what they are up to what do you mean an unreliable character you know a person must have no matter what the circumstances a character which is rock stable and steady circumstances do not determine our future no it is our keeping to the chart and compass which God has given us so we have nothing to fear from circumstances circumstances sometimes are very unfavorable and actually God uses certain circumstances to shape us up if all of us had wonderful smooth waters to sail on and all favorable winds what kind of people would we be would we be proper navigators no currents everything is smooth sailing you want that I don't want that I want to be toughened up I want to be tested I want to be shown what I am really inside I don't want to put on appearances what am I really inside that's what I want to know and so my dear friends if you turn to the tenth chapter and four and seven you know in the tenth chapter Rehoboam had to face a people who said oh your dad taxed us heavily I don't know maybe Solomon felt that some of those the temple of the Lord should have the very best most precious stones whatever the people came to him and said when he succeeded Solomon the people said your father fourth verse 10th chapter made our yoke grievous now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of your father and his heavy yoke that he put upon us and we will serve you and he said unto them come again unto me after three days and the people departed and King Rehoboam took counsel with the old man that had stood before Solomon his father while he had lived saying what counsel give you me to return answer to this people and they speak unto him saying if thou be kind to this people and please them and speak good words to them they will be thy servants forever some of these old advisors of Solomon said no learn just kind words will never die you know my mother used to say kind words will never die no never die you know we are capable of kind words and harsh words some people can come out with an real acid tongue real acid tongue how does that help and here when the people were all so upset about the heavy taxation what did the younger advisors say to him the 10th was thus shall thou say unto them my little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins great word isn't it my little finger will be thicker than all the girth of my father's loins what what arrogance you know arrogance never wins never wins and so whereas my 11th was whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you I will put more to your my father chastised you with whips but I will chastise you with scorpions huh do not that my friends very kind words huh no harsh words and then these people revolted you see the King answered them roughly 13th verse and King Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old man and answered them after the advice of the young man what was the result 19th verse Israel rebelled against the house of unto this day the kingdom God divided kingdom God divided David then Solomon the man of peace then Rehoboam the man who divided the kingdom he would not be kind now if you turn to Joel second chapter you will see how Hosea Joel second chapter in the 13th verse rend your heart and not your garments turn unto the Lord your God for he is gracious and merciful slow to anger and of great kindness you know somehow many Christians while I know some Christians who are so kind my my my some people really surprised me I sat down to dinner in Stuttgart and I was proceeding with my dinner when a telephone rang and the telephone was there oh the leader of this whole mission is waiting for you the Oberyn is waiting it was already late for dinner and here was an older elderly lady she refused to dine till I traveled those 20 kilometers and got to that place she just waited and all the leaders waited till I arrived some gestures are so foreign to some people they are just so nasty by nature nasty people and then when they become Christians they transfer to the Christian side their nastiness also they're just nasty people they have never learned the law of kindness as the Bible dividing a kingdom my what a kingdom it was just by nastiness arrogance pride my little finger will be thicker than my father's girth what a terrible statement so my dear friends God is full of kindness let us pray father we pray on our tongues let there be the law of kindness we can learn to be gracious we can see someone else's point we can be patient with someone else but let our tumbling be true a rending of our hearts hear our prayer in Jesus Holy Name Amen the speaker on this program was Joshua Daniel he would like to know what your response has been to the Lord's Challenge and would be delighted to hear from you please write and if you have burdens you want to share and want prayer do let us know you can reach us on the world wide web at lefi.org or else you can mail us at the Lord's Challenge P.O. 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