Sunday August 14, 2016

The Stories of Eight Ancient Kings Who Sought God’s Glory above Their Own! In Pursuit of Glory

Looking ahead . . . • Next Sunday – King Amaziah (Pastor Al) • August 28th (9:00 service only) – David, a King with a Heart for God (Don Mills and Pastor John) • September 4th – King Josiah (Pastor John) • September 11th – Ministry year “kick off”

Sunday Mornings through September 4th King Hezekiah (2 Kings 18-20) (2 Chronicles 29-32) (Isaiah 36-39) In Pursuit of Glory Sunday Mornings through September 4th

Fast Facts about Hezekiah • His name means “Yahweh is my strength” • He is the 13th king to rule over Judah, the 7th of the godly kings

Fast Facts about Hezekiah • Of the eight godly kings of Judah, whereas Jotham is given the least amount of “press” in the biblical record (a mere 16 verses), Hezekiah is given the most (over a dozen chapters refer to his reign) • His father, Ahaz was one of the most wicked kings of Judah

2 Chronicles28:22-24 In the time of his distress he became yet more faithless to the Lord—this same King Ahaz. 23 For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus that had defeated him and said, “Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel. 24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and he shut up the doors of the house of the Lord, and he made himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem. 

Fast Facts about Hezekiah • Of the eight godly kings of Judah, whereas Jotham is given the least amount of “press” in the biblical record (a mere 16 verses), Hezekiah is given the most (over a dozen chapters refer to his reign) • His father, Ahaz was one of the most wicked kings of Judah • His son, Manasseh, was arguably the most evil of the kings of Judah

2 Chronicles 33:9 Manasseh led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem astray, to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel.

King Ahaz (evil!) King Hezekaiah (very godly!) King Manasseh (very evil!)

2 Kings 18:5-6 He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. 6 For he held fast to the Lord. He did not depart from following him, but kept the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses.

2 Chronicles 29:2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.

“It lives up to its name?”

“Yahweh is My Strength!” King Hezekiah was a man who lived up to his name! “Yahweh is My Strength!”

“Yahweh is My Strength!” 1. When he began his rule, he put God first!

King Ahaz (Hezekiah’s father) 2 Chronicles 28:5 Therefore the Lord his God gave him into the hand of the king of Syria, who defeated him and took captive a great number of his people and brought them to Damascus. He was also given into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with great force. 

King Ahaz (Hezekiah’s father) 2 Chronicles 28:16-18a At that time King Ahaz sent to the king of Assyria for help. 17 For the Edomites had again invaded and defeated Judah and carried away captives. 18 And the Philistines had made raids on the cities (of Judah) . . . 2 Chronicles 28:20 So Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came against him and afflicted him instead of strengthening him.

2 Chronicles 17:1-2 Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place and strengthened himself against Israel. 2 He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim that Asa his father had captured.

2 Chronicles 29:3-6 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. 4 He brought in the priests and the Levites and assembled them in the square on the east 5 and said to them, “Hear me, Levites! Now consecrate yourselves, and consecrate the house of the Lord, the God of your fathers, and carry out the filth from the Holy Place. 6 For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the sight of the Lord our God. They have forsaken him and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord and turned their backs.”

2 Chronicles 29:10-11 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, in order that his fierce anger may turn away from us. 11 My sons, do not now be negligent, for the Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him and to be his ministers and make offerings to him.

“Yahweh is My Strength!” 2 Chronicles 29:3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month . . . “Yahweh is My Strength!”

(a.k.a. – the principle of “first things first!”) When we keep the primary things primary (and THE primary thing is to love and glorify God in all of life!), God will take care of the so called “secondary things.” (a.k.a. – the principle of “first things first!”) PRINCIPLE

Principle of First Things First! Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

(a.k.a. – the principle of “first things first!”) When we keep the primary things primary (and THE primary thing is to love and glorify God in all of life!), God will take care of the so called “secondary things.” (a.k.a. – the principle of “first things first!”) PRINCIPLE

“Yahweh is My Strength!” King Hezekiah was a man who lived up to his name! “Yahweh is My Strength!” When he began his rule, he put God first! When faced with adversity, he fully relied upon God! God!

“Yahweh is My Strength!” King Hezekiah was a man who lived up to his name! “Yahweh is My Strength!” When he began his rule, he put God first! When faced with adversity, he fully relied upon God! God! The mighty Assyrian army surrounded Jerusalem! Isaiah told Hezekiah to “get your house in order!” (for he was about to die)

2 Chronicles 32:1 After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself. 

2 Chronicles 32:2-3 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and intended to fight against Jerusalem, 3 he planned with his officers and his mighty men to stop the water of the springs that were outside the city; and they helped him.

2 Chronicles 32:5-6 He set to work resolutely and built up all the wall that was broken down and raised towers upon it, and outside it he built another wall, and he strengthened the Millo in the city of David. He also made weapons and shields in abundance. 6 And he set combat commanders over the people and gathered them together to him in the square at the gate of the city and spoke encouragingly to them, saying . . .

2 Chronicles 32:5-6 He set to work resolutely and built up all the wall that was broken down and raised towers upon it, and outside it he built another wall, and he strengthened the Millo in the city of David. He also made weapons and shields in abundance. 6 And he set combat commanders over the people and gathered them together to him in the square at the gate of the city and spoke encouragingly to them, saying . . .

2 Chronicles 32:7-8 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for we have prepared well. We are well equipped. 8 We can withstand his attack!” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

2 Chronicles 32:7-8 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, there are more with us than with him. 8 With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

Isaiah 37:14-17 Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: 16 “O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. 17 Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. 

Isaiah 37:18-20 Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, 19 and have cast their gods into the fire. For they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed. 20 So now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord.”

Isaiah 37:36 And the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians.

(a.k.a. – the principle of “faith leads to prayer”) IF we are truly relying upon God, it will reveal itself in how we pray! The more we rely upon God the more we will pray! (a.k.a. – the principle of “faith leads to prayer”) PRINCIPLE

8.15 Sunday mornings: 8:15-8:30 (meet in Sacred Space) Luke 8:15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

Thursday mornings (6:30 – 7:00) in Grace Café Fighting for our families, our community, our country, and our world with the weapon of prayer!

Coming to Grace on October 5th!

Are YOU living up to YOUR name? Today’s Takeaway Are YOU living up to YOUR name? (As Hezekiah did so well…“Yahweh is My Strength!”

Are YOU living up to YOUR name? Today’s Takeaway Are YOU living up to YOUR name? “Christian” (belonging to Christ)

Acts 11:26 And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. 1 Peter 4:16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

MacArthur Study Bible Note:   MacArthur Study Bible Note: 1 Pet. 4:16 Christian. In the earliest days of the church, “Christian” was a derisive term given to those followers of Christ (cf. Acts 11:26; 26:28). Eventually, followers of Christ came to love and adopt this name.

Are YOU living up to YOUR name? Today’s Takeaway Are YOU living up to YOUR name? Do YOU belong to Christ? “Christian” (belonging to Christ)

“Yahweh is My Strength!” King Hezekiah was a man who lived up to his name! “Yahweh is My Strength!”  Christian are YOU putting first things first? (and THE first thing is to love Jesus Christ and live for HIM)    Christian are YOU fully relying upon Him? Trusting him with all that you are and have? How is your “prayer life?”