1. King Ahaz

2. What Do You Fear? It Is possible to have so much fear it ruins your faith

3. “The LORD is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear
“The LORD is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?” – Psalm 27:1
“The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” – Psalm 118:6
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” – Matthew 10:28

4. Which Fear Keeps You up at Night?

5. King Ahaz Became king of Judah at age 20 Reigned from 735-715 BC
Lead by FEAR not by FAITH

6. 2 Chronicles 28:1-4
Ahaz was 20 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned 16 years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father David had done, but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. He even made metal images for the Baals, and he made offerings in the valley of the Son of Hinnom and burned his sons as an offering, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel. And he sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under ever green tree.

9. Israel
Syria/ Aram
Ahaz
Philistines
Edom
What Should Ahaz Do?

10. Isaiah 7:3
And the LORD said to Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the highway to the Washer’s Field.”
Ahaz is checking the water supply for the city
Isaiah’s son is an object lesson for Ahaz
You must become dependant upon God only

11. Isaiah 7:4,7, 9 Ahaz! Just Relax! Just have Faith!
“Be careful, be quiet, do not fear, and do not let your heart be faint because of the two smoldering stumps of firebrands (Israel and Syria)…Thus says the LORD God: “It shall not stand, and it shall not come to pass…if you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all.”
Ahaz! Just Relax!
Just have Faith!

12. Ahaz’s “Choices” 1. Submit and join forces with Israel and Syria
2. Jump ship and ask Assyria for help
3. Have faith in God
Isaiah says, REALLY, you don’t have 3 options. The only option that is going to turn out good is to simply trust in God.
Ahaz doesn’t have the faith to believe that so Isaiah is going to Ahaz a sign to prove it

13. Isaiah 7:14
“The LORD Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Used for Jesus in Matthew 1:23
Future fulfillment – Incarnation of Jesus Christ
Immediate fulfillment – Time of Ahaz
Virgin can also mean a young woman at the age of being able to marry

14. Isaiah 7:16
“For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose what is good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted.”
The HUGE crisis, before long, will be all gone
Ahaz now has a choice…Believe it or not

15. 2 Chronicles 28:16 “King Ahaz sent to the king of Assyria for help”
Ahaz looked around and basically said, “Assyria looks like a safer bet than you God.”
His fear was stronger than his faith
By making a covenant with Assyria, Ahaz broke the covenant with God

16. 2 Chronicles 28:20-21
“So Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came against him and afflicted him instead of strengthening him. For Ahaz took a portion from the house of the LORD and the house of the king and of the princes, and gave tribute to the king of Assyria, but it did not help him.”

17. 2 Chronicles 28:22-23
“In the time of his distress he became yet more faithless to the LORD – this same king Ahaz. For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus that had defeated him and said, “Because the gods of the king of Syria helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him and Israel.
Close the temple
Build altars to false gods on every street corner
Die and be buried in a common cemetery

18. Which Fear Keeps You up at Night?
What is your plan?

19. Ask Yourself
Does God give instructions regarding this type of fear/problem in the Bible?
How much have I prayed about it?
Have I asked a godly person for advice?
Let us start solving the problem NOW

20. “The LORD is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear
“The LORD is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?” – Psalm 27:1
“The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” – Psalm 118:6
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God…For I the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not”, I am the one who helps you.” – Isaiah 41:10-13