Miracles of God 05.09.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Friday May 9, 2008 and today we are continuing our study on the book of II Kings. Please read Chapters 18-20 in your Bible or Click Here to read. biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Kings%2018-20&version=9

Today we will read and learn about Hezekiah's reign; Assyria invading Judah; Hezekiah and Isaiah praying; and Hezekiah's miraculous healing. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that we are blessed when we obey God's commands and that God still produces miracles even today.

Now, Hezekiah becan to reign in Judah, "Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did." (II Kings 18:1-3).

When Hezekiah became king, he did not follow the ways of his evil father Ahaz; instead, he believed the prophets of God, including the unpopular Micah. "He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses." (18:5-6). Hezekiah not only benefited from the ministry of Micah, but he also gained spiritual encouragement from the prophet Isaiah.

Hezekiah led the nation to keep the Passover and to renew its covenant with the Lord. Hezekiah's spiritual reformation was followed by a radical reorganization of the entire administration of both the secular and religious affairs of the kingdom. We learn from Hezekiah that people will be blessed, and prayers will be answered, when the Word of God is obeyed.

The greatest opposition to Isaiah, Micah, and Hezekiah's reformation did not come from the pagan nations around Judah. It came from the false prophets within their own country, as well as those who worshiped the idols which had been introduced earlier by King Solomon. Some popular religious leaders today seem to do nothing to encourage people to forsake their sins, live godly lives, and read the Bible. Instead, they preach what appeals to man's physical desires. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain." (Philippians 2:13-16)

The prophet Isaiah went to King Hezekiah who was dying, "In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live." (II Kings 20:1). Hezekiah had reigned about 15 years and had no son to continue his posterity. There's not a cry nor a tear, a sickness, or death to which the compassionate heart of God is not touched. Did God arrange his death for his blessing as well as the nation? However, mariculiously Hezekiah was healed, "And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD. And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered." (20:4-7).

Every situation of life is depicted for us in the Bible in order to give us an understanding of our relationship with God, our responsibilities to Him, as well as to others. Consequently, we have illustrations on the results of various ways to react to each situation. As we read through the Bible we gain guidance on how to understand each circumstance.

When we know that a person will not recover from their illness, is it the truest kindness to give false hopes of a quick recovery when we know there is no hope of recovery? Or do we put our complete trust and faith in the Lord that He can still produce miracles. "And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour." (Matthew 9:20-22). I do not normally list testimonies in my messages, but I just recently watched a termanally ill baby with a rare blood disease mariculiously recover.

If they knew the facts, would the termanally ill person be led to turn their face to the wall and earnestly pray for God to cleanse them of their sins, and to receive Christ as Savior and Lord? We can only hope and pray that all of our loved ones come to know the Lord before it is too late. "Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." (Luke 12:37-40).

In today's message Jesus Christ is revealed through Hezekiah, who sought to lead the kingdom of Judah back to God (II Kings 19). Here we are reminded that Jesus came to lead sinners to repentance. "When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Mark 2:17).

Today's Psalm: 90:12-14
"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants. O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days."

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord
We are confronted with deception on many fronts every day, so much so, that we can be deceived without even realizing it. Would You help us to watch out and be on our guard so that we are not deceived by man’s words, no matter how convincing they are, how charming their personality, or how cunning their craft. Help us not to fall for Satan’s deceptive tactics that have brought down believers throughout the church age. We seek You for strength and discipline. We search the Scriptures for discernment and the true revelation of who Jesus is; the Son of the Living God. In Jesus' name.....Amen.

Have a wonderful Friday and weekend.
God Bless,
Christina

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