Trusting God Amidst Challenges: Lessons from Hezekiah
Summary
The sermon emphasizes the importance of trusting in God, especially in the face of threats and challenges. The pastor uses the story of King Hezekiah and the Assyrian king Sennacherib to illustrate this point. Despite the imminent threat of attack, Hezekiah trusted in God's promise of deliverance and did not waver in his faith. The pastor encourages the congregation to have the same confidence in God's faithfulness, even when they don't know how He will work things out. He highlights that God may provide courage and strength to face the problem head-on, like David facing Goliath, or He may allow individuals to experience failure and learn humility, like Peter denying Christ.
The pastor also emphasizes the importance of surrendering to God, even in the face of doubt and challenges. He acknowledges that there are spiritual forces of darkness that try to undermine our trust in God and accuse Him of not being trustworthy. These forces speak doubt and challenge God's goodness, attempting to convince us that we cannot trust Him. The pastor encourages the congregation to recognize these "Little Voices" that try to attack their trust in God and be aware of their tactics. He highlights the Assyrian commander-in-chief as an example of someone who tries to undermine faith in God's power and ability to save.
The pastor focuses on a prophecy from the book of Isaiah, where God declares that He will defend the city and protect it for His own honor and for the sake of His servant David. The pastor emphasizes that God's answer to prayer is not based on personal merit or goodness, but rather on His own honor and faithfulness to His promises. The pastor suggests that when the Bible mentions "for the sake of my servant David," it is not only referring to the historical King David, but also to Jesus, the new and better David in the New Testament.
The pastor discusses the importance of listening to God's voice through our conscience. He explains that as we grow in our faith and study God's word, our conscience becomes more attuned to God's leading. However, the pastor also highlights the story of Hezekiah, who did not seek God's guidance before making a decision. As a result, Hezekiah faced the consequences of his actions when the king of Assyria attacked and conquered his towns. The pastor warns against making reactionary decisions in times of trouble, emphasizing the need to seek God's guidance and not rely solely on our own understanding.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of active trust in God. He shares the story of King Hezekiah, who faced trouble and disgrace and sought guidance from the prophet Isaiah. The king sent his staff to Isaiah, asking for prayer and seeking a word from God. The pastor highlights that active trust involves enlisting prayer, recognizing that our trust in God releases His power to work in our lives. He encourages the congregation to humbly ask for prayer support when facing challenges, whether it be financial problems, student loans, family planning, retirement concerns, or overwhelming debt.
Key Takeaways:
- Trusting in God's faithfulness is crucial, even when the outcome is uncertain. King Hezekiah's unwavering faith in the face of imminent attack serves as a powerful example of this trust. God may provide strength to face problems head-on or allow individuals to experience failure to learn humility ([12:45]).
- Spiritual forces of darkness often try to undermine trust in God by casting doubt on His goodness. Recognizing these "Little Voices" and their tactics is essential for maintaining faith in God's power and ability to save ([24:30]).
- God's answer to prayer is based on His own honor and faithfulness to His promises, not personal merit or goodness. The reference to "my servant David" in the Bible is not only about the historical King David but also Jesus, the new and better David in the New Testament ([36:15]).
- Making decisions without seeking God's guidance can lead to dire consequences, as illustrated by King Hezekiah's experience. It's important to seek God's guidance and not rely solely on personal understanding, especially in times of trouble ([48:20]).
- Active trust in God involves enlisting prayer and recognizing that trust in God releases His power to work in our lives. Asking for prayer support when facing challenges is a humble act of faith that can lead to divine intervention ([59:10]).
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Jeremiah 39: "Instead, they will serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them."
2. 2 Kings 18:3-7: "Hezekiah did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, just as his ancestor David had done. He removed the pagan shrines, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke up the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because the people of Israel had been offering sacrifices to it. The bronze serpent was called Nehushtan. Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before or after his time. He remained faithful to the Lord in everything, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the Lord had given Moses. So the Lord was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did."
3. 2 Kings 19:1: "When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes and put on burlap and went into the Temple of the Lord."
Observation Questions:
1. What actions did King Hezekiah take that were pleasing in the Lord's sight according to 2 Kings 18:3-7?
2. How does Jeremiah 39 describe the future relationship between the people and their king?
3. What was King Hezekiah's response to the report he received in 2 Kings 19:1?
Interpretation Questions:
1. In 2 Kings 18:3-7, what might be the significance of Hezekiah's actions in removing the pagan shrines and other idols?
2. How does the prophecy in Jeremiah 39 about serving David their king relate to the concept of faithfulness and trust in God?
3. What does Hezekiah's reaction in 2 Kings 19:1 suggest about his faith and trust in God during times of crisis?
Application Questions:
1. Reflecting on Hezekiah's actions in 2 Kings 18:3-7, are there any "idols" in your life that you need to remove to fully trust in God?
2. Considering the prophecy in Jeremiah 39, how can you serve God and honor Him in your daily life, even when facing challenges?
3. In light of Hezekiah's response in 2 Kings 19:1, what is one way you can demonstrate your trust in God when receiving unsettling news or facing a difficult situation?
4. How can you actively enlist prayer in your life, like Hezekiah did, when facing challenges?
5. Can you identify any "Little Voices" that have been trying to undermine your trust in God? How can you counteract these doubts with faith and trust?
Devotional
Day 1: Unwavering Faith Amidst Uncertainty
In the face of imminent threats and challenges, unwavering faith in God's faithfulness is crucial. This is exemplified by King Hezekiah who, despite the impending attack, trusted in God's promise of deliverance. God may provide the strength to confront problems head-on or allow individuals to experience failure to learn humility ([12:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96whpdmLsuY&t=750s)).
Psalm 112:7 - "They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD."
Reflection: How can you cultivate unwavering faith in God during times of uncertainty and challenge?
Day 2: Recognizing the Voices of Doubt
Spiritual forces of darkness often attempt to undermine trust in God by casting doubt on His goodness. It's essential to recognize these "Little Voices" and their tactics to maintain faith in God's power and ability to save ([24:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96whpdmLsuY&t=1455s)).
Ephesians 6:12 - "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Reflection: What are some "Little Voices" of doubt you've encountered and how can you combat them with God's truth?
Day 3: God's Honor and Faithfulness
God's answer to prayer is based on His own honor and faithfulness to His promises, not personal merit or goodness. The reference to "my servant David" in the Bible is not only about the historical King David but also Jesus, the new and better David in the New Testament ([36:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96whpdmLsuY&t=2160s)).
Isaiah 55:3 - "Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David."
Reflection: How does understanding God's faithfulness and honor change your perspective on prayer?
Day 4: Seeking God's Guidance
Making decisions without seeking God's guidance can lead to dire consequences. It's important to seek God's guidance and not rely solely on personal understanding, especially in times of trouble ([48:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96whpdmLsuY&t=2885s)).
Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Reflection: What is a decision you're facing where you need to seek God's guidance instead of relying on your own understanding?
Day 5: Active Trust Through Prayer
Active trust in God involves enlisting prayer and recognizing that trust in God releases His power to work in our lives. Asking for prayer support when facing challenges is a humble act of faith that can lead to divine intervention ([59:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96whpdmLsuY&t=3535s)).
James 5:16 - "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
Reflection: What is a current challenge you're facing where you can enlist prayer and actively trust in God's power to work in your life?
Quotes
1. "Even when one does a lot right, however, we can still get some things wrong and cause a lot of trouble. When you get in trouble, it's time to actively trust God."
2. "Active trust puts confidence in God and says, 'Look man, I don't know what's going to happen, but I know this God is going to work it together for my good. I know this God's going to be faithful, he's going to fulfill all of his promises in Christ, and even when I've done bad, he's still going to do me good. That's who he is and I put confidence in that.'"
3. "We've got to recognize that little voice...they speak things that are doubt...they accuse God...you can't trust him...he attacks our trust in God."
4. "We don't always know how God will deliver us, but He will. Sometimes it's like the David and Goliath version, where God gives us the courage to face our problems head-on. Other times, it's like the Peter problem, where we have to learn from our failures and be restored by Christ."
5. "No matter what trouble you've gotten into or what panic has caused, it's time to trust God right now. Act like He's on the throne, like He saw this coming and has a plan. He understands the big picture and your minutia, and He will be faithful."
6. "This is the primary way we would say God speaks to us." As we advance in our understanding of God's word, it trains our conscience and helps us discern His voice. It is important to rely on God's guidance rather than making impulsive decisions without seeking His wisdom.
7. "God works by trust. Our trust actually releases God in some way we don't totally understand it to do what we're asking him to do. But when you compound that with lots of people asking and releasing trust for God to do it, it just makes it more powerful, it makes it has more sway, it has more pull."
8. "For my own honor and for the sake of my servant David, I will defend this city and protect it." This quote highlights that God's actions are not based on human merit or goodness, but rather on His own honor and faithfulness to His promises.
9. "I'm the God who keeps his Covenant, I keep my word to you even when you don't keep your word to me." This quote emphasizes God's unwavering faithfulness and commitment to His people, even when they fall short or fail to keep their promises.
10. "Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. This is an amazing testimony. There was no one like him among the kings of Judah, either before him or after his time. He remained faithful to the Lord in everything and carefully obeyed all the commands the Lord had given Moses."
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