WEBVTT 00:00:07.759 --> 00:00:11.759 You're listening to the road with Pastor Teacher Steve Holt. 00:00:12.960 --> 00:00:15.759 God's editing process is really interesting. 00:00:16.079 --> 00:00:19.600 God's not interested in all the things that you've compromised. 00:00:19.760 --> 00:00:23.120 What he's interested in is the man or the woman that you're becoming. 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:25.920 And there's always a second chance. 00:00:26.000 --> 00:00:27.679 And there's always a third chance. 00:00:27.760 --> 00:00:29.519 And there's always a fourth chance. 00:00:29.679 --> 00:00:30.960 Don't give up. 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:33.200 Don't quit. 00:00:33.439 --> 00:00:35.679 Quitting is highly overrated. 00:00:36.479 --> 00:00:37.920 Quitters are depressed. 00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:43.359 Quitters who have one foot in God and one foot in the world are straddling that. 00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:50.320 And all that does is either make you really, really flexible or makes it very painful. 00:00:51.039 --> 00:00:55.759 At The Road, our mission is to empower people to change the world. 00:00:56.000 --> 00:01:00.000 For more information on The Road, visit theroad.org. 00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:05.120 We hope you are encouraged by today's message from Pastor Teacher Steve Holt. 00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:14.799 Okay, 2 Kings 18, 2 Kings 18. 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:21.359 Last week I talked from 2 Chronicles 7.14, and I called it Ominous Times and the Power of Prayer. 00:01:21.680 --> 00:01:23.519 Ominous Times and the Power of Prayer. 00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:44.879 If there was ever a message we need to hear right now at the road in our city, in our nation, in Washington, D.C., in Denver, Colorado, in City Council, ominous times, the power of prayer that we are entering into some times coming up, men and women, that are very, very troubling. 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:46.400 Very troubling. 00:01:46.480 --> 00:01:49.840 And I believe we've got about a couple months of reprieve. 00:01:50.079 --> 00:01:55.519 Mark my word that July and August, it'll be kind of quiet. 00:01:55.920 --> 00:02:00.879 But come September, it's going to be worse than before. 00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:04.319 There's going to be riots, there's going to be movement of the enemy. 00:02:04.480 --> 00:02:07.280 Demonic spirits are rising in the land. 00:02:07.840 --> 00:02:13.199 And if the church doesn't wake up and smell the coffee, we'll be swept away. 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:17.199 And this church is not going to be swept away because we believe in God. 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:29.199 And we're going to be a part until our dying days to bring the power of the gospel to this city for you to be revived and your family to be revived and you not to walk in fear, but walk in the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit. 00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:30.479 And you can. 00:02:30.960 --> 00:02:33.280 But we need men of God, we need women of God. 00:02:33.439 --> 00:02:34.319 We need children of God. 00:02:34.479 --> 00:02:35.840 We need young people of God. 00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:47.280 And it just seemed appropriate, after talking about 2 Chronicles 7.14, to take us to an example of 2 Chronicles 7.14, one of the best in the Bible. 00:02:47.439 --> 00:02:49.280 So look at 2 Kings 18. 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:51.120 It's the story of Hezekiah. 00:02:51.840 --> 00:02:54.960 And it's really about the prayer of a righteous leader. 00:02:55.199 --> 00:03:06.000 What a righteous man of God or a righteous woman of God can do to change ominous circumstances and make them your slave. 00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:22.719 Turning something that was meant for evil to destroy your family, to destroy your life, or to destroy a nation, and you actually turn it on its head and you turn out what the enemy meant for evil, and God turns it to good. 00:03:26.879 --> 00:03:27.439 I do. 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:36.000 I believe that we've allowed the enemy so much room to maneuver in our culture because of a weak and anemic church. 00:03:36.240 --> 00:03:40.639 You know, and God wants to do something now, and he's looking for churches. 00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:46.560 His eyes look to and fro, 2 Chronicles 16, for those who he can completely support. 00:03:46.879 --> 00:03:48.960 And so be the church. 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:51.919 You guys, we don't need to just go to church. 00:03:52.080 --> 00:03:53.840 We need to be the church. 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:58.319 And so we're gonna look at a man here in the Bible that was the church in a mighty way. 00:03:58.479 --> 00:04:00.719 So 2 Kings 18, let me give you the background. 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:26.639 The background is that, you know, David was king, and then Solomon was king, and then after Solomon's reign, there was all kinds of rebellion, there was a civil war, and then you have now two divided kingdom, and you have Israel's the northern part, and Judah is the southern part, and one king after another is bad, he's evil, and he's compromised, especially in Israel. 00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:28.480 All the kings in Israel were bad. 00:04:28.639 --> 00:04:34.800 And now in Judah, which is the southern part, which includes Jerusalem, if you look at your map, you know, you'll see Jerusalem there. 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:37.839 Um, this guy named Hezekiah comes to power. 00:04:38.079 --> 00:04:45.920 And as he does, we're gonna un, the story's gonna unfold of one problem after another. 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:53.439 And we got a lot to cover, so I may skip some parts and move around, but I'm gonna take you through 2 Kings 18 and 19. 00:04:53.920 --> 00:05:00.480 Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshiach, the son of Elah, king of Israel. 00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:09.199 So that's the northern province, that Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign. 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:13.279 He was 25 years old when he became king. 00:05:13.439 --> 00:05:16.079 And he reigned 29 years in Jerusalem. 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:22.160 His mother's name, and this is really important, to me it's very important, his mother's name was Abbi, Abijah. 00:05:22.319 --> 00:05:23.519 You may have Abijah in your eye. 00:05:23.680 --> 00:05:25.839 Abbi, the daughter of Zechariah. 00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:36.160 Now that's not the prophet of Zechariah in Haggai that came later, but he is a prophetically gifted man who saw visions of God. 00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:37.040 Verse 3. 00:05:37.199 --> 00:05:40.720 And this part, you ought to underline this, you ought to, I always box mine in. 00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:42.879 I put little boxes around key verses. 00:05:43.199 --> 00:05:54.560 And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord according to all that his father, now listen, his father David had done. 00:05:54.800 --> 00:06:06.800 So he is, Hezekiah, listen, you guys, Hezekiah is of the ancestry or the genealogy of Jesus, which means his great, great, great, great, great-grandfather was David. 00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:08.879 So he's of that line. 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:14.319 Ahaz's father, Ahaz was one of the evilest kings in in Judah. 00:06:14.560 --> 00:06:20.079 The guy just, he, he, he uh, he raised up high places and set up idols. 00:06:20.560 --> 00:06:27.600 It's even believed through some cryptic passages that he initiated child sacrifices at that time. 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:29.040 So really evil guy. 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:33.279 But his mom, when you read this story, I think you'll agree with me. 00:06:33.439 --> 00:06:34.959 His mom is Abby. 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:38.959 And Abi is the daughter of Zachariah. 00:06:39.040 --> 00:06:40.000 And here's what I believe. 00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:44.160 I believe there's no way that this could occur under Ahaz. 00:06:44.720 --> 00:06:58.240 Ahaz, the failure that he was as a leader, the failure that he was in everything he touched, and the idolatry in which he lived in, that Hezekiah could come forth from him, except, in my opinion, through Abby. 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:00.399 Wow. 00:07:01.040 --> 00:07:04.319 What God can do through a praying woman. 00:07:04.639 --> 00:07:10.800 What God can do through a woman who, even if her husband's not walking with God, who comes in and disciples those kids. 00:07:11.040 --> 00:07:15.680 And I want to say to all you women here, you know, you you disciple your kids. 00:07:15.920 --> 00:07:18.319 Now, men, you should be discipling your kids too. 00:07:18.480 --> 00:07:22.240 And that's and it's it's best when it's a team, but sometimes it's not. 00:07:22.399 --> 00:07:24.240 And in the case of, look what God's gonna do. 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:43.920 This guy's 25 years old, so that means he's grown up watching his father initiate idolatry, to initiate worship to idols, the asherah, the the poles, the Canaanite poles that were erected, and you're gonna read about it in just a second. 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:52.240 How would you like to be a son who comes up, you're 25 years old, and you've got enough courage to tear down everything that your dad did that was evil? 00:07:53.120 --> 00:07:54.720 I mean, this is a bad dude. 00:07:54.879 --> 00:07:55.680 I mean, he's a good dude. 00:07:55.839 --> 00:07:56.800 I mean, he's a bad dude. 00:07:56.959 --> 00:07:58.560 I mean, this guy's bold. 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:05.839 How many of you in this room raise your hand if you're 25 years old or younger? 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:06.800 Raise your hand. 00:08:07.120 --> 00:08:08.240 All right, stand up. 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:12.720 That's the future of America. 00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:16.560 That's the future of the church right there. 00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:19.360 So, Father God, listen, don't stand. 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:26.959 Father God, I bless these young people right here to have the spirit of Hezekiah on them. 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:37.600 That they would not limit what you can do and not let their age get in the way with even now, even now, using them as mighty leaders. 00:08:37.759 --> 00:08:46.480 Whether they're a woman, a man, whether they feel like that they're mentally challenged or spiritually challenged, or they've got parents that don't even walk with God. 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:48.000 Lord, I just bless them. 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:51.360 I bless them with the anointing of Hezekiah in the name of Jesus. 00:08:51.519 --> 00:08:52.000 Amen. 00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:54.080 All right, bless you guys. 00:08:55.120 --> 00:08:56.320 Verse 4. 00:08:56.559 --> 00:08:57.840 He removed the high places. 00:08:57.919 --> 00:08:58.960 So this is what Hezekiah does. 00:08:59.039 --> 00:09:01.039 He's 25 years old, man, and this is what he does. 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:02.399 He removes the high places. 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:04.000 That's his dad set those up. 00:09:04.159 --> 00:09:06.879 He broke the sacred pillars, his dad set that up. 00:09:07.039 --> 00:09:09.759 He cut down the wooden image, his dad set that up. 00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:11.919 He broke it in pieces. 00:09:12.559 --> 00:09:15.279 I mean, he's making a huge statement here. 00:09:15.360 --> 00:09:19.679 He's not only pulling down the ashra poles, he's shredding them. 00:09:20.240 --> 00:09:23.759 He's got them in an ancient tree shredder. 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:25.759 You know, he's just shredding these babies. 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:28.399 He's making his point known. 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:31.919 The bronze serpent that Moses had made. 00:09:32.080 --> 00:09:38.080 Remember when he brought the bronze serpent with the with the snake on it, and everybody looked at it, was healed, and it was a picture of the cross and everything? 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:40.320 Well, now they're worshiping the bronze serpent. 00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:45.919 And by the way, that's the symbol, that's the uh medical symbol on all your doctor stuff. 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:50.879 That that serpent comes that you see on the medical symbol, comes from Moses. 00:09:51.519 --> 00:09:57.519 For until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it and called it Nahushaton. 00:09:57.840 --> 00:10:06.879 He trusted in the Lord of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him. 00:10:07.039 --> 00:10:14.639 For he held fast to the Lord, he did not depart from following him, but he kept his commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses. 00:10:14.960 --> 00:10:16.240 So this is this is amazing. 00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:23.039 I I give the credit to his mother that Abi had raised him this way, and this kid is bold. 00:10:23.200 --> 00:10:29.360 And let me just say that, you know, um, what you're about to read is really, really ominous. 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:34.320 I mean, this is this is more, this is really ominous what you're gonna read next about what's about to happen. 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:37.120 And um, and you can't be a leader. 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:45.759 You can't be a man or a woman who can handle the the works of demons and powers around you if you haven't first become a worshiper. 00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:48.399 You have to, you have to build now the foundations. 00:10:48.559 --> 00:11:01.120 And I'm just telling you, church, that over this time where we've got to reprieve for a couple months, you're gonna really be freaking out with fear in the fall if you haven't strengthened your heart here in the summer. 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:03.039 And so God does that in our lives. 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:10.960 He he gives us peacetime, he takes us through peacetime to strengthen ourselves because when wartime comes, it's too late. 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:20.000 So this man had become a mighty man of God, and he goes after it because he's about to get some major, major stress. 00:11:20.240 --> 00:11:21.120 Verse 7. 00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:29.360 The Lord was with him, he prospered wherever he went, and he even rebelled against the king of Syria and did not serve him. 00:11:29.519 --> 00:11:35.679 He subdued the Philistines as far as Gaza and his territory from watchtower to fortified city. 00:11:35.840 --> 00:11:38.559 Many women, when you trust God, God prospers you. 00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:39.279 He does. 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:59.200 He prospers you mentally, he prospers you spiritually many times, and I think most of the time he actually prospers you materially because you you get a man or a woman that that's prospering spiritually, mentally, emotionally, they usually prosper on the outside too, because they're just creative, they're thoughtful, they're they're walking in the things of the Lord, you know? 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:00.159 And so he prospers. 00:12:00.399 --> 00:12:05.120 Here's what I like about this he actually declares war on Assyria. 00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:06.399 And you're gonna go, what? 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:07.759 I mean, what's that mean? 00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:16.720 Well, you when you see the rest, you go, this guy's got some, he's 25 years old, man, and this guy is bold, okay? 00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:20.399 Because Assyria is one of the world powers of that time. 00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:22.799 And I think it's ticking them off. 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:25.840 So look at verse 9. 00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:32.159 Now it came to pass in the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshiach. 00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:33.440 So now he's he's what? 00:12:33.519 --> 00:12:34.320 He's 29. 00:12:34.720 --> 00:12:39.519 The son of Elah, king of Israel, and Shalmezer, king of Assyria. 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:50.720 So that so king, this king, uh Shalmazzar, king of Assyria, comes up against Samaria, which is north of Jerusalem, and he besieges it. 00:12:50.879 --> 00:12:57.200 At the end of three years, so that would make it seven years, seven years that uh Hezekiah has been king. 00:12:57.279 --> 00:13:00.320 Some believe he was actually a co-regent with his dad for a little while. 00:13:00.559 --> 00:13:06.879 They took it in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshiach, king of Israel, Samaria was taken. 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:26.240 Then the king of Assyria carried Israel away captive to Assyria, and he put them in Halah by the Haber, the river of Gozon, in the cities of the Medes, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed his covenant and all that Moses, the servant of the Lord, had commanded. 00:13:26.639 --> 00:13:29.360 And they would neither hear nor do them. 00:13:29.440 --> 00:13:38.720 And in the 14th year of King Hezekiah Sennachreb, king of Assyria, came up against all the fortified, says a new king of Assyria. 00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:41.919 You note that cities of Judah, and he took them. 00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:47.600 Now this is where Hezekiah follows the ways of his father and he compromises. 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:54.080 Then Hezekiah, king of Judah, sent to the king of Assyria at Lakish, saying, I've done wrong. 00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:58.000 Oh, turn away from me, O mighty king. 00:13:58.320 --> 00:14:01.279 Whatever you impose on me, I will pay. 00:14:01.919 --> 00:14:05.120 And the king of Assyria assessed Hezekiah. 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:07.120 Underline that. 00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:10.799 Circle it, check it, put a star on it. 00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:16.799 The king of Assyria assessed Hezekiah. 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:24.240 Listen, guys, you feed the dragon, you feed the dragon, he always wants more. 00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:29.200 If you feed the dragon, he always wants more. 00:14:30.240 --> 00:14:33.919 You cannot get involved in pornography without wanting more. 00:14:34.159 --> 00:14:37.840 You cannot get involved in drinking a lot without wanting a whole lot more. 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:42.000 You can't get involved in smoking a little pot and it just stays a little bit of pot. 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:47.440 You can't do a little bit of drugs or a little bit of illicit sex. 00:14:47.840 --> 00:14:49.279 You'll always want more. 00:14:49.519 --> 00:15:00.480 And that's why child pornography, that's why child trafficking is growing in this country, it's because mainly because of demons working through pornography, because you always want more. 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:02.320 You want more, you want more. 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:04.960 And he and Satan's always assessing us. 00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:07.120 He's going, okay, I got them now. 00:15:07.440 --> 00:15:08.320 I got them now. 00:15:08.720 --> 00:15:10.879 They'll give in here, and I'm gonna get some more. 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:14.720 And it might take a few months, it might take a few years, but they're coming for more. 00:15:14.879 --> 00:15:17.919 The dragons always wanting more. 00:15:18.480 --> 00:15:24.320 So Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the Lord and the treasuries of the king's house. 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:25.519 He's compromising. 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:34.559 At that time, Hezekiah stripped the gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord and from the pillars which Hezekiah, king of Judah, overlaid and gave it to the king of Assyria. 00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:36.320 That's pretty bad. 00:15:36.799 --> 00:15:40.879 He's giving the gold and silver from the temple. 00:15:41.759 --> 00:15:43.279 He's compromising. 00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:44.960 Well, here's the good news. 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:51.279 The good news, listen to this, the good news is verse 3. 00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:52.720 Go back to verse 3. 00:15:53.039 --> 00:15:57.519 He did what was right in the sight of the Lord according to all that his father David had done. 00:15:57.840 --> 00:16:00.480 God's editing process is really interesting. 00:16:00.799 --> 00:16:04.240 God's not interested in all the things that you've compromised. 00:16:04.399 --> 00:16:07.919 What he's interested in is the man or the woman that you're becoming. 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:14.159 And there's always a second chance, and there's always a third chance, and there's always a fourth chance. 00:16:14.320 --> 00:16:15.759 Don't give up. 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:17.840 Don't quit. 00:16:18.159 --> 00:16:20.399 Quitting is highly overrated. 00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:22.720 Quitters are depressed. 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:36.480 Quitters who have one foot in God and one foot in the world are straddling that, and all that does is either make you really, really flexible, or makes it very painful. 00:16:36.960 --> 00:16:38.799 And I know some flexible people out there. 00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:46.960 I mean, they can they can man, they can play both sides, but when you get down with them and you really start finding out who they are, they're getting eaten up inside. 00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:51.360 Better to be hot or cold than to be compromised. 00:16:51.600 --> 00:16:57.840 So I think Hezekiah learns from this because it's about to get worse. 00:16:58.080 --> 00:16:59.039 Verse 17. 00:16:59.279 --> 00:17:10.400 And the king of Assyria sent the tartan, the Rabserus, by the way, the Tartan would be like the commander-in-chief, the Rabserus, if that's how you say it. 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:22.720 My Bible says like a chief officer and the Rabshaka, probably something like a chief of staff or a governor from Lakish with a great army. 00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:25.839 So that's I said, you feed the dragon a little bit, he's coming for more. 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:28.160 So now they're coming with this huge army. 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:31.119 They've already taken, remember, they've already taken all of Israel. 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:35.839 Now they're moving down the coastline and they're moving in on Jerusalem. 00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:38.160 And they went up and they came to Jerusalem. 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:44.400 And when they had come up, they went and stood by the aqueduct from the upper pool, which was on the highway to the Fuller's field. 00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:49.119 You that are going with me to Israel in February, we're going to go to this place. 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:50.000 I'll show it to you. 00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:52.880 I'll show you also the tunnel that Hezekiah built there. 00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:54.480 We might even be able to go through it. 00:17:54.640 --> 00:18:03.279 And by the way, since we changed our Israel trip from June because of COVID to next year, we've got seven spots open. 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:07.440 So there are seven spots left in that, and it's$500 less than it was. 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:08.640 Verse 18. 00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:20.640 And when they had called to the king, Eliakim, the son of Hekiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, came out to them. 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:28.000 And then the Rabshaka said to them, Say now to Hezekiah, thus says the great king, the king of Assyria. 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:30.960 And watch how he's gonna mock Hezekiah. 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:34.559 What confidence is this in which you trust? 00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:40.960 You speak of having plans and power for war, but they're just mere words. 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:44.480 And in whom do you trust that you rebel against me? 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:54.880 Now look, you're trusting in the staff of this broken reed, Egypt, on which it if a man leans against it, it will go into his hand and pierce it. 00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:58.640 So is Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to all who trust in him. 00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:14.559 But if you say to me, We trust in the Lord our God, is it not he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away and said to Judah and to Jerusalem, You shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem? 00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:17.200 What does this sound like to you? 00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:24.480 To me, this sounds like Goliath in the valley of Elah with the armies of Israel. 00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:30.640 Just taunting, intimidations, the key, mockery, same thing that Goliath did. 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:31.759 Verse 23. 00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:43.359 Now therefore I urge you, give a pledge to my master, the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you're able on your part, to even put riders on them. 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:45.359 So now he's trying to bribe them. 00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:53.680 How then will you repel one captain of the least of my master's servants and put your trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen? 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:57.839 Have I now come up without the Lord against this place to destroy it? 00:19:58.240 --> 00:20:01.359 The Lord said to me, Go up against this land and destroy it. 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:03.279 So he even gives a false prophecy. 00:20:03.359 --> 00:20:06.400 He says that God's telling him to come do this. 00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:17.440 Then Eliakim, the son of Hekiah, Shebna, Joah said to the Rabshaka, Hey, um, could you maybe speak in Aramaic? 00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:18.960 We understand Aramaic. 00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:21.359 Don't speak in Hebrew. 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:25.039 We don't want all the watchmen on the walls to hear what you're saying. 00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:28.480 And what they're saying is, it might it might get them scared. 00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:31.119 They might get kind of frightened by that. 00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:33.759 In other words, it's okay if you say it on CNN. 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:35.920 Only certain people watch that show anyway. 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:39.200 Just don't write about it in the New York Times, okay? 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:39.839 You know? 00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:40.640 All right. 00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:44.640 So, so so he's working with media now, too, okay? 00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:47.359 So this is what Rabshaka says. 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:59.759 But the Rabshaka said to them, Has my master sent me to your master and to you to speak these words and not to the men who sit on the wall who will eat and drink their own waste with you? 00:21:00.079 --> 00:21:12.000 Then the Rabshaka stood and he called out with a loud voice, you know, this is his Twitter account, in Hebrew, and said, Hear the word of the great king of Assyria. 00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:27.039 Thus says the king, do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he shall not be able to deliver you from his hand, nor let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliver us from this city. 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:31.279 Shall not be it shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:39.359 Do not listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of Assyria, make peace with me by a present. 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:41.279 Come out to me. 00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:48.400 Every one of you, eat from his own vine, and every one from his own fig tree, and every one of you drink the waters of his own cistern. 00:21:48.480 --> 00:21:49.440 So he's trying to bribe him. 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:51.039 He said, Look, I'll let you live. 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:52.880 You can get off the hook. 00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:57.359 We won't do to you what we did to Israel. 00:21:57.599 --> 00:22:09.680 Until I come and take away you to A land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive groves and honey, that you may live and not die. 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:15.599 But do not listen to Hezekiah lest he persuade you, saying, The Lord will deliver us. 00:22:16.160 --> 00:22:23.920 Has any of the gods of the nations at all delivered its land from the hand of the king of Assyria? 00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:27.599 So where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? 00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:30.720 Where are the gods of that name? 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:32.319 And these other names. 00:22:32.559 --> 00:22:35.039 Indeed, have they delivered Samaria from my hand? 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:39.839 Who among all the gods of the lands have delivered their countries from my hand? 00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:43.039 That the Lord should deliver Jerusalem from my hand. 00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:45.839 And this says the people held their peace. 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:47.119 Alright. 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:54.640 Write down in your Bibles, wherever you're taking notes, write down 1 Samuel 15, 23. 00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:56.400 1 Samuel 15, 23. 00:22:56.480 --> 00:22:59.599 It's written in my Bible right next to verse 31. 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:01.359 1 Samuel 15, 23. 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:06.880 Here's what it says: Rebellion is of the sin of witchcraft. 00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:10.720 Rebellion is of the sin of witchcraft. 00:23:10.880 --> 00:23:16.480 In other words, rebellion against God's anointed leadership is sorcery. 00:23:16.720 --> 00:23:17.759 It's witchcraft. 00:23:17.839 --> 00:23:18.720 It's demonic. 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:32.960 And what he's trying to do, in this way, Satan works, Satan comes, and some of you have been seen this in churches where people start to come against the pastor, or you've seen in organizations where people start to come and they know more than the leader. 00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:39.279 God set up that leader to be the leader, and they start to rebel against leadership, and it's demonic, folks. 00:23:39.519 --> 00:23:41.200 It always disunifies. 00:23:41.440 --> 00:23:55.119 The enemy is always working to disunify your marriage, disunify your relationships with your kids and your family, disunify churches, disunify government, rip, steal, kill, and destroy. 00:23:55.359 --> 00:23:57.440 And communism has always worked that way. 00:23:57.599 --> 00:24:00.480 Marxism, socialism, and communism has always worked that way. 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:02.720 Communism can't create anything. 00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:04.799 All it can do is destroy stuff. 00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:22.079 And what it's done in places like Cuba and in Russia and in China and in Vietnam and all these places around the world is it comes in and it takes a system, usually some form of a democratic system, not always, well, it's never perfect, but they come in and they rip it apart. 00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:22.799 They destroy it. 00:24:22.880 --> 00:24:24.240 That's what's happening in our country. 00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:30.640 There's a work of the enemy working through these systems, these ideologies to steal, kill, and destroy. 00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:32.559 And God will do that in your own family. 00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:39.039 And so you got to battle that by being subservient to Jesus and also be submitted to leadership. 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:42.880 And so what he's trying to do is he's trying to get everybody to rebel. 00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:45.200 It always works best. 00:24:45.759 --> 00:24:48.559 How many have read the book, The Art of War? 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:51.119 You should pick that up somehow. 00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:52.480 Read The Art of War. 00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:56.400 Great little thin book you can get on Amazon called The Art of War. 00:24:56.559 --> 00:25:11.039 But one thing he says in that book, written by a Chinese general, former leader, he says, you know, the best way to conquer an enemy is to create rebellion and disunity in that group that you're trying to defeat. 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:15.279 Any way you can whisper, say things against people, and things like that. 00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:20.000 And if any of you have been a part of that in a church, then repent. 00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:21.359 You need to repent. 00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:22.160 It's not good. 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:24.079 Because you'll do it again if you're not careful. 00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:38.240 So what's happening here is that he's trying through the media of speaking this out and creating discouragement, fear in the hearts of the people, so they'll rebel against Hezekiah. 00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:43.119 What's so great about verse 36 is they hold their peace, they don't say anything, they stay unified. 00:25:43.200 --> 00:25:45.440 Now here's where it gets, this is where it gets exciting. 00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:48.799 Chapter 19, you know, man, this is really a discouraging message so far. 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:51.039 Okay, it's supposed to be, all right? 00:25:51.279 --> 00:25:53.279 All right, so now ominous times. 00:25:53.359 --> 00:25:54.480 So you've heard about ominous times. 00:25:54.559 --> 00:26:09.440 Well, now we're gonna see what happens with a young man, he's probably in his early 30s now, who's gonna lead his nation out of the most distressing situation that Judah has ever been under. 00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:10.960 Chapter 19. 00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:24.559 And so it was when King Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, he covered himself with sackcloth, and he went up to the house of the Lord. 00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:26.640 So here's the thing, men and women. 00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:33.279 Ominous times and the power of prayer, first point, you've got to humble yourself. 00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:34.480 You've got to humble yourself. 00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:36.000 And I shared this on Wednesday night. 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:37.599 I think I even shared it last week. 00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:42.079 To me, humility, humility is inconvenience. 00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:45.519 Humility is always inconvenient. 00:26:45.680 --> 00:26:49.279 Pride's never inconvenient, but in but humility's inconvenient. 00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:56.640 So when we come on Wednesday night, and so many of you came, this room was almost completely full of people praying on Wednesday night. 00:26:56.720 --> 00:26:58.880 It was inconvenient to come. 00:26:59.119 --> 00:27:00.400 I'm getting up at 5 a.m. 00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:02.079 I'm not getting up at 4 a.m. 00:27:02.240 --> 00:27:03.359 I'm coming here at 5 a.m. 00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:04.799 to fast and pray for 10 days. 00:27:04.880 --> 00:27:06.480 That's inconvenient. 00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:09.359 I'm having ribs this afternoon. 00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:13.119 My last big meal. 00:27:14.160 --> 00:27:16.880 Because I'm running a marathon with Jesus, right? 00:27:17.359 --> 00:27:19.680 How many anybody here run marathons? 00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:21.759 There's a marathon or there's another one. 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:22.400 Anybody else? 00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:22.960 Okay. 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:23.599 All right. 00:27:23.839 --> 00:27:26.720 I've never run a marathon, but I really respect you guys. 00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:27.519 I really do. 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:32.079 Uh but my understanding is you you kind of, there's certain foods you eat, right? 00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:33.920 And you kind of get yourself ready, right? 00:27:34.079 --> 00:27:36.640 And uh swimmers do the same thing and everything. 00:27:36.880 --> 00:27:38.960 Um gymnasts don't do anything. 00:27:39.039 --> 00:27:40.960 We just jump up on the bar and act like monkeys. 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:48.160 But but um the marathoners they do, you know, and I'm getting ready to go into a 10-day marathon, right, spiritually, so I'm getting myself ready with ribs tonight. 00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:54.160 But but here's the thing you see, Hezekiah's ready. 00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:56.720 He's already a worshiper. 00:27:56.880 --> 00:27:59.119 He's been discipled, I think, by his mom. 00:27:59.359 --> 00:28:00.400 He's already there. 00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:02.240 He's ready for this. 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:05.359 And men and women, you gotta get ready. 00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:15.920 Because things are gonna get really scary out there, and God wants to build in you courage now, so you're ready when the battle comes your way. 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:17.839 So he humbles himself. 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:22.880 Then he rallies his team around him and they humble themselves. 00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:23.599 Verse 2. 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:34.480 Then he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered, they got covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amos. 00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:36.000 So they all humble themselves. 00:28:36.240 --> 00:28:36.960 Verse 3. 00:28:37.119 --> 00:28:46.720 And he said, Thus says Hezekiah, this day is a day of trouble and rebuke and blasphemy. 00:28:47.279 --> 00:28:53.039 For the children have come to birth, but there's no strength to bring them forth. 00:28:53.279 --> 00:28:56.480 He's completely surrendering, church. 00:28:56.799 --> 00:29:01.599 He's completely surrendering to God before the Lord. 00:29:01.920 --> 00:29:02.960 Verse 3. 00:29:03.279 --> 00:29:04.400 Excuse me, verse 4. 00:29:04.559 --> 00:29:16.240 And it may be that the Lord your God will hear all the words of the Rabshaka, whom his master, the king of Assyria, has sent to reproach the living God and will rebuke the words which the Lord your God has heard. 00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:23.279 Therefore, he sends this out lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left. 00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:27.759 So, first of all, he humbles himself, 2 Chronicles 7.14. 00:29:27.920 --> 00:29:31.599 Then he prays, 2 Chronicles 7.14. 00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:40.880 Humbling himself, praying, seeking God's face, turning from wicked ways, he will hear from heaven. 00:29:42.480 --> 00:29:44.720 He promises to heal our land. 00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:47.119 Guess what? 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:55.440 Congress in Washington is not going to humble themselves and seek God's face. 00:29:57.039 --> 00:30:00.799 Our governor is not going to humble himself and seek God's face. 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:04.400 Our mayor's not going to humble himself and seek God's face. 00:30:04.480 --> 00:30:08.559 Now, I'm not saying certain members wouldn't, but I'm saying as an institution they won't. 00:30:08.720 --> 00:30:10.640 It's the church that does that. 00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:15.440 If my people who are called by my name, it's the church that does that. 00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:16.559 That's our responsibility. 00:30:16.720 --> 00:30:17.839 This is our watch. 00:30:18.000 --> 00:30:19.279 This is our time. 00:30:19.920 --> 00:30:22.319 We are Hezekiah. 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:26.880 And if we will, he promises to move. 00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:27.839 And look what he does. 00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:30.880 It's getting, it's gonna, it's gonna be cool, but it's gonna get worse. 00:30:30.960 --> 00:30:32.640 But it's gonna get worse before it gets better. 00:30:32.880 --> 00:30:34.079 Verse um verse 5. 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:36.640 So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah. 00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:47.920 Isaiah said to him, Thus you say to your master, thus says the Lord, do not be afraid of the words which we have heard, which were the servants of the king of Assyria, but blaspheme me. 00:30:48.160 --> 00:30:55.359 Surely I will send a spirit upon him, he shall hear a rumor, return to his own land, I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own hand. 00:30:55.599 --> 00:31:02.319