R1359 Hezekiah Made A Difference

God has an encouraging word for you and me today to the Bible-based preaching of Dr. Don Wilton in the power of making a difference.

This is The Encouraging Word featuring the Bible-based preaching of Dr. Don Wilton, and today Dr. Wilton's title is Hezekiah made a difference. So if you're like me and your strength. Scratcher I got Hezekiah's and I know Hezekiah, you'll remember it just about as Dr. Wilton opens our scriptures together the book of second Kings. That's where were setting today, but Dr. Don also want you know were opened to pray with you right now. We love to pray with you and for you both keyboard keyboard on our website at TW online. That's pretty W online.org and at this phone number 8668866899673 ballots open the word of God together God's Encouraging Word with Dr. Don open your Bible going to be in the old book of second Kings. I want to give you just are a minute or two to find that on your iPhone your iPad your blackberry, blueberry, strawberry or Euros worry and some of you like me will have a good all fashion hard copy in your hand. I'm team to continue to do that.

I got plenty of time to use my gadget but I've decided that when I preach that I'm going to have a copy of the good old hard copy in my hand. By the way, I just want to make something very clear. I'm not saying that that is more spiritual than what you have. I'm not going to tell you that because it's not this hard copy is not more spiritual than the copy of God's word that you are reading on your iPhone right now we going to go to God's word together and you are welcome to use your iPhone to follow God's word not going to have something to say to you if you should say and send emails and text and inquire as to whether or not your mushrooms are your peaches going to have mushrooms on for lunch you know I'll never know that in fact it's none of my business, but if you come to church and you worship the Lord in all you do the same back and forth messages and play games.

God is watching you. And if you are is distracted in worship as you all when you sit in that classroom don't be surprised when your grade comes out as a DM state of an eye because you're just not listening. You need to have some disciplines in your life and there are many opportunities for you and me to discipline our lives and perhaps for justice. A few moments just make a commitment to the Lord to discipline yourself just listen to what God say going to be talking to you about one of the greatest things that ever ruled Judah's name was Hezekiah.

I want to read to you just a little snippet about his life because Hezekiah made a difference.

This is what the Bible tells us in second Kings in chapter 18 in verse one in the third year of how to share some of the law, King of Israel is acquired, the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to rain remarkably, he was just 25 years of age when he began to rain and he reigned for 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was by the door from Zechariah and he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that he's great great great grandfather David had done. He removed the high places and broke down the pillars and cut down the actual raw. He broke into pieces. The broadened Serb serpent that Moses had made for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it is called the Michigan he trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah off to him, nor among those who were before him. In fact, this 25-year-old told Fox to the things of the Lord, and he did not depart from following him. But Robbie kept the Lord's commandments that the Lord commanded Moses and the result clause in verse seven that the Lord was with them is not a beautiful statement, and wherever he went he prospered, he rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve the many struck down the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory from watchtower 245 city is a guy made a difference. There were four things I just wondered just give you some information about now.

This is very general so all of you history buffs that you can fill in all the gaps. This is a huge subject, but they four things that I want you to know with the day in Judah. When Hezekiah became king. This is this is what happened when he arrived on the throne of Jerusalem. This is what his country looked black someone. His nation was in trouble to find that anywhere you want to.

His nation was in trouble, to his people were divided. You would've thought that they will all Israelites shortly if they all belong to the same country and believed in the same things and had the same Constitution and enjoyed the same things that they will all just one together and that their appreciation and love for everything would've united them. Not when Hezekiah arrived on the front. His people were divided number three. His faith was being severely threatened, you know, if you wouldn't mind begging my pardon, God brought them along the way, don't you think. I mean, how much more do you think God could have done for these people. They trusted in him. He was on the currency. That's how they were founded, God brought them delivered them out of the land of Egypt. They were people in bondage.

They were lost and he delivered he gave to them the promised land.

Someone left some shoreline in some way took the journey took a stand and wrote a new constitution for them and everything was founded upon that faith that the heading God Jehovah all you see his nation was in trouble.

And these people were divided.

His faith was being straightened, but there was 1/4 thing that was monumentally significant about when Hezekiah arrived on the throne. His country was being was under attack.

There were other people and other countries and other groups.

There was a terrorist group by the name of the Philistines about the way the Philistines went very nice and I went out to get these people in the land that flowed with milk and honey you put these full things together. Can you just imagine sending to the throne of Jerusalem in the midst of all of this, quite frankly, if they come to me at that time and said why don't you service came I would've said are you kidding me I don't have to deal with that. Besides most of our people can't stand strike talk but can't handle the truth. Nobody wants to know. Hezekiah arrived at the age of 24 and to make matters even worse, to boot.

His father, Ahaz had made matters worse, the one who preceded him on the throne had all but destroyed what was left. He had no considerations for the moral values of God's word none whatsoever. He became a crowdpleaser and if the people wanted an idol to worship. He gave it to them because it was far more important to seek the favor of man, then applause to follow the precepts in the commandments of God is a lot that can be said about Hezekiah. This man who when confronted with the zone seven repainted this man who listened to what God said through the prophet Isaiah. This man, Hezekiah, of which I speak today from God's word.

This man whose actual story in the word of God receives more space even then, Solomon, one of the greatest kings ever this man in the word of God is presented as second only to King David who was so revered as a founding father of that great nation. This man who helped Judah regain somewhat of a pre-speech and hope among the nations of the world. This this man who brought these people back to the point where once again that had one king and one people and I came to one temple to worship the one true God. This man that I'm talking about all yet he made a difference.

All right, this man who sought to lead Judah was once again reunited around worship in Jerusalem. This man who thought nothing of removing the false gods that had risen up to please the ramping marauding minority of his day. This man, who defeated the Philistines. This enemy that came against Judah that wanted to cut their heads off and butcher them and take the people into captivity and destroy they land only that one little boy with a table in his hand. But with God beneath the very giant Goliath came down through the valley putting fear into the hearts of people and get David's is a mere Shepherd or insulated before me, you suppose Goliath can be against wonderful reminder of the power of God and its availability to us if we just have faith like David Percy forgive the eruption I will have all of us at The Encouraging Word were grateful for the opportunity to share this great message from Dr. Don Wilton with and the joy of doing it but it's online or on the radio wherever you might be listing today is the beginning of a conversation… Has shared a volley now it's your turn to toss the ball back. Is there something that God has stirred in your heart about today's message that you like to have someone to pursue an answer with Dr. Don or perhaps just pray about here for you. 866-899-WORD will connect you to use the keyboard it's tewonline.org Jeep TW online.org like to speak to one of our team. Happy to pray with you and for you or connect with some great resources like the daily Encouraging Word Bible guide absently free. Call and ask for it at 866-899-WORD 9673.

We believe God's Encouraging Word the Bible itself is life-changing because of the truth in this living word of God to discover more online as well. TW online.org but let's dive back into today's message Hezekiah made a difference with Dr. Don Wilton. What was it about this difference. Mike just a couple of things. The Bible tells us wasn't about to move.

First of all, he was very young that will confound the critics Bible tells us most distinctly that he was just 25 years old. He was really what some would consider to be a whippersnapper due respect to you 25-year-old I used to be 25 when I was your age. It's a great age. What God was saying is why you 25-year-old you got what it takes you young people God has put in your heart.

Join the state of the law. This will people take God there is one baptism, and if you can rally together and win a national championship. You showed to the world what you've got to what it takes to do stuff to get it done the way God wants it to be done. He was very young. I wonder how old you have to be to make a difference. I wonder how long God has instituted a waiting period before God's people would stand up.

I wonder if God somehow in some secret cave somewhere design strategy that you have to be 50 and 60 years old before you could be seated on the throne of your world and make a difference with Jesus Christ.

I think God for our young people. He was very young.

Evidently there was a second thing about this difference maker. He did what was right by God. That's what the word stays in the second part there verse three he says he did what was right in the eyes of God. Interestingly, he uses and invokes that phrase the eyes because God is a seeing God he sees everything and everything he sees.

He expects it will be right.

According to that which he sees because what he sees comes from his heart. It is what it is because God determined it to be that way. Some have said that. How can a young person really understand the eyes of a seeing God will Hezekiah did and he knew that God was watching on Sunday morning and he knew he was watching on Saturday evening.

He knew he was watching in his bedroom at home and he knew that he was watching on the campus of the University.

He knew he was watching a pet bowl game. He knew he was watching when that conversation took place.

He did what was right in the eyes of God. There was never a time that he found himself relegated to the outskirts of God's far-reaching piece seeing eyes. There was never a time evidently in the life of Hezekiah that he thought he could go undercover as far as God was concerned.

He made a difference. His was a 24 experience every day all the time and he made the difference. He never took a vacation from God. He never laid down the instruments of that clarion call of East Christian discipleship.

He never went on sabbatical took leave from God. He never apps painted himself also he could get away from the eyes of a holy and a righteous God, and he made a difference. He was very young when he did what was right in the eyes of God.

But there's 1/3 saying that this difference maker did which just really got a hold of my heart.

He broke with the sins of his father. Did you notice what the Bible says he did. According to that which he's great-great-grandfather had done with his dad in all of this will go and study the life of King Herod and you find out that this man who became a difference maker came out of a home where he's dad was anything but I hate to even mention that to you but this was a young man who grew up under a father who defied everything about God and he broke the cycle you know how many people say he drinks, but he's just like his dad. You need to break the cycle all you as a template but you know it's just like dad, you need a break the cycle all he smacks his mother through the face every now and again in the privacy of their room, but you know he's dad how he uses abusive language, will that was just like his dad when he coaches all boy does he love to lick those full with little words fly but you know he's dad was a coach and remember when he coached he would also use the same kind of prioritize worship you met him how he's dad was kind of there but not really. You know you have such a critical spirit. He's always complaining and forcing about everything in his key things about the Lord's work in about a church, but you know bases heart. He's with Jesus now remember his dad was just the same.

You need to break the cycle I has kowtow to the people.

He reclined in his chair on Saturday, off noon not too concerned, as long as there was a bowl game on. As far as he was concerned the world could go by his father never got involved in the moral morass of the world because he believed that it was not his business to do what they needed to do so. He watched the zonation go down the tubes you need to break the cycle son. It's time for you to say no more war you just going to hand it on to your sons.

This man was a difference maker. Hezekiah was very young when he did what was right by God and he broke with the sins of his father, number four, he destroyed all the idols love to spend Bible study just explaining all these idols that we find here referenced in the Scriptures. Bottom line was that under his father's pitiful leadership.

These people who knew would lead by the king to erect one idol worship after another as a substitute for righteous and the holy God.

That's where the young boy Hezekiah grew up, he did not grow up surrounded by the rules of the society, but he grew up surrounded by the rules that he's father had given permission to build like father like son. He destroyed all these are he didn't mess around with the SQL display display.

He called Cindy what it was what it is tiptoe around the juleps. I wasn't concerned with political correctness when it came down to what God have to say as if political pandering rises to a greater level than the very heartbeat of the a righteous God through Jesus Christ set us free, and he wants for us only the best. Enjoy unhappiness and completeness for years hope in our joy.

He's out light in his light shines in the darkness will Hezekiah was a difference maker. You know, beyond severe violence. Hezekiah no way I would've said listen, I'm going to marry that woman, one way or the other. And because I'm in love with.

It makes no difference. All abdicate the throne and going live in Europe in obscurity for the rest of my life.

Let somebody else do it. Give me Jezebel I would draw the spend the next 25 years of my life surrounded by the lavish outcroppings of my inner satisfaction and who cares about what happens to my children tomorrow will not Hezekiah. 25 years old.

He was young and he did what was God and he made a determination to break completely with the sins of his father and he destroyed all the so the Bible says this difference make a trusted completely. That's what verse five says he trusted in the Lord Wharton abandonment.

I mean how foolish in the eyes of a secular pagan move that you trusting this I will trust in mind, God he is the God of my father's. He is the Abraham and God of Isaac, and Jacob is the one in whom I live in and have not been yes yes yes yes I will be foolish. I I would like you to know that I'm willing to be cold foolish. I trusting God completely God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so it should not perish but should have eternal life. For God sent not his son into the wound will say you hear that and know that it's not just on Wilton talking about the fact that there is no condemnation, but instead that's the voice of God letting him know he does not continue.

His arms open wide to receive the benefits. Pray about it. Phone numbers 866899 word that's 866-899-WORD 9673, and we'd love to speak with you and pray with you right now before we get away. Pastor has perhaps the most important thing to say all day to us next. Are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why did you pray this prayer with me right now.

Dear God, I know that on the center and I know that Jesus died for me on the cross today.

I repainted my sin and by faith I receive you into my heart. In Jesus name, my friend. I welcome you today into the family of God. This is exciting news. God spoken to you and you give your heart to Jesus Christ. You need to let someone know, letting us know you can call us right now 866-899-WORD that's 866-899-WORD 9673 and allow us the privilege of praying with you and for you in celebrating with you and putting some resources in your hands it will help you begin your again 866-899-WORD 9673 or email us at online@tewonline.org eight. Again, many folks are asking how you can get involved with the ministry hockey be involved prayerfully and financially was all about the coming and encourager details on what it is to become an encourager to The Encouraging Word hello my friends I wanted just personally speak to you for a minute today from my heart to yours, hope you having a great day today. I don't think that these ever been a more perhaps important time for us to respond to this rule by standing up for righteousness. I know that you in fact. With this in mind, I'd like to invite you to becoming courage of ministry together we can impact the lives both now and encouraging to know that you are standing in the provided 24 hours a day, 899973 jump start my quiet time same for yours. Sign up online right now daily email. Next time take care