Revival Kings #4: Hekekiah

Intro: Why am I Preaching this Series?

The pursuit of revival is not new

Ecclesiastes 1:9 NIV

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.

Every revival starts the same way -

the people of God passionately turning back to the Lord

The Lord responds to make holy that which is His

It is the heart of individuals

though none go with me..

but they do go with you

I don’t want to miss it.

I don’t want you to miss it.

That’s what these historical books are for.

The demonstrate for us what it looks like when we turn our hearts toward Him.

It sets a choice before us… if xyz is the formula for experiencing joy in the middle of sorrow, peace in the middle of chaos, righteousness in a world where temptation runs like crazy around us…then ifwe follow the formula of xyz we can experience our own personal revival

History

After Solomon dies the nation of Israel splits

Israel turns from God and becomes evil - not one good king

Judah - 8 good kings — 5 are “Revival Kings”

Asa - Jehoshaphat - Joash - Hezekiah - Josiah

Timeline to Hezekiah

Before Joash was Ahaziah who’s mother, Athaliah twisted her son to do evil and build

Ahaziah is killed forming a power vacuum which Athaliah gladly fills - she attempts to kill all descendants that might take the throne from her but she missed one infant - Joash

Joash takes the throne at age 7 and under the guidance of Jehoiada the high priest a revival takes place and the temple is restored

Jehoiada dies and Joash listens to the council of men.. lines up with the wrong people an begins doing evil - including the killing of the next priest who is encouraging him to turn back to the Lord.

Next 3 kings are good kings (mostly) for 97 years.

Ahaz - very evil - sacrifices to false gods - shutting the temple - putting false idols on every corner

Hezekiah becomes king - 4th revival

Events and Miracles of Revival

He Restores Religion

Opens the Doors to the temple

Repairs the door (embellish)

Encourages Levites to take on their task - consecrate

2 Chronicles 29:5–11 NIV

and said: “Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all defilement from the sanctuary. Our parents were unfaithful; they did evil in the eyes of the Lord our God and forsook him. They turned their faces away from the Lord’s dwelling place and turned their backs on him. They also shut the doors of the portico and put out the lamps. They did not burn incense or present any burnt offerings at the sanctuary to the God of Israel. Therefore, the anger of the Lord has fallen on Judah and Jerusalem; he has made them an object of dread and horror and scorn, as you can see with your own eyes. This is why our fathers have fallen by the sword and why our sons and daughters and our wives are in captivity. Now I intend to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us. My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before him and serve him, to minister before him and to burn incense.”

2 ch 29:

Set yourselves apart for Him.

House of God Cleansed -

Cleansing and Consecrating the temple 12-19

Price for sin is paid 20-24

let the worship begin 25-30

more sacrifices 31-35

2 Chronicles 29:35–36 NIV

There were burnt offerings in abundance, together with the fat of the fellowship offerings and the drink offerings that accompanied the burnt offerings. So the service of the temple of the Lord was reestablished. Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced at what God had brought about for his people, because it was done so quickly.

2 Ch 29:

Quickly renew your covenant to Him and restore worship

Hezekiah Proclaims a Passover

Opportunity for evil Israelites to come and turn back to the Lord

A meeting the likes of which had not been seen since Solomon because of the split - v.26

2 Chronicles 30:18–20 NIV

Although most of the many people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone who sets their heart on seeking God—the Lord, the God of their ancestors—even if they are not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.” And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people.

2 Ch 30:

Who cares if you don’t look the part - turn your heart - and the Lord heals it.

The Assembly Destroys the Altars of Idolatry

Giving Restored

Sennacherib turned back

God Protects

Hezekiah’s Challenge and Success

2 Chronicles 32:24–26 NIV

In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. He prayed to the Lord, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign. But Hezekiah’s heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore the Lord’s wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem. Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the Lord’s wrath did not come on them during the days of Hezekiah.

2 Ch 32:24-

Conclusion

This is where we have the opportunity to take a good hard look at out life. Is our temple dirty? Are the doors shut so that He is blocked? Are we no longer doing the things we know we ought and doing things we know we ought not?

Lets take a few seconds of silence to look inside. Then between you and God.. pray silently to make it right. Turn away from things you should not be turned toward and place yourself in his hands.

Take a minute and I will close us in prayer. --- Pew of Reckoning.