What to do with Bad News

1978 was the year, when the creativity Black folk took hold of an already established favorite story, baptized it in soul, renamed it and called it The Wiz. (Talk About it)

And another thing, have you noticed that when people have bad news they try to soften the blow with, “I’ve got some good news and I’ve got some bad news.”

Bad news…Humanity is fallen. Our government is in terrible shape, people are dying all around, people are sick, people are still unemployed, our 80% of HS students in OKC read at or below 8th grade levels.

1. Appeal to God’s Promise

“God is not a man that he should lie, nor the son of man that he should repent.” So, in other words if God said it God meant it. If God meant it that He will determine it to happen according to his word. That is what a promise essentially is. Keeping ones word. Well God has set forth in his word promises, that in many cases, not all, can be applied to the believer in Christ Jesus. But, it would seem at times that the access of the promise is predicated on your faith and laying hold of said promise. If you don’t know what is promised to you, you man not know to lay hold of it. For example, the word teaches us that if we give God gives, and as long as we sow, God will provide seed to the sower (2 Corinthians 9:10), but if you don’t know that you may hold tight to your little seed and miss God’s blessings. If you stand on God’s word, God will stand by His word. If you proclaim God’s, word God will perform his word. If you confess by faith, God will create with power. If you doubt it, God won’t do it. (Preach)

Hezekiah was not such a man to shrink back from God’s promises. He was a righteous man, as far as righteous kings go, we was the GOAT. And as such he stood on the promises of God. When Isaiah approaches Hezekiah with the news that this sickness was going to kill him the first thing that he does is “tuned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD...” (Preach)

Remember…v.3

2 Sam 22:21, the Lord rewards righteousness

1 Kings 8:25 that the Lord promised David that as long as the kings were righteous he would always keep them on the throne.

2. Apply the Prescription

There is a popular saying that goes like this, “God works in mysterious ways” and I agree with it. We hardly ever know what God is doing until he is ready to reveal it. And when he does we still don’t get it. God can…(Elaborate on what God has done miraculously)

But God’s work doesn’t always have to be so other worldly. God doesn’t always have to do some things so “extra”. Sometimes God’s blessings come in something very simple. Here in our text its figs. If Hezekiah is to be healed he must humble himself down to doing what is normal. This is sometimes difficult for church folk who feel entitled to instantaneous healings. (Elaborate)

Figs…a symbol of God’s presence and righteousness.

3. Ask your Petition

Isaiah calls Hezekiah to ask for proof of the promised miracle. And Hezekiah, wan’ts to know that Isaiah isn’t lying and that God is going to do it. So, he asked for the seemingly impossible. If you really believe that God can do it, why not ask for what you need God to do. Hezekiah had the option to ask for the normal, the expected, the natural, the regular. But, if I have the option, I’m not asking for normal, I’m asking for great, I’m not asking for expected…natural… (IF I HAVE THE OPTION?)

Bad news is Hezekiah…but the good news is

bad news run...

Take them to the cross…bad news...

Good news...