The Outcome Hezekiah Experienced
Notes
Transcript
So, far Hezekiah’s reign had been characterized by some bold moves and big risks. He’s tossed out the idols, cleaned up the temple, and thrown off an oppressive :partnership” with the Assyrians that threatened to leave Judah unprotected against its enemies. How did these moves, which were based entirely on his trust in God, pay off?
They paid off big time.
And the Lord was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.
He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
Strength
Strength
We see in verse 7 that as a result of his obedience to the Lord, Hezekiah “prospered whithersoever he went forth.” and 2 Chronicles gives us an even more detailed picture.
And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels;
God blessed and provided for Hezekiah and strengthened the entire kingdom through Hezekiah. What a turnaround from the dark days that Judah had seen under Ahaz! When we serve God faithfully, He will supply our need generously.
Success
Success
God wasn’t done blessing Hezekiah. Not one did God take care of Hezekiah’s material needs, but He also took care of Judah’s enemies.
He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
Hezekiah defeated the Philistines. Remember, the Philistines were enemy that had been dominating the nation since Ahaz’s time. Ahaz had tried to defeat then, but where he failed because of his wickedness. Hezekiah succeeded because of obedience.
Remember, there’s a direct connection in out lives between obedience to God and the spiritual success we experience. God taught this principle to Joshua, another great leader of His people, as Joshua was taking over for Moses.
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Before February 15, 2006, few people outside of Greece, New York, knew the name Jason McElwain
He was a high- functioning autistic athlete, Jason was serving as the manager of the Greece Athena High School Basketball team under Coach Jim Johnson when he got the chance of a lifetime. Close to the end of the last quarter of the the game Coach decided to put Jason in the game. After missing his first two shots, he went on to make 6 three-pointers and a two- pointer for a total of 20 points, in the last 4 minutes of the game.
Not only did Jason tie the school’s three-point record , but he made national headlines.
(Watch Video)
What a great dark horse story! No one could’ve predicted Jason would succeed the way he did. Coach Johnson put him in the game, and it unlock his potential. In the same way Hezekiah’s success couldn’t have been predicted either. He was the son of a wicked man who had a history of killing his own children, and he was heir to the throne of a small nation with big troubles. But God prospered him and unlocked his potential.
God wants to unlock your potential, too. He wants you to experience His unfailing power in such an incredible way that people will look at your life and ask, just like Hezekiah, “who would’ve thought?”
Hezekiah’s success because of His trust and obedience to God. Today we can have victory over trials and can do big things with our lives, if we will do what Hezekiah did. But will you?