LEARNING TO LEAN
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· 11 viewsLean into God — He hears you -- calms your fear and doubt — restores and heals you.
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Pre-Sermon Passages:
O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.
Introduction
Narrative summary (2 Kings 20:1-11)
Hezekiah, became king of Judah around 728 B.C., at around 25 years of age. He reigned for 29 years. Here’s what we know about his character
He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him.
PRAYER
2 Kings 18-20 (as well as 2 Chron 29-30 and Isaiah 38)records highlights of Hezekiah’s time as king. Much of the time, he had to deal with the Assyrians, who eventually conquered Jerusalem, causing Hezekiah to have to pay them a lot to keep peace.
In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.’ ” Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, “Now, O Lord, please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
Before Isaiah could even get off the Palace grounds, God told him to turn back and...
…say to Hezekiah, the leader of my people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father; I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold I will heal you. On the third day you will go to the house of the Lord, and I will add 15 years to your life. (2 Kings 20:5-6)
Can you imagine the range of emotion Hezekiah must have experienced?
Relief — “I’m not going to die!”
Thankfulness and wonder at the work of God — “This is amazing!
Freaking out maybe a little — “I’m not going to die — but wait — I am going to die in 15 years!”
Through the prophet, God let Hezekiah know that He would save him and Jerusalem from the Assyrian invaders — for the glory of His own name and for the sake of His servant David.
Right after this message from God, Isaiah called to the palace servants and instructed them to bring a fig poultice and wrap it around the boil — a common medical procedure…natural remedy.
Keep in mind, Hezekiah wasn’t instantly healed at that moment — he was human — he still wondered if all of this would really happen. He believed…yet he doubted.
Mark 9 records the account of Jesus healing a young boy with an unclean spirit — the boy’s father said to Jesus, “…if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus responded, “If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.” The father cried out… “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:22-24)
Hezekiah believed…but he asked God to help his unbelief — he asked for sign — “Isaiah, give me some kind of sign so I can be confident to go up to the house on the Lord on the 3rd day.”
And Isaiah said, “This shall be the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that he has promised: shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?” And Hezekiah answered, “It is an easy thing for the shadow to lengthen ten steps. Rather let the shadow go back ten steps.” And Isaiah the prophet called to the Lord, and he brought the shadow back ten steps, by which it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz.
Hezekiah chose to have God roll back time ten degrees as a sign
Some might criticize Hezekiah for asking God to show him a sign. We didn’t walk in his sandals! What we do know is that he trusted God enough to pray and cry out for another chance. And God granted his request!
Hezekiah leaned into God when He prayed not to die…he leaned in even more when he asked for a sign. He could have rejected Isaiah’s words…thus rejecting God. But he knew God to be faithful…so he stuck with what he knew…He leaned in.
Big Idea: Lean into God — He hears you -- calms your fear and doubt — restores and heals you.
Transitional: One of the most important truths we need to understand and embrace is that God loves us and knows our heart.
Do you believe, down in your soul, that God cares about you?
LEAN INTO GOD WHEN YOUR WORLD FALLS APART (2 Kings 20:1-3)
Exposition:
Hezekiah was sick — very sick --- death stood knocking at the door — so sick that God told him to make sure his will was up-to-date
Judah, the southern kingdom of God’s people, was also very sick, under the heavy hand of the Assyrian king — so sick that they were facing immanent captivity into Babylon
Everyone experiences “fall-apart” seasons of life
Illustration: It can be easy to get into a competition about whose life is falling apart more quickly or horribly.
I can’t help but think of our dear friends Isaac, Miriam, and Anna Tellez — They have faced some real “fall-apart” seasons. More than 10 years ago, Isaac became sick and ended up being diagnosed with diabetes, encephalitis, and some other conditions that are normally debilitating or terminal. Yet, over these years, I have lost count the number of missions trips he has taken — several to the Philippines, many to Mexico, and some others. I can’t tell you how much he has done to mobilize teams to help churches in our network that needed roofs, remodels, driveways, sidewalks, you name it. I can’t tell you how many conferences he speaks at, all the while pastoring a church and a community with excellence and growth. A few years back, Isaac and Miriam's daughter fell ill with cancer - they have spent I don’t know how much time with her in the hospital — bone marrow transplants, brain surgery, chemo and other complicated treatments. And then, just a couple nights ago, their beautiful facility — HCC — caught fire and burned up. He’s in Yucatan building a school and teaching this week. They are tired and weary — but they know in whom they gather strength…the one who has healed them multiple times and provided for them throughout life — They are leaning into God and His people — they know where their strength comes from
I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”
…God’s promises and his caring presence and love are for everyone
Everyone has the same freedom to lean into God
God sees and hears when we weep —
When you are overwhelmed, cry out to God — turn your face to Him
Hezekiah broke down and wept, but he brought his needs and all his fears and doubts to God — where else could he go? He knew God cared
Application
How do you respond when life falls apart and you feel like nothing ever goes your way?
Some get angry - depressed - lash out in anger at God or someone - become obsessed with asking “why?”
Others lean into Jesus
God can handle your emotions…no matter how raw
Pray — always pray — when faced with fall apart moments or seasons
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Transitional: God can and does do amazing things as you truly learn to lean into Him during those fall-apart seasons
LEAN INTO GOD AND EXPERIENCE HIS HAND AT WORK (2 Kings 20:4-7)
Exposition
As if getting 15 more years of life wasn’t enough…Hezekiah received way more than he prayed for. God delivered the people of Judah — He gave them a reprieve from the Assyrian attacks.
If we fail to lean into God…we may never know how He would have responded
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Application
Why wouldn’t we pray specific prayers to God — what holds us back?
Maybe it is a lack of faith? or…our human reasoning assumes God doesn’t really care about our needs. Or maybe we reason that it is enough to just say “I trust God” to take care of things.
Of course, we should trust God — that is faith
If we trust God…that is the very reason to bring our needs to Him in prayer
Transitional: Do not allow doubt or uncertainty keep you from praying…lean in no matter what
LEAN INTO GOD EVEN WHEN YOU HAVE DOUBTS…ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE DOUBTS! (2 Kings 20:8-11)
Exposition
Hezekiah believed but he struggled with doubt at the same time — that didn’t stop him from praying and it didn’t stop him from asking for some reassurance — “What sign will God give so I know for sure when I go to the house of the Lord in 3 days?”
Doubt is not bad unless it keeps you from asking God for help
Doubt is not a surprise to God…He knows your heart
Doubt can lead to a lack of faith and a sinful attitude if we simply embrace it and turn away from trusting God, even when things look horrible
CHALLENGE
Lean into God — He hears you -- calms your fear and doubt — restores and heals you!
Even if we don’t receive exactly what we ask for — we can always lean into Him…put our trust in Him, listen for His voice and follow Him no matter what
God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to you; even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking. You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too— your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful— I can’t take it all in!
Are you struggling with doubt and fear? Anxiety?
How do you face those “fall-apart” seasons of life?
Turn your eyes upon Jesus