WEBVTT

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 Today we're going to be looking at 2 Kings chapter 18.

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 2 Kings 18, 17 through 25 is where we'll begin today.

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 And the title of my sermon is Between a Rock and a Hard Place.

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 I'm thankful for Colton and all he does.

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 I sent him my PowerPoint and said, here it's plain Jane screen.

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 Make this a little more spiffy here.

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 He sent me a message back and said,

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 did you mean to say Between a Rock and a Hard Place?

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 Oh man, no.

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 No, between a rock and a hard place.

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 And we're going to be looking at 2 Kings 18, 17 through 25.

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 Back in 2009, I was serving Mountain View Baptist Church in Hickory, North Carolina.

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 And we had a mission team that was getting ready to go on that Saturday to Honduras.

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 And my wife and my 12-year-old daughter Ashley were set to be on that team.

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 And I got a call the night before about 9 o'clock and said,

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 we need to meet at the church, the team that's going.

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 We need to meet.

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 We've got a problem.

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 So we get up there at 10 o'clock.

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 We're supposed to, the team's going to meet at the church at 3 a.m.

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 to leave on this trip.

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 And we're meeting for an emergency meeting at 10 o'clock that night.

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 They said, Honduras is experiencing a coup.

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 They've already overthrown the president, run him out of the country.

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 And the people are rioting, burning, looting, doing crazy stuff.

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 Do we still want to go?

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 Well, I was thinking half of our team, which I believe there was 10 or 12 on that team,

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 half of them were teenagers and their parents weren't going except for my daughter.

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 And I thought no parent in their right mind is going to let their teenage child go to a

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 third world country during a coup without them even being with them.

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 Well, to my surprise, I get up there and they're all like, let's go.

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 And all the parents are like, let them go.

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 They're like, the safest place to be is in the center of God's will.

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 And I sat there and listened to that for a few minutes.

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 But then I had to speak up and I said, that's not true.

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 The safest place is not in the center of God's will.

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 Tell that to Jesus.

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 Tell that to the disciples.

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 Tell that to countless Christians today who are being arrested, thrown in jail, even killed.

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 The safest place is not always in the center of God's will.

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 The best place to be is in the center of God's will.

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 But it's not always the safest place.

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 And they said, you're just scared.

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 You don't want your wife and daughter to go.

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 I said, I'm going to let them make that decision.

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 I'm not going to influence it in any way.

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 But here's what I know.

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 If they choose to go, I'm sending them and letting them go.

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 I'm giving them to God.

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 And I'm praying for God to use them in whatever manner he sees fit to bring glory to his name.

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 And if something happens to them while they're on that trip, if they were to be injured or killed,

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 then I sent them to serve the Lord.

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 And I trusted that God was using that for his will.

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 Well, we prayed together as a team.

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 And then we left and went home.

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 And Michelle was not certain what she was going to do.

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 And we went home about midnight.

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 And we began to pray.

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 Remember, they've got to be back up at the church at 3 a.m.

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 And it's midnight.

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 And we go home to pray, asking God what his will is for them to do.

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 This morning, we're going to see that King Hezekiah, king of Judah, found himself in a very difficult position.

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 You see, he was surrounded.

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 Jerusalem was the southern kingdom.

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 And King Hezekiah ruled Judah.

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 Or Jerusalem at that point was the capital.

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 And Jerusalem was surrounded by the strongest military force in all of the world.

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 The Assyrians had already come down and conquered the northern kingdom,

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 which is the 10 out of the 12 tribes of Israel.

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 They were that mighty and that powerful.

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 So how could Judah, two of the 12 tribes of Israel,

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 how could they stand up to the Assyrian army?

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 What should Ezekiel do?

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 Would Ezekiel trust in the Lord?

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 Would he put all of his faith in God and trust that God would see him through and protect them?

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 Or conventional wisdom would have told him, surrender.

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 Surrender to the king of Assyria.

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 They'll be deported, but at least they would live.

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 And the people of Judah and Benjamin were the two tribes.

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 At least they would live.

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 They would be deported, but they would live.

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 Let's go to the word of God and let's begin seeing this situation in God's word in 2 Kings 18.

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 And let's see the situation that King Hezekiah is in and find out what he does.

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 Will he trust God or will he seek conventional wisdom?

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 Let's read.

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 The king of Assyria sent his supreme commander, his chief officer, and his field commander

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 with a large army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem.

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 They came up to Jerusalem and stopped at the aqueduct of the upper pool on the road to the washerman's field.

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 They called for the king.

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 And Elakim, son of Hilkiah, the palace administrator, Shebna, the secretary, and Joah, son of Asaph, the recorder, went out to them.

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 The field commander said to them,

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 Tell Hezekiah, this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says.

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 On what are you basing this confidence of yours?

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 You say you have the counsel and the might for war, but you speak only empty words.

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 On whom are you depending that you rebel against me?

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 Look, I know you are depending on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it,

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 such as Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to all who depend on him.

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 But if you say to me, we are depending on the Lord our God,

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 isn't he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed,

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 saying to Judah and Jerusalem,

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 You must worship before this altar in Jerusalem.

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 Come now, make a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria.

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 I will give you 2,000 horses if you can put riders on them.

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 How can you repulse one officer of the least of my master's officials,

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 even though you are depending on Egypt for chariots and horsemen?

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 Furthermore, have I come to attack and destroy this place without word from the Lord?

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 The Lord Himself told me to march against this country and destroy it.

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 Let's go to the Lord in prayer.

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 Father, we come to you today and we thank you for your word.

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 Lord, we know that your word is sharper than any double-edged sword

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 and pierces the depths of our being, pierces the depths of our soul.

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 And I pray, Lord, today that you would speak to us through your word.

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 Wherever we are, whatever circumstances we find ourselves up against,

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 whatever challenges stand before us,

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 I pray that you speak to us, Lord,

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 and help us to realize that we are to keep our eyes on you

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 and trust in you and believe in you.

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 When the world may say not to trust you,

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 I pray that we will.

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 And it's in your holy name we pray. Amen.

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 As you can see, Hezekiah really found himself between a rock and a hard place.

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 He had the largest military force in all of the world

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 that had surrounded Jerusalem and was demanding that he surrender.

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 If he surrendered to the Assyrians, at least they would live.

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 And the practice in that day and time is a conquering army would take the people,

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 they would usually take the most educated, the most skilled, noble families,

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 the best of the best, and they would take them and deport them

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 and settle them somewhere else.

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 One thing it did is it helped from rebellions rising up against them

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 at a later time and they wouldn't have to keep,

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 like the Assyrians wouldn't have to keep as large a force there

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 to constantly squash down rebellions against them.

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 But it also took those skills, that knowledge, that training,

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 and it resettled them somewhere else where they could use that to rebuild other places.

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 Now this is exactly what's happened to the northern kingdom.

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 The northern kingdom had gotten so far away from God

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 that they were worshiping fake gods, false gods, idols,

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 gods of the nations around them.

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 They had gotten so far away from God that God raised up the Assyrians.

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 God did that.

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 He raised up the Assyrians to come in and conquer them

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 and they led them out of the area and resettled them.

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 You know, the ten northern tribes of Israel are no more.

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 We have no idea where they are.

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 We have no idea what became of them

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 because what happened is when you resettle them in other places,

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 they began to intermarry and mix and mingle with the other people groups

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 and they completely lost their identity.

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 And so when we think of Israel today and we think of the Jews,

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 it's the two southern tribes, Judah and Benjamin,

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 that make up God's people today

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 because the ten northern tribes vanished off the scene of history.

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 And in chapter 17, verses 7 and 8,

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 it tells us because they sinned against God,

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 because they forgot the covenant that they had made with God

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 when they entered into the promised land.

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 They forgot and they began worshiping other gods,

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 doing other things.

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 They had gone so far that they even sacrificed children to false gods.

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 They were throwing their babies in fire as acts of worship of these false gods.

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 And so God raised up the Assyrians, conquered them, and led them out.

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 You know, Hezekiah, again, is between a rock and a hard place.

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 Oftentimes the struggles that we face in life are bigger than we can imagine.

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 Some of the struggles that we face are challenges or obstacles that we face in life.

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 They're bigger than us, aren't they?

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 They're bigger than our ability to overcome and deal with.

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 However, what we're going to see this morning

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 is that if we will learn to keep our eyes on God,

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 no matter what struggle, no matter what challenge,

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 no matter what obstacle you face today,

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 if we learn to keep our eyes on God

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 rather than the situation and circumstances,

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 we keep our eyes on God

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 and we continue to live in obedience to Him,

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 we will learn that God will be with us

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 in the midst of those struggles,

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 in the midst of the pain,

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 in the midst of the sorrows,

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 and He will use those situations and circumstances

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 to mold and shape us and help us

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 to be the people that He wants us to be.

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 He will see us through

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 and He will bring us through.

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 I know everyone in here can probably look back on your life

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 and you can see challenges that you've faced in life

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 and they were hard, difficult circumstances.

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 Probably many tears were shed.

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 But as you look back,

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 you can see the hand of God

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 in the midst of those struggles and circumstances

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 being with you.

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 Sometimes God uses those challenges that we face in life

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 to develop character within us.

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 Sometimes God uses those circumstances

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 to remove sin out of our lives.

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 Maybe we have sin.

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 Maybe we have rebellion and stubbornness in our heart.

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 Maybe unforgiveness of someone in our life.

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 And God uses situations and circumstances

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 in our lives to remove that out of us.

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 Sometimes He's preparing us for future work

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 that He has for us.

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 We think about Joseph of the Old Testament.

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 He went through a great deal,

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 but God was using that to prepare him

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 for what He had in store for him.

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 And sometimes God is just simply testing our faith.

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 Testing to see if we will stand firm

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 and stand strong and believe in Him

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 and obey Him and the things that He's called us to do.

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 What struggle are you facing today?

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 What challenges are you up against?

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 You know, they say that we're all faced,

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 we're either going into a problem

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 or a struggle or a storm.

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 We're in a storm or we're coming out of a storm.

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 That's pretty much everybody's life, right?

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 We only spend a short period of time on the mountaintop

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 before we go back into something.

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 So what are you facing today?

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 What are you getting ready to go into?

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 What are you coming out of?

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 And let me ask you this.

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 What struggle have you faced

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 or you might be getting ready to face

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 that God cannot handle?

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 What struggle or challenge or obstacle

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 can God not handle?

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 Luke 1.37 says,

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 For nothing is impossible with God.

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 Also Romans 8.28 says,

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 And we know that in all things

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 God works for the good of those who love Him.

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 So whatever hardship, difficulty, struggle, pain

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 that you might be facing,

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 if we keep our eyes on the Lord

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 and we stay focused on Him

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 and we continue to walk in obedience to Him,

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 then we have to realize that God is working

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 in the midst of all of that

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 and He will be with us in the storm.

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 He may not stop the storm immediately.

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 He may not remove the pain immediately.

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 He may leave us there for a time.

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 But He's working to accomplish His purpose

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 and His will.

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 I think of the Apostle Paul.

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 The Apostle Paul had a very painful thorn in his flesh.

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 And he prayed three times for God

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 to remove that thorn.

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 What was God's answer?

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 Yeah, but He just said,

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 No.

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 My grace is sufficient.

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 He said, No.

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 He didn't remove the thorn.

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 Why?

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 Because God was using that thorn

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 for a purpose in Paul's life.

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 Now we don't know what the thorn was,

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 but we do know Paul had begun to get prideful,

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 puffed up,

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 because God had been using him to do some mighty things.

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 And God was using that thorn

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 to kind of humble him a little bit

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 and bring him back down.

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 You know, God will work the same way in our lives.

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 It may not be a thorn like Paul faced.

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 It may not be pride and humility that you need.

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 But God will be working in the circumstances

00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:32.379
 and situations in our lives

00:16:32.379 --> 00:16:35.200
 to mold and shape and develop us

00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:37.720
 into the people that he needs us

00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:39.179
 and wants us to be.

00:16:39.899 --> 00:16:42.899
 Israel had been led into the promised land by Joshua.

00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:46.220
 And God had clearly told Israel

00:16:46.220 --> 00:16:49.100
 through Moses, before Moses died,

00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:51.019
 and now through Joshua,

00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:53.960
 he clearly told them,

00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:56.039
 If you will go into the promised land

00:16:56.039 --> 00:16:58.840
 and you will honor me, obey me,

00:16:58.840 --> 00:17:00.879
 stay faithful to me,

00:17:00.920 --> 00:17:02.320
 then I will bless you.

00:17:03.040 --> 00:17:04.360
 But if you do not,

00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:07.860
 you know, if you go back and look at that scripture,

00:17:08.900 --> 00:17:12.980
 you'll notice that God had about 15 verses

00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:15.460
 where he says, I will bless you.

00:17:15.460 --> 00:17:18.920
 But do you realize there's about 50 verses

00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:22.100
 where he warns them and says,

00:17:22.099 --> 00:17:23.819
 But if you do not,

00:17:24.399 --> 00:17:26.079
 I will curse you.

00:17:26.779 --> 00:17:29.079
 I will fight against you.

00:17:29.419 --> 00:17:31.759
 He wanted them to clearly know

00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:33.559
 and clearly understand

00:17:33.559 --> 00:17:35.679
 that if they forgot the covenant

00:17:35.679 --> 00:17:37.259
 that he had with them,

00:17:37.319 --> 00:17:38.619
 if they disobeyed him,

00:17:38.719 --> 00:17:40.719
 if they walked in sinfulness

00:17:40.719 --> 00:17:42.159
 or worshiped other gods,

00:17:42.599 --> 00:17:44.179
 then the one true God

00:17:44.179 --> 00:17:46.839
 would fight against them

00:17:46.839 --> 00:17:48.299
 and curse them.

00:17:49.679 --> 00:17:51.439
 Unfortunately, the northern kingdom

00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:53.380
 they forgot.

00:17:54.380 --> 00:17:56.420
 Another generation arose

00:17:56.420 --> 00:17:58.820
 and they completely forgot

00:17:58.820 --> 00:18:00.660
 the covenant they had with God

00:18:00.660 --> 00:18:02.279
 and they had become disobedient.

00:18:02.420 --> 00:18:04.200
 They began to worship other gods.

00:18:04.940 --> 00:18:06.680
 They abandoned their faith.

00:18:07.759 --> 00:18:08.759
 And as I said a minute ago,

00:18:08.840 --> 00:18:10.140
 they had sunk so low

00:18:10.140 --> 00:18:13.259
 that they even sacrificed their children

00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:14.759
 in the fire in worship

00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:17.000
 to these other gods.

00:18:17.640 --> 00:18:19.759
 Well, God is a patient God,

00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:20.680
 slow to anger.

00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:21.799
 And so he sent the prophets.

00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:24.680
 He sent prophets to warn them

00:18:24.680 --> 00:18:25.560
 and tell them,

00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:26.340
 you know,

00:18:26.440 --> 00:18:27.519
 to remind them

00:18:27.519 --> 00:18:29.120
 of the covenant they had

00:18:29.120 --> 00:18:30.220
 and that they needed

00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:32.360
 to come back to the Lord.

00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:34.480
 But the Jews were very stubborn,

00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:35.840
 hard-headed people

00:18:35.840 --> 00:18:37.460
 and they didn't listen,

00:18:37.580 --> 00:18:37.980
 did they?

00:18:37.980 --> 00:18:41.220
 Many times they killed the prophets

00:18:41.220 --> 00:18:43.420
 or they abused the prophets

00:18:43.420 --> 00:18:45.319
 or they just didn't listen

00:18:45.319 --> 00:18:47.160
 to them at all.

00:18:47.299 --> 00:18:48.620
 And so God raised up,

00:18:48.740 --> 00:18:50.680
 God had to raise up the Assyrians

00:18:50.680 --> 00:18:52.539
 to come in and to conquer

00:18:52.539 --> 00:18:54.120
 the northern kingdom.

00:18:55.120 --> 00:18:57.360
 Today, I look at the United States

00:18:57.360 --> 00:18:57.940
 of America

00:18:57.940 --> 00:19:00.819
 and I think about a nation

00:19:00.819 --> 00:19:02.480
 that was founded and built

00:19:02.480 --> 00:19:05.339
 upon faith in Jesus Christ,

00:19:05.339 --> 00:19:07.859
 a land that religious freedom,

00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:09.859
 but when it was founded,

00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:12.019
 that meant religious freedom

00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:14.279
 to worship Jesus Christ.

00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:16.799
 And yet I look at a nation

00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:19.379
 that a new generation is arising

00:19:19.379 --> 00:19:21.699
 that has forgotten much of that.

00:19:22.220 --> 00:19:26.500
 And it's now become socially unacceptable

00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:28.099
 to go back and teach

00:19:28.099 --> 00:19:30.079
 that we were founded

00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:32.299
 upon faith in Jesus Christ.

00:19:32.299 --> 00:19:33.019
 You want to know why

00:19:33.019 --> 00:19:34.659
 the United States of America

00:19:34.659 --> 00:19:37.379
 is one of the greatest nations

00:19:37.379 --> 00:19:37.980
 in the world?

00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:42.419
 It's because we were built

00:19:42.419 --> 00:19:45.659
 upon faith in Jesus Christ.

00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:48.579
 And yet now we see a nation

00:19:48.579 --> 00:19:50.419
 that is drifting further and further

00:19:50.419 --> 00:19:51.519
 and further away from God.

00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:52.639
 If you go out west,

00:19:53.480 --> 00:19:54.559
 do you know what the percentage

00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:56.440
 of evangelical Christians

00:19:56.440 --> 00:19:57.960
 live in Washington State?

00:19:57.960 --> 00:20:03.240
 I can go to Africa

00:20:03.240 --> 00:20:05.420
 and find nations

00:20:05.420 --> 00:20:06.680
 that are more Christian

00:20:06.680 --> 00:20:08.940
 than Washington State

00:20:08.940 --> 00:20:11.120
 or Oregon.

00:20:11.340 --> 00:20:13.100
 These 3%,

00:20:13.100 --> 00:20:17.600
 3% are evangelical Christians

00:20:17.600 --> 00:20:19.860
 in places like Seattle

00:20:19.860 --> 00:20:21.860
 and Oregon

00:20:21.860 --> 00:20:23.600
 and out west

00:20:23.600 --> 00:20:24.519
 and then up north

00:20:24.519 --> 00:20:26.160
 it's not a whole lot better.

00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:28.640
 But you know what really worries me?

00:20:30.080 --> 00:20:32.160
 What really worries me today

00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:33.480
 is not the condition

00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:36.600
 of the lost people

00:20:36.600 --> 00:20:37.400
 in our country.

00:20:38.100 --> 00:20:39.259
 What concerns me

00:20:39.259 --> 00:20:40.240
 is the church.

00:20:41.580 --> 00:20:43.060
 What really worries me

00:20:43.060 --> 00:20:45.580
 are those who are children of God

00:20:45.580 --> 00:20:47.440
 that are allowing the things

00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:48.440
 of the world

00:20:48.440 --> 00:20:51.560
 to be adopted into their lives

00:20:51.560 --> 00:20:55.100
 and living by the world's standards

00:20:55.099 --> 00:20:56.619
 and yet claiming

00:20:56.619 --> 00:20:57.919
 to be Christians.

00:20:58.459 --> 00:21:00.539
 That's what concerns me more.

00:21:00.639 --> 00:21:02.019
 People often talk about

00:21:02.019 --> 00:21:03.619
 is God going to destroy

00:21:03.619 --> 00:21:04.599
 the United States?

00:21:04.799 --> 00:21:04.959
 Well,

00:21:06.139 --> 00:21:08.019
 I'm more concerned about

00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:10.759
 us giving an account to God

00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:13.500
 as His children

00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:14.839
 and people of God

00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:16.500
 and how we live.

00:21:17.259 --> 00:21:18.959
 Are we being faithful?

00:21:19.279 --> 00:21:20.099
 Are we being obedient

00:21:20.719 --> 00:21:22.259
 to the things He's called us

00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:24.079
 to do in His Word?

00:21:24.180 --> 00:21:25.740
 Or are we allowing

00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:27.059
 trends,

00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:29.579
 you know,

00:21:29.660 --> 00:21:30.980
 things that go on

00:21:30.980 --> 00:21:31.839
 in the world

00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:33.539
 to be adopted

00:21:33.539 --> 00:21:35.700
 into our lives

00:21:35.700 --> 00:21:36.819
 and our patterns?

00:21:36.819 --> 00:21:37.940
 Are we doing

00:21:37.940 --> 00:21:38.960
 the things God

00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:41.039
 has called us to do?

00:21:41.599 --> 00:21:42.559
 That's what we need

00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:43.819
 to be concerned about

00:21:43.819 --> 00:21:45.640
 and focused on today

00:21:45.640 --> 00:21:47.200
 is the church.

00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:49.460
 And are we being

00:21:49.460 --> 00:21:50.500
 the church?

00:21:51.640 --> 00:21:53.440
 Are we going out

00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:54.660
 into the world

00:21:54.660 --> 00:21:56.120
 and proclaiming

00:21:56.120 --> 00:21:56.860
 the gospel

00:21:56.860 --> 00:21:59.240
 and reaching lost people

00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:00.100
 with a message

00:22:00.100 --> 00:22:01.120
 of forgiveness?

00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:02.640
 Not of hatred

00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:03.559
 and anger

00:22:03.559 --> 00:22:05.180
 and judgmental,

00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:06.259
 but forgiveness

00:22:06.259 --> 00:22:07.380
 and love.

00:22:07.480 --> 00:22:08.080
 Which, by the way,

00:22:08.120 --> 00:22:08.880
 I forgot this

00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:10.220
 in the announcement time.

00:22:10.299 --> 00:22:11.400
 Then I aimed to do it again

00:22:11.400 --> 00:22:12.100
 when I got up here

00:22:12.100 --> 00:22:12.880
 and I forgot again.

00:22:13.140 --> 00:22:14.240
 But we had a great week

00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:14.700
 this week

00:22:14.700 --> 00:22:16.080
 with Vacation Bible School.

00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:17.399
 We had a great week

00:22:17.399 --> 00:22:18.220
 and I wanted to say

00:22:18.220 --> 00:22:19.579
 thank you to everyone

00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:21.339
 who participated in that.

00:22:21.480 --> 00:22:22.199
 If you were here

00:22:22.199 --> 00:22:23.639
 serving in any capacity,

00:22:23.799 --> 00:22:24.659
 if you helped decorate

00:22:24.659 --> 00:22:25.359
 in advance,

00:22:25.699 --> 00:22:27.199
 if you put a yard sign

00:22:27.199 --> 00:22:28.419
 out in your yard,

00:22:28.859 --> 00:22:30.119
 I want to say thank you

00:22:30.119 --> 00:22:31.099
 because that is

00:22:31.099 --> 00:22:32.199
 one of the tools

00:22:32.199 --> 00:22:33.339
 that we can use

00:22:33.339 --> 00:22:34.319
 to reach,

00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:35.059
 you know,

00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:36.000
 a lost world.

00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:37.099
 We had a lot of children

00:22:37.099 --> 00:22:37.679
 who came here.

00:22:37.779 --> 00:22:38.879
 I helped teach

00:22:38.879 --> 00:22:39.579
 the Bible story

00:22:39.579 --> 00:22:40.539
 and I was blown away

00:22:40.539 --> 00:22:42.500
 at some of the knowledge

00:22:42.500 --> 00:22:43.419
 that a lot of these

00:22:43.419 --> 00:22:44.720
 children did have.

00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:46.400
 But we also had children

00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:47.640
 here that probably

00:22:47.640 --> 00:22:48.819
 don't ever go to church

00:22:48.819 --> 00:22:49.880
 anywhere except

00:22:49.880 --> 00:22:51.059
 for Vacation Bible School.

00:22:51.140 --> 00:22:51.900
 So I do want to say

00:22:51.900 --> 00:22:52.839
 thank you to everybody

00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:54.860
 that helped be a part

00:22:54.860 --> 00:22:55.779
 of that in any way.

00:22:56.680 --> 00:22:57.799
 Now during the time

00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:59.559
 that the northern kingdom

00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:01.299
 was being conquered

00:23:01.299 --> 00:23:02.039
 and destroyed

00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:03.160
 by the Assyrians,

00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:04.799
 King Hezekiah

00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:06.700
 ruled the southern kingdom

00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.960
 or Judah.

00:23:08.660 --> 00:23:10.140
 Now Hezekiah's father

00:23:10.140 --> 00:23:11.120
 was Ahaz

00:23:11.119 --> 00:23:13.399
 and he was a very evil king

00:23:13.399 --> 00:23:15.879
 and he did many things wrong

00:23:15.879 --> 00:23:17.439
 in the eyes of the Lord.

00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:18.039
 However,

00:23:18.619 --> 00:23:19.379
 Hezekiah,

00:23:19.679 --> 00:23:20.559
 he didn't follow

00:23:20.559 --> 00:23:22.000
 the example of his father.

00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:24.699
 He was one of the greatest kings

00:23:24.699 --> 00:23:25.599
 next to David

00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:28.219
 that ever ruled over Israel.

00:23:28.399 --> 00:23:29.439
 He honored God

00:23:29.439 --> 00:23:30.759
 and he actually went through

00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:31.599
 and tore down

00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:32.839
 all the Asher poles

00:23:32.839 --> 00:23:34.059
 and the places of worship.

00:23:34.059 --> 00:23:35.439
 He did everything

00:23:35.439 --> 00:23:36.419
 in his power

00:23:36.419 --> 00:23:37.199
 to lead Judah

00:23:37.199 --> 00:23:38.659
 back to being faithful

00:23:38.659 --> 00:23:39.779
 to the Lord.

00:23:39.779 --> 00:23:40.940
 And as a result,

00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:42.259
 God was with him

00:23:42.259 --> 00:23:43.859
 and he was successful

00:23:43.859 --> 00:23:45.480
 in everything that he did.

00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:47.099
 It was his faith

00:23:47.099 --> 00:23:48.059
 in the Lord

00:23:48.059 --> 00:23:49.399
 that caused him

00:23:49.399 --> 00:23:50.359
 to rebel

00:23:50.359 --> 00:23:52.539
 against Assyria

00:23:52.539 --> 00:23:53.339
 to begin with

00:23:53.339 --> 00:23:54.779
 and not pay the tribute

00:23:54.779 --> 00:23:56.859
 that he was supposed to pay.

00:23:57.019 --> 00:23:58.279
 So what that did

00:23:58.279 --> 00:23:59.480
 is the Assyrians

00:23:59.480 --> 00:24:00.399
 got angry

00:24:00.399 --> 00:24:03.039
 and they invaded Judah.

00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:06.740
 And this reminds us

00:24:06.740 --> 00:24:08.240
 that sometimes

00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:09.099
 our faith

00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:10.279
 cost us something.

00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:12.200
 To have faith

00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:12.720
 in the Lord

00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:13.620
 and be obedient

00:24:13.620 --> 00:24:14.180
 and faithful

00:24:14.180 --> 00:24:15.019
 is not about

00:24:15.019 --> 00:24:15.940
 an easy walk

00:24:15.940 --> 00:24:16.599
 in the park

00:24:16.599 --> 00:24:17.700
 and everything's

00:24:17.700 --> 00:24:18.680
 going to be roses

00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:19.640
 every day.

00:24:20.120 --> 00:24:21.120
 Sometimes we have

00:24:21.120 --> 00:24:22.180
 to take a stand

00:24:22.180 --> 00:24:23.000
 for the Lord

00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:24.240
 and honor Him

00:24:24.240 --> 00:24:25.160
 and it will come

00:24:25.160 --> 00:24:26.099
 at a cost.

00:24:26.620 --> 00:24:27.180
 It will come

00:24:27.180 --> 00:24:28.400
 as an expense.

00:24:29.140 --> 00:24:30.279
 But faith in the Lord

00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:32.120
 is not always

00:24:32.120 --> 00:24:33.859
 about God

00:24:33.859 --> 00:24:35.459
 just making everything

00:24:35.459 --> 00:24:36.459
 smooth sailing

00:24:36.459 --> 00:24:37.819
 in our lives.

00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:38.599
 Sometimes

00:24:38.599 --> 00:24:40.439
 if you look

00:24:40.439 --> 00:24:41.719
 in the New Testament

00:24:41.719 --> 00:24:42.279
 especially

00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:44.059
 there's a cost to pay.

00:24:44.799 --> 00:24:45.379
 When Michelle

00:24:45.379 --> 00:24:46.039
 and Ashley

00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:47.139
 were thinking

00:24:47.139 --> 00:24:47.740
 about going

00:24:47.740 --> 00:24:48.539
 to Honduras

00:24:48.539 --> 00:24:50.599
 we prayed

00:24:50.599 --> 00:24:52.359
 and we began praying

00:24:52.359 --> 00:24:53.899
 and God

00:24:53.899 --> 00:24:54.859
 just gave them

00:24:54.859 --> 00:24:55.919
 an overwhelming

00:24:55.919 --> 00:24:57.359
 sense of peace

00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:58.799
 to go.

00:24:59.379 --> 00:25:00.399
 Go to Honduras.

00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:02.079
 Do not let fear

00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:03.579
 keep you from going.

00:25:03.859 --> 00:25:04.899
 And so we quickly

00:25:04.899 --> 00:25:05.599
 went to bed

00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:06.219
 they got about

00:25:06.219 --> 00:25:07.399
 an hour of sleep

00:25:07.399 --> 00:25:08.539
 got back up

00:25:08.539 --> 00:25:09.319
 got ready to go

00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:09.919
 to Honduras

00:25:09.919 --> 00:25:10.619
 and they got on

00:25:10.619 --> 00:25:11.079
 that plane

00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:11.959
 and flew to Miami.

00:25:12.479 --> 00:25:13.059
 When they got

00:25:13.059 --> 00:25:13.639
 to Miami

00:25:13.639 --> 00:25:15.319
 there were people

00:25:15.319 --> 00:25:16.639
 flying from Honduras

00:25:16.639 --> 00:25:17.599
 other mission teams

00:25:17.599 --> 00:25:18.399
 coming back

00:25:18.399 --> 00:25:19.079
 into the country

00:25:19.079 --> 00:25:19.579
 and they were saying

00:25:19.579 --> 00:25:20.519
 you can't go.

00:25:21.000 --> 00:25:22.000
 Do not go.

00:25:22.339 --> 00:25:23.399
 It's too dangerous.

00:25:23.939 --> 00:25:24.679
 There's looting

00:25:24.679 --> 00:25:25.619
 there's burning

00:25:25.619 --> 00:25:26.759
 there's destruction

00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:28.039
 people are being killed

00:25:28.039 --> 00:25:29.419
 do not go.

00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:30.059
 Well our team

00:25:30.059 --> 00:25:30.759
 was faced with

00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:31.899
 a challenge once again

00:25:31.899 --> 00:25:33.279
 and they got together

00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.160
 the adults

00:25:34.160 --> 00:25:36.079
 and they discussed it

00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:37.379
 and they prayed.

00:25:37.819 --> 00:25:38.720
 Well that time

00:25:38.720 --> 00:25:40.000
 my daughter Ashley

00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:40.799
 don't tell us

00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:41.460
 she's not here today

00:25:41.460 --> 00:25:42.099
 so don't tell her

00:25:42.099 --> 00:25:42.539
 I said this.

00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:44.200
 Again she was only 12

00:25:44.200 --> 00:25:46.279
 but she was scared

00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:47.920
 and she started crying

00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:48.720
 and didn't want to get on.

00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:49.779
 Michelle just grabbed her arm

00:25:49.779 --> 00:25:50.480
 got on that plane

00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:51.139
 and they went.

00:25:51.619 --> 00:25:52.339
 And you know what?

00:25:53.019 --> 00:25:54.299
 God protected them.

00:25:54.839 --> 00:25:56.139
 God kept them safe

00:25:56.139 --> 00:25:57.079
 and he sent them

00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:57.779
 to the mountains

00:25:57.779 --> 00:25:58.599
 where people

00:25:58.599 --> 00:25:59.660
 had been praying

00:25:59.660 --> 00:26:00.639
 for years

00:26:00.639 --> 00:26:01.740
 for God

00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:02.920
 to send somebody

00:26:02.920 --> 00:26:03.680
 to them.

00:26:04.420 --> 00:26:05.079
 And they were able

00:26:05.079 --> 00:26:05.819
 to also meet

00:26:05.819 --> 00:26:06.559
 a little girl

00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:07.720
 that we had been

00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:09.240
 sponsoring in an orphanage

00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:09.579
 there.

00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:10.460
 They were able

00:26:10.460 --> 00:26:11.279
 to spend time

00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:11.740
 with her

00:26:11.740 --> 00:26:12.460
 and meet her

00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:13.619
 for the very first time.

00:26:13.700 --> 00:26:15.039
 It was a great experience.

00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:16.440
 But it could have

00:26:16.440 --> 00:26:17.059
 cost them.

00:26:17.160 --> 00:26:18.039
 It could have turned out

00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:18.819
 very differently.

00:26:19.539 --> 00:26:20.259
 They went

00:26:20.259 --> 00:26:21.480
 knowing that they

00:26:21.480 --> 00:26:22.420
 gave their lives

00:26:22.420 --> 00:26:23.039
 to the Lord

00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:23.740
 and asked God

00:26:23.740 --> 00:26:24.899
 to use their life

00:26:24.900 --> 00:26:25.400
 in a way

00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:26.380
 that would bring

00:26:26.380 --> 00:26:27.440
 honor to him.

00:26:28.400 --> 00:26:29.740
 Hezekiah sent a message

00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.920
 to the king

00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:31.540
 of Assyria

00:26:31.540 --> 00:26:32.860
 stating that he

00:26:32.860 --> 00:26:34.120
 had sinned against him.

00:26:35.019 --> 00:26:35.880
 He was sorry

00:26:35.880 --> 00:26:36.780
 that he had rebelled

00:26:36.780 --> 00:26:37.380
 against him

00:26:37.380 --> 00:26:38.060
 and that he would

00:26:38.060 --> 00:26:39.200
 collect the money

00:26:39.200 --> 00:26:39.800
 the gold

00:26:39.800 --> 00:26:40.580
 and the silver

00:26:40.580 --> 00:26:42.240
 that the king

00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:42.820
 of Assyria

00:26:42.820 --> 00:26:43.880
 was demanding

00:26:43.880 --> 00:26:44.780
 if he would

00:26:44.780 --> 00:26:45.600
 just withdraw.

00:26:45.840 --> 00:26:46.280
 And he was

00:26:46.280 --> 00:26:47.820
 demanding

00:26:47.820 --> 00:26:49.280
 11 tons

00:26:49.280 --> 00:26:50.320
 of silver

00:26:50.320 --> 00:26:52.019
 and 1 ton

00:26:52.019 --> 00:26:52.900
 of gold.

00:26:53.480 --> 00:26:54.540
 And so Hezekiah

00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:55.379
 this is the one

00:26:55.379 --> 00:26:56.019
 blemish

00:26:56.019 --> 00:26:58.279
 on King Hezekiah's

00:26:58.279 --> 00:26:58.799
 account

00:26:58.799 --> 00:27:00.059
 is that he went

00:27:00.059 --> 00:27:00.819
 through the land

00:27:00.819 --> 00:27:01.559
 and he took

00:27:01.559 --> 00:27:02.740
 the silver and gold

00:27:02.740 --> 00:27:03.799
 as much as he could find.

00:27:03.899 --> 00:27:04.480
 He even went

00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:05.240
 into the temple

00:27:05.240 --> 00:27:06.379
 and he took

00:27:06.379 --> 00:27:07.000
 the silver

00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:07.720
 and the gold

00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:08.839
 out of the temple

00:27:08.839 --> 00:27:09.799
 that was

00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:11.839
 decorating

00:27:11.839 --> 00:27:12.759
 and designing

00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:13.700
 the temple

00:27:13.700 --> 00:27:14.619
 and he gave it

00:27:14.619 --> 00:27:15.839
 to the king

00:27:15.839 --> 00:27:17.200
 of Assyria.

00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:19.139
 But what happened

00:27:19.139 --> 00:27:20.200
 much like

00:27:20.200 --> 00:27:21.059
 sometimes when we

00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:22.039
 play with fire

00:27:22.039 --> 00:27:22.579
 you're going

00:27:22.579 --> 00:27:23.379
 to get burned.

00:27:23.500 --> 00:27:24.059
 You know what?

00:27:24.539 --> 00:27:25.000
 The king

00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:25.579
 of Assyria

00:27:25.579 --> 00:27:25.940
 did.

00:27:25.940 --> 00:27:27.559
 He took

00:27:27.559 --> 00:27:28.359
 the gold

00:27:28.359 --> 00:27:28.980
 and silver

00:27:28.980 --> 00:27:30.279
 and he did

00:27:30.279 --> 00:27:31.019
 not withdraw.

00:27:31.899 --> 00:27:33.019
 He besieged

00:27:33.019 --> 00:27:33.779
 Jerusalem

00:27:33.779 --> 00:27:35.259
 and he came

00:27:35.259 --> 00:27:36.059
 against them

00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:36.659
 to conquer

00:27:36.659 --> 00:27:36.980
 them

00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:37.659
 and defeat

00:27:37.659 --> 00:27:38.000
 them.

00:27:38.379 --> 00:27:39.059
 And Hezekiah

00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:39.859
 found himself

00:27:39.859 --> 00:27:40.440
 in a time

00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:41.079
 of crisis

00:27:41.079 --> 00:27:42.720
 with a fundamental

00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:43.519
 question

00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:44.839
 that is just

00:27:44.839 --> 00:27:45.579
 as fundamental

00:27:45.579 --> 00:27:46.480
 for us

00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:47.139
 today.

00:27:48.279 --> 00:27:49.579
 What do you

00:27:49.579 --> 00:27:50.399
 believe

00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:51.840
 about God?

00:27:53.840 --> 00:27:55.000
 What do you

00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:56.460
 truly believe

00:27:56.460 --> 00:27:57.160
 about God?

00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:57.780
 Is God

00:27:57.780 --> 00:27:58.420
 worthy

00:27:58.420 --> 00:28:00.320
 to be trusted?

00:28:00.320 --> 00:28:02.519
 Can we

00:28:02.519 --> 00:28:03.320
 really trust

00:28:03.320 --> 00:28:03.720
 God?

00:28:04.860 --> 00:28:05.980
 Can He really

00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:06.860
 fulfill His

00:28:06.860 --> 00:28:07.480
 promises

00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:08.340
 to us

00:28:08.340 --> 00:28:08.900
 today?

00:28:10.300 --> 00:28:11.340
 If Hezekiah

00:28:11.340 --> 00:28:12.660
 trusted God

00:28:12.660 --> 00:28:13.740
 and he

00:28:13.740 --> 00:28:14.700
 stood up

00:28:14.700 --> 00:28:15.660
 to Assyria

00:28:15.660 --> 00:28:16.740
 and God

00:28:16.740 --> 00:28:17.620
 was not able

00:28:17.619 --> 00:28:18.199
 to do

00:28:18.199 --> 00:28:18.599
 what He

00:28:18.599 --> 00:28:19.179
 said He

00:28:19.179 --> 00:28:19.779
 would do

00:28:19.779 --> 00:28:20.819
 then the

00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:21.399
 people of

00:28:21.399 --> 00:28:21.759
 Judah

00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:22.899
 would have

00:28:22.899 --> 00:28:23.599
 been killed

00:28:23.599 --> 00:28:24.399
 and destroyed.

00:28:25.359 --> 00:28:26.019
 They would

00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:26.359
 have been

00:28:26.359 --> 00:28:27.319
 wiped out

00:28:27.319 --> 00:28:28.000
 as bad

00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:28.579
 as we see

00:28:28.579 --> 00:28:29.319
 on the news

00:28:29.319 --> 00:28:30.519
 in Gaza.

00:28:31.379 --> 00:28:31.759
 They would

00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:32.219
 have been

00:28:32.219 --> 00:28:32.859
 mutilated

00:28:32.859 --> 00:28:34.379
 by the Assyrians

00:28:34.379 --> 00:28:35.179
 if God

00:28:35.179 --> 00:28:36.119
 was not able

00:28:36.119 --> 00:28:36.799
 to do

00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:37.479
 what He

00:28:37.479 --> 00:28:37.779
 said.

00:28:37.899 --> 00:28:38.139
 And so

00:28:38.139 --> 00:28:38.799
 Hezekiah

00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:39.299
 being the

00:28:39.299 --> 00:28:39.839
 man of God

00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:40.139
 that he

00:28:40.139 --> 00:28:40.500
 was,

00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:41.879
 he consulted

00:28:41.879 --> 00:28:42.759
 the prophet

00:28:42.759 --> 00:28:43.539
 Isaiah

00:28:43.539 --> 00:28:44.399
 to know

00:28:44.399 --> 00:28:45.000
 what he

00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:45.379
 should do

00:28:45.380 --> 00:28:45.760
 which is

00:28:45.760 --> 00:28:46.440
 really good

00:28:46.440 --> 00:28:46.840
 advice,

00:28:46.940 --> 00:28:47.600
 really good

00:28:47.600 --> 00:28:48.480
 example here

00:28:48.480 --> 00:28:49.520
 of what

00:28:49.520 --> 00:28:50.460
 King Hezekiah

00:28:50.460 --> 00:28:50.760
 did.

00:28:50.860 --> 00:28:51.220
 He went

00:28:51.220 --> 00:28:51.840
 to a prophet,

00:28:52.020 --> 00:28:52.460
 he asked

00:28:52.460 --> 00:28:53.080
 for a prophet

00:28:53.080 --> 00:28:53.600
 and then in a

00:28:53.600 --> 00:28:54.460
 minute we'll

00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:55.320
 see that even

00:28:55.320 --> 00:28:56.000
 after getting

00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:56.380
 the word

00:28:56.380 --> 00:28:56.740
 from the

00:28:56.740 --> 00:28:57.660
 prophet he

00:28:57.660 --> 00:28:58.480
 went back

00:28:58.480 --> 00:28:58.920
 to God

00:28:58.920 --> 00:28:59.440
 in prayer

00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:01.200
 seeking God.

00:29:01.280 --> 00:29:01.560
 But look

00:29:01.560 --> 00:29:02.380
 at 2 Kings

00:29:02.380 --> 00:29:04.400
 19 verses

00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:05.680
 5 and 7.

00:29:08.680 --> 00:29:09.520
 Should be

00:29:09.520 --> 00:29:10.380
 on the...

00:29:15.380 --> 00:29:16.780
 There we

00:29:16.780 --> 00:29:16.980
 go.

00:29:18.060 --> 00:29:18.840
 When King

00:29:18.840 --> 00:29:19.580
 Hezekiah's

00:29:19.580 --> 00:29:20.440
 officials came

00:29:20.440 --> 00:29:21.440
 to Isaiah,

00:29:22.040 --> 00:29:22.740
 Isaiah said

00:29:22.740 --> 00:29:23.160
 to them,

00:29:23.660 --> 00:29:24.100
 Tell your

00:29:24.100 --> 00:29:24.860
 master this

00:29:24.860 --> 00:29:25.360
 is what the

00:29:25.360 --> 00:29:26.140
 Lord says.

00:29:26.560 --> 00:29:27.160
 Do not be

00:29:27.160 --> 00:29:27.840
 afraid of

00:29:27.840 --> 00:29:28.260
 what you

00:29:28.260 --> 00:29:28.880
 have heard,

00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:30.160
 those words

00:29:30.160 --> 00:29:30.840
 with which

00:29:30.840 --> 00:29:31.720
 the underlings

00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:32.420
 of the king

00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:33.040
 of Assyria

00:29:33.040 --> 00:29:33.900
 have blasphemed

00:29:33.900 --> 00:29:34.380
 me.

00:29:35.040 --> 00:29:35.380
 Listen,

00:29:36.120 --> 00:29:36.700
 when he

00:29:36.700 --> 00:29:37.380
 hears a

00:29:37.380 --> 00:29:38.140
 certain report

00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:39.040
 I will make

00:29:39.040 --> 00:29:39.740
 him want to

00:29:39.740 --> 00:29:40.300
 return to

00:29:40.300 --> 00:29:40.800
 his own

00:29:40.800 --> 00:29:41.900
 country and

00:29:41.900 --> 00:29:42.660
 there I will

00:29:42.660 --> 00:29:43.600
 have him cut

00:29:43.600 --> 00:29:44.460
 down with

00:29:44.460 --> 00:29:45.140
 the sword.

00:29:45.380 --> 00:29:46.360
 God is

00:29:46.360 --> 00:29:47.320
 saying through

00:29:47.320 --> 00:29:48.440
 Isaiah the

00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:48.900
 prophet,

00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:49.880
 don't worry

00:29:49.880 --> 00:29:50.560
 about the

00:29:50.560 --> 00:29:51.100
 Assyrians.

00:29:51.640 --> 00:29:52.720
 I can handle

00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:53.100
 them.

00:29:53.640 --> 00:29:54.340
 I can deal

00:29:54.340 --> 00:29:54.820
 with them.

00:29:54.940 --> 00:29:55.660
 They're not

00:29:55.660 --> 00:29:56.400
 going to

00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:57.120
 conquer this

00:29:57.120 --> 00:29:57.500
 city.

00:29:58.220 --> 00:29:58.660
 And so

00:29:58.660 --> 00:29:59.820
 Hezekiah,

00:30:00.360 --> 00:30:01.060
 still a bit

00:30:01.060 --> 00:30:01.940
 concerned and

00:30:01.940 --> 00:30:02.280
 worried,

00:30:02.380 --> 00:30:03.160
 he goes to

00:30:03.160 --> 00:30:03.680
 the temple

00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:04.700
 and he

00:30:04.700 --> 00:30:05.460
 begins to

00:30:05.460 --> 00:30:05.900
 pray,

00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:06.980
 wanting to

00:30:06.980 --> 00:30:07.420
 know for

00:30:07.420 --> 00:30:07.700
 sure,

00:30:07.800 --> 00:30:08.320
 is that the

00:30:08.320 --> 00:30:09.180
 message God

00:30:09.180 --> 00:30:09.780
 was giving?

00:30:09.780 --> 00:30:10.700
 And so

00:30:10.700 --> 00:30:11.440
 once again,

00:30:11.660 --> 00:30:12.820
 God gives

00:30:12.820 --> 00:30:14.180
 a message to

00:30:14.180 --> 00:30:14.860
 Isaiah,

00:30:14.859 --> 00:30:16.039
 to give to

00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:16.359
 King

00:30:16.359 --> 00:30:17.159
 Hezekiah.

00:30:17.679 --> 00:30:17.979
 And it's

00:30:17.979 --> 00:30:18.579
 in verses

00:30:18.579 --> 00:30:20.740
 32-36 of

00:30:20.740 --> 00:30:22.079
 2 Kings 19.

00:30:23.399 --> 00:30:23.919
 Therefore,

00:30:24.139 --> 00:30:24.639
 this is what

00:30:24.639 --> 00:30:25.019
 the Lord

00:30:25.019 --> 00:30:26.219
 says concerning

00:30:26.219 --> 00:30:27.419
 the king of

00:30:27.419 --> 00:30:28.039
 Assyria.

00:30:28.459 --> 00:30:29.199
 He will not

00:30:29.199 --> 00:30:29.759
 enter this

00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:30.319
 city or

00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:30.779
 shoot an

00:30:30.779 --> 00:30:31.379
 arrow here.

00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:32.439
 He will not

00:30:32.439 --> 00:30:33.539
 come before

00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:33.939
 it was

00:30:33.939 --> 00:30:34.639
 shield or

00:30:34.639 --> 00:30:35.139
 build a

00:30:35.139 --> 00:30:35.740
 siege ramp

00:30:35.740 --> 00:30:36.519
 against it.

00:30:37.179 --> 00:30:37.799
 By the way

00:30:37.799 --> 00:30:38.439
 he came,

00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:39.159
 he will

00:30:39.159 --> 00:30:39.699
 return.

00:30:40.019 --> 00:30:40.599
 He will not

00:30:40.599 --> 00:30:41.119
 enter this

00:30:41.119 --> 00:30:41.359
 city,

00:30:41.459 --> 00:30:42.219
 declares the

00:30:42.219 --> 00:30:42.539
 Lord.

00:30:42.539 --> 00:30:43.319
 I will

00:30:43.319 --> 00:30:44.139
 defend this

00:30:44.139 --> 00:30:44.720
 city and

00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:45.339
 save it

00:30:45.339 --> 00:30:46.019
 for my

00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:46.759
 sake and

00:30:46.759 --> 00:30:47.240
 for the

00:30:47.240 --> 00:30:47.899
 sake of

00:30:47.899 --> 00:30:48.779
 David my

00:30:48.779 --> 00:30:49.259
 servant.

00:30:49.920 --> 00:30:50.460
 That night

00:30:50.460 --> 00:30:51.000
 the angel

00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:51.559
 of the Lord

00:30:51.559 --> 00:30:52.200
 went out

00:30:52.200 --> 00:30:53.099
 and put to

00:30:53.099 --> 00:30:53.480
 death

00:30:53.480 --> 00:30:56.399
 185,000

00:30:56.399 --> 00:30:56.920
 in the

00:30:56.920 --> 00:30:57.559
 Assyrian

00:30:57.559 --> 00:30:58.039
 camp.

00:30:58.559 --> 00:30:58.940
 When the

00:30:58.940 --> 00:30:59.500
 people got

00:30:59.500 --> 00:30:59.859
 up the

00:30:59.859 --> 00:31:00.539
 next morning

00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:01.420
 there were

00:31:01.420 --> 00:31:01.980
 all the

00:31:01.980 --> 00:31:02.779
 dead bodies.

00:31:03.339 --> 00:31:04.379
 So Sennacherib,

00:31:04.579 --> 00:31:04.980
 king of

00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:05.480
 Assyria,

00:31:05.599 --> 00:31:06.259
 broke camp

00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:07.000
 and withdrew.

00:31:07.420 --> 00:31:08.039
 He returned

00:31:08.039 --> 00:31:08.879
 to Nineveh

00:31:08.879 --> 00:31:09.500
 and he

00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:10.319
 stayed there.

00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:11.720
 God was

00:31:11.720 --> 00:31:13.079
 showing that

00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:13.419
 he can

00:31:13.419 --> 00:31:14.059
 handle just

00:31:14.059 --> 00:31:14.779
 about anything.

00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:16.480
 He can

00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:17.240
 handle anything.

00:31:17.819 --> 00:31:18.220
 You've got

00:31:18.220 --> 00:31:18.819
 the largest

00:31:18.819 --> 00:31:20.619
 military in

00:31:20.619 --> 00:31:21.299
 all the world

00:31:21.299 --> 00:31:22.000
 at that time

00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:22.879
 surrounding you

00:31:22.879 --> 00:31:23.539
 and he sent

00:31:23.539 --> 00:31:24.879
 an angel,

00:31:25.960 --> 00:31:27.319
 one angel,

00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:28.500
 that went

00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:28.899
 through the

00:31:28.899 --> 00:31:30.319
 camp and

00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:31.480
 he destroyed

00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:32.099
 or killed

00:31:32.099 --> 00:31:35.480
 185,000

00:31:35.480 --> 00:31:36.720
 Assyrian

00:31:36.720 --> 00:31:37.779
 soldiers.

00:31:37.779 --> 00:31:38.859
 And so

00:31:38.859 --> 00:31:39.379
 the king

00:31:39.379 --> 00:31:39.960
 of Assyria

00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:40.819
 withdrew

00:31:40.819 --> 00:31:41.519
 and he

00:31:41.519 --> 00:31:42.200
 went back

00:31:42.200 --> 00:31:43.160
 to Nineveh.

00:31:44.299 --> 00:31:45.460
 God showed

00:31:45.460 --> 00:31:46.579
 king Hezekiah

00:31:46.579 --> 00:31:47.139
 that his

00:31:47.139 --> 00:31:47.839
 faith in

00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:48.180
 him

00:31:48.180 --> 00:31:50.139
 was real.

00:31:50.700 --> 00:31:51.000
 That he

00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:52.759
 it was

00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:54.339
 worthy

00:31:54.339 --> 00:31:55.079
 to put his

00:31:55.079 --> 00:31:55.539
 faith

00:31:55.539 --> 00:31:56.680
 in God.

00:31:57.079 --> 00:31:57.740
 That he

00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:58.339
 put his

00:31:58.339 --> 00:31:58.920
 faith and

00:31:58.920 --> 00:31:59.420
 trust

00:31:59.420 --> 00:32:00.619
 that God

00:32:00.619 --> 00:32:01.399
 would defend

00:32:01.399 --> 00:32:01.960
 them and

00:32:01.960 --> 00:32:02.700
 God did

00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:03.539
 just that.

00:32:04.339 --> 00:32:04.799
 No one

00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:05.279
 has ever

00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:05.819
 lived

00:32:05.819 --> 00:32:06.980
 without having

00:32:06.980 --> 00:32:08.299
 problems or

00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:09.220
 crisis to

00:32:09.220 --> 00:32:09.819
 arise in

00:32:09.819 --> 00:32:10.319
 our life.

00:32:11.019 --> 00:32:11.440
 We see

00:32:11.440 --> 00:32:12.120
 throughout

00:32:12.120 --> 00:32:14.339
 the scriptures

00:32:14.339 --> 00:32:15.339
 faithful servants

00:32:15.339 --> 00:32:15.819
 such as

00:32:15.819 --> 00:32:16.539
 Hezekiah

00:32:16.539 --> 00:32:18.579
 facing great

00:32:18.579 --> 00:32:19.180
 challenges.

00:32:19.960 --> 00:32:20.079
 You know

00:32:20.079 --> 00:32:20.480
 it can be

00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:20.920
 hard to

00:32:20.920 --> 00:32:21.480
 understand

00:32:21.480 --> 00:32:22.160
 sometimes

00:32:22.160 --> 00:32:22.920
 why God

00:32:22.920 --> 00:32:23.880
 allows us

00:32:23.880 --> 00:32:24.579
 to go

00:32:24.579 --> 00:32:24.900
 through

00:32:24.900 --> 00:32:25.620
 difficulties

00:32:25.620 --> 00:32:26.380
 and hardships

00:32:26.380 --> 00:32:27.360
 and we

00:32:27.360 --> 00:32:28.160
 pray and we

00:32:28.160 --> 00:32:28.640
 ask for

00:32:28.640 --> 00:32:29.740
 God to

00:32:29.740 --> 00:32:30.900
 solve the

00:32:30.900 --> 00:32:31.500
 problems,

00:32:31.860 --> 00:32:32.380
 to deal

00:32:32.380 --> 00:32:33.240
 with situations

00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:34.000
 and circumstances

00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:34.420
 and he

00:32:34.420 --> 00:32:35.460
 doesn't always

00:32:35.460 --> 00:32:36.759
 do it when

00:32:36.759 --> 00:32:37.539
 we want.

00:32:38.420 --> 00:32:38.720
 And it's

00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:39.460
 hard for us

00:32:39.460 --> 00:32:40.059
 to understand

00:32:40.059 --> 00:32:40.660
 and sometimes

00:32:40.660 --> 00:32:41.460
 we get angry

00:32:41.460 --> 00:32:42.059
 at God or

00:32:42.059 --> 00:32:42.840
 we get mad

00:32:42.840 --> 00:32:44.240
 at God and

00:32:44.240 --> 00:32:44.700
 we wonder

00:32:44.700 --> 00:32:45.539
 where are

00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:46.279
 you God?

00:32:46.600 --> 00:32:47.279
 Why are you

00:32:47.279 --> 00:32:48.779
 not solving

00:32:48.779 --> 00:32:49.779
 this problem

00:32:49.779 --> 00:32:51.120
 for me?

00:32:51.799 --> 00:32:52.539
 But if we'll

00:32:52.539 --> 00:32:53.240
 learn a lesson

00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:54.920
 here today that

00:32:54.920 --> 00:32:55.759
 God is more

00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:56.880
 than able and

00:32:56.880 --> 00:32:57.700
 he works in

00:32:57.700 --> 00:32:58.740
 situations, he

00:32:58.740 --> 00:32:59.380
 works in

00:32:59.380 --> 00:33:00.460
 circumstances of

00:33:00.460 --> 00:33:00.960
 our lives,

00:33:01.039 --> 00:33:01.740
 maybe not the

00:33:01.740 --> 00:33:02.440
 way we want

00:33:02.440 --> 00:33:02.799
 him to,

00:33:03.600 --> 00:33:04.400
 maybe not as

00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:05.340
 quickly as we

00:33:05.340 --> 00:33:06.019
 want him to,

00:33:06.460 --> 00:33:07.400
 but he works

00:33:07.400 --> 00:33:07.880
 in his

00:33:07.880 --> 00:33:09.320
 timetable and

00:33:09.320 --> 00:33:09.840
 in a manner

00:33:09.840 --> 00:33:10.820
 that he brings

00:33:10.820 --> 00:33:11.540
 about his

00:33:11.540 --> 00:33:12.680
 purpose and

00:33:12.680 --> 00:33:14.300
 his will in

00:33:14.300 --> 00:33:14.900
 our lives.

00:33:15.540 --> 00:33:16.420
 Everyone faces

00:33:16.420 --> 00:33:17.259
 problems at

00:33:17.259 --> 00:33:17.940
 some time or

00:33:17.940 --> 00:33:19.280
 another, but

00:33:19.280 --> 00:33:20.080
 how each

00:33:20.080 --> 00:33:21.780
 person responds

00:33:21.780 --> 00:33:23.220
 to those

00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:24.040
 problems or

00:33:24.040 --> 00:33:24.900
 those challenges

00:33:24.900 --> 00:33:25.960
 is what makes

00:33:25.960 --> 00:33:26.600
 the difference.

00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:28.180
 Do we respond

00:33:28.180 --> 00:33:30.040
 in faith or

00:33:30.040 --> 00:33:30.940
 do we respond

00:33:30.940 --> 00:33:32.580
 in fear and

00:33:32.580 --> 00:33:32.960
 doubt?

00:33:32.960 --> 00:33:34.920
 King Hezekiah

00:33:34.920 --> 00:33:36.100
 faced what

00:33:36.100 --> 00:33:36.539
 the world

00:33:36.539 --> 00:33:37.539
 described as

00:33:37.539 --> 00:33:38.220
 a hopeless

00:33:38.220 --> 00:33:39.620
 situation.

00:33:40.160 --> 00:33:40.380
 He was

00:33:40.380 --> 00:33:41.279
 surrounded by

00:33:41.279 --> 00:33:41.900
 a superior

00:33:41.900 --> 00:33:43.299
 army, one

00:33:43.299 --> 00:33:43.720
 that had

00:33:43.720 --> 00:33:45.100
 already destroyed

00:33:45.100 --> 00:33:45.980
 many lands

00:33:45.980 --> 00:33:47.920
 and ten of

00:33:47.920 --> 00:33:48.579
 the twelve

00:33:48.579 --> 00:33:49.900
 tribes of

00:33:49.900 --> 00:33:51.019
 Israel, but

00:33:51.019 --> 00:33:52.559
 Hezekiah trusted

00:33:52.559 --> 00:33:54.180
 in the Lord

00:33:54.180 --> 00:33:54.860
 and the Lord

00:33:54.860 --> 00:33:55.779
 delivered him

00:33:55.779 --> 00:33:56.319
 in a manner

00:33:56.319 --> 00:33:58.240
 that only God

00:33:58.240 --> 00:33:59.200
 could do.

00:33:59.720 --> 00:34:00.500
 It's my hope

00:34:00.500 --> 00:34:01.140
 and my prayer

00:34:01.140 --> 00:34:02.780
 today that we

00:34:02.780 --> 00:34:04.180
 will take a

00:34:04.180 --> 00:34:05.600
 lesson from

00:34:05.600 --> 00:34:06.900
 King Hezekiah

00:34:06.900 --> 00:34:08.200
 and we will

00:34:08.200 --> 00:34:09.059
 realize that

00:34:09.059 --> 00:34:10.039
 whatever challenge

00:34:10.039 --> 00:34:10.840
 you're up against

00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:12.440
 today, whatever

00:34:12.440 --> 00:34:13.860
 obstacles stand in

00:34:13.860 --> 00:34:15.380
 your way, whatever

00:34:15.380 --> 00:34:16.500
 struggles you're

00:34:16.500 --> 00:34:17.920
 enduring, don't

00:34:17.920 --> 00:34:19.640
 focus on them.

00:34:20.680 --> 00:34:22.280
 Focus on the

00:34:22.280 --> 00:34:22.660
 Lord.

00:34:23.380 --> 00:34:24.380
 Stay focused

00:34:24.380 --> 00:34:26.519
 on Him and

00:34:26.519 --> 00:34:27.320
 He will more

00:34:27.320 --> 00:34:28.500
 than be willing

00:34:28.500 --> 00:34:29.559
 to handle those

00:34:29.559 --> 00:34:30.440
 situations and

00:34:30.440 --> 00:34:31.940
 circumstances and

00:34:31.940 --> 00:34:34.019
 resolve them in a

00:34:34.019 --> 00:34:36.340
 manner that empowers

00:34:36.340 --> 00:34:37.780
 us, builds us

00:34:37.780 --> 00:34:39.019
 strength, gives us

00:34:39.019 --> 00:34:40.559
 character and helps

00:34:40.559 --> 00:34:41.679
 us to maybe serve

00:34:41.679 --> 00:34:42.320
 Him in a greater

00:34:42.320 --> 00:34:43.900
 capacity in the

00:34:43.900 --> 00:34:44.219
 future.

00:34:44.420 --> 00:34:45.440
 And most of us

00:34:45.440 --> 00:34:46.980
 can look back and

00:34:46.980 --> 00:34:47.900
 we can see where

00:34:47.900 --> 00:34:49.500
 God has worked in

00:34:49.500 --> 00:34:50.500
 times past.

00:34:50.500 --> 00:34:53.380
 let those experiences

00:34:53.380 --> 00:34:55.639
 encourage us

00:34:55.639 --> 00:34:57.320
 today to stay

00:34:57.320 --> 00:34:58.539
 faithful and

00:34:58.539 --> 00:34:59.500
 obedient and

00:34:59.500 --> 00:35:01.219
 trust in the

00:35:01.219 --> 00:35:01.480
 Lord.

00:35:01.599 --> 00:35:02.199
 Today I don't

00:35:02.199 --> 00:35:02.539
 know what

00:35:02.539 --> 00:35:03.380
 challenges you're

00:35:03.380 --> 00:35:03.900
 up against.

00:35:04.039 --> 00:35:05.000
 I don't know what

00:35:05.000 --> 00:35:06.659
 circumstances that

00:35:06.659 --> 00:35:07.280
 you're fighting.

00:35:07.619 --> 00:35:08.139
 I don't know what

00:35:08.139 --> 00:35:09.719
 painful things are

00:35:09.719 --> 00:35:11.099
 going on in your

00:35:11.099 --> 00:35:11.559
 life.

00:35:12.119 --> 00:35:13.019
 But I hope that

00:35:13.019 --> 00:35:14.280
 you will hold

00:35:14.280 --> 00:35:15.639
 tightly to God to

00:35:15.639 --> 00:35:16.940
 work in your life,

00:35:18.179 --> 00:35:19.199
 build your faith,

00:35:19.199 --> 00:35:20.699
 build your strength

00:35:20.699 --> 00:35:22.239
 and know that God

00:35:22.239 --> 00:35:23.659
 is able.

00:35:24.019 --> 00:35:24.579
 Let's go to the

00:35:24.579 --> 00:35:25.139
 Lord in prayer.

00:35:25.939 --> 00:35:26.739
 Father we thank

00:35:26.739 --> 00:35:28.159
 you for this word

00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:28.639
 today.

00:35:29.219 --> 00:35:29.980
 We thank you for

00:35:29.980 --> 00:35:30.699
 your word.

00:35:31.319 --> 00:35:32.399
 And I pray Lord that

00:35:32.399 --> 00:35:33.399
 you speak to each of

00:35:33.399 --> 00:35:34.039
 our hearts.

00:35:34.879 --> 00:35:36.039
 We're all facing

00:35:36.039 --> 00:35:36.939
 different things.

00:35:37.199 --> 00:35:37.919
 We're all facing

00:35:37.919 --> 00:35:39.259
 different circumstances.

00:35:40.319 --> 00:35:41.339
 We all have

00:35:41.339 --> 00:35:42.119
 different painful

00:35:42.119 --> 00:35:43.219
 experiences in our

00:35:43.219 --> 00:35:43.960
 lives that we've

00:35:43.960 --> 00:35:44.619
 gone through.

00:35:45.379 --> 00:35:46.639
 But I pray Lord that

00:35:46.639 --> 00:35:47.699
 we keep our eyes on

00:35:47.699 --> 00:35:47.980
 you.

00:35:47.980 --> 00:35:49.820
 and we trust in

00:35:49.820 --> 00:35:50.480
 you Lord.

00:35:51.440 --> 00:35:52.740
 And that we will

00:35:52.740 --> 00:35:54.280
 know that you are

00:35:54.280 --> 00:35:56.179
 working to help us

00:35:56.179 --> 00:35:58.320
 to get through those

00:35:58.320 --> 00:35:59.539
 situations and

00:35:59.539 --> 00:36:01.280
 circumstances and

00:36:01.280 --> 00:36:03.179
 be stronger to have

00:36:03.179 --> 00:36:04.880
 greater faith and to

00:36:04.880 --> 00:36:06.780
 be a people that you

00:36:06.780 --> 00:36:07.740
 will use to bring

00:36:07.740 --> 00:36:08.740
 glory and honor to

00:36:08.740 --> 00:36:09.300
 your name.

00:36:09.760 --> 00:36:10.599
 And it's in Jesus

00:36:10.599 --> 00:36:11.880
 name that we pray.

00:36:12.340 --> 00:36:12.740
 Amen.

00:36:13.199 --> 00:36:14.240
 We're going to stand

00:36:14.240 --> 00:36:15.119
 and have a time of

00:36:15.119 --> 00:36:15.659
 invitation.

00:36:15.659 --> 00:36:17.279
 If there's anything

00:36:17.279 --> 00:36:18.039
 that you want to

00:36:18.039 --> 00:36:18.119
 do,